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Frances Schuster, left, and Maddie Barkholtz, right.

Minnesota Crop Improvement Association welcomes Frances Schuster to the staff of Organic Services. Frances started work on April 1, training with Rose-Marie Odell as the department’s new administrative specialist. Rose-Marie has plans to retire from MCIA later this summer.

Frances is passionate about organic farming and is eager to contribute to the department’s work. Frances holds a B.S. degree in plant sciences with an emphasis in organic horticulture and local food from the University of Minnesota.

Since 2020, Frances has run a small cut flower operation, Seeds to Stars. Their farming experience includes past work at Racing Heart Farm, a no-till vegetable operation in western Wisconsin, and as the team lead at Loon Organics, where Frances was responsible for leading harvest crews, Loon’s high-volume farmer’s market booth, and comanaging the greenhouse and seeding operation.

MCIA also welcomes back Maddie Barkholtz, who was recently re-hired as an organic certification specialist/inspector for the Organic Services department.

Maddie has returned to MCIA after completing an M.P.H. degree in environmental health from the University of Minnesota. In addition, Maddie holds a B.S. in animal science from the University of Minnesota, College of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resource Sciences, where she was on the Dean’s list.

Maddie has an interest in agricultural sustainability and environmental health and is knowledgeable about USDA National Organic Program certification standards. She has hands-on experience working with dairy and beef cattle, swine, sheep, and poultry. In addition to her prior employment with MCIA, Maddie’s past work experience includes being a manager at Core Pet Zone’s Legends Rescue.

List Your Carryover Seed in the Directory

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The 2025 MCIA Directory will include a listing of carryover seed. Growers: If you have seed you want to list, please submit the Directory Carryover Seed Inclusion form that was included in your field inspection information packet.

You may also access the Directory Carryover Seed Inclusion form from the Client Resources page of the MCIA website, https://www.mncia.org/resources. The form is listed under Certification Services, Seed Certification Program, Field Inspection, Annuals.

Or simply send MCIA the following information about your carryover seed: crop variety, your name, address, and telephone number.

UMN Extension Announces Small Grain Plot Tours

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Photo courtesy UMN Extension.

The UMN Extension is offering Small Grain Summer Plot Tours to provide farmers and crop consultants with the tools to make small grain production successful and profitable.

Tours will be held in multiple locations in June.

Presentation topics include:

  • Production agronomics
  • Variety selection
  • Pest identification and management
  • Fungicide use

These programs are interactive with hands-on demonstrations of genetics, pests and growth stages. They feature tours of current research plots as well as discussions of on-farm experiences. Feel free to bring any field samples for diagnosis or discussion!

Monday, June 17, 2024
Rochester: Lawler Farms
12:30–3:00 p.m.

Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Le Center: Ruth Hoefs/Ron Pomije Farm
9:00–11:00 a.m.

Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Bensen: Lee’s Seed Farm
5:00–7:00 p.m.

For more information visit: https://extension.umn.edu/courses-and-events/ small-grain-summer-plot-tours.

Prepare for the Minnesota State Fair

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Certified seed exhibit at the Minnesota State Fair. Photo by MCIA.

Seed growers: Save your certified seed samples for the Minnesota State Fair!

Registration is open. Entry closing date for farm crops will be Wednesday, August 7. (The new corn closing date is Thursday, August 29.)

The Farm Crops—Divisions, Rules & Premiums reference, registration, and
other competition details can be found online at https://www.mnstatefair.org/competitions/ag-hort-bee/farm-crops.

For further information, please contact competition@mnstatefair.org or call 651-288-4417.

The 2024 Minnesota State Fair begins Thursday, August 22, and ends Monday, September 2.

USDA Creates Consumer Education Toolkit for Retailers and Brands Selling Organic Products

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Infographic: USDA National Organic Program.

Information from USDA Agricultural Marketing Service:

Organic is a steadily growing sector. Domestic sales of organic products topped $69.7 billion in 2023. However, consumer research shows that consumers do not always understand what “organic” means and how USDA protects the organic label.

Now retailers and brands can download a toolkit of signs and messages about the requirements for different types of organic products that can be used in stores or online to help consumers learn more about the USDA Organic seal.

The National Organic Program (NOP) created the resource to highlight the four pillars of what it means to be organic: Protected by law; inspected by experts; traced from farm to store; and shaped by public input.

The full toolkit, along with the individual graphics, is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service website: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/organic-certification/organic-basics/retailers.

Many graphics include a QR code that links to the Understanding the Organic Basics webpage, where consumers can learn more about the NOP and the organic label:  https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/organic-certification/organic-basics.

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To learn more about MCIA Organic Services, please visit: https://www.mncia.org/services-programs/organic-services.

Seed Lab Survey: Are You Satisfied?

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question mark
Illustration by chenspec from Pixabay.

In June, please watch for a customer satisfaction survey sent to you by MCIA Seed Laboratory Manager Chase Mowry. It will be delivered to your inbox via MailChimp.

Please take a few minutes to respond to the questions.

If you do not receive a survey request and would like to participate, please contact Chase at chase.mowry@mncia.org.

Your participation is greatly appreciated!

Dr. Shah Promotes Seed Systems on Visit to Pakistan

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Dr. Fawad Shah led a seed sampling workshop, hosted at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad May 1–2, 2024.

Earlier this spring, MCIA President/CEO Dr. Fawad Shah visited Pakistan to participate in three seed industry events. First, he attended the third Pakistan Seed Congress as a featured guest. The event was held at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad in late April and attracted more than 200 participants to discuss seed systems, hybrid seed breeding, and new technologies.

The Congress was followed by a two-day Innovation in Seed Storage Technologies event, at which Dr. Shah led a seed sampling workshop. While at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Dr. Shah visited the construction site of a planned ISTA laboratory, where seed will be tested and stored, and personnel trained. He also collaborated with researchers and faculty there who are developing adaptable, high-yielding soybean varieties for poultry feed and oil for human consumption.

Next on his itinerary, Dr. Shah spoke at a seminar at the University of Sargodha. The seminar addressed the topic Revitalizing Pakistan’s Seed System: Adapting to Global Dynamics.

To read Dr. Shah’s commentary and view his photos from his travels, visit MCIA’s LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/97463560.

Environmental Initiative Recognizes Tessa Parks as Emerging Leader

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Tessa Parks. Photo courtesy of Environmental Initiative.

Congratulations to Tessa Parks, recipient of this year’s Environmental Initiative Emerging Leader award! The award “recognizes an individual under the age of 30 working in cutting-edge ways to build partnerships and innovative solutions to address environmental health or environmental justice challenges.”

Tessa and her husband own and operate W.T. Farms, which is located in southern Minnesota. They raise Holstein steers and run a custom haying service. Tessa is also active in the Minnesota Farmers Union, recently becoming president of the Rice County Farmers Union chapter.

Of course, here at MCIA, we know Tessa best for her work as an organic certification specialist/inspector in the Organic Services department.

Read more about Tessa’s award at the Environmental Initiative’s website: https://environmental-initiative-awards.org/winners/2024/emerging-leader/tessa-parks/.

Help is Available for Minnesota Producers Facing Times of Stress

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MDA offers free, confidential tools to navigate farm challenges

For Minnesota farmers and livestock producers experiencing times of stress due to business and financial challenges, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) offers a reminder of free, confidential tools that are available to help.

“From low commodity prices and extreme weather to continued threats like highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), Minnesota’s farmers and their families face a wide range of unique stressors that can have ripple effects in all areas of life,” said Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “You do not have to navigate times of hardship on your own. I encourage farmers and their families to make use of the MDA’s resources designed to support you.”

The Minnesota Farm and Rural Helpline is open to anyone who is struggling with stress, anxiety, or depression. Calls are answered 24/7 by trained counselors who can lend a listening ear or connect you with help for business, financial, or legal problems. Call 833-600-2670 or text “FARMSTRESS” to 898211 to get started.

If you or someone you know is dealing with a crisis caused by either a natural disaster or financial problems, contact one of the MDA’s nine Farm Advocates. They know all about agricultural lending practices, mediation, lender negotiation, farm programs, crisis counseling, disaster programs, and to recognize the need for legal and/or social services.

Minnesota also has Ted Matthews and Monica McConkey, experienced, ag-focused mental health providers who offer confidential counseling services at no cost to farm individuals, couples, or families anywhere in the state. Sessions can take place in person, on Zoom, or over the phone, and insurance is not needed. They have helped hundreds of Minnesota farmers and farm family members over the years.

For financial assistance, the Rural Finance Authority (RFA) provides a variety of low-interest loans, including one for disaster relief. The MDA also posts a number of grant opportunities throughout the year, such as the AGRI Livestock Investment Grant, which can help improve, update, and modernize livestock operation infrastructure and equipment.

Specific to dairy farms, Dairy Business Planning Grants cover 50 percent of your cost to hire a qualified, independent third party to create a business plan for your operation or test for stray voltage. Dairy Profit Teams provide planning and problem-solving services throughout Minnesota.

To learn more about all of the state resources that are available to help in times of stress, visit www.minnesotafarmstress.com, or contact the Minnesota Farm and Rural Helpline at 833-600-2670 or by texting “FARMSTRESS” to 898211.

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