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13~1ISR Fleeting Ftinutes <br />July 25, 2001 <br />Page Four <br />Kamal Alsharif in Duluth is handling the clerical end of this program. The committee also <br />received an update from MASWCD and their Education Committee with their view on <br />priorities. We want to make sure there is communication throughout the state for <br />volunteer help. Paul reported that the Education Committee members have changed. <br />Lee Coe has stepped down, and JoAnn Coover, Wayne Edgerton and Jack. Frost have <br />been added to the committee. The committee will meet every three or four months. <br />Administrative Advisory Committee -Chair Coe reported that the Administrative <br />Advisory Committee did not meet. Chair Coe met with Ron Harnack to review his <br />performance evaluation and appraisal summary. <br />Agency Reports <br />Mark Dittrich, Department of Agriculture, reported on organic farming. Mary Hanks of <br />the MDA/Energy and Sustainable Ag Program worked in cooperation with other <br />organizations to produce a video on organic farming. It ties in with the general public, <br />and farmers who are conventional and just considering the options of organic <br />production. In addition, there are federal rules on organic production and those rules <br />have bridged the state's organic certification program. There is also a manual on <br />organic livestock production and curriculum for marketing organic products. If you <br />would like a copy of any of these materials, please contact Lynda Bougie at 651-296- <br />7673. <br />Mark reported that the NACD North Central Region Meeting had good discussions on <br />the Farm Bill and components of the Farm Bill in comparison to the Harkin Bill and it <br />supports voluntary measures, wants to use the existing infrastructure, wants to promote <br />new innovative ideas including funds that would encourage advanced conservation <br />tillage practices, and more incentive for payments for cover crops. We have a deadline <br />for bio-gas grants and loans which is July 31. In September, Paul Burns will talk to the <br />Board about the new feedlot publication -Feedlots Made Simple. Mark Dittrich reported <br />that FarmFest will be held on August 7,8,9. Discussion followed regarding bio- <br />gas/feedlots to produce energy. <br />Dan Wilson, Department of Health, reported that MDH's drinking water program had an <br />operator certification program approval by the FDA to expand into the non-community <br />(non-transients) areas. They are now qualified to apply for cone-time $3 million training <br />grant. Non-transients are schools, factories, colleges, etc. with repeat exposures. In <br />addition, their laboratory has been overhauling its certification process for private <br />certified laboratories. Well samples that come into MDH are done by certified labs <br />which are scattered around the state. The agency can now do lab certification and more <br />information is available on the Internet regarding certified labs. He also reported that <br />there are many wells going in, drillers are backed up and working hard. There are <br />