ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has published its 2008 Directory of Minnesota Organic Farms. The directory lists more than 200 of Minnesotas certified organic producers, organized both by county and by the type of organic crops, livestock, fruits, or vegetables produced. No farm was listed without its permission. MDA Organic and Diversification Specialist Meg Moynihan estimates there are about 560 certified organic farms in Minnesota, as well as more than 170 certified organic processors that turn organic raw materials into organic food and feed products.

Demand for organic ingredients continues to outstrip supply, said Moynihan. We hope this directory will help producers and buyers connect with each other. Farmers can also use it to identify market opportunities, to contact other organic farmers, and to form marketing alliances. Hundreds of organic processors located in neighboring states will also find the directory helpful in their efforts to purchase certified organic Minnesota farm products including grains, oilseeds, meat, and milk.

Print copies of the 2008 Directory of Minnesota Organic Farms are available free of charge by calling 651-201-6012. The directory is also available in electronic format on the MDAs web site. This directory is mainly intended for use by organic food manufacturers, marketers, brokers, dairy and other livestock farms, grocery stores, restaurants, and other food service operations. The MDA encourages consumers who want to buy organic products direct from farms to use the Minnesota Grown Directory.

The Southeastern Libraries Cooperating/Southeast Library System (SELCO) has posted a video of a presentation given on February 12, 2008, at the Albert Lea Public Library by the University of Minnesota’s Organic Outreach Coordinator, Jim Riddle.

In the video, Riddle explains the basic requirements for certification of organic crops; summarizes some recent research findings about the benefits of organic production; and presents a few helpful web resources.

To view the video, or portions of the video, go to: ABC’s of Organic Video

The International Trade Centre, the joint technical cooperation agency of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the World Trade Organization, released a draft technical paper focusing on organic agriculture and mitigation and adaptation to predictable and unpredictable impacts of climate change.

The paper is based on a review of peer-reviewed scientific literature and concludes that, “organic agriculture has much to offer in both mitigation of climate change through its emphasis on closed nutrient cycles and is a particularly resilient and productive system for adaptation strategies.”

A full copy of the report can be accessed at:
http://www.intracen.org/organics/documents/Organic_Farming_and_Climate_Change.pdf