The University of Minnesota last week announced that it will establish a faculty position at the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences focused on organics and sustainable food systems. It will make the alternative livestock coordinator position an ongoing position within University of Minnesota Extension and establish a faculty position at Southwest Research and Outreach Center in Lamberton devoted primarily to organics crops.

It also plans to establish an organics dairy herd at the West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris and provide funding for two or more graduate assistantships for organics research and Extension.

The new positions and increased focus on organics and sustainable agriculture were made possible through the increase in the ag special, which passed the Legislature last year.

"We have a number of different projects in organics and now with some of this new money we'll have an increased emphasis on organics," said Extension Dean Bev Durgan.

Andy Olson, an organics dairy farmer from Lewiston, welcomed the news.

"I think there's going to be good things coming out of it," said Olson, a Land Stewardship Project member.

"There's a lot of opportunities for the university to do good research," Olson said. "There's a big need. There hasn't been a lot done at the university level. There's been a lot done on the farm."

The U of M has offered field days and does organics trials. The new faculty, ongoing support for the alternative livestock coordinator and increased organics research will benefit not only those who use organics production methods, but also those considering organics production, Olson said.

It's important to support the growing organics industry, agreed Jim Falk, an organics farmer and seed dealer from Murdock.

"I continue to be amazed at how many organics farmers there are and they're growing," said Falk, also an LSP member. "The trend has completely changed and consumers are becoming more aware of where their food source is and are reaching out to where their food source is."

He praised the recently released Minnesota Organic Directory as a way to connect consumers and producers.

One area of organics farming that is taking off is organics dairy farming, Falk said. He's glad the university recognized the need to provide more information in this area with the conversion of part of their dairy herd at Morris to organics production.

"I believe it would be absolutely wonderful to have that research being done," Falk said.

CFANS dean Al Levine and Extension dean Durgan are also considering the formation of an Organic Advisory Committee.

"I think it's a great start because it's all about communication," Falk said.