Minnesota Agencies

The new Beef Profitability Strategic Task Force will address several key objectives, such as determining what role, if any, the state should play in developing a source/age verification program; identifying the research needs of the beef industry; reviewing Minnesota's regulation and taxation of the beef industry; and considering ways to encourage young farmers to enter into beef production in Minnesota. The task force will make its recommendations to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA).

The committee will begin meeting in early 2008 to set goals and priorities.

The committee expires February 2010. 

The 14 member task force will recognize the diverse nature of Minnesota's beef industry and include:
Five (5) regional beef producers (a producer per region NW, NE, Central, SW and SE)
An order buyer or auction market representative
A packer or processor representative
A representative from the retailer/distributor/wholesale industry
A lender or agricultural finance representative
A veterinarian
Two (2) representatives from statewide farm organizations
Two (2) at-large individuals
Non-committee collaborators will include representatives from the MDA as well as the University of Minnesota Extension, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.