Minnesota Agencies

The committee advises the commissioner of agriculture concerning responsibilities under the seed regulatory program. The committee must evaluate species for invasiveness, difficulty of control, cost of control, benefits, and amount of injury caused by each species. For each species evaluated, the committee must recommend to the commissioner whether a species should be listed as a prohibited noxious weed seed or restricted noxious weed seed or not be listed. Species designated as prohibited or restricted noxious weed seeds must be reevaluated every three years for a recommendation on whether or not the designated species need to remain on the noxious weed seed lists. The committee must also advise the commissioner on the implementation of the Minnesota Seed Law (Minn. Stat. 21.80-21.92).

The commissioner must appoint members to include representatives from: the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences or Extension at the University of Minnesota; Minnesota Crop Improvement; the seed industry in Minnesota (a minimum of six members with representative from multinational, national, regional, and Minnesota seed companies); the grain industry in Minnesota; farmers in Minnesota, other state and federal agencies with an interest in seed; and other members as needed.

The committee must select a chair from its membership. Meetings of the committee may be called by or at the direction of the commissioner or the chair. Members serve two-year terms with subsequent reappointment by the commissioner.