Minnesota Potato Council Considers Transition to Private Funding, Impacting State Oversight
The Minnesota Area II Potato Research and Promotion Council, a state-funded agricultural organization, has announced its intention to transition to a privately funded and operated entity. Established in 1991, the council has been instrumental in funding research projects that benefit potato producers, including studies on soil health, fungicide evaluations, and row spacing trials. Currently, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture collects checkoff fees to support the council's activities. A public hearing is scheduled for February 25 at Ewing Farms in Big Lake, Minnesota, where the public can express their views on the proposed transition. The council's board will meet and vote on the matter following the hearing. If the board decides to proceed with the transition, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture will cease its oversight, and the changes will take effect on July 1. 
