Regional Agricultural Awareness Workshops

University of Minnesota Extension, in conjunction with the Minnesota Departments of Agriculture and Emergency Management, sponsored seven workshops during February and March 2008. These agricultural awareness workshops were designed to help agricultural and emergency response communities as they work to integrate agriculture into county-level emergency response planning. The workshops were held in Lanesboro, Mankato, New Brighton, Willmar, Grand Rapids, Thief River Falls, and Marshall. Over 300 participants, representing 81 Minnesota counties attended the workshops.

Agencies that participated include:

• Homeland Security and Emergency Management
• Environmental Service agency personnel, including Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Solid Waste Officers
• Feedlot Officers
• USDA Farm Service Agency
• Natural Resource Conservation Service
• University of Minnesota Extension
• Board of Animal Health
• USDA Animal Plant Inspection Service
• Law enforcement
• Department of Natural Resources
• Representatives from planning, development, and zoning agencies

AgAware Workshop Presentations

Who's Who in Agricultural Emergency Response. Various agencies in MN, who they are, what they do, and their role in an emergency.

This Isn't Your Great-Grandfather's Farm. Mike Starkey, MDA, gives overview of how agriculture in Minnesota has changed.

Responding to Foreign Animal Diseases in the US. Ty J. Vannieuwenhoven, USDA APHIS, talks about foreign animal diseases.

Dollars and Cents. Agricultural economics by region provided by Ted Radnitz, MDA. Southeast, South Central, West Central, Metro, Northeast, Northwest and Southwest (these look alike at first glance, but they are different after the first few slides).

Responding to Invasive Pest Introductions. Mark Abrahamson, MDA, outlines the rapid response plan for invasive species such as gypsy moth and emerald ash borer.