EDC COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES

Agriculture and Renewable Energy Development (Ag)

Committee meeting minutes

2010 Goals/Objectives/Initiatives

Reports

MISSION STATEMENT

To sustain, identify and develop agriculture, agribusiness and renewable energy opportunities.

MEETING SCHEDULE

Meets at 7:30 a.m. on the third Thursday of each month at Christianson & Associates, PLLP, 302 Fifth Street SW, Willmar, except for the months of May and October when the committee usually does not meet.

MEETING MINUTES (PDF format)

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2010 Goals/Objectives/Initiatives

      1.  Position Kandiyohi County to commercialize renewable resource and intellectual               property
            a.  Determine feasibility

                    i.  Visit the University of Minnesota and other sources to gather data

                    ii.   Assess potential for technology
               b.  Initiate formal feasibility study of technology

                    i.  Obtain bid for services

                    ii.  Find funds for services

               c.  Find funding for project

                    i.  By either:

                        (1)  Selling the idea to appropriate industry partners

                        (2)  Form a local LLC to raise capital funds and proceed

     2.  Recruit and revitalize membership within the Agriculture and Renewable Energy       

          Development Committee

          a.  Invite local organizations to participate, requesting a liaison member, i.e. Kandiyohi                      County Commissioners, Corn Growers Association
                (1) One Kandiyohi County Commissioner

                (2)  One member from each of the following:

                       (a) Agriculture manufacturing

                       (b) Agriculture services/retail

                       (c) Crop production

                       (d) Animal agriculture

                       (e) Poultry

                       (f) University of Minnesota Extension

                       (g) Ridgewater College

     3.  Create a positive regulatory environment for local agriculture development

          a.  Develop a subcommittee

          b.  Achieve an agreement of a need to complement Kandiyohi County's comprehensive

                plan

          c.  Create suggested revisions to Kandiyohi County land use ordinance

          d.  Consider sequence of permit approval

          e.  Implementation of revisions

     4.  Develop agribusiness/renewable energy commercialization opportunities
          a.   Identify two commercial biomass opportunities

                i.  List all the options or opportunities in biomass

                ii.  Narrow list to five or seven to research

                iii.  Develop partnerships to help with research, i.e. AURI or University of Minnesota

                iv.  Invite speakers on topics

                 v.  Determine amounts of available raw inputs within the region

                vi.  Research feasbility options and bring to the committee to recommend the top two

                    opportunities

           b.  Funding

                i. Venture capital

                ii.  Monitor legislative action

                iii.  Research angel funds

                iv.  Research grant availability and list on EDC website

          c.  Mid-Central Research and Outreach Center

               i.  Determine the Ag Committee's role

               ii.  Assist the University of Minnesota with survey completion

               iii.  Monitor

               iv.  Play a role when asked.

REPORTS

Read the Ag Committee's Outline of Livestock Siting, including Policies, Procedures and Practices adopted September 2005.

Read the Ag Committee's Kandiyohi County Ag Producer Research Report, April 2005

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