February 26, 2003

IP and Specialty Crop Production Workshop To Be Held In West Fargo March 6

The North Dakota State University Extension Service is sponsoring a workshop focusing on identity-preserved (IP) and specialty crops at 9 a.m. Thursday, March 6, at the Speedway Events Center in West Fargo.

The workshop will focus on providing producers information on developing an identity preserved market with several risk management benefits. Producers will also learn how identity preserved markets provide diversification opportunities and how the adoption of identity preserved crop production methods reduces food safety and market risks. Registration will be at 8:30. Cost is $15 which will include coffee and lunch. The Speedway Events Center is located at 680 Main Ave. West.

The day’s events will open with a presentation by Don Senechal of the Hale Group, Ltd., an agricultural consulting company, on the potential for identity preserved products in national and regional products. Ray Hansen of the Ag Marketing Resource Center at Iowa State University will discuss challenges of maintaining identity in an identity preserved system. Cole Gustafson, agricultural economist at NDSU, will close the morning with a discussion on the economics of identity preserved products.

The after noon will feature a panel discussion on experiences with identity preserved products. Panelists will include Carrol Duerr of Earthwise Processors, Moorhead; Ron Haaland, Specialty Export Productions, Inc., Greenfield, Tenn.; and Dave Morken of Unity Seed Company, Casselton.

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Source: John Kringler, (701) 231-5711, jkringle@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu