News from the North Dakota Department of Agriculture

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AUGUST 9,2001

HEADLINES

• JOHNSON ELECTED PRESIDENT OF REGIONAL MARKETING GROUP
• JOHNSON REAPPOINTS CREDIT REVIEW BOARD MEMBERS
• CUSTOM APPLICATORS MUST BE CERTIFIED
• MEETINGS AND OTHER EVENTS

BISMARCK - North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson is the new president of the Mid-America International Agri-Trade Council (MIATCO).

Johnson succeeds Michigan Director of Agriculture Dan Wyant. Other new officers include Nebraska Director of Agriculture Merlyn Carlson, vice president, and Missouri Director of Agriculture Lowell Moeller, secretary-treasurer.

A private, non-profit association, MIATCO helps midwestern U.S. companies promote food and agricultural products in foreign markets. MIATCO works in conjunction with its 12 member state agricultural promotion agencies. MIATCO services include export promotion, customized export assistance and a cost-share funding program.

"In just the past three years, MIATCO has provided North Dakota companies with almost $300,000 in market promotion assistance," Johnson said. "MIATCO programs have helped a number of North Dakota companies get into the foreign export business and to expand their overseas markets."

Member states include North Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

MIATCO was created in 1969, as a cooperative effort between 12 midwestern state agricultural promotion agencies and the United States Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

MEDIA: For more information, please call Roger Johnson a (701) 328-4754.

JOHNSON REAPPOINTS CREDIT REVIEW BOARD MEMBERS

BISMARCK - Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson has re-appointed Marilyn Aarsvold, Blanchard, and Elwood "Woody" Barth, Solen, to the North Dakota Credit Review Board.

"Marilyn and Woody have both the experience in production agriculture and the knowledge of agricultural credit issues that make them valuable members of the Credit Review Board," Johnson said. "I am very pleased that they have agreed to serve another two years on the board."

Aarsvold farms near Blanchard. Barth ranches near Solen. Both were first appointed to the Credit Review Board in 1989.

The six-member Credit Review Board establishes operating policy for the North Dakota Agricultural Mediation Service, a division of the North Dakota Department of Agriculture. The board also acts in an advisory capacity to the Bank of North Dakota on agricultural lending programs and to the State Board for Vocational and Technical Education on the Adult Farm Management Program.

MEDIA: For more information, please call Jeff Knudson at (701 328-4769.

CUSTOM APPLICATORS MUST BE CERTIFIED

BISMARCK - North Dakota now requires that all commercial pesticide applicators be certified to purchase and apply pesticides.

"The 2001 Legislature has widened the scope of the certification law," said Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson. "It now basically covers anyone who applies controlled pesticides in public places or for hire."

Among those now required to be certified are school and municipal maintenance personnel, golf course employees and water treatment workers who use pesticides in their jobs.

Johnson said the North Dakota Department of Agriculture will initially focus enforcement efforts on certification of major applicators, including agricultural, lawn care and pest control operators.

"The legislation does not provide for a 'grace period,'" Johnson said. "Nevertheless, we will first use warnings and letters of non-compliance to encourage certification. Our goal is to help everyone who needs to be certified to get in compliance with the new law as soon as possible."

Johnson encouraged commercial applicators who have questions about certification to contact the North Dakota State University Extension Service pesticide program at (701) 231-7180.

MEDIA: For more information, please call Jerry Thompson at (701) 328-4922.