AURI board changes
At the AURI board meeting in January, Julie Bleyhl and Irv Sether were reelected as chair and vice chair, respectively. Bleyhl, who represents the Minnesota Farmers Union, has been a board member since AURI's inception, and has served as chair since 1994. Sether represents the Minnesota Corn Growers.

Two other board members, Todd Resler of the Minnesota Pork Producers and Mark Harless of the Minnesota Soybean Growers, have left the board of directors. Both had served on the board since 1992.

Robert Kirchner, a farmer from Brewster, Minn., will replace Harless as the Soybean Growers representative. "I'm enthusiastic about the opportunities that lie ahead," Kirchner says. "There are areas such as biotechnology and new technologies that have tremendous potential. Hopefully we'll be able to hit on some successful commercial ventures from our research efforts."

No successor has yet been named for Resler.

Resource directory updated
An updated guide to AURI programs and services is now available. The 1998 AURI resource guide features information on AURI programs, staff and facilities. The 16-page publication is intended to help banks, economic development agencies, researchers and policy makers understand AURI's services.

"Even though we are a relatively small organization, we have a lot to offer ag-based businesses in Minnesota," says Dan Lemke, AURI communications director. "It's important for us to let everyone know that we may be able to help them in some way."

Guides can be ordered free of charge by calling Lemke at (507) 835-8990. The information is also available on the AURI Web site at www.auri.org.

Bucking the grain
Aldrich, Minn. ­ Minnesota buckwheat growers are teaming together to explore markets and processing technologies for the increasingly popular grain crop. AURI is working with the newly formed Buckwheat Growers Association of Central Minnesota, using AURI's gradient force mill to test dehulling processes. The cooperative wants to sell buckwheat hulls, valued at about 60 cents per pound, and is seeking niche markets for buckwheat flour used in bread, pasta and other food products.

Because of buckwheat's soil-enriching qualities, interest among farmers is growing, says Aldrich area producer Tom Bilek. Buckwheat adds phosphorus to the soil, consumes little nitrogen and is a natural weed controller.

With a 30-day maturity rate, the crop can be followed by rye and vetch for more weed control and nitrogen. Bilek says after following a hay crop with buckwheat and rye, "I had one of my best corn crops ever." And for only about $12 per acre, Bilek estimates, buckwheat can be planted as a cover crop to control weeds.

A video on buckwheat is available through county Extension offices and Natural Resource Conservation Service offices.

U of M offers food marketing course
Going for Gold! Building Winning Food Marketing and Sales Strategies, a short course on food marketing, will be offered June 2-3 at the Earle Brown Center on the University of Minnesota-St. Paul Campus. Designed for both food entrepreneurs and experienced marketers, the course will cover marketing, advertising, sales, merchandising, pricing, and management issues