Dakota Farmer

Gov. Doug Burgum appointed a new commissioner-at-large to the North Dakota Wheat Commission.

August 23, 2019

2 Min Read
green wheat heads
WHEAT BOARD: Wheat is an important commodity in North Dakota. A seven-member producer board is in charge of managing the 1.5 cent per bushel checkoff that is used to develop and maintain markets.

Mark Birdsall, Berthold, N.D., was recently appointed by North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to represent North Dakota’s wheat producers as the commissioner-at-large on the board of the North Dakota Wheat Commission. The commission is governed by seven producer board members, six of whom are producer-elected. The commissioner-at-large is appointed by the governor.

Birdsall and his family farm in Ward and Mountrail counties. They raise spring wheat, durum, barley, canola, peas, flax, lentils and soybeans. Mark is also a partner in Birdsall Grain & Seed LLC, which produces registered and certified seed. He is chairman of the State Board of Agricultural Research and Education (SBARE), and a board member of North Dakota State University Research Foundation.

He has also served in leadership roles in the U.S. Durum Growers Association, the Dakota Growers Pasta Company research board, the Ward County Ag Improvement Association and the ND Crop Improvement Association.

“We are excited to have Mark on our board, representing wheat producers in North Dakota,” says Greg Svenningsen, commission chairman. “Mark’s current and past experience on a long list of agricultural and industry related organizations, boards and associations is a terrific asset to the Commission and the 12,000 wheat producers it represents.”

The commissioner-at-large, like the other six members, serves a four year term and is limited to no more than three terms. Bruce Freitag, Scranton, N.D., served his maximum three terms from July 2007 to June 2019.

The commission was established in 1959 to develop, promote and service domestic and international markets for North Dakota wheat. The commission is funded by a producer checkoff of 1.5 cents per bushel on wheat sold in North Dakota. The seven commission members are active in development and implementation of Commission policy, programs, research priorities and budget expenditures.

Source: North Dakota Wheat Commission, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.

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