Dr. Patricia Berglund was named in February to the Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics for the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. The committee advises the secretary of agriculture and the National Agricultural Statistics Service on the scope, content and timing of surveys and the five-year census of agriculture. Dr. Berglund has served as director of the Northern Crops Institute in Fargo since 1996 and holds the rank of associate professor at North Dakota State University.

Senator Yvonne Prettner Solon (DFL-Duluth), a former Port Authority commissioner, was named Legislator of the Year by the Minnesota Society of Professional Land Surveyors. The group, which represents over 550 land surveyors and survey technicians from private and public sectors across the state, recognized her legislative work on behalf of the society. Senator Prettner Solon served as a Port commissioner from 1990 to 1994.

Two recent retirements mark 65-plus years of experience lost for the regional grain industry. Doug Haberman retired in January as manager of Midwest elevators for AGP Grain, Limited, Minneapolis. Ron DeJongh, grain merchandiser for AGP, will assume his duties. Ray Lottie retired in February as manager of cereal and eastern grain operations for General Mills, Inc., Minneapolis. No successor has been named to date. Both companies operate waterfront elevators in Duluth.