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Minnesota names new assistant ag commissioner

The new assistant commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture says growing up on a dairy farm will help him stay grounded.

Santo Cruz was raised in Stearns County where he and his eight siblings worked for the neighborhood dairy farmer. Cruz tells Brownfield that experience will remind him to do a good job for all farmers in the state.

“No matter the size in acres, or in the amount of bushels they’re bringing in this year.  The important thing is that they feel they have a welcome ear.  Being able to listen to our stakeholders is going to be a real priority for me.”

Cruz joined the Department as legislative director two years ago and says as assistant commissioner, he will oversee two divisions.

“The ag marketing division and the plant protection division.  And then the legal services division internally, which kind of serves the entire agency.”

The ag marketing division promotes agribusinesses and commodities, Cruz says, while plant protection involves a couple roles.

“We enforce regulation on seeds (the Minnesota Seed Law), as well as nursery stock and plant material.  We also do a lot of information around different invasive species like gypsy moth or emerald ash borer.”

Ag Commissioner Dave Frederickson named Andrea Vaubel as Cruz’s replacement as Legislative Director.