Events and Information Services

If you need answers to your questions, here is a list of recommended phone services from the University of Minnesota Extension Service and other organizations.

Organization	Phone and Hours	Service
2-1-1 Information & Referral	211 (Cell phone users call 800-543-7709) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week	United Way's 2-1-1 Information and Referral Service will help you find information about education, housing, counseling, health services, child care, employment assistance, food, youth services,  senior services, veteran services, and much more.
AnswerLine	1-800-854-1678 Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-12 noon 1-4 p.m.	Household experts answer questions about safely cooking, canning and freezing foods and cleaning stains and mildew, and other household questions.
Bell Museum	1-612-624-1374 Monday-Friday 2-5 p.m.	The Bell Museum is located at the University of Minnesota. Students and staff answer questions about wildlife, specifically mammals and birds.
Farm Information Line	1-800-232-9077 Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.	Extension educators respond to Minnesota agriculture and small acreage farm quetions.  They provide referrals to local Extension agricultre personnel where available.
Forest Resources	1-612-624-3020	Specialists for trained students answer questions on small woodlot management, agriculture, and urban forestry.
Onsite Sewage Treatment Program	1-800-657-3516 Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.	An educator answers questions on operation and maintenance of sewage treatment.
Minnesota Attorney General Consumer Assistance	1-800-657-3787	Trained representatives respond to questions concerning topics such as telemarketing, no-call list, landlord/tenant rights and consumer fraud.
MN Department of Commerce Energy Information Center	1-800-657-3710 Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.	Representatives respond to questions about insurance, family finance and telephones.  Energy reps answer questions about ice dams, building codes, moisture in homes, windows, and offer conservation ideas.
MN Foodborne Illness Hotline	1-877-366-3455	Trained health program representative responds to people who believe they have gotten sick from food.  A report is filed.
United Way's First Call Minnesota	211	Trained workers refer callers to education, health and human service agencies.
EPA Indoor Air Quality Information Hotline	1-800-438-4318 Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.	Specialists respond to questions on indoor air quality such as mold in the home and flood damage.
USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline	1-800-535-4555 Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.	Recorded messages on meat and poultry as well as an option to transfer to a specialist who responds to questions regarding the safe handling, cooking, storage, and nutrition of meat and poultry.
USDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Outreach and Information Center	1-888-723-3366 Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.	Trained specialists respond to questions about food (safety, nutrition, recalls) and women's health.
Excel Energy	1-800-895-4999	Trained representatives respond to safety questions about gas and electric appliances, power outages and tree trimming.  You do not need to be an Excel customer to receive an answer.