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The Plant Protection Division regulates and provides services intended to protect Minnesota agricultural crops and native plant species and also certifies plant material and commodities for export. The Division certifies, inspects and regulates the nursery and apiary industries to protect against invasive or exotic pests and also provides certification services so that Minnesota nursery stock and bee colonies/equipment meet interstate and international export requirements. The Division inspects and certifies the seed industry and the seed potato industry. The Division provides a voluntary grain (Duluth only) and fruit and vegetable grading program on a fee for service basis. The Division surveys the state for both endemic and invasive agricultural and forest pests and disease including targeted surveys and inspections for specific exotic plant pests. The Plant Protection Division has overall responsibility for excluding exotic or invasive plant pests through the use of quarantines and other regulatory actions. The Division undertakes regulatory, eradication or management actions to eliminate or minimize the impacts of potentially damaging exotic or invasive species.
Pest Detection & Response Unit
651-201-6448, Teresa McDill, Supervisor. Unit staff monitors for and conducts initial response to invasive species that are new to Minnesota. Pest risk assessments are completed to determine the risk to our state for selected pests. The Unit has outreach programs targeted for plant health professionals and the general public, and responds to calls and reports from both on possible detections of new invasive species.
 Learn more about invasive species
Gypsy Moth Unit
651-201-6329, Lucia Hunt, Supervisor. Unit staff implements an annual survey for gypsy moth, collects and analyzes data on moth populations, and determines treatment sites as needed. The Unit works in close cooperation with federal, state, local, and tribal officials to carry out the trapping and treatment programs each year. Outreach programs are aimed at the timber and nursery industries as well as the general public.
Learn more about the Gypsy Moth Unit
Nursery Inspection & Export Certification Unit
651-201-6388, Mark Schreiber, Supervisor. The Nursery Inspection Program provides inspection and certification services to firms and individuals who buy and sell nursery stock ensuring that Minnesota-grown and imported nursery stock is free of serious plant pests. Nursery stock includes perennials, trees, and shrubs and does not include annuals, vegetable transplants or cut Christmas trees.
Learn more about Nursery Inspection Program
The Export Certification Program provides export certificates and inspection and certification services for individuals exporting plant products (lumber, logs, wood products, milled grain, etc.) and plant material (grain, seed for propagation, nursery stock, etc.). Inspection services include field inspections, grain elevator inspections and houseplant inspections for citizens moving to other states. For more information call 651-201-6558.
Learn more about the Export Certification Program
Seed & Noxious Weed Unit
651-201-6531, Steve Malone, Acting Supervisor.The Minnesota Seed Law affects seeds used to grow plants. Seeds that are sold must have a tag showing the buyer that the seeds are alive and will grow. The tag also shows the buyer if weeds seeds or other things are present. A person selling seed must obey the seed law by being honest about what the tag says. To make sure the tag is correct, both the state and counties inspect them and take samples of the seed to test.
Learn more about the Seed & Noxious Weed Unit
Screenings are things, including weed seeds, removed from seed or grain being prepared for sale. Screenings can have value as food for farm animals. Farmers that feed screenings to their animals must be able to destroy the weed seeds in order to get a permit to buy them. The permit gives farmers a way to obey the Minnesota Screenings Act and to use screenings safely.
Learn more about screenings
The Noxious Weed Law affects growing plants. Some plants are noxious because they can harm people, animals, the food we eat, and nature. People working for counties, cities, and townships inspect land and ask owners to destroy their noxious weeds. Destroying them stops them from spreading and harming neighbors. Land owners that refuse to destroy their noxious weeds can be forced to do so.
Learn more about the Seed & Noxious Weed Unit
Fruit, Vegetable & Grain Unit
651-201-6076, Harley Olinske, Supervisor. The Fruit, Vegetable & Grain Unit provides inspection and certification of fruits and vegetables, food safety audits of fruit and vegetable growers and handlers, licensing, examination and verification of bonding of grain buyers, grain storage facilities, grain banks and general merchandise warehouse facilities and licensing and verification of bonding for wholesale produce dealers.
Learn more about the Fruit, Vegetable & Grain Unit
Potato Inspection Unit
218-773-4956, Mike Horken, Acting Supervisor. The Potato Inspection Program certifies seed potatoes to meet prescribed standards relating to disease and variety. It is advisable to contact the Potato Inspection Unit prior to planting if the applicant is unfamiliar with program requirements. The certification program is voluntary. For information or assistance, contact Potato Inspection Unit, 312 Fourth Avenue Northeast, East Grand Forks, MN 56721.
Learn more about the Potato Inspection Unit
Shipping Point Inspection Potatoes
218 773-4956, Mike Horken, Supervisor. This program provides voluntary and mandatory shipping point grading to ensure proper grade and condition of potatoes and provides potato inspection at processing plants to assure proper use and settlement. For information or to request inspection, contact Potato Inspection Unit, 312 Fourth Avenue Northeast, East Grand Forks, MN 56721.
Other Programs & Resources
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