Government Relations

The Government Relations office provides an essential link between the Department of Agriculture and the state legislature, working with the Governor's Office, legislators and department staff to shape and monitor agricultural policy. The Government Relations office and the Commissioner work to implement policy working groups created by the legislature, providing legislative recommendations on a wide variety of agricultural issues, such as renewable energy, animal husbandry and pesticide use.

2009 Legislative Session

• Governor's Budget Recommendations 2010-2011 (PDF)
• Fact Sheets
• ACRRA Incident Response Program Costs (PDF: 99 KB / 2 pages)
• Clean Water Legacy Research Projects (PDF: 42 KB / 5 pages)
• Cross Border Sales (PDF: 70 KB / 1 page)
• Fertilizer Tonnage Fee Reporting (PDF: 180 KB / 2 pages)
• Future MDA Efforts - Clean Water Fund (PDF: 41 KB / 4 pages)
• Lead contamination of venison donated to Minnesota Hunter-Harvested Venison Donation Program (PDF: 190 KB / 2 pages)
• Pesticide Program Funding (PDF: 127 KB / 2 pages)
• Proposed Changes to the Wolf and Elk Compensation Fund (PDF: 302 KB / 2 pages)
• Proposed Revisions to the Minnesota Nursery Law (PDF: 178 KB / 2 pages)
• Waste Pesticide Collection Record-Keeping (PDF: 185 KB / 2 pages)
• Presentations
• PFM Budget Issues (PDF: 164 KB / 7 pages)

Legislative Reports

Groups & Task Forces

MDA Contact

Quinn Cheney
Director of Policy Development
Quinn.Cheney@state.mn.us
651-201-6180

Andrew Carter
Legislative Aid
Andrew.Carter@state.mn.us
651-201-6599

Commissioner's Office