Peder Kjeseth, Director
Appointed January 2019
Peder Kjeseth has served as Director of Government Relations since January 2019.
The Government Relations office provides an essential link between the MDA 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.
Legislative Reports
Permanent Legislative Reports
- Ag BMP Loan Program Status Report 2019 (PDF)
- Ag Land Preservation 2018-2019 (PDF)
- Agricultural Chemical Response and Reimbursement Account (ACRRA) Annual Report Fiscal Year 2019 (PDF)
- Agricultural Emergency Account Annual Report 2020 (PDF)
- Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council Report 2015 (PDF)
- Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation Fiscal Year 2019 Legislative Report (PDF)
- Annual Rules Report 2019 (PDF)
- Biodiesel Annual Report 2020 (PDF)
- Bioincentive Program Report to the Legislature 2020 (PDF)
- Clean Water Fund Legislative Report – January 2016 (PDF)
- Commissioner's Exemptions Report 2019 (PDF)
- Dairy Development and Profitability Enhancement Legislative Report FY 2018 / Work Plan FY 2020 (PDF)
- Dairy Research, Teaching, and Consumer Education Authority Annual Report - February 2020 (PDF)
- Elk Damage Payments 2018-2019 (PDF)
- Permitting Efficiency and Goal Report – February 2020 (PDF)
- Pesticide Management Plan Status Report 2018 (PDF)
- Retail Biofuel Infrastructure Grant Program Report to the Legislature, 2017 (PDF)
- Status of Organic Agriculture in Minnesota 2015 (PDF)
- Waste Pesticide Collection Program Report 2019 (PDF)
- Wolf Livestock Conflict Prevention Grants Fiscal Year 2017 – Present (PDF)
Limited-time Legislative Reports
- Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program Report – January 2019 (PDF)
- Commercial Manure Applicator Manual Report – January 2016 (PDF)
- Good Food Access Program: A Report to the Minnesota Legislature – January 2020 (PDF)
- Interim Report on Nitrate in Groundwater – January 2015 (PDF)
- Meat Processing Vocational Training for Inmates – January 2017 (PDF)
- NextGen Energy Board Report – February 2015 (PDF)
- Nitrate in Groundwater – June 2016 (PDF)
- Petroleum Replacement Promotion Report – January 2015 (PDF)
One-time Legislative Report
- Emerging Farmers in Minnesota – February 2020 (PDF)
- Farmer-Lender Mediation Task Force Report – February 2017 (PDF)
- Hemp Extraction Framework Legislative Report – January 2020 (PDF)
- Industrial Hemp Research Report – January 2015 (PDF)
- Inspections of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture – January 2018 (PDF)
- Livestock Industry Study (2015) (PDF)
- Meat Processing for Inmates (PDF)
- Minnesota Farm Safety
- Nursery Stock Labeled as Beneficial to Pollinators Report – March 2020 (PDF)
- Status of Farm Safety in Minnesota Report to the Legislative – February 2017 (PDF)
- Status of Food Hubs in Minnesota (2016) (PDF)
- Urban Agriculture in Minnesota (2016) (PDF)