Portrait photo of Peder Kjeseth, assistant commissioner

Appointed January 2022

Peder Kjeseth serves as Assistant Commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). He has been at the MDA since 2019 in the role of Director of Legislative Affairs.

As Assistant Commissioner, Kjeseth oversees the Pesticide and Fertilizer Management Division, the Plant Protection Division, and Laboratory Services. 

Prior to coming to the MDA in 2019, Kjeseth worked for eight years on staff for Governor Tim Walz in both his prior congressional and current gubernatorial offices.