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Weather station near Beardsley, Minnesota

MDA is seeking landowner hosts for weather stations that will support the Minnesota Ag Weather Network (MAWN). With funding provided by the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, the MDA is looking to expand MAWN throughout the agricultural areas of the state.

The goal of the expansion is to provide agricultural producers with reliable real-time local weather data and weather-related ag tools to guide decisions for effectively managing nutrient inputs and water usage, appropriately time crop chemical application, and reduce leaching and runoff. Accurate and timely weather information is necessary for many precision agriculture technologies and best management practices. This will help farmers optimize management decisions to improve farm profitability, reduce loss of agricultural inputs, and protect surface water and groundwater. More information can be found on the MAWN webpage.

Expansion Goal

The MDA has a goal of having a weather station within 20 miles of most crop fields in Minnesota. If you are interested in hosting a weather station, please review the criteria below, review the expansion map to identify if your location is in the expansion area, and complete the form below if you believe your location is suitable.

Ideal Site

The weather station is installed in an area of about 30 feet by 30 feet (0.02 acres). The weather station cannot be installed on land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) or the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) due to program rules. The intent is to operate the station 50 years or longer.

While not always possible the ideal site has the following characteristics:

Relatively flat, open area of at least 1 acre
No obstructions (bushes, fences, tree rows, structures, etc.) within 200 feet
No large patches of pavement within 100 feet
No structures within 300 feet
Soil common to the area
Not in a high spot or a low spot in the landscape
Accessible year round by a four-wheel drive pickup truck
At least one bar of Verizon cellular signal

Access Agreement and Frequency of Visits

A signed access agreement between the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the property owner is required. The agreement outlines the responsibilities of both parties. Weather station hosts or cooperators will be partners of the weather network and will report visual damage or problems to the MDA, carry out minor maintenance tasks such as clearing snow off the solar panel or similar, and act as a point of contact for the MDA if a malfunction occurs on the weather station.

After installation, the station will require regular maintenance checks in the spring and fall by a Minnesota Ag Weather Network technician. Other visits may be needed to fix sensors or remove vegetation.

Weather Station Details

A 33-foot tower will be installed to hold weather sensors. Three concrete piers, and guy wires are used to secure the tower.
A camera is deployed and can be restricted to not show a private residence.
Small amounts of herbicide are used to create a bare soil temperature plot.
The weather station is solar powered and sends data on a cellular network.
A temporary shallow soil pit is dug nearby to provide context and aid in the installation and interpretation of soil moisture readings.

Complete the form below to apply to host a weather station!

The MDA reviews applications as they are received and will reach out if your location falls within our designated expansion area.

Contact information

First and last name

Email address

Phone number

Location

To find the latitude and longitude zoom into a location on Google Maps and right click on the spot.

Latitude (i.e., 44.3250)

Longitude (i.e. -96.7685)

Nearest town

County

Legal landowner

Other sites on the property may also be suitable

Yes

Maybe

Number of bars for Verizon signal

Additional comments

New Pesticide Applicator License Application: Commercial or Noncommercial265.34 KB

New Structural Pest Control Company License Application206.13 KB

New Applicators: Apply Online

Renew Pesticide Applicator License

License Lookup

Testing Locations

Apply online and pay application and surcharge fees, these fees and surcharges are non-transferable and nonrefundable. Application fees must be paid prior to testing; test proctors will collect proof of payment prior to administering the exam. When completing the online application include the name, address (physical address and mailing address, if different) and phone number of your employer. Provide your social security number and date of birth.
Certify that the financial requirements are met.
Applying in-person or by mail: Confirm that that the testing location can accept payments, if approved by testing location, bring the completed application and payment to the testing appointment. If the location does not accept payments on behalf of MDA you will need to mail in the application form with payment to the MDA, contact pesticide.licensing@state.mn.us to obtain proof of payment before scheduling an exam.
The MDA has partnered with many testing locations throughout the state. Visit Pesticide Testing Locations to schedule an exam.

New Applicators

Apply online and pay application and surcharge fees, these fees and surcharges are non-transferable and nonrefundable. Application fees must be paid prior to testing; test proctors will collect proof of payment prior to administering the exam. When completing the online application include the name, address (physical address and mailing address, if different) and phone number of your employer. Provide your social security number and date of birth.
Certify that the financial requirements are met.
Applying in-person or by mail: Confirm that that the testing location can accept payments, if approved by testing location, bring the completed application and payment to the testing appointment. If the location does not accept payments on behalf of MDA you will need to mail in the application form with payment to the MDA, contact pesticide.licensing@state.mn.us to obtain proof of payment before scheduling an exam.
The MDA has partnered with many testing locations throughout the state. Visit Pesticide Testing Locations to schedule an exam.

Applicators licensed in the pervious calendar year will find renewal instructions on their renewal form. These fees and surcharges are non-transferable and nonrefundable. If the applicator is required to retest, you will need to bring the renewal form and payment or payment receipt to your testing appointment. To request a duplicate renewal form contact pesticide.licensing@state.mn.us.

Additional Note: applications of fertilizer require a fertilizer license.

Renewing Applicators - licensed in previous calendar year

Additional Note: applications of fertilizer require a fertilizer license.

Categories to apply for under a Commercial and Noncommercial pesticide applicator license.

Category Code	Commercial	Category	Description
A	Yes	Core	Basic principles of pesticide regulation and application; required for all licensed applicators
B	Yes	General Aerial	Pesticide application with an aircraft
C	Yes	Field Crops Pest Management	Herbicides, fungicides and/or insecticides to agricultural crops
E	Yes	Turf & Ornamentals	Pesticides to non-agricultural areas or for ornamental propagation including lawns, parks, athletic fields, golf courses, nurseries, greenhouses. Note that fertilizer applications are licensed separately
F	Yes	Aquatic	Pesticides to surface water or areas where water is present to control aquatic organism, plants
H	Yes	Seed Treatment	Insecticides and fungicides to seed
I	Yes	Anti-Microbial	Pesticide to HVAC ventilation systems, cooling towers and for indoor mold mitigation & remediation
J	Yes	Forestry, Rights-of-Way, and Natural Areas	Pesticides to forestry (forested areas and forest plantations), rights-of-way (including roads, utilities, and ditch banks), and natural areas (prairie restoration, buckthorn removal)
K	Yes	Agricultural Pest Control - Animal	Pesticides to farm buildings and farm animals
L	Yes	Mosquito, Black Fly, Tick Pest Control	Pesticides for mosquito, black fly and tick pest control
N	Yes	Non-soil Fumigation	Fumigants and other pesticides to stored grain, processed grain, other commodities and facilities (fumigation endorsement for structural applicator OR private pesticide certification)
O	Yes	Soil Fumigation	Pesticide to Soil (fumigation endorsement for private pesticide certification)
P	Yes	Vertebrate Pest Control	Pesticides for vertebrate pest control (including repellents)
Q	Yes	Wood Preservatives	Chemical wood preservatives to lumber such as utility poles, fence posts, structural lumber, and railroad ties
R	Yes	Sewer Root Control	Pesticides for root control in sewer lines

License Categories

Categories to apply for under a Commercial and Noncommercial pesticide applicator license.

Category Code	Commercial	Category	Description
A	Yes	Core	Basic principles of pesticide regulation and application; required for all licensed applicators
B	Yes	General Aerial	Pesticide application with an aircraft
C	Yes	Field Crops Pest Management	Herbicides, fungicides and/or insecticides to agricultural crops
E	Yes	Turf & Ornamentals	Pesticides to non-agricultural areas or for ornamental propagation including lawns, parks, athletic fields, golf courses, nurseries, greenhouses. Note that fertilizer applications are licensed separately
F	Yes	Aquatic	Pesticides to surface water or areas where water is present to control aquatic organism, plants
H	Yes	Seed Treatment	Insecticides and fungicides to seed
I	Yes	Anti-Microbial	Pesticide to HVAC ventilation systems, cooling towers and for indoor mold mitigation & remediation
J	Yes	Forestry, Rights-of-Way, and Natural Areas	Pesticides to forestry (forested areas and forest plantations), rights-of-way (including roads, utilities, and ditch banks), and natural areas (prairie restoration, buckthorn removal)
K	Yes	Agricultural Pest Control - Animal	Pesticides to farm buildings and farm animals
L	Yes	Mosquito, Black Fly, Tick Pest Control	Pesticides for mosquito, black fly and tick pest control
N	Yes	Non-soil Fumigation	Fumigants and other pesticides to stored grain, processed grain, other commodities and facilities (fumigation endorsement for structural applicator OR private pesticide certification)
O	Yes	Soil Fumigation	Pesticide to Soil (fumigation endorsement for private pesticide certification)
P	Yes	Vertebrate Pest Control	Pesticides for vertebrate pest control (including repellents)
Q	Yes	Wood Preservatives	Chemical wood preservatives to lumber such as utility poles, fence posts, structural lumber, and railroad ties
R	Yes	Sewer Root Control	Pesticides for root control in sewer lines

Apply online and pay application and surcharge fees, these fees and surcharges are non-transferable and nonrefundable. Application fees must be paid prior to testing; test proctors will collect proof of payment prior to administering the exam. When completing the online application include the name, address (physical address and mailing address, if different) and phone number of your employer. Provide your social security number and date of birth.
Certify that the financial requirements are met.
Applying in-person or by mail: Confirm that that the testing location can accept payments, if approved by testing location, bring the completed application and payment to the testing appointment. If the location does not accept payments on behalf of MDA you will need to mail in the application form with payment to the MDA, contact pesticide.licensing@state.mn.us to obtain proof of payment before scheduling an exam.
The MDA has partnered with many testing locations throughout the state. Visit Pesticide Testing Locations to schedule an exam.

Additional Note: applications of fertilizer require a fertilizer license.

Categories to apply for under a Commercial and Noncommercial pesticide applicator license.

Category Code	Commercial	Category	Description
A	Yes	Core	Basic principles of pesticide regulation and application; required for all licensed applicators
B	Yes	General Aerial	Pesticide application with an aircraft
C	Yes	Field Crops Pest Management	Herbicides, fungicides and/or insecticides to agricultural crops
E	Yes	Turf & Ornamentals	Pesticides to non-agricultural areas or for ornamental propagation including lawns, parks, athletic fields, golf courses, nurseries, greenhouses. Note that fertilizer applications are licensed separately
F	Yes	Aquatic	Pesticides to surface water or areas where water is present to control aquatic organism, plants
H	Yes	Seed Treatment	Insecticides and fungicides to seed
I	Yes	Anti-Microbial	Pesticide to HVAC ventilation systems, cooling towers and for indoor mold mitigation & remediation
J	Yes	Forestry, Rights-of-Way, and Natural Areas	Pesticides to forestry (forested areas and forest plantations), rights-of-way (including roads, utilities, and ditch banks), and natural areas (prairie restoration, buckthorn removal)
K	Yes	Agricultural Pest Control - Animal	Pesticides to farm buildings and farm animals
L	Yes	Mosquito, Black Fly, Tick Pest Control	Pesticides for mosquito, black fly and tick pest control
N	Yes	Non-soil Fumigation	Fumigants and other pesticides to stored grain, processed grain, other commodities and facilities (fumigation endorsement for structural applicator OR private pesticide certification)
O	Yes	Soil Fumigation	Pesticide to Soil (fumigation endorsement for private pesticide certification)
P	Yes	Vertebrate Pest Control	Pesticides for vertebrate pest control (including repellents)
Q	Yes	Wood Preservatives	Chemical wood preservatives to lumber such as utility poles, fence posts, structural lumber, and railroad ties
R	Yes	Sewer Root Control	Pesticides for root control in sewer lines

Noncommercial Pesticide Applicator

Noncommercial licenses are for all pesticide applicators that apply Restricted Use Pesticides (RUPs) as part of their job on property owned or controlled by their employer; or for two or more governmental units sharing resources through a joint powers agreement. Any pesticide application to a golf course (RUP or general use) must be performed by a licensed applicator. Requirements to become a new applicator or renew an existing license are below.