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The following table is a list of all licensed and permitted dairy plants in Minnesota.
The Incident Response Unit (IRU) Priority List includes sites that are associated with the manufacture, storage, transport
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (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.
Biosecurity will be the most effective method to protect your animals. Minimize access of wild birds to cattle and their environment.
- Manage the movement of cattle and their transport as much as possible.
- Do not feed unpasteurized colostrum or milk to calves, cattle, or other mammals.
- Implement precautions for caretakers and veterinary teams handling sick cows, sick or dead birds, small mammals, and unpasteurized milk.
- Separate (quarantine) all new or returning animals for at least 21 days.
- Contact your herd veterinarian if increased cow illness is observed in your herd, specifically in second lactation or greater cows that are 150 days or more in milk.
