Egg cartons may be reused for selling eggs. The cartons must be clean and maintained in a sanitary manner. You must apply the required labeling information to the cartons and cover or cross out any claims or label information not pertaining to the eggs in the carton.
You may sell eggs from any domesticated fowl, including chicken, turkey, duck, goose, and other species.
You may sell eggs from any domesticated fowl, including chicken, turkey, duck, goose, and other species.
Producers selling a product of their own farm or garden are generally excluded from licensing. If you plan to sell eggs to food facilities or to consumers away from the premises of your farm, you are encouraged to register with the MDA. You must also meet certain requirements described in Minnesota statutes concerning poultry and eggs and Minnesota poultry and eggs rules. Basic compliance with these requirements includes the following:
- Cleaning: The eggs must be cleaned by approved methods.
- Candling and Grading: All eggs must be candled and graded.
- Refrigeration: Eggs must be refrigerated at 45 degrees F or less after grading and be maintained at that temperature during storage.
- Packaging: Containers (cartons, flats, and cases) of eggs must be labeled with the following mandatory information:
- Grade and size of the eggs
- Your name, address, and zip code
- The statement: "Perishable. Keep Refrigerated."
- A pack date in Julian calendar (day of the year)
- A freshness date not to exceed 30 days from the date of pack. The freshness date must also have an explanation such as "exp...," "Best if used by...," or a similar statement.
- The safe handling instructions: "To prevent illness from bacteria: Keep eggs refrigerated, cook eggs until yolks are firm, and cook foods containing eggs thoroughly."
The requirements for selling your eggs at a farmers' market are the same as they would be if you were selling eggs to a food facility such as a restaurant or grocery store. Refer to the answer for the above question.
Egg sales made directly to the consumer from the farm are permitted. If you are selling eggs from your own flock, you are excluded from licensing and are exempt from inspection as long as you have fewer than 3,000 layers. If customers are picking up the eggs at a location other than your farm (i.e., the sale is occurring away from the farm premises), you must meet the requirements described in the answer to the first question above.
Eggs must be clean and free of debris prior to sale. Dry cleaning with an abrasive material such as sandpaper is generally recommended. Wet cleaning using rags, sponges, or other devices to scrub or wipe by hand is prohibited. Any washing equipment used must meet Minnesota rules for cleaning eggs.
Egg cartons may be reused for selling eggs. The cartons must be clean and maintained in a sanitary manner. You must apply the required labeling information to the cartons and cover or cross out any claims or label information not pertaining to the eggs in the carton.
You may sell eggs from any domesticated fowl, including chicken, turkey, duck, goose, and other species.
Members attending: Jeff Kosek, Bob Lindemann, Pat Ewing, Grant Anderson, Mark Jossund, Steve Commerford, Ryan Kelbrants, Bryce Nelson, Kevin Kruise, Scott Barnes, Emma Burt, Jeff Pagel, David Kee, Bev Durgan, Macei Kazula, Lee Helgen, Patrick Murry
Guests: Dan Kaiser, Fabian Fernandez, Vasu Sharma, Melissa Wilson, Anna Cates, Bruce Montgomery
MDA staff: Russ Derickson, Margaret Wagner
Grant Anderson opened the meeting with introduction (in-person & on-line) at 9:05 am.
New project proposals: (PI & temp ID)
- Melissa Wilson - T
- Dan Kaiser - N
- Vasu Sharma - Q
- Fabian Fernandez – R
- Ann Cates – X
- Yuxin Miao – S
Project voting
- Motion by MJ, second by RK to fund Project L for 1 year at $17283 – motion passed
- Motion by MJ, second by BL to fund project A for 1 year at $30,000 – motion passed
- Motion by BN, second by MJ to fund project E for 1year at $180,000 – motion passed
- Motion by BN, second by BL to fund Projects H, C, B, D, & K for 1 year (totals $247,000) – motion passed
- Motion by BL, second by MJ to fund project G for 1 year at $74944 – motion passed
- Motion by BL, second by MJ to fund projects J, P & Y for 1 year - motion passed
- Motion by MJ, second by BL to fund projects M, O, F, I, & AA for 1 year – motion passed
- Motion by MJ, second by BL to fund project X at $0 - motion passed
- Motion by MJ, second by BL, to fund project R at $0 – motion passed. Council requests Research Coordinator provide comments to PI
- Motion by KK, second by BN to fund project N for 1 year at $53688 – motion passed
- Motion by MJ, second by BN to fund project T for 1 year at $50,000 and authorizes Exec committee to add an additional $36306 in MN Corn Growers fails to also fund this project. – motion passed
- Motion by MJ, second by BN to fund project S & Q at $0 - motion passed
- Motion by MJ, second by BL to give AFREC Exec committee authorization to approve changes to projects (dollars and objectives) as needed.
Margaret Wagner provided an update on the reauthorization of AFREC
Lee Helgen has been meeting legislators, Has Jan 26th meetings with Putnum and Vang
Patrick Murray had talked to committee chairs to seek their comments as to who should carry the bill. There is some concern on the part of Rep. Hanson and also SEMN issues
Bruce Montgomery
- reviewed fertilizer research funding across neighboring states
- provide potential dates for the summer AFREC meeting
- Grants management require criminal background check for project over $50,000
Motion to adjourn by MJ, second BL – motion passed
Members attending: Jeff Kosek, Bob Lindemann, Pat Ewing, Grant Anderson, Mark Jossund, Steve Commerford, Ryan Kelbrants, Bryce Nelson, Kevin Kruise, Scott Barnes, Emma Burt, Jeff Pagel, David Kee, Bev Durgan, Macei Kazula, Lee Helgen, Patrick Murry
Guests: Dan Kaiser, Fabian Fernandez, Vasu Sharma, Melissa Wilson, Anna Cates, Bruce Montgomery
MDA staff: Russ Derickson, Margaret Wagner
Grant Anderson opened the meeting with introduction (in-person & on-line) at 9:05 am.
New project proposals: (PI & temp ID)
- Melissa Wilson - T
- Dan Kaiser - N
- Vasu Sharma - Q
- Fabian Fernandez – R
- Ann Cates – X
- Yuxin Miao – S
Project voting
- Motion by MJ, second by RK to fund Project L for 1 year at $17283 – motion passed
- Motion by MJ, second by BL to fund project A for 1 year at $30,000 – motion passed
- Motion by BN, second by MJ to fund project E for 1year at $180,000 – motion passed
- Motion by BN, second by BL to fund Projects H, C, B, D, & K for 1 year (totals $247,000) – motion passed
- Motion by BL, second by MJ to fund project G for 1 year at $74944 – motion passed
- Motion by BL, second by MJ to fund projects J, P & Y for 1 year - motion passed
- Motion by MJ, second by BL to fund projects M, O, F, I, & AA for 1 year – motion passed
- Motion by MJ, second by BL to fund project X at $0 - motion passed
- Motion by MJ, second by BL, to fund project R at $0 – motion passed. Council requests Research Coordinator provide comments to PI
- Motion by KK, second by BN to fund project N for 1 year at $53688 – motion passed
- Motion by MJ, second by BN to fund project T for 1 year at $50,000 and authorizes Exec committee to add an additional $36306 in MN Corn Growers fails to also fund this project. – motion passed
- Motion by MJ, second by BN to fund project S & Q at $0 - motion passed
- Motion by MJ, second by BL to give AFREC Exec committee authorization to approve changes to projects (dollars and objectives) as needed.
Margaret Wagner provided an update on the reauthorization of AFREC
Lee Helgen has been meeting legislators, Has Jan 26th meetings with Putnum and Vang
Patrick Murray had talked to committee chairs to seek their comments as to who should carry the bill. There is some concern on the part of Rep. Hanson and also SEMN issues
Bruce Montgomery
- reviewed fertilizer research funding across neighboring states
- provide potential dates for the summer AFREC meeting
- Grants management require criminal background check for project over $50,000
Motion to adjourn by MJ, second BL – motion passed
Council member & Alternates: Steve Commerford, Dan Schmidz. Grant Anderson, Kevin Kruize, Jeff Pagel, Lee Helgen, Maciej Kazula, Emma Burt, Bev Durgan, Jeff Kosek, Laura Lemke, Scott Barnes, Matt Kruger, Warren Formo
AFREC PIs: Jeff Vetsch, Yuxin Miao, Dan Kaiser, Carl Rosen, Jeff Coulter, Paul McDivitt, Mike Schmitt
Others: Bruce Montgomery, Jack Wilcox, Dave Nicolai, Patrick Murray,
MDA staff: Russ Derickson, Margaret Wagner, Josh Stamper, Commissioner Peterson
August 12, 2024
Grant Anderson, AFREC Chair, opened the meeting with a greeting and introductions of those in attendance.
Bruce Montgomery led a review of the changes to the AFREC statues by the 2024 legislature: sundown clause changes & date(s), AFREC membership changes, additions to yearly research priorities.
Lee Helgen added to Bruces comments and provided insights on the process from his perspective and interactions with Legislator and Senators, MDA staff, and MDA Commissioner Thom Peterson. He went on to thank Bruce for timely communications to the council during the reauthorization process.
Group Discussion – How to partner with other funding resources to better leverage AFREC funding for research.
AFREC Project updates:
- Vasu Sharma – project 86
- Jeff Coulter – project 93
- Yuxin Miao – project 80
Thom Peterson, MDA Commissioner
- Provided comments on the AFREC reauthorization process
- Stated that despite the reauthorization battles, many more legislators and members of the public are now aware of the AFREC program and its benefits
- How additional AFREC council members were added
- Addition of regenerative agriculture and protection of water quality research priorities
Margaret Wagner –reviewed her understanding on how the AFTREC Council would like to fill the vacancies to the council created by the legislative reauthorization of the AFREC statutes.
- Contact 2 listed groups directly listed for their nomination to the council
- Put notice in MN Secretary of State’s Notice of Vacancies to Boards & Councils webpage
- Including an inference to possible conflicts of interest to the appointments
- Expect $1.2 million for next allocation (final number no released by MDA yet)
Bruce Montgomery - provide update on projected AFREC project debt load analysis
- Expected continuation projects $1.147 million
- Estimated available $68,000 for new project grants
Bev Durgan – Dr, Durgan was asked to discuss the impacts of the new legislation will have on university staffing. UofM Extension will looking for:
- Qty 1 researcher in Irrigation
- Qty 3 crops positions
- Qty 2 researchers in Soil Health and Water Quality
- Extension looking for advise and direction for posting & hiring these positions
- These positions need to communicate to other audiences to hear our message
Bruce Montgomery - reviewed the 2023-24 Research Priorities and “other ideas”. The following comments were discussed by the Council:
- The need for establishment of a definition for Soil Health
- Utilizing MDH log information on new wells and correlate to the surrounding farming practices (geo- referenced)
- Aquifer mapping based on initial W.Q. data
- Survey of 500 farm fields to evaluate farming practices (see similar Iowa and Illinois studies)
- Perhaps do a pilot study in SE MN area
- Increased Extension communications to outside of Ag community
- Add “Exploratory” options for Legislative mandates in the $5K-$7K projects
- Literary review of legislative mandates
- Develop packet for new AFREC Council members and provide orientation
- Need short bullet points to share conversational language about all f the current and past AFREC research
AFREC Council took short tour of the Tashjian Bee Center with Dave Nicolai as tour host
Bruce Montgomery & Margaret Wagner summarized input from the Council on RFP ideas and from previous years RFP priorities to produce a draft list for Council consideration. M. Wagner led the Council through the draft list and also enlisted additional input along with what could be removed.
- Council asked that continuation projects be listed (with covered RFP priorities)
Motion by Jeff Pagel, second by Dan Schmitt: “to give AFREC Executive Committee final authority to approve final RFP”, Motion passed.
Chair Anderson announced that he will step down as chair after serving in that position for over seven years. Vice Chair Kruize expressed interested in assuming the chair position but this move needed to be discussed by MCPR leadership. Additionally, Jeff Pagel expressed interest in the position. Chair Anderson plans to stay on the Council for two more years and would help the new chair with the transition.
Motion by Dan Schmitt, second by Steve Commerford: “to defer elections to the December AFREC Council meeting” Motion passed.
Meeting suspended and will be reconvened at the UMORE Farm on August 13
August 13, 2024
AFREC meeting reconvened.
AFREC project updates presentations by: (plot tours at UMORE farm)
- Jeff Vetsch – project 95
- Katrina Fabrizzi – Non-AFREC research
- Dan Kaiser – Projects 79, 96 & 97
- Carl Rosen – Project 89 & 103
Blake Webster, Farm Director at UMORE Farms
UMORE Farm discussion:
- History of UMORE farm area from WW2 to today
- Current farm & research operations
- Future of gravel mining
- Gravel pit reclamation process
Bruce Montgomery led discussion on future meeting and possible dates
- December 9th – Micro Source – Shakopee
- January 6, 2025 grant selection meeting at Farm Bureau Headquarters in Eagan
Traditionally the summer meetings have been held during the 3rd or 4th week of August. This frequently conflicts with the harvest of early season crops such as potatoes and small grains and those members miss the meetings. There was discussion about moving the meetings to the middle to late July.
Meeting adjourned at 12:55 by acclimation of chair
Tour of Pine Bend Refinery to follow meeting. Recently PBR developed the chemistry and equipment to extract sulfur during the petroleum refining process and convert to Ammonium Thiosulfate (ATS). They are now a major supplier.
