The MDA's certification plan was required to be revised to meet the new standards of the Enviro
Nicole Neeser, DVM, MPH - Project Director
What is your educational training and background?
I received my Veterinary Degree and a Master of Public Health in Food Safety and Biosecurity from the University of Minnesota.
How did you end up in a food safety career?
I grew up around agriculture, on a farm, and it just happened (this is too long of a story to tell)!
What is your favorite part about working for the Drug Residue Prevention Program?
I have an excellent team of people to work with who are sincerely interested in teaming up with livestock producers to achieve better outcomes in food safety.
What is the best piece of advice you have for livestock producers working with antibiotics?
Stewardship of antibiotics is a big part of demonstrating your commitment to both animal and human health.
What is your educational training and background?
I am a graduate of the University of Minnesota Veterinary School. Previously, I worked as a private practice veterinarian for over twenty years before joining the MDA.
How did you end up in a food safety career?
I was looking for a professional challenge. Food safety provided an opportunity to combine my interest in drug residues and my veterinary knowledge gained from my years in private practice.
What is your favorite part about working for the Drug Residue Prevention Program?
I truly enjoy visiting with the producers while providing useful information they can immediately put into practice. I also appreciate the Drug Residue Prevention Program team of practical, knowledgeable people who are willing to put in the extra effort in partnership with producers to make a change in food safety.
What is the best piece of advice you have for livestock producers working with antibiotics?
Read and follow the FDA-approved drug label, and periodically discuss animal health treatment protocols (including withdrawal times!) with your veterinarian.
What is your educational training and background?
I have a Master of Education in Youth Development Leadership and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, both from the University of Minnesota.
How did you end up in a food safety career?
I have always had a strong personal and professional interest in agriculture. Working with training and outreach for the Dairy and Meat Inspection Division seemed to be a great melding of my interests and education.
What is your favorite part about working for the Drug Residue Prevention Program?
It is wonderful to work with and get to know all of the hardworking people in our agricultural community. These people really have a passion for what they do, and they take the responsibility of raising a safe and abundant food supply very seriously.
What is the best piece of advice you have for livestock producers working with antibiotics?
Take advantage of the services our program’s Outreach Veterinarians can provide. They have years of practical experience and are very down to earth and easy to work with.
What is your educational training and background?
I received my Veterinary Degree and a Master of Public Health in Food Safety and Biosecurity from the University of Minnesota.
How did you end up in a food safety career?
I grew up around agriculture, on a farm, and it just happened (this is too long of a story to tell)!
What is your favorite part about working for the Drug Residue Prevention Program?
I have an excellent team of people to work with who are sincerely interested in teaming up with livestock producers to achieve better outcomes in food safety.
What is the best piece of advice you have for livestock producers working with antibiotics?
Stewardship of antibiotics is a big part of demonstrating your commitment to both animal and human health.
Selling to Schools & Early Cares
Are you interested in selling your food to schools or early care settings?
October 2, 2024
St. Paul, MN: New money is available to Minnesota livestock producers to help prevent wolf attacks. A total of $45,000 will be awarded by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) through the Wolf-Livestock Conflict Prevention Grants. Applications are due January 3, 2025.
The grants provide reimbursement for costs of approved practices to prevent wolf-livestock conflicts. Only costs incurred after entering into a grant agreement with the MDA are eligible for reimbursement. Eligible expenses for the grant program will include:
- Purchase of guard animals
- Veterinary costs for guard animals
- Wolf-barriers which may include pens
- Fladry and fencing
- Wolf-deterring lights and alarms
- Calving or lambing shelters
Eligible producers must live within Minnesota’s wolf range, as designated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, or on property determined by the Commissioner of Agriculture to be affected by wolf-livestock conflicts. Any animal species produced for profit and documented to have been killed by wolves in Minnesota in the past is eligible. This includes bison, cattle, chicken, deer, donkey, duck, geese, goat, horse, llama, mule, sheep, swine, and turkey.
The funding also requires an 80:20 matching cost-share, meaning 80% of eligible project costs will be reimbursed by the grant and the remaining 20% will be paid for by the grantee.
The grant application must be emailed or postmarked by 5 p.m. on January 3, 2025. Work for this grant must be done and expenses reported by October 31, 2025. The application and more information can be found at www.mda.state.mn.us/wolfgrants.
This round of funding for the Wolf-Livestock Conflict Prevention Grants is made possible by monies appropriated by the Minnesota Legislature and funding awarded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to the MDA for grant distribution.
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Media Contact
Brittany Raveill, MDA Communications
651-201-6131
brittany.raveill@state.mn.us
Below are common questions about Farm to School and Early Care food safety.
If spray equipment does not have an RUP present when a mechanic is repairing or maintaining spray equipment, they do not need a license.
1. We have mechanics/technicians that fix and maintain all equipment in our shop. Most of these pieces of equipment held restricted use pesticides (RUPs). Will they now need a pesticide applicator license?
If spray equipment does not have an RUP present when a mechanic is repairing or maintaining spray equipment, they do not need a license.
Yes, they need to take same exam(s) in the category(s) they are mixing the products.
2. Does my mixer/loader/handler have to take the same exam as the applicator?
Yes, they need to take same exam(s) in the category(s) they are mixing the products.
