NEW: Update on Cyanazine Monitoring
January 22, 2025
Multigenerational Farm Transition Retreats are available for Minnesota farmers considering farm transition or succession plans. These retreats are offered by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) in partnership with the University of Minnesota (UMN) Extension, and the Southern Agricultural Center for Excellence.
Attendees will be guided through hands-on planning and discussion on farm transition for the whole farm family; all generations actively involved in the farm are encouraged to attend. Topics covered in detail will include family and business goals, job responsibilities, financial needs of farm and families, inheritance considerations, and mechanisms of transfer.
These events are free of charge and are being held in three different locations; farmers can choose the one most convenient for them. Attendees should plan on attending both days.
| City | Dates and times |
|---|---|
| Mankato | Friday, February 21, 5 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Saturday, February 22, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
| St. Cloud | Friday, March 7, 5 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Saturday, March 8, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
| Rochester | Friday, March 21, 5:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Saturday, March 22, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
Registration is available online; event address and further meeting details will be provided in the registration confirmation.
Educational resources on farm transition and estate planning are available on the UMN Extension website. For questions or comments contact Nathan Hulinsky at huli0013@umn.edu or 218-828-2680.
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Media Contact
Brittany Raveill
MDA Communications
Brittany.Raveill@state.mn.us
651-201-6131
Annual Nutrient Management Conference
Starts:
Tue, 02/18/2025 - 8:00 am
Ends:
Tue, 02/18/2025 - 3:40 pm
Location:
Holiday Inn and Suites75 37th Ave S
St Paul, MN 56301
MDA is a:
Sponsor
Presenter
Scientific Name: Puccinia horiana Henn.
Cucumber Green Mottle Mosaic Virus
Scientific name: Tobamovirus virus group
January 15, 2025
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has published an updated map that will help farmers across the state comply with the Groundwater Protection Rule. The rule restricts fall application of nitrogen fertilizer in areas vulnerable to groundwater contamination, and it outlines steps to reduce the severity of contamination in areas where nitrate is already elevated in public water supply wells.
The MDA has made changes to the Fall Nitrogen Fertilizer Application Restrictions Map which is available on the MDA website. The Ellsworth municipal Drinking Water Supply Management Area (DWSMA) was removed from the map due to a change in water source for the community. Additional information on the fall application restrictions and exceptions to the restrictions can be found on the MDA’s website.
While no new municipal DWSMAs were found to have elevated nitrate, two non-municipal wells were found to have elevated nitrate based on new information from the Minnesota Department of Health. The Brookhaven Development and the Mobile Manor DWSMAs, both located in Scott County, will be added to the list of Mitigation Level 2 DWSMAs under the Groundwater Protection Rule, meaning the MDA will form a local advisory group to recommend farming practices that can reduce nitrate levels in groundwater. Additional information can be found on the MDA’s Mitigation Level Determination page.
The restriction of fall application of nitrogen fertilizer on these acres will begin September 1, 2025. Farmers are encouraged to check the new map prior to fall 2025 to determine if their fields are subject to these restrictions.
For more information on the Groundwater Protection Rule visit www.mda.state.mn.us/nfr.
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Media Contact
Allen Sommerfeld, MDA Communications
651-201-6185
Allen.Sommerfeld@state.mn.us
