July 2, 2025
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is preparing to aerially manage 24 sites in Aitkin, Carlton, Itasca, Pine, and St. Louis counties to slow the spread of spongy moth, a destructive invasive forest pest. Officials will likely conduct the aerial management activities July 16-22, beginning as early as 6:30 a.m. and continuing throughout the day. These dates are dependent on weather conditions in the area.
The 24 sites total approximately 83,760 acres. A map of the sites is available on the MDA website. Residents can also look up their address on an interactive map to determine if they are within any of these areas.
The MDA will use a method of mating disruption which uses the aerial application of a non-toxic waxy, food-grade substance containing pheromones specific to spongy moths that confuse the male moths. This makes it difficult for the male spongy moths to find females, reducing mating success. The result is fewer caterpillars hatching and attacking trees next year.
The mating disruption product will be applied by low-flying yellow planes contracted by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service in a joint project with the MDA. The product is not harmful to humans, animals, birds, or other insects, and will help protect forest health, property values, and the state’s tourism industry.
Unlike other spongy moth treatments that have been delayed or cut due to federal government funding, this treatment is able to move forward as scheduled. The MDA continues to monitor how federal funding decisions impact our ability to manage spongy moth across the state.
To help area citizens stay informed, the MDA has set up a Report a Pest Info Line at 1-888-545-6684 with the latest details about aerial management dates and times. On the morning of the application, residents can call the phone number with any questions they may have. Simply press 0 (zero) to speak to someone. The MDA's website also has information about spongy moths and control efforts.
Residents can also sign up for text or email updates about aerial management progress. On the Spongy Moth Map you can click each area (outlined in blue) you would like to receive updates for, then follow the “sign up for text or email notification” link.
Spongy moths are among America's most destructive tree pests, having caused millions of dollars in damage to eastern forests. The moths are now threatening Minnesota. If present in large numbers, spongy moth caterpillars can defoliate large sections of forest. Oak, poplar, birch, and willow are among their preferred hosts. The moths spread slowly on their own, but people can unintentionally help them spread to new areas by transporting firewood or other items on which the moths have laid their eggs.
Contact the Minnesota Department of Agriculture at 1-888-545-6684 or reportapest@state.mn.us with questions regarding spongy moth and the planned management activities.
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Media Contact
Brittany Raveill, MDA Communications
651-201-6131
Brittany.Raveill@state.mn.us
July 7, 2025
Ruck’s Meat Processing in Belle Plaine, MN is voluntarily recalling a variety of ready-to-eat sausage products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes. The products tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes during routine sampling by Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) inspection personnel.
The MDA and the company have not received any reports of adverse reactions or illness due to consumption of this product.
Ruck’s Meat Processing sausage products subject to this recall bear the establishment number “8921” inside the State of Minnesota mark of inspection and a packed-on date of “6-25-25” on the label. Ruck’s Meat Processing also produced sausage product under the label brand name of Tollefson Family Pork which would have the same mark of inspection and packed on date of “6-25-25.”
Tollefson Family Pork products subject to this recall were sold at various farmers’ markets and wholesale events. The products are:
- Homestyle Wieners
- Smoked Polish Sausage w/Cheddar Cheese
- No Sugar Added Homestyle Wieners
Ruck’s Meat Processing products subject to this recall were sold at their retail location in Belle Plaine. The products are:
- Cheese Polish Sausage
Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially serious disease marked by fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, and nausea. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis, but it can sometimes cause fatal infections in infants, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis can also lead to miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.
Anyone concerned about illness should contact a healthcare provider. Consumers who purchased this product should throw it away or return it to the store. Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Ruck’s Meat Processing at 952-873-2848.
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Media Contact
Allen Sommerfeld, MDA Communications
651-201-6185
Allen.Sommerfeld@state.mn.us
Farmfest
Starts:
Tue, 08/5/2025 - 8:00 am
Ends:
Thu, 08/7/2025 - 4:00 pm
Location:
Historic Gilfillan Estate28269 MN-67
Morgan, MN 56266
MDA is a:
Presenter
Exhibitor
Link:
Details:
Visit the MDA’s exhibit for information on a wide variety of agriculture-related programs and resources.
Farmfest is open 8:00 am - 4:00 pm each day
Featured programs include:
- Rural Finance Authority Loan Programs – Get information on low- to zero-interest loans to help recover from natural disasters, improve farm facilities, restructure debt, expand livestock production, and help first-time farmers purchase land.
- Grant Programs – Learn more about MDA grant programs available to help increase productivity, improve efficiency, develop new agricultural products, and more.
- Ag Weather Station Network – See how you can get real-time weather information, crop evaporation data, various disease risks, irrigation scheduling, and air temperature inversion alerts to your cell phone via the 32 Minnesota weather stations incorporated into the North Dakota Ag Weather Network (NDAWN), and view the network’s recent expansion thanks to additional funding from the Minnesota Legislature.
- Minnesota Ag Water Quality Certification Program – Discover how you can become certified in this popular water quality program and obtain regulatory certainty for a period of ten years, all to help protect our water.
- Rural Mental Health Resources – Find out about the people and organizations ready to help farmers and their families deal with stress, depression, and suicide.
Free Nitrate testing for private wells
Collect a water sample the day you’re headed to Farmfest:
- Run the water for 5-10 minutes (this can be saved in a pitcher or other container for later use)
- Run at least one cup of water in a sealable container (canning jars or Ziploc bags work well)
- Keep it chilled if possible
- Testing takes less than 5 minutes and the results are just for you
- Visit Water Testing for Nitrate for more information
The MDA Farmfest Booth is #517S.
July 16, 2025
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is urging consumers to not consume Emek brand Pistachio Cacao Cream with Kadayif.
The product comes in a 9.7 oz. glass jar labeled with Batch Number 250401 and a Best Before date of April 01, 2027. Samples of the product were collected in Minnesota as part of an investigation into Emek brand pistachio spread products. Salmonella was found in the product through laboratory testing.
The product was sold primarily at World Market locations nationally. World Market has issued a recall. Consumers who have purchased this product are urged not to consume it and return it to the place of purchase for a full refund, or they may discard the product.
Symptoms of Salmonella infection include diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. Symptoms usually begin within 12 to 96 hours after exposure, but they can begin up to two weeks after exposure. Infections usually resolve in five to seven days, but about 28 percent of laboratory-confirmed cases require hospitalization.
If you have consumed this product and are concerned about symptoms of illness, please consult your health care provider for more information.
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Media Contact
Larry Schumacher, MDA Communications
651-201-6629
Larry.Schumacher@state.mn.us
July 17, 2025
Farmfest 2025 attendees should plan to visit the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) exhibit for information on a wide variety of agriculture-related programs and resources, including a free nitrate private well testing clinic.
Farmfest is Tuesday, August 5, through Thursday, August 7, 2025, at the Historic Gilfillan Estate near Redwood Falls, Minnesota. The MDA Farmfest Booth is #517S.
Nitrate-nitrogen (referred to as nitrate) is a compound made up of nitrogen and oxygen. It can occur naturally in groundwater at levels typically in the range of 0 to 3 milligrams per liter (mg/L). Above 3 mg/L is considered elevated, and above 10 mg/L is considered unsafe, which is why the MDA is encouraging residents to bring in a water sample to be tested at the department’s Farmfest booth.
Follow these easy steps the day you’re attending Farmfest to participate in the free nitrate water testing clinic:
- Run your faucet for five to 10 minutes.
- Collect at least one cup of water in any sealable container such as a jar or Ziploc bag.
- Keep it chilled if possible. It is recommended you make the MDA booth your first stop at Farmfest.
Testing takes less than five minutes, and the results are just for you. No personal information is collected.
High levels of nitrate in water can come from fertilized soil, wastewater, landfills, feedlots, septic systems, or urban drainage. The Minnesota Department of Health recommends you test your private well for nitrate every one to two years.
Other featured programs at the MDA booth include the Rural Finance Authority Loan programs, MDA grant programs, the Minnesota Ag Weather Station Network, Minnesota Ag Water Quality Certification Program, and rural mental health resources.
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Media Contact
Allen Sommerfeld, MDA Communications
651-387-6599
Allen.Sommerfeld@state.mn.us
July 22, 2025
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has awarded $1,755,623 in grant funding to 42 Minnesota businesses through its Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Value-Added Grant and Meat, Poultry, Egg, and Milk Processing (MPEM) Grant. Both programs provide funding for Minnesota-based businesses to invest in equipment and physical improvement projects that support expanding production capacity, market diversification, and market access for agricultural products.
These grants are awarded through a competitive review process. Awards range from $1,000 to $150,000. Grantees must provide a cash match of 50% for the first $50,000 of eligible project costs, and 75% for any additional costs, up to a maximum of $150,000. This cost-share model helps leverage private investment alongside state support. See the tables below for descriptions of funded projects.
Sixteen businesses across the state were awarded a total of $714,010 through the Value-Added Grant program. This funding supports a diverse group of businesses including produce processors, hemp product makers, food hubs, and value-added grain, herb, and beverage producers.
An additional 26 businesses received a total of $1,041,613 through the MPEM Grant track, which is dedicated to supporting meat, poultry, egg, and dairy processors. These businesses are making upgrades such as expanding cold storage, installing commercial-scale equipment, and launching new on-farm creameries to improve processing capacity and increase food safety.
“State support, when paired with the drive and investment of Minnesota’s farmers and food businesses, can lead to big results,” said MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen. “We’re proud to back entrepreneurs who are expanding their processing capacity, creating economic opportunity, and helping more Minnesotans access more locally produced food, fuel, and fiber.”
These awards are for fiscal year 2025, which ended on June 30. Applications for fiscal year 2026 Value-Added and MPEM grants are currently open and will be accepted through the MDA’s online application system until 4 p.m. on Thursday, August 7, 2025. For more information and to apply, visit the AGRI Value-Added Grant and Meat, Poultry, Egg, and Milk Processing Grant webpages.
| Business Name | Project summary | City | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Corn Clean Fuel, LLC | Purchase of distiller's grain drying equipment, enabling ethanol plant to expand production of ethanol, distillers grains, and corn oil sourced from MN grains. | Claremont | Dodge |
| Ancient Wheat Craft | Purchase of stone mill, grain cleaning equipment, and packaging equipment to grind MN-grown wheat into artisan flour. | Elbow Lake | Grant |
| Crested River | Electrical install and purchase of a pasteurizer and clean-in-place system for greater hemp processing capacity and food safety. | Morgan | Redwood |
| Hoyo | Purchase of combination oven, vegetable peeler, vertical cutter machine, kettle mixer, metal detector, and additional equipment for increasing production capacity as a food manufacturer. | Minneapolis | Hennepin |
| In-Cider Orchard | Purchase of freezer equipment including insulated walls, ceiling, doors, compressor, and condenser for food-safe storage of apple juice. | Mora | Kanabec |
| Loon Liquors | Purchase of stone mill, grain cleaner, additional milling equipment, and distillery bottling equipment for increasing distillery grain processing. | Northfield | Rice |
| Nature's Holistic Farm, LLC | Purchase of commercial-grade freeze dryer and freezer for increasing processing capacity of MN-grown herbs, fruits, and vegetables. | Saint Paul | Ramsey |
| Nystrom Orchard | Purchase of apple washer-grinder, transfer pump, power washer, pasteurizer, and bag filler for increasing cider processing efficiency and food safety. | Worthington | Nobles |
| PlantB, LLC | Purchase of dry-blender and filler to increase processing capacity of plant protein product manufacturer. | Minneapolis | Hennepin |
| Rolling Forks Vineyards | Purchase of wine-bottling line. | Glenwood | Pope |
| Sandhill Mill | Converting existing mill building into grain storage area for improved food safety. | Canby | Yellow Medicine |
| Spirit Lake Native Farms | Purchase of firewood processor used for making wood-fired maple syrup and traditional parching of wild rice. | Sawyer | Carlton |
| Sunrich Products, LLC | Purchase of pasteurization equipment for increased processing capacity of MN-grown sunflower kernels. | Crookston | Polk |
| The Good Acre | Remodel of commercial kitchen to serve as dedicated space for processing, assembly, and packing of consumer- packaged goods and produce subscription boxes. | Falcon Heights | Ramsey |
| X2 Pastries | Purchase of HVAC system, hood, double stack convection oven, singe rack roll-in oven, walk-in fridge, and a walk-in freezer for brick-and-mortar bakery. | Saint Paul | Ramsey |
| Zumbro Falls Golf Club | Purchase of bottler, water heater, labeling machine, and air compressor for local winery. | Zumbro Falls | Wabasha |
| Business Name | Project summary | City | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amo Creamery | Plumbing, ventilation, and epoxy flooring work, and refrigerated product transport for start-up on farm creamery. | Heron Lake | Jackson |
| Autumnwood Farm, LLC | Purchase of filling/capping equipment for milk bottles and refrigerated transport vehicle. | Forest Lake | Washington |
| B and E Meats | Purchase of utensil washer for meat processing facility. | Crookston | Polk |
| Bear Country Meats | Purchase of refrigeration equipment for on-farm meat processing. | Kasson | Dodge |
| B&K Schrupp's Meat & Seafood, LLC | Purchase of heat-sealing packaging machine for meat processing facility. | Paynesville | Stearns |
| Callahan Meats Inc. | Purchase of processing equipment, packaging equipment, and slaughter facility improvements for meat processing facility, including a slicer, mixer/grinders, labeler, coolers, etc. | Barnesville | Clay |
| Chad Boisjolie | Hot water installation and purchase of a higher-volume scalder for mobile poultry processing trailer. | Le Sueur | Le Sueur |
| Compass Rose Creamery | Build-out of facility for start-up creamery, including purchase of cheese processing equipment. | Sleepy Eye | Brown |
| Concept Processing | Purchase of filler and bagger for more efficient and food-safe processing of fluid milk. | Melrose | Stearns |
| Conger Meat Market | Purchase of meat processing equipment for increasing processing capacity, including a meat grinder, walk-in cooler and freezer, bandsaw, etc. | Conger | Freeborn |
| Deutz Brothers, LLC | Cold storage expansion for meat products and egg washing. | Marshall | Lyon |
| Egan's Market | Replacing meat processing facility flooring for increased food safety. | Adrian | Nobles |
| Farmers Union Industries | Purchase of new condenser to increase rendering capacity for area livestock and poultry producers' raw material. | Redwood Falls | Redwood |
| French Lake Butcher Shop | Purchase of a bowl chopper to increase sausage processing capacity. | South Haven | Wright |
| Gardner Family Farm | Purchase of an egg washer to increase processing capacity for pasture-raised eggs. | Spring Grove | Houston |
| Highwater Creek Meat Market, LLC | Purchase of a bandsaw, curing pump, patty machine, splitting saw, meat tenderizer, and meat slicer to increase processing capacity and increase food safety. | Jeffers | Cottonwood |
| Ketter's Meats & Locker Plant | Purchase of meat grinder and ground beef bagger for increased meat processing capacity. | Frazee | Becker |
| Lakes Community Cooperative | Purchase of coolers and processing equipment for increased meat processing capacity. | Perham | Otter Tail |
| Morgans Meat Market | Purchase of mixer/mincer and new flooring for increasing meat processing capacity and food safety. | Waseca | Waseca |
| Orty's Custom Meats | Purchase of automatic dishwasher for meat processing facility. | Deer River | Itasca |
| Schroeder Meats | Renovation of facility room to separate ready-to-eat product packaging from raw product, and purchase of a bacon slicer. | New Germany | Carver |
| South Forty Meat Market | Purchase of a sausage stuffer and linker to increase processing capacity. | Lucan | Redwood |
| Swanson Meats Inc. | Purchase of meat tenderizer and intervention applicator to increase processing capacity and food safety. | Minneapolis | Hennepin |
| Ten Finn’s Creamery | Purchase of on-farm milk pasteurizer and associated parts/pumps to increase milk processing capacity. | Menahga | Wadena |
| TFC Poultry, LLC | Purchase of grinding equipment for increased processing capacity of ground turkey. | Ashby | Grant |
| White Bear Butchery Inc. | Renovating meat processing facility ceiling with antimicrobial, washable tiles to increase food safety. | White Bear Lake | Ramsey |
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Media Contact
Nikki Warner, MDA Communications
651-238-7909
Nikki.Warner@state.mn.us
July 23, 2025
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has confirmed emerald ash borer (EAB) in Itasca County for the first time. There are now 59 counties in the state, including Itasca, with EAB.
A suspected EAB infestation was reported by a homeowner on Pokegama Lake south of the city of Grand Rapids. A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources forest health specialist visited the area and confirmed the presence of EAB larvae.
EAB was first discovered in Minnesota in 2009. The insect larvae kill ash trees by tunneling under the bark and feeding on the part of the tree that moves nutrients up and down the trunk. Often, the trees show several signs of infestation because of this. Woodpeckers like to feed on EAB larvae, and woodpecker holes may indicate the presence of emerald ash borer. Also, EAB tunneling can cause the bark to split open, revealing characteristic S-shaped galleries underneath.
Because this is the first time EAB has been identified in Itasca County, the MDA is enacting an emergency quarantine of the southeastern portion of the county. The exact quarantine boundaries can be found on this map. The quarantine limits the movement of firewood and ash material out of the area.
The MDA issues quarantines for all areas known to have EAB to reduce the risk of further spreading the tree-killing insect.
A virtual informational meeting for residents and tree care professionals in Itasca County will be held with experts from the MDA. Staff will give a brief presentation followed by a question-and-answer session.
Emerald Ash Borer Virtual Informational Meeting:
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
10–11 a.m.
Register at www.mda.state.mn.us/emerald-ash-borer-quarantine
The public will also have an opportunity to provide input on the proposal to add Itasca County’s emergency quarantine to the state’s formal quarantine. The MDA is taking comments on the proposed formal quarantine now through September 5, 2025, and recommends adopting the quarantine on September 8, 2025. The proposed quarantine language can be found at www.mda.state.mn.us/eab.
Comments can be made during the virtual meeting or by contacting:
Mark Abrahamson
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
625 Robert Street North
St. Paul, MN 55155
Mark.Abrahamson@state.mn.us
There is more EAB information on the MDA website.
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Media Contact
Brittany Raveill, MDA Communications
651-201-6131
Brittany.Raveill@state.mn.us
