Search

Yes, it is illegal to transport noxious weeds and their propagating parts in Minnesota without a permit, unless you are transporting to a specific location for lawful disposal or destruction!  Noxious weed propagating parts are structures that allow the plant to regenerate and spread.  These include seeds, cuttings, buds, shoots, stems and root fragments.  Minnesota Statute 18.82 prohibits the transport of listed prohibited and restricted noxious weed propagating parts without issuance of a special permit that can be obtained from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) or the County Agricultural Inspector from the jurisdiction where the movement will occur. The permit is intended to ensure that the person requesting transport will take every measure necessary to avoid spreading any propagating parts while in route.  Each permit also indicates how the propagating parts will be destroyed once they reach their destination.  If the plants main mode of reproduction is by seed and has been removed prior to seed production, then it is legal to transport without a permit.  You do not need a permit if you are transporting noxious weed propagating parts to a designated location for lawful disposal if you follow the conditions specified previously for containment during transport.

No. Disposal of noxious weeds into solid waste trash bins is against the law!  Although it may seem easy for the average landowner to rid themselves of a few pesky noxious weeds growing on their property by adding them to their solid waste containers, it is actually against state law.  Minnesota Statute 115A.931 prohibits placing yard waste into any municipal solid waste containers, at a disposal facility, or at a resource recovery facility for reasons other than composting or co-composting. 

Due to the risk of noxious weed seeds surviving the composting process and potentially being spread to new areas in the resulting compost material, it is safer to allow noxious weed materials to decay naturally on site. If you feel that you must remove noxious weeds and their propagating parts from your property, compost sites regulated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) may be an alternative. 

Currently there are over 100 yard waste facilities registered by MPCA throughout Minnesota.  Noxious weed seeds and other propagating parts may not be completely destroyed during the composting process if the proper procedures are not followed.  If you choose to dispose of noxious weeds at a yard waste site, look for sites that adhere to the national Seal of Testing Assurance standards approved by the U.S. Composting Council.  These facilities work hard to ensure that the temperature and length of time restrictions are met.  In addition to yard waste sites, there are several Source Separated Compost Facilities (SWCF) operating in the state that are regularly monitored by MPCA to ensure that compost is held at 131ºF for a minimum of 15 days. Visit the MPCA website to learn more about composting in Minnesota.

There are several companies in Minnesota that provide quality composting services.  Visit the Minnesota Composting Council for more information and use this locator service provided by MPCA to find facilities near you.  Remember to contact the facility manager to find out if they accept noxious weed materials and if they follow the national Seal of Testing Assurance standards.

There are several ways you can destroy noxious weeds on your property.  

• Control or eradicate stands in the field.  Legal application of approved herbicides on established stands of noxious weeds will destroy the plants and let them desiccate and decay naturally without the need for cutting or harvesting of the plants.  Biological control agents may also be available for certain noxious weed species.  On large established stands, bioagents may provide similar results to herbicides over a longer period of years.  Check with the MDA Noxious Weed Program for more information about biological control.
• If you are mowing (and collecting the clippings), hand-pulling, digging, or using other forms of physical removal from the soil, plants can be composted onsite by selecting a specific area of the property that is used only for noxious weeds and other noxious plants.  Plants can be piled above the ground or mixed with other soil and compost materials.  It is not recommended to bury noxious weeds because the propagating parts will have a better chance of devitalizing above the soil.  Regular check-ups to any composting area will be required to treat or pull any newly emerging seedlings over time.  This method allows the noxious weeds to decay on your property without spreading the seeds to new areas and also concentrates them into a small area that can be easily maintained.  Public land managers can utilize this technique also and post signage or fencing around the area to keep people out of the compost area. 
• Burning can also be used to destroy standing or collected noxious weeds on site.  However, it is not recommended to burn poison ivy or Grecian foxglove since the chemicals in the smoke can be harmful to humans.  Always check and follow your local laws and ordinances pertaining to open burning in fire pits and contact a professional if planning to burn large stands of noxious weeds.

Contact the MDA and determine your area Manufactured Food Program (MFP) inspector, and arrange an in-person inspection. The area MFP inspector will provide you with a paper copy of the MDA Wholesale Food Processor/Manufacturer license application. An electronic form of the license application is NOT available through the MDA website.

Contact the MDA or submit a Food Licensing Liaison Request. You may also use our "Find Your Inspector" Tool to search for your inspector by your food business address or zip code.

• Your business plan
• Manufacturing/processing location(s)
• Equipment & facility design 
• Food production process/steps
• Labels (Finished product or bulk)
• Ingredient and finished product storage
• Distribution methods

In addition to basic business information such as legal name, DBA, and physical mailing addresses, the following four items are required on the one page license application:

• Minnesota tax ID number associated with the business name registered with the Minnesota Secretary of State or your Social Security number, if filing as an individual.

• Workers Compensation Insurance policy number and effective dates if you plan on having paid or compensated employees (if applicable)

• Estimated gross annual food sales (January 1st – December 31st)

• Check, money order or cashier’s check for the license fee

License fees are based on your gross annual food sales and food safety risk. If you are found operating without a license, then a no-license penalty fee will apply.

The adjusted fee schedule, effective August 1, 2025, starts on line 83.27 of House File 2446.

Annually. You must renew your license by December 31st of each year. If you renew later than December 31st, a late fee will be applied. A license renewal form will be mailed to you prior to December each year. License renewal online is an option.  

Review the MDA webpage Starting a New Business. This will inform you about topics such as:

• Applicable regulations such as FSMA – Preventive Controls for Human Food
• Specialized regulations (acidified foods, juice HACCP, seafood HACCP, etc.) that may apply
• Water source & waste water system requirements
• Food business zoning requirements
• Local authority inspections (e.g. building, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, fire)
• Certificate of Occupancy, if necessary
• Retail Plan Review, if applicable
• Meat or dairy products

It is your responsibility to become familiar with all the applicable regulations and Minnesota Statues to ensure you are manufacturing food safely and in the best interest of public health. Depending on the food being produced in your facility, you may need to employ an individual with specialized training, seek additional education/training, or you may need to consult with an external source (university, expert, process authority, or laboratory).