Rural Finance Authority
651-201-6004
The Rural Finance Authority partners with local lenders to provide low-interest loan programs to farmers. These include Ag Best Management Practices loans for projects that help Minnesota landowners comply with local water quality plans, and loans to make improvements, expand livestock operations, recover from disasters, purchase real estate, and restructure debt.
Tribal Relations
218-382-0173
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture seeks to foster and facilitate positive government-to-government relations with Minnesota's 11 Tribal Nations and recognizes their right to self-govern. The agency employs a Tribal Liaison to help develop, improve, and maintain collaborative relations with the Tribal Nations.
Tribal Relations
218-382-0173
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture seeks to foster and facilitate positive government-to-government relations with Minnesota's 11 Tribal Nations and recognizes their right to self-govern. The agency employs a Tribal Liaison to help develop, improve, and maintain collaborative relations with the Tribal Nations.
Data Practices
651-201-6453
The Data Practices office processes requests for data classified as public under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. Public data is available to anyone who submits a valid data request. This includes private individuals, reporters, attorneys, and businesses.
Finance and Budget
651-201-6002
Human Resources
651-201-6023
The MDA Human Resources Division provides services in the areas of recruitment, selection, personnel transaction processing, job classification, compensation administration, benefits information and processing, labor relations, diversity, health/safety promotion, and facilities management.
MN.IT Services
651-201-1118
Agricultural Marketing and Development
651-201-6012
The Agricultural Marketing and Development Division assists farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses in adopting practices and technologies to address current challenges and global issues. Activities include the development, marketing, and promotion of local foods, organics, livestock, and renewable fuels as well as the development of domestic and international market opportunities for agricultural products. The division administers the Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Program which includes grant and cost-share programs that support the agricultural and renewable energy industries. The division fosters research on the use and protection of ag land and related natural resources, and identifies and demonstrates sustainable agriculture practices and systems.
Agricultural Statistics
651-728-3113
USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) works in partnership with the MDA to provide Minnesota farmers, agribusinesses, government, and the general public with accurate data on major crops and livestock, farm income, farm costs and returns, and other special agricultural information. The NASS Minnesota Field Office measures the current and potential food supply by collection, analysis, and publication of agricultural statistics at both the state and county level. Reports are available on the NASS website.
Dairy and Meat Inspection
651-201-6300
The Dairy and Meat Inspection Division is responsible for inspecting animal slaughter and meat processing facilities, dairy farms and dairy processing facilities, and shell egg facilities. The division provides education and enforcement of state laws and regulations at these businesses to ensure the production of safe and wholesome food. Additionally, the division operates a Drug Residue Prevention Program to educate livestock producers on preventing occurrences of antibiotic residues in meat and milk products, and a Venison Donation Program cooperatively with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to facilitate the donation of hunter-harvested venison to local food charities.
Food and Feed Safety Inspection
651-201-6027
The Food and Feed Safety Inspection Division houses four regulatory inspection programs (Manufactured Food, Retail Food, Commercial Animal Feed, and Produce Safety) which enforce state laws and regulations related to the production and processing of foods, beverages, produce, and animal feed. The division inspects grocery stores, convenience stores, food processing facilities, feed mills, and pet food manufacturers to verify quality, condition, labeling, and sanitation of premises, equipment, and vehicles used in the sale, storage, or distribution of foods and beverages. The division also works with federal, state, and local health officials to investigate food contamination complaints and foodborne illness outbreaks.
Government Relations
651-201-6480
The Government Relations office provides an essential link between the MDA and the state legislature, working with the Governor's Office, legislators, and department staff to shape and monitor agricultural policy. The Government Relations office and the Commissioners provide legislative recommendations on a wide variety of agricultural issues and work to implement policy working groups created by the legislature.
Laboratory Services
651-201-6010
Laboratory Services Division provides microbiological and chemical analysis of samples to determine if the samples meet the standards established under law, regulation, or label. Additionally, the division performs analyses to fulfill contracts and cooperative agreements with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, and other federal and state agencies.
Pesticide and Fertilizer Management
651-201-6006
The Pesticide and Fertilizer Management Division regulates the sale and use of pesticides and fertilizers in Minnesota. Activities include permitting and inspection of ag chemical facilities, licensing of facilities, licensing of applicators, oversight of agricultural chemical site remediation, voluntary cleanups, and waste pesticide collection. Additionally, division personnel respond to emergencies, conduct pesticide misuse investigations, monitor surface water and ground water for agricultural chemicals, and develop and promote best management practices.
Plant Protection
651-201-6020
The Plant Protection Division is responsible for preventing, detecting and responding to invasive plants, pathogens and pests that threaten Minnesota's agricultural and natural systems. The division regulates agricultural processes including the labeling and sale of seed, purchase and storage of grain, hemp production, sale of nursery stock, and seed potato certification. The division also inspects, grades, and certifies agricultural commodities for sale as well as importation into domestic or international markets. These activities contribute to the mission of the agency by protecting agriculture and the environment from pest threats, ensuring truth in labeling, and verifying the quality of Minnesota products for sale or export.
Rural Finance Authority
651-201-6004
The Rural Finance Authority partners with local lenders to provide low-interest loan programs to farmers. These include Ag Best Management Practices loans for projects that help Minnesota landowners comply with local water quality plans, and loans to make improvements, expand livestock operations, recover from disasters, purchase real estate, and restructure debt.
Tribal Relations
218-382-0173
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture seeks to foster and facilitate positive government-to-government relations with Minnesota's 11 Tribal Nations and recognizes their right to self-govern. The agency employs a Tribal Liaison to help develop, improve, and maintain collaborative relations with the Tribal Nations.
Contact Information
Commissioner’s Office ...... 651-201-6015
MDA General Information ...... 651-201-6000
MDA Hotline ...... 800-967-AGRI
Emerging Farmers Office Help Line...... 651-201-6200
Food Info/Complaint Desk ...... 651-201-6222
Minnesota Board of Animal Health ...... 651-296-2942
Minnesota Farm and Rural Helpline ...... 833-600-2670
Minnesota Grown Answerline ...... 651-201-6050
Pesticide & Fertilizer Spills – 24-Hour Response
- Minnesota Duty Officer ...... 800-422-0798
Report a Pest Hotline ...... 888-545-6684
Updated: December 2023
Government Relations
651-201-6480
The Government Relations office provides an essential link between the MDA and the state legislature, working with the Governor's Office, legislators, and department staff to shape and monitor agricultural policy. The Government Relations office and the Commissioners provide legislative recommendations on a wide variety of agricultural issues and work to implement policy working groups created by the legislature.
Government Relations
651-201-6480
The Government Relations office provides an essential link between the MDA and the state legislature, working with the Governor's Office, legislators, and department staff to shape and monitor agricultural policy. The Government Relations office and the Commissioners provide legislative recommendations on a wide variety of agricultural issues and work to implement policy working groups created by the legislature.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), University of Minnesota (UMN), and members of the Statewide Cooperative Partnership for Local and Regional Markets have concluded a three-year project to collect baseline data on Minnesota’s local and regional agricultural markets. The data, along with a new strategic framework for market development, are now available for public use.
“We are grateful for the many partners that played a role in the Statewide Cooperative Partnership over the last three years,” said Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “Never before have we had this level of information to guide our work on local and regional markets. The data and strategic framework that came out of this project provide us with new perspectives on how we can equitably support farmers and producers, retailers, public institutions, and consumers in Minnesota.”
Funded by a three-year grant from the USDA Federal State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP), the MDA, UMN, and over 40 partner organizations surveyed Minnesota producers, supply chain partners, and consumers in 2022 to supplement data from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service Agricultural Census.
“The data from our surveys and outreach help tell a more holistic story of the experiences of small and medium-sized farmers in Minnesota and pathways to effectively support them, in a structured way for the first time,” said Dr. Hikaru Peterson, the lead researcher for the project and a professor of applied economics in the UMN College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences. “We look forward to using these findings to expand collaborative efforts to strengthen Minnesota’s local and regional markets.”
Thanks to outreach efforts of partners around the state, the producer survey reached many small, mid-sized and emerging farmers not previously represented in Minnesota’s agricultural data. Of the 497 Minnesota producers who completed the survey, only 37% were represented in the 2017 Census of Agriculture. The supply chain survey and consumer survey collected additional information to better understand purchasing factors, preference and demand for Minnesota products, and barriers to buying local.
The Partnership used data from all three surveys to develop a framework of seven priority areas and twenty strategies for building market opportunities for Minnesota producers, supply chains, and consumers. The priority areas include procedural equity; relationship building with tribal nations; outreach, education, and engagement; and built and organizational infrastructure.
Examples of specific strategies under the seven priority areas include:
- Provide more technical assistance, training, and information for emerging farmers that are culturally appropriate and offered in multiple languages;
- Sustain and expand programming aimed at getting more local food into institutions, retail stores, regional distributors, and places where consumers already shop; and
- Collaborate with USDA to increase producer participation in the Census of Agriculture, and identify and invest in ways to collect supplemental data every few years that is needed to support local and regional market development in Minnesota.
The full data reports and action framework can be accessed through the Statewide Cooperative Partnerships website. The MDA and UMN also hosted a webinar to introduce the findings, which can be viewed on the MDA’s YouTube channel.
The Statewide Cooperative Partnership will continue to meet regularly to discuss local and regional market data and needs, pursue collaborative approaches to market development and support, and nurture relationships across our food system. These meetings are open to all who are interested in supporting and expanding this work.
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Media Contact
Logan Schumacher, MDA Communications
651-201-6193
Logan.Schumacher@state.mn.us
