A Beltrami County farmer is suing the Minnesota Governor’s Office and the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture for racial discrimination over Minnesota’s emerging farmer grant program. The lawsuit filed by Lance Nistler of Beltrami County alleges that his denied application for the Minnesota Down Payment Assistance Grant program was a violation of his…
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The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has issued an update to the Groundwater Protection rule map map that will help farmers across the state comply with the new Groundwater Protection Rules. 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…
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Online registration is currently open for the Minnesota Organic Conference that is scheduled to take place on January 11 and 12, in St Cloud. Event representative Cassie Dahl tells us more. Dahl says that there will also be a chance to take part in some breakout sessions and do some networking among other opportunities to…
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The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Rural Finance Authority is now accepting applications for the 2024 Beginning Farmer Tax Credit, an annual program available to landlords and sellers who rent or sell farmland, equipment, livestock, and other agricultural assets to beginning farmers. Total funding available for the 2024 Beginning Farmer Tax Credit program is $4 million,…
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As part of a continued effort to strengthen support available to Minnesota’s emerging farmers, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture has announced recipients of grant funding for organizations that provide business and technical support to farmers from historically underserved communities. Through the Emerging Farmer Technical Assistance Grant Program eight organizations have received a total of $554,920…
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The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is looking for exhibitors for the 2024 Minnesota Organic Conference which is the only statewide conference on organic agriculture. The Minnesota Organic Conference and its 80-booth trade show will take place on January 11 and 12, 2024, at the River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud. The conference offers keynote…
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When the harvest season is finished, many farmers will be applying anhydrous ammonia, or NH3, to their fields. While anhydrous ammonia is an effective fertilizer, it can also be very dangerous. Jane Boerboom, a facilities management unit supervisor with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, talks about the dangers of anhydrous ammonia. Boerboom says you should…
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The Minnesota Department of Agriculture says that they have confirmed emerald ash borer in Cass County for the first time. The MN Department of Agriculture says that it was discovered after a department employee noticed a cluster of ash trees near Remer with suspected signs of Emerald Ash Border. The employee was able to find…
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The Minnesota Department of Agriculture reported that two new invasive insects were reported to the MDA’s Report a Pest Service. The two new invasive insects were reported by two separate homeowners. The two insects have been identified as the Elm Seed Bug and the Asiatic Garden Beetle. The elm seed bug has piercing sucking mouthparts…
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The Minnesota Department of Agriculture announced that Minnesota organic farmers and handlers are able to apply for a rebate of up to 75% of their organic certification costs. Organic certification is a third-party verification system that assures consumers the organic products they buy are produced in accordance with federal organic regulations. Organic operations must follow…
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