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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Two Grants that aim to increase local purchasing in Minnesota Farm to School and Early Care programs are now open for applications through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. $935,000 in grants will be available to Minnesota school districts and early childhood education centers to purchase Minnesota grown and raised foods for the use in federal…
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The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for noxious weed and invasive plant grants. Counties, municipalities, tribal governments and weed management entities are eligible to apply for these grants. Applications for these grants are being accepted till 3:00 pm on September 22 2023 and applications can be reviewed and downloaded on the Minnesota…
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The Minnesota Department of Agriculture announced that applications are now open for their Soil Health Financial Assistance Grants. According to the Department of Agriculture these grants will be available for individual producers, producer groups, and local governments to purchase or retrofit soil health equipment. Grant awards will provide up to 50% cost-share, with a minimum…
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Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Peterson discussed the continued drought conditions across the state after some areas in the state were classified as D3 on the drought index. Peterson also talked about some resources the state of Minnesota might have to combat the drought. A D3 drought is defined as an extreme drought. Some potential impacts…
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The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has received $12.25 million through the USDA’s Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program to strengthen the state’s food supply chain between the farmer and consumer. Mike Zastoupil, ag and food systems planner with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, talks about what the grant money will be used for. Zastoupil says there…
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