Providing outstanding service to Minnesota's nursery industry.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is responsible for the administration of the Nursery Law (Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 18H) the purpose of which is to prevent the introduction into and the dissemination within the state of harmful plant pests. To accomplish this, nursery stock produced for sale must be inspected annually and certified free of harmful plant pests. Stock originating outside Minnesota must be officially certified under all applicable quarantines at origin.
The inspection and certification program provides a vital service to the nursery industry and protects consumers from purchasing problems. Annual inspections serve to reduce losses to harmful pests as problems are detected and treated before they can cause more serious damage. The certified stock can move freely within the United States and special certificates are issued for export. A standard of quality is maintained to assure the industry as well as consumers that the product they are purchasing is viable and in a healthy condition.
Nursery Law - Minnesota 2003 Laws, Chapter 128, Article 5
Persons selling nursery stock in Minnesota must have a valid Minnesota live plant dealer nursery certificate. They must also sell only certified nursery stock and provide documents to verify certification of stock offered for sale. The 2025 Live Plant Dealer nursery certificate application and renewal forms will be posted on this page in early October.
To learn about upcoming nursery certification changes continue reading below, visit our Live Plant Dealer page, or contact nursery staff.
Nursery Stock
Nursery stock means a plant intended for planting or propagation and includes but not limited to:
- Trees
- Shrubs
- Vines
- Perennials
- Biennials
- Grafts
- Cuttings
- Buds
Nursery Stock Does Not Include:
- Field and Forage Crops;
- Seeds;
- Vegetable plants, vegetable bulbs, or vegetable tubers;
- Plants that are annuals when planted outdoors in Minnesota
- Christmas trees;
- Sod.
Nursery Certification in Minnesota Has Changed for 2025
· Historically, the MDA has offered two types of nursery certificates, one for nursery growers and one for nursery dealers.
· Beginning January 1, 2025, the two certificate types will be combined into one and all nursery certificate holders will be considered Live Plant Dealers:
2023 Minnesota Statutes 18H.02
Subd. 15b. "Live Plant Dealer" means an entity who:
(1) raises, grows, or propagates nursery stock for sale, outdoors or indoors;
(2) acquires and further distributes nursery stock, including through landscaping or distribution with a tree spade; or
(3) operates a business in Minnesota selling nursery stock with or without taking ownership or handling the nursery stock.
· All 2024 nursery certificates will be renewed as Live Plant Dealer nursery certificates for 2025.
- Many certificate holders grow stock and sell finished stock purchased from others and a single certificate type simplifies participation in the program.
- A single certificate type also allows for one fee schedule for all program participants.
- The MDA first worked with our Nursery Advisory Group, comprised of Minnesota nursey industry stakeholders, to vet this change to the program.
- The MDA then proposed the changes to Minnesota Statute 18H during the 2023 legislative session and the language was passed without opposition.
- The MDA worked with our nursery advisory group to create the single fee schedule.
- Our goal was to keep overall program revenue about the same before and after the change.
- We expect that small-sized nursery businesses will see some reduction in the fee paid, medium-sized businesses will see little change, and large nursery businesses may see some increase.
A combination of three factors will be used to calculate the renewal fee:
- $50 base certificate fee per sales location (one Certificate per sales site)
- If you purchase and resell finished nursery stock there is a fee based on Gross Annual Purchase of that stock during 2024. We are no longer collecting information on Gross Annual Sales.
- A 5% processing surcharge on the base Certificate fee will be included in accordance with Minnesota Statute 17.033.
- A credit card payment includes a 3% transaction fee.
- If you renew your certificate after December 31, 2024, a late fee penalty of 25% will be added to the cost.
For grown nursery stock definition, finished nursery stock definition, and the Gross Annual Purchase fee table, please see the Live Plant Dealer web page.
