The MDA is the lead state agency for all aspects of pesticide and fertilizer environmental and regulatory functions. These authorities are described in the following Minnesota Statutes: Groundwater Protection, Pesticide Control, Fertilizer, Soil Amendment, and Plant Amendment, and Agricultural Chemical Liability
MDA Pesticide Management Programs
- Focus on nonpoint source pesticide contamination of the state's rural and urban water resources. Non-point source contamination from pesticides is typically the result of combined activities of many landowners within a watershed area, and rarely can be attributed to any single source.
- Adhere to the Comprehensive Ground Water Protection Act of 1989 and the Pesticide Control Law, which together require that the MDA work to properly manage pesticides and adequately protect groundwater and surface water from agricultural pesticides, including the development of certain Integrated Pest Management programs.
- Are charged with the development of management practices and/or regulatory rules in the event that water quality monitoring indicates significant degradation.
- Are guided by a Pesticide Management Plan (PMP) to address impacts to the state's water resources and guide the prevention, evaluation and mitigation of non-point source occurrences of pesticides, including development of Pesticide Best Management Practices.
- Are based on detailed groundwater and surface water data from the MDA’s Monitoring & Assessment Program.
