Because cyanazine is no longer used in the U.S., responding to detections of cyanazine breakdown products is generally limited to identifying areas of the state where these compounds may be present in groundwater and assisting the MDH in making recommendations for treatment of drinking water. At this time, the MDA believes concerns related to cyanazine degradates are primarily a groundwater issue, as detections in surface water (rivers and streams) have been limited. The MDA has worked with a commercial laboratory to develop a lower cost option for testing for atrazine, cyanazine and their breakdown products in water samples.
In 2019 and 2020, the MDA included the analysis of cyanazine breakdown products in its groundwater, surface water, and Private Well Pesticide Sampling (PWPS) Project, providing data from monitoring locations throughout the state. In addition, in 2019 the MDA collected samples from 84 private well locations in Dakota County that had previously exhibited detections of cyanazine breakdown products based upon sampling performed by Dakota County Environmental Resources Department using a federal research laboratory. The MDA also evaluated the effectiveness of existing in-home water treatment systems at removing pesticides (including the cyanazine breakdown products) at multiple locations during the year.
Pesticides, including cyanazine breakdown products, may be present in your well water if you are in an area that has historically been used to grow corn and where your groundwater may be vulnerable to contamination. If you are unsure if groundwater in your area is considered vulnerable, you can check the MDA’s interactive Vulnerable Groundwater Area Map.
The MDA is responsible for monitoring groundwater and surface water for pesticides and fertilizers. They also provide support to other agencies that are interested in monitoring for pesticides. As described above, the MDH is responsible for developing health-based reference values for drinking water and monitoring public water supplies. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is responsible for developing surface water regulatory standards and monitoring surface waters for non-agricultural chemicals. There are no surface water standards or reference values for the cyanazine breakdown products.
Prior to 2019, only one federal research laboratory in the nation was capable of testing for cyanazine breakdown products. In early 2019, the MDA laboratory and a private laboratory under a contract with the MDA (Weck Labs) were able to develop a method to detect and measure cyanazine breakdown products in water. Both the MDA and the contract laboratory have been conducting analysis for cyanazine breakdown products in water samples since March 2019. Starting in 2021, another private lab (Eurofins Eaton Analytical) is now capable of analyzing for the cyanazine breakdown products, bringing the total private labs to two.
Because cyanazine is no longer used in the U.S., responding to detections of cyanazine breakdown products is generally limited to identifying areas of the state where these compounds may be present in groundwater and assisting the MDH in making recommendations for treatment of drinking water. At this time, the MDA believes concerns related to cyanazine degradates are primarily a groundwater issue, as detections in surface water (rivers and streams) have been limited. The MDA has worked with a commercial laboratory to develop a lower cost option for testing for atrazine, cyanazine and their breakdown products in water samples.
In 2019 and 2020, the MDA included the analysis of cyanazine breakdown products in its groundwater, surface water, and Private Well Pesticide Sampling (PWPS) Project, providing data from monitoring locations throughout the state. In addition, in 2019 the MDA collected samples from 84 private well locations in Dakota County that had previously exhibited detections of cyanazine breakdown products based upon sampling performed by Dakota County Environmental Resources Department using a federal research laboratory. The MDA also evaluated the effectiveness of existing in-home water treatment systems at removing pesticides (including the cyanazine breakdown products) at multiple locations during the year.
Pesticides, including cyanazine breakdown products, may be present in your well water if you are in an area that has historically been used to grow corn and where your groundwater may be vulnerable to contamination. If you are unsure if groundwater in your area is considered vulnerable, you can check the MDA’s interactive Vulnerable Groundwater Area Map.
The cost for testing for pesticides in water may exceed the cost of a point-of-use home treatment system, such as reverse osmosis for drinking water. In sampling conducted by the MDA, water from 54 private drinking water wells was sampled before and after it passed through the homeowners’ reverse osmosis system. The results indicated reverse osmosis home treatment systems removed 99.7 percent of pesticides that were evaluated, including 100 percent of the cyanazine breakdown products. The reverse osmosis systems also reduced nitrate concentrations in the water to levels below the drinking water standard of 10 mg/L. It is important to note that the systems need to be properly maintained.
If considering a treatment system, make sure the treatment unit is certified by the National Sanitation Foundation International (NSF), Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL), or Water Quality Association (WQA) to remove pesticides. View the MDH's Home Water Treatment Fact Sheet for more information about these technologies and grant and loan programs to help pay for treatment.
In 2021, the MDA will continue to monitor for cyanazine breakdown products in groundwater and surface water through the Agricultural Chemical Monitoring and Assessment program, and private wells through the Private Well Pesticide Sampling Project.
The cost for testing for pesticides in water may exceed the cost of a point-of-use home treatment system, such as reverse osmosis for drinking water. In sampling conducted by the MDA, water from 54 private drinking water wells was sampled before and after it passed through the homeowners’ reverse osmosis system. The results indicated reverse osmosis home treatment systems removed 99.7 percent of pesticides that were evaluated, including 100 percent of the cyanazine breakdown products. The reverse osmosis systems also reduced nitrate concentrations in the water to levels below the drinking water standard of 10 mg/L. It is important to note that the systems need to be properly maintained.
If considering a treatment system, make sure the treatment unit is certified by the National Sanitation Foundation International (NSF), Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL), or Water Quality Association (WQA) to remove pesticides. View the MDH's Home Water Treatment Fact Sheet for more information about these technologies and grant and loan programs to help pay for treatment.
The cost for testing for pesticides in water may exceed the cost of a point-of-use home treatment system, such as reverse osmosis for drinking water. In sampling conducted by the MDA, water from 54 private drinking water wells was sampled before and after it passed through the homeowners’ reverse osmosis system. The results indicated reverse osmosis home treatment systems removed 99.7 percent of pesticides that were evaluated, including 100 percent of the cyanazine breakdown products. The reverse osmosis systems also reduced nitrate concentrations in the water to levels below the drinking water standard of 10 mg/L. It is important to note that the systems need to be properly maintained.
If considering a treatment system, make sure the treatment unit is certified by the National Sanitation Foundation International (NSF), Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL), or Water Quality Association (WQA) to remove pesticides. View the MDH's Home Water Treatment Fact Sheet for more information about these technologies and grant and loan programs to help pay for treatment.
In 2021, the MDA will continue to monitor for cyanazine breakdown products in groundwater and surface water through the Agricultural Chemical Monitoring and Assessment program, and private wells through the Private Well Pesticide Sampling Project.
In 2021, the MDA will continue to monitor for cyanazine breakdown products in groundwater and surface water through the Agricultural Chemical Monitoring and Assessment program, and private wells through the Private Well Pesticide Sampling Project.
Minnesota businesses, nonprofits, schools, local governments, and tribal communities seeking to promote urban youth agricultural education and urban agricultural community development are encouraged to apply for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation (AGRI) Urban Agriculture Grant.
Total funding available for this round of Urban Agriculture Grants is $1.87 million, an increase from $551,000 in 2023. To be eligible, applicants must be located in or serve cities with a population over 5,000 or be located within the boundaries of a federally recognized tribal land and serve tribal community members, regardless of population size.
“The MDA is thrilled to be able to expand the Urban Agriculture Grant program and increase support for organizations, schools, and communities finding innovative ways to build connections to ag within Minnesota’s cities,” said MDA Assistant Commissioner Patrice Bailey. “Cultivating youth and community interest in agriculture and our food systems helps ensure the continued strength of Minnesota ag in all areas of the state.”
Grant funds can cover costs for personnel (staff and contractors), supplies, equipment (including the cost of construction and installation), transportation, or translation that are directly related to eligible projects. Applicants may request a maximum of $100,000 per project, and up to 100% of the total project cost may be covered by the grant. A cash match is not required.
Funding priorities for this year’s Urban Agriculture Grants include projects that demonstrate a commitment to positive environmental impacts, promote economic justice, and benefit underserved communities. Examples of eligible projects and costs can be found in the grant’s request for proposals (RFP).
Applications must be submitted prior to 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, 2024. Visit the grant web page to access the RFP as well as details of previously funded projects.
Funding for the Urban Agriculture Grant is made available through the AGRI Program, which administers grants to farmers, agribusinesses, schools, and more throughout the state of Minnesota. The AGRI Program exists to advance Minnesota’s agricultural and renewable energy sectors.
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Media Contact
Logan Schumacher, MDA Communications
651-201-6193
Logan.Schumacher@state.mn.us