The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is seeking input from the public on proposed pathways for food procurement and distribution as part of an application to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program. The goal of the LFPA program is to purchase food from Socially Disadvantaged producers* and distribute this food to underserved communities throughout the state. This program is open to state governments and federally recognized tribal governments.
MDA staff are working with the MDA Emerging Farmers Working Group as well as staff from the Minnesota Departments of Health, Education, and Human Services on this application. Experts from the MDA will give a brief presentation followed by a comment session during the public meetings. These sessions will be held at the following times using Microsoft Teams:
Thursday, March 24, 2022
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Teams link
Monday, March 28, 2022
Noon - 1 p.m.
Teams link
Individuals with a disability who need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event please contact Alex Cortes at 651-895-0315 or through the Minnesota Relay Service at 711 as soon as possible.
*USDA definition of Socially Disadvantaged producers: Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher is a farmer or rancher who is a member of a Socially Disadvantaged Group. A Socially Disadvantaged Group is a group whose members have been subject to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and, where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program.
###
Media Contact
Allen Sommerfeld, MDA Communications
651-201-6185
Allen.Sommerfeld@state.mn.us
Private Well Nitrate Testing Clinic - Winona
160 Johnson Street
Winona, MN 55987
Are you a private well owner in the Winona area? We Are Water MN and the MDA are hosting a free nitrate testing clinic. Drop by at a time that works for you. Samples are analyzed on the spot ‑ the process usually takes less than five minutes ‑ and results are given directly to you.
How to bring a water sample to this event: Run your water first for 5-10 minutes, then put at least one cup of water in a clean, sealed, hard-sided container and keep the sample cold until you bring it to the clinic. Samples should be taken less than 24 hours before the event.
The nitrate testing equipment is provided by the MDA using funding from the Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment.
The We Are Water MN exhibit will be at the Winona County Historical Society from March 3 - April 25, visit Winona County Historical Society - We Are Water MN for more information.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is alerting consumers to avoid eating Ocean Mist Farms brand Romaine Hearts (Coeurs de laitue Romaine) with coding “22RHDM2L” and a harvest date of “MAR 10,” grown in Coachella, CA. The MDA Laboratory found Cyclospora in the product during routine surveillance sampling. Customers who purchased the product should discard the product and not eat it. No illnesses associated with this product have been reported at this time in Minnesota.
The Ocean Mist Farms brand Romaine Hearts lettuce (22 oz. package) was sourced from Ocean Mist Farms of Castroville, CA. The product was sold at the following grocery locations in Minnesota:
- Bob’s Produce Ranch – Fridley, MN
- Brink’s Market – Chisago City, MN
- Coborn’s Grocery – Hastings, MN
- Daggett’s Fresh Foods – Hinckley, MN
- Driskill’s Downtown Market – Hopkins, MN
- Festival Foods – Andover, MN
- Festival Foods – Bloomington, MN
- Festival Foods – Hugo, MN
- Festival Foods – Lexington, MN
- Festival Foods – White Bear Lake, MN
- Festival Foods – Brooklyn Park, MN
- Jerry’s Market – North Branch, MN
- Jubilee Foods – Mound, MN
- King’s County Market – Andover, MN
- King’s County Market – St. Francis, MN
- Knowlan’s Fresh Foods – Maplewood, MN
- Knowlan’s Fresh Foods – South St. Paul, MN
- Kowalski’s Market – Eagan, MN
- Kowalski’s Market – Excelsior, MN
- Kowalski’s Market – Eden Prairie, MN
- Kowalski’s Market on Grand – St. Paul, MN
- Kowalski’s Market on Chicago – Minneapolis, MN
- Kowalski’s Market on Lyndale – Minneapolis, MN
- Kowalski’s Market – Oak Park Heights, MN
- Kowalski’s Market – Shoreview, MN
- Kowalski’s Market – White Bear Lake, MN
- Kowalski’s Market – Woodbury, MN
- Longfellow Market – Minneapolis, MN
- Mackenthun’s Foods - Waconia
- North Market – Minneapolis, MN
- Oxendale’s Market Randolph – St. Paul, MN
- Speedy Market – St. Paul, MN
- Super One Plaza – Duluth, MN
- Super One West – Duluth, MN
- Super One – Two Harbors, MN
Symptoms of illness caused by Cyclospora typically include watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, loss of appetite, and weight loss. People typically become ill about a week after eating contaminated food, but this period can range from 2-14 days. Diarrhea can last several weeks or longer if not treated. Contact your health care provider if you have become ill.
###
Media Contact
Allen Sommerfeld, MDA Communications
651-201-6185
Allen.Sommerfeld@state.mn.us
When a person discovers a leak, an overfill, a spill, or other signs of an
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has confirmed the presence of emerald ash borer (EAB) in Waseca County for the first time. There are now 32 counties in the state with EAB.
A local Department of Natural Resources (DNR) forester noticed woodpecker damage on several ash trees in Janesville and alerted the MDA. MDA staff were able to find live EAB larvae and collect samples. Federal identification confirmed emerald ash borer.
Emerald ash borer larvae kill ash trees by tunneling under the bark and feeding on the part of the tree that moves nutrients up and down the trunk. Often, the trees show several signs of infestation because of this. Woodpeckers like to feed on EAB larvae and woodpecker holes, like the ones spotted by DNR staff, may indicate the presence of emerald ash borer. Also, EAB tunneling can cause the bark to split open, revealing characteristic S-shaped galleries underneath.
Because this is the first time EAB has been identified in Waseca County, the MDA is enacting an emergency quarantine to limit the movement of firewood and ash material out of the county. The MDA issues quarantines for all counties known to have EAB to reduce the risk of further spreading the tree-killing insect.
Virtual informational meetings for residents and tree care professionals will be held on Tuesday, April 19, 2022. Experts from the MDA will give a brief presentation followed by a question-and-answer session.
Emerald Ash Borer Virtual Informational Meetings
Tuesday, April 19, 2022
10-11 a.m. or 6-7 p.m.
Register at www.mda.state.mn.us/eab
The public will also have an opportunity to provide input on the proposal to add Waseca County to the state's formal quarantine. The MDA is taking comments on the proposed formal quarantine now through May 12, 2022, and recommends adopting the quarantine on May 16, 2022. The quarantine limits the movement of ash trees and limbs and hardwood firewood out of the counties. The proposed quarantine language can be found at www.mda.state.mn.us/eab.
Comments can be made during the virtual meeting or by contacting:
Kimberly Thielen Cremers
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
625 Robert Street North
St. Paul, MN 55155
Kimberly.TCremers@state.mn.us
EAB was first discovered in Minnesota in 2009.
There is more EAB information on the MDA website at www.mda.state.mn.us/eab.
###
Media Contact
Allen Sommerfeld, MDA Communications
651-201-6185
Allen.Sommerfeld@state.mn.us
The use of Enlist Duo was previously prohibited in Clay, Marshall, Polk, Redwood, Renville, and Stearns Counties due to federally listed endangered species. This decision was changed in March 2022 due to the absence of the species of concern. Enlist Duo and Enlist One can now be applied according to label instructions throughout Minnesota.