We’re proud to stand alongside Minnesota’s organic farmers and food system partners at Marbleseed! MDA staff is here to connect growers with resources and programs that support resilient, thriving farms. Stop by our booth in the exhibit area and say hello! 👋
#Marbleseed2026 #MnAg
Wooden crates filled with fresh green onions, jalapeños, tomatoes, and leafy greens on metal shelves in a community food shelf.
We're proud to launch a new state-funded Farm to Food Security Grant program to support local farmers while expanding access to local food for Minnesotans experiencing food insecurity. #MNAg
📆 Applications due by 4 p.m. on March 31, 2026
🔗 www.mda.state.mn.us/farm-food-security-grants-open
It’s Grain Bin Safety Week in Minnesota. Grain bin work can be dangerous, reviewing safety practices can help prevent serious injuries. Visit the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center online at http://umash.umn.edu for resources to help keep farmers and ag workers safe.
#MNAg
🌱 For 70+ years, the North Central Soils Lab in Morris, MN has studied crops that clean air & water. Federal funding cuts hurt farmers & rural communities. #RuralInnovation #CleanWater #SupportScience #AgResearch #MNAg #SustainableFarming #ClimateAction
Three people stand behind a Department of Agriculture booth with informational brochures and grant resources on display.
Our Rural Finance Authority team had a great day at the Women in Agriculture Conference today, connecting with women farmers who are building strong businesses, scaling thoughtfully, and shaping the future of Minnesota agriculture.
#WomenInAg #MNAg
#MNAG #KeithEllison
Fight Against Federal Overreach
Sheep gathered around a red metal feeder in a snowy field with bare trees in the background.
Temps are dropping dangerously low across MN, which means farmers may need to take extra measures to protect livestock. University of Minnesota Extension offers lots of weather and climate resources to help. #MNAg #MNWx
🔗 extension.umn.edu/climate-and-weather/weat...
The Minnesota State Capitol building with its prominent white dome under a clear blue sky.
Governor Tim Walz's 2026 Infrastructure Plan invests in agriculture & rural MN. It includes $50M for our Rural Finance Authority & $2.3M for our East Grand Forks potato facility. #MNAg
🔗 www.startribune.com/walz-proposes-907-millio...
Two stitched photos show a before-and-after of a wooded area in Rochester. In 2020, the thick foliage, consisting largely of invasive species, crowds the underbrush. In 2024, the same area has been opened up and native bluebell plants are visible throughout.
An 11-acre public park in Rochester became a showcase for what can happen when invasive plant removal allows native plants to return. Check out our latest Weed of the Month newsletter to learn more! #MNAg
ℹ️ content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MNMDA/bulletins...
A white turkey stands on a blue tablecloth with 'Minnesota Turkey Farmers Association' printed, surrounded by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and others in a formal room.
A large white turkey with fanned tail feathers standing on a patterned red carpet indoors.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz speaking at a podium in an ornate room with a turkey on a table next to him, American and state flags behind, audience seated and photographing the event.
Today, Governor Tim Walz welcomed this year's Swanville-based Minnesota Thanksgiving turkey to the Capitol. Commissioner Thom Petersen joined him and leaders of Second Harvest Heartland, Minnesota 4-H, and Minnesota Turkey Growers Association, which donated $10k to hunger relief. #MNAg
Logo of Smarty Plants podcast featuring glasses with leaves, a grasshopper, and a butterfly on a green background.
If your holiday plans call for a festive tree, there are plenty of great live choices from Minnesota tree growers this time of year. The latest Smarty Plants podcast episode has what you need to know before heading out to a tree lot or farm. 🎄 #MNAg
🎧 https://www.mda.state.mn.us/smartyplants
Woman standing behind a Minnesota Department of Agriculture table with informational materials for U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week, November 18-24, in a room with white brick walls.
Antimicrobial 🦠 resistance doesn’t just impact people. It matters for animal health, too. At the MDA, we provide outreach and education to support antibiotic stewardship in the use of veterinary drugs for livestock animals. #MNAg
Learn more 🔗 www.mda.state.mn.us/residue-prevention.
Tall weather monitoring tower with instruments in a dry grass field under a clear blue sky.
Map showing Minnesota and North Dakota with agricultural weather network stations, expansion areas, and 20-mile coverage zones marked.
We recently expanded our MN Ag Weather Network, adding a station outside Rollag, MN. We're another step closer to providing real-time, hyperlocal environmental data collected w/in 20 miles of all #MNAg land. #MNWx
🔗 www.mda.state.mn.us/mda-expands-ag-weather-n...
Two people posing together at an indoor event with informational booths and a 'No Drift Zone' sign visible nearby.
A crowded indoor event with people visiting booths and a colorful prize wheel labeled 'Wild Card' at the center.
Four conference attendees standing together indoors, wearing badges and holding coffee cups, smiling for a group photo.
Greetings from the 20th Annual Emerging Farmers Conference! We're present and presenting today and tomorrow in Brooklyn Center. Hope to see you there! #MNAg
ℹ️ https://www.emergingfarmers.org/
Close-up of a white cow standing in a green meadow filled with invasive plants and tall grass on a sunny day.
Thinking about stepping up your weed control efforts next year? A weed management plan can be as simple or complex as you want, but either way, the most important thing is to get started. Our Weed of the Month quiz can help. #MNAg
🔗 content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MNMDA/bulletins...
Four people standing in a kitchen holding a large container filled with fresh green leafy vegetables.
School lunch tray with a chicken sandwich on a whole wheat bun, roasted potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, fresh apple, mixed raw vegetables, a brownie, and a carton of local fresh milk.
Group of nine people standing indoors behind a table displaying various fruits and informational posters on a wall behind them.
Children gathered around a long table covered with green tablecloths, engaging in a hands-on activity involving leaves and small containers of materials.
That’s a wrap on National #FarmtoSchool Month! We’ve traveled across MN visiting schools & early care centers to see what they’re cooking up, and we’re inspired by what we’ve seen. Thanks to everyone who shared lunch with us and continues to grow Minnesota's Farm to Kids movement.
#MNAg
Front view of the Minnesota State Capitol building with its large white dome under a clear blue sky.
Our new AGRI Works Grant program supports local organizations leading projects that strengthen Minnesota farms, communities, and food systems. Apply by December 16 to help shape the future of #MNAg.
Details 📲 mda.state.mn.us/mda-launches-new-agri-works-grant-program
Registration is now open for the 2026 Minnesota Organic Conference, featuring Dr. Joel Gruver, a farmer-led panel on the future of organic agriculture, and 30+ sessions on production, marketing, research, and more. Get the details and register at www.mda.state.mn.us/moc #MNAg #MNOrganic26
✈️ Minnesota’s winter camelina crop could help fuel cleaner skies.
University of Minnesota's Forever Green initiative is studying how to turn camelina seed oil into Sustainable Aviation Fuel. A test flight launched from MSP last fall.
#SustainableFuel #Camelina #MNAg #CleanEnergy #Biofuels
Logo of Smarty Plants podcast featuring glasses, a smiling green leaf face, a grasshopper on a leaf, and a butterfly on a green gradient background.
Spiders 🕷️ tend to give some people the creeps. But the world of spiders isn't as scary as it seems. On this Halloween 🎃 episode of our Smarty Plants podcast, we discuss spiders in Minnesota and the role they play in our ecology🕸️. #MNAg
🎧 https://www.mda.state.mn.us/smartyplants
Audience listening to a presenter discussing agricultural projects including water quality and nutrient management on a large screen.
MDA staffer Kajsa Beatty presented at the Midwest Climate Resilience Conference in Milwaukee earlier this week on how we're working with farmers to help them adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change on their lands, crops, and animals. #MNAg
Minnesota Department of Education Nutrition Program Services Director Emily Honer gives a thumbs up next to a young boy hold a certificate that says "aww, shucks" as they stand in front of their corn shucking station.
Nutrition Program Services Director Emily Honer helped Minneapolis Public Schools celebrate Farm to School at their annual Community BBQ. She and her partner didn’t win the corn shucking contest, but they tried hard! #FarmtoSchool #MNAg
Two small green plants with visible root balls resting on rough asphalt surface, showing healthy roots and fresh leaves.
Two sheep grazing in a green field beneath large solar panels on metal supports.
Help shape the future of sustainable farming in Minnesota! The MDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant is now open, supporting farmer-led research & on-farm demonstrations.
📅 Apply by 12/17/25
🔗 Learn more + apply at mda.state.mn.us/help-shape-future-sustainable-farming-minnesota
#MNAg
Kudos to Minneapolis Public Schools! Tonight at their #FarmtoSchool BBQ, Asst. Commissioner Bailey presented them with the Minnesota Grown Cream of the Crop Award for School District of the Year. Kudos to their team for supporting local farmers & making school meals something to celebrate! 🏆
#MNAg
Palmer amaranth plant with many green oval shaped leaves. A single Palmer amaranth plant growing in a soybean field.
Our Weed of the Month for October is Palmer amaranth, a fast-growing, annual weed that is detrimental to row crops and can add higher production costs to farmers already dealing with high fuel and fertilizer expenses. #MNAg
🔗 content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MNMDA/bulletins...
Logo for Smarty Plants podcast featuring glasses, a green leaf with an insect, and a butterfly on a green gradient background.
Are invasive plants just a click away? Our latest Smarty Plants podcast episode looks at the wide variety of plants and seeds available online, and what people should know before ordering to avoid introducing a harmful species to the environment. #MNAg
🎧 https://www.mda.state.mn.us/smartyplants
A combine harvester cutting through a golden soybean field under a clear sky with a distant tree line and road.
Today, Governor Tim Walz declared Sept. 29 – Oct. 5 as Soybean Week in MN, highlighting the critical role soybean farmers play in Minnesota’s economy and the growing challenges they face from federal trade policy. #MNAg
🔗 mn.gov/governor/newsroom/press-...
Graphic with multiple photos and copy. Photo one: Person holding a large tray of freshly harvested garlic bulbs with green stems in front of a red barn door. Photo two: Close-up of a cafeteria tray filled with colorful sliced watermelon radishes and carrot sticks with black tongs. Photo three: Young child sitting at a school lunch table with a tray containing turkey, stuffing, an apple, grapes, and a milk carton. Copy below reads "Apply now for Farm to School Grants + Local Tots Cost-Share! Deadline in Oct. 23 at 4 p.m."
Minnesota schools & child care providers can now apply for Farm to School & Early Care grants and the Local Tots Cost-Share program to bring more MN-grown food to kids’ plates. #MNAg
📅 Deadline to apply is October 23 at 4 p.m.
🔗 Visit qrco.de/f2s2026 learn more & apply
