Chapter One Federal Government - Minnesota State Legislature

Chapter
Five
State Agencies
Chapter Five State Agencies
122
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Law provides: The department encourages and promotes agricultural industries, assists in the
marketing of farm products, and exercises regulatory powers to ensure the continued high quality
of Minnesota agricultural production. (Minnesota Statutes, Section 17.03)
Commissioner: Gene Hugoson Appointed: 2003
Salary: $108,400
90 W. Plato Blvd., St. Paul 55107
(651)297-3219
Function: The department is the state’s farm-food regulatory and promotion agency. Its mission is
to work towards a diverse agricultural industry that is economically profitable and environmentally
sustainable; to protect public health and safety regarding food and agricultural products; to provide
consumer protection on food product quality and content and to assure orderly commerce in
agricultural and food products. To meet this vital mission, the department is organized into three
program areas:
Protection Service Program is the state’s premier food safety agency protecting public health and
safety and preventing fraud by regulating the manufacture, distribution, and sale of food, animal
feeds, fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, and other animal products. This program also administers
programs to protect ground and surface water, clean up agricultural chemical spills, promote best
management practices that protect the environment, and license and bond purchasers of agricultural
products including grain, livestock, and fruits or vegetables.
Promotion and Marketing Program promotes and develops national markets for Minnesota
agricultural products through farmers’ markets, food shows, and direct assistance to producers and
small businesses; provides financial supervision to commodity research and promotion councils and
Ag in the Classroom; educates producers on sustainable agriculture, manure management, and
whole farm planning; encourages land stewardship programs that protect against unnecessary
agricultural land conversion; and collects agricultural statistics.
Administration and Financial Assistance Program offers financial assistance programs that
provide affordable financing to farmers and small agribusinesses and provides department-wide
support services, including administration, personnel, office management, information services,
accounting, and planning.