Peder Kjeseth, Director
Appointed January 2019
Peder Kjeseth has served as Director of Government Relations since January 2019.
The Government Relations office provides an essential link between the MDA and the state legislature, working with the Governor's Office, legislators, and department staff to shape and monitor agricultural policy. The Government Relations office and the Commissioners provide legislative recommendations on a wide variety of agricultural issues and work to implement policy working groups created by the legislature.
Legislative Reports
- Ag BMP Loan Program Status Report 2019 (PDF)
- Ag Land Preservation 2018-2019 (PDF)
- Agricultural Chemical Response and Reimbursement Account (ACRRA) Annual Report Fiscal Year 2021 (PDF)
- Agricultural Emergency Account Annual Report 2021 (PDF)
- Agricultural Growth, Research, and Innovation Fiscal Year 2020 Legislative Report (PDF)
- Annual Rules Report 2021 (PDF)
- Biodiesel Annual Report 2021 (PDF)
- Bioincentive Program Report to the Legislature 2021 (PDF)
- Clean Water Fund Legislative Report – January 2016 (PDF)
- Commissioner's Exemptions Report 2021 (PDF)
- Dairy Development and Profitability Enhancement Legislative Report FY 2020 / Work Plan FY 2022(PDF)
- Dairy Research, Teaching, and Consumer Education Authority Annual Report – February 2021 (PDF)
- Elk Damage Payments Fiscal Year 2020-2021 (PDF)
- Hemp Data Audit Trail Legislative Report 2021 (PDF)
- Permitting Efficiency and Goal Report – February 2021 (PDF)
- Pesticide Management Plan Status Report 2020 (PDF)
- Retail Biofuel Infrastructure Grant Program Report to the Legislature, 2017 (PDF)
- Rural Finance Authority Lending Projection – September 2021 (PDF)
- Status of Organic Agriculture in Minnesota 2015 (PDF)
- Waste Pesticide Collection Program Report 2020 (PDF)
- Wolf Livestock Conflict Prevention Grants Fiscal Year 2017 - Present (PDF)
- Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program Report – January 2021 (PDF)
- Commercial Manure Applicator Manual Report – January 2016 (PDF)
- Emerging Farmers in Minnesota – February 2021(PDF)
- Good Food Access Program: A Report to the Minnesota Legislature – January 2021 (PDF)
- Meat Processing Vocational Training for Inmates – January 2017 (PDF)
- Nitrate in Groundwater – June 2016 (PDF)
- Farmer-Lender Mediation Task Force Report – February 2017 (PDF)
- Grain Storage Facility Power Off Digital Application Grants - April 2021 (PDF)
- Hemp Extraction Framework Legislative Report – January 2020 (PDF)
- Inspections of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture – January 2018 (PDF)
- Meat Processing for Inmates (2016) (PDF)
- Minnesota Farm Safety
- Nursery Stock Labeled as Beneficial to Pollinators Report – March 2020 (PDF)
- Petroleum Replacement and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals and the Governor's Council on Biofuels - January 2021
- Status of Farm Safety in Minnesota Report to the Legislative – February 2017 (PDF)
- Status of Food Hubs in Minnesota (2016) (PDF)
- Urban Agriculture in Minnesota (2016) (PDF)
Boards & Commissions
The State of Minnesota is committed to recruiting applicants from across Minnesota’s diverse communities to serve on Boards and Commissions. This includes but is not limited to Tribal Nations, communities in Greater Minnesota, Black communities and communities of color, as well as recruiting individuals with disabilities and veterans. These are the Boards and Commissions that relate to the agriculture sector:
- American Indian Advisory Council
- Board of Animal Health
- Board of Water and Soil Resources
- Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage
- Council for Asian Pacific Minnesotans
- Food Safety and Defense Task Force
- Good Food Access Program Advisory Committee
- LCCMR Trust Fund Citizen Selection Committee
- Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources
- Minnesota Agricultural Fertilizer Research & Education Council
- Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program Advisory Committee
- Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs
- Minnesota Biodiesel Task Force
- Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine
- Minnesota Environmental Quality Board
- Minnesota Forest Resources Council
- Minnesota Organic Advisory Task Force
- Minnesota Rural Finance Authority
- Noxious Weed Advisory Committee
- Pesticide Management Plan Committee
- Seed Program Advisory Committee
- State Advisory Council on Mental Health
All Minnesotans are encouraged to apply here: Open Positions Search (state.mn.us)
