Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Minnesota Department of Agriculture Headquarters Location
Saint Paul
About Minnesota Department of Agriculture
State of Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Laboratory Services Division:
The Laboratory Services Division provides analytical support and data that is critical to the protection of Minnesota’s food supply, agricultural industry and environment. Legally defensible analyses support the departmental regulatory programs and other state and local programs.
The laboratory protects all Minnesota citizens and those who use Minnesota agriculture or agricultural products by working to ensure a safe, secure food supply and protect the environment from misuse of agricultural chemicals. Through partnerships, we serve the entire nation as we work with other states and federal agencies to identify and address problems of national concern and work to ensure the wholesomeness of Minnesota’s food exports.
The Division performs chemical, microbiological, and physical analyses of food, dairy products, beverages, water, fertilizer, lime, feed, seed, plant material, pesticides, pesticide residues and grain. These tests support inspection and enforcement activities of MDA’s regulatory divisions. We also determine products’ quality and conformance to state and federal laws and regulations, to provide legally defensible data.
Our mission includes routine analyses to ensure that products meet legally mandated quality standards, such as analyzing feed to verify label claims and to see if it is contaminated by heavy metals such as arsenic and selenium. It also provides for forensic analysis to identify unknown agents in a suspect product. Beyond that, our lab’s special analytical testing gives the Department rapid and accurate data needed to manage and work with environmental and food-borne crises, such as E. coli contaminated ground beef and pesticide residues in produce. The Lab develops and maintains new analytical capabilities as problems or questions arise within the Feed, Food and agrochemical Industry. We also consult on analytical issues with Inspectors, managers, private analytical laboratories and regulated industries.
In addition to our services to MDA’s regulatory programs, the Lab provides analyses for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal and state agencies. It also supports analytical activities for Incident Response and works closely with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Department of Administration on compliance monitoring of the state contract for environmental sampling and laboratory analysis.
The Laboratory Services Division provides analytical support and data that is critical to the protection of Minnesota’s food supply, agricultural industry and environment. Legally defensible analyses support the departmental regulatory programs and other state and local programs.
The laboratory protects all Minnesota citizens and those who use Minnesota agriculture or agricultural products by working to ensure a safe, secure food supply and protect the environment from misuse of agricultural chemicals. Through partnerships, we serve the entire nation as we work with other states and federal agencies to identify and address problems of national concern and work to ensure the wholesomeness of Minnesota’s food exports.
The Division performs chemical, microbiological, and physical analyses of food, dairy products, beverages, water, fertilizer, lime, feed, seed, plant material, pesticides, pesticide residues and grain. These tests support inspection and enforcement activities of MDA’s regulatory divisions. We also determine products’ quality and conformance to state and federal laws and regulations, to provide legally defensible data.
Our mission includes routine analyses to ensure that products meet legally mandated quality standards, such as analyzing feed to verify label claims and to see if it is contaminated by heavy metals such as arsenic and selenium. It also provides for forensic analysis to identify unknown agents in a suspect product. Beyond that, our lab’s special analytical testing gives the Department rapid and accurate data needed to manage and work with environmental and food-borne crises, such as E. coli contaminated ground beef and pesticide residues in produce. The Lab develops and maintains new analytical capabilities as problems or questions arise within the Feed, Food and agrochemical Industry. We also consult on analytical issues with Inspectors, managers, private analytical laboratories and regulated industries.
In addition to our services to MDA’s regulatory programs, the Lab provides analyses for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal and state agencies. It also supports analytical activities for Incident Response and works closely with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Department of Administration on compliance monitoring of the state contract for environmental sampling and laboratory analysis.
Number of Employees in Minnesota Department of Agriculture
201 to 500