Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Name

Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Legal name

Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Website

https://mda.state.mn.us

Company type

Public

Founded year

1865

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is a state government agency that regulates, finances, and supports agricultural activity in Minnesota through loans, grants, regulatory oversight, food safety inspection, and market development services for farmers, food businesses, and exporters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

State Agricultural Regulation and Support Services

NAICS

Farm Management Services (115116), Support Activities for Crop Production (1151), Support Activities for Animal Production (115210)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Rights, Permitting & Compliance Services (Allocations, Reporting) (AFACAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Agricultural Water Testing Services (Irrigation, Groundwater, Surface Water) (AFACAKAC), Irrigation, Water & Energy Efficiency Operations Advisory (AFACAJAM)

Keywords

• Agricultural regulation
• Farm loan programs
• Food safety licensing
• Agricultural water quality
• Rural agricultural lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. State Government Appropriations: Primary funding through Minnesota state government budget appropriations, supplemented by federal grants and program fees

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture administers state-level farm loan and grant programs (including Beginning Farmer Tax Credit, Aggie Bond, Livestock, and Value-Added Stock loan programs through the Rural Finance Authority), issues food safety and dairy licenses, delivers the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program, and provides producer support services such as FarmLink farm transitions and Farm Advocates. Its offerings are funded through state appropriations and statutory fees and are delivered directly to Minnesota farmers, food businesses, lenders, and conservation partners.

Product overview

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture offers a comprehensive suite of programs and services organized as a platform of interconnected offerings. The core portfolio includes loan programs administered through the Rural Finance Authority (featuring Beginning Farmer, Aggie Bond, Disaster Recovery, and equipment/improvement loans), grant programs under the AGRI umbrella (including Livestock Investment, Value-Added, Specialty Crop, and Soil Health grants), and specialized programs for emerging farmers, farm succession (FarmLink), water quality certification (MAWQCP), and local/regional food systems (Minnesota Grown, Farm to School). Additional offerings span regulatory services (pesticide/fertilizer licensing, food safety inspection), emergency response (HPAI), business development (Make it Minnesota), international trade, farmer support (Farm Advocates, stress helpline), and marketing programs. The department operates primarily as a government services organization rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Minnesota tax credit for landowners and tenants who sell or rent agricultural assets, livestock, machinery, or land to beginning farmers; administered by the Rural Finance Authority.
• Aggie Bond Loan Program Tax-exempt federal bonding program that lowers interest rates for beginning farmer loans used to purchase farmland, buildings, and improvements, channeled through participating local lenders.
• Livestock Loan Program Loan program that helps Minnesota livestock producers finance the start-up, expansion, or continuation of their livestock operations through the Rural Finance Authority.
• Value-Added Stock Loan Program Loan program supporting cooperatives or businesses that process or market agricultural products with value-added characteristics, providing financing for member or shareholder stock purchases.
• Rural Finance Authority (RFA) State authority within the Minnesota Department of Agriculture that administers a portfolio of ag loan, tax credit, and grant programs for farmers and agricultural cooperatives across the state.
• FarmLink Free MDA service connecting beginning or transitioning farmers with landowners, retiring farmers, and farm seekers in Minnesota, including facilitation of mentorship pairings.
• Farm Advocates Program Statewide network of advocates who work with MDA to provide one-on-one financial counseling, mediation, and crisis assistance to Minnesota farmers facing financial difficulties.
• Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) Voluntary certification program that certifies producers implementing conservation practices to protect water quality, providing regulatory certainty and access to financial assistance.
• Minnesota Grown Directory and Licensing State-branded marketing directory and licensing program that promotes Minnesota-grown produce and farm products and connects consumers with licensed Minnesota producers.
• Cottage Food License License issued by MDA authorizing Minnesota food producers to safely prepare and sell certain non-potentially hazardous foods directly to consumers from their home or at farmers markets.
• Food Handler License License required for food handlers and food operators in Minnesota as part of MDA's food safety oversight.
• Wholesale Produce Dealer License License regulating wholesale produce dealers operating in Minnesota to ensure compliance with state agricultural standards.
• Warehouse Operator License License issued to Minnesota warehouse operators handling agricultural products to ensure compliance with state storage and grain handling requirements.
• Dairy Plant License License regulating dairy plant operations in Minnesota, covering processing, sanitation, and product safety standards.
• Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) Partnership Program County-level conservation districts that partner with MDA to deliver the Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program, conservation cost-share, and producer outreach across Minnesota.

Quantifiable outcome

• 61,481 tons of sediment prevented from entering waters annually through MAWQCP
• +3 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal-state-local partnership for agricultural water quality certification program. BWSR provides pollution reduction estimation tools and coordinates with local conservation districts.
• Minnesota Department of Natural ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on water monitoring programs, wildlife damage management, and conservation practices on agricultural lands.
• Minnesota Pollution Control AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint water quality protection efforts and regulatory coordination for agricultural operations.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partnership providing technical and financial assistance for conservation practices on agricultural lands.
• Minnesota Association of Soil & Water Conservation DistrictscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of local conservation districts providing on-the-ground certification services for water quality program.
• Local Agricultural LenderscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of local banks and lending institutions that partner with Rural Finance Authority for loan participation programs.
• University of Minnesota ExtensionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarm business management education, Farm to School programs, and agricultural technical assistance.
• Farmland Access HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative farmland access initiative with Land Stewardship Project and other organizations.
• Minnesota Board of Animal HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordination on animal health programs including HPAI response, import regulations, and premise identification.
• Minnesota Department of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordination on HPAI response including Personal Protective Equipment distribution to poultry farmers.
• Minnesota Department of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for COMET mental health training and crisis support services for farm and rural communities.
• Food Export AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrade missions, exporter education, and international market development services for Minnesota food companies.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources: Combined agriculture and natural resources agency in a neighboring state. Comparable to MDA in regulatory and conservation mandate, but aligned to a different crop/livestock mix and smaller program footprint.

Direct peers

• California Department of Food and Agriculture: California's state agriculture agency overseeing the largest agricultural economy in the U.S. Comparable to MDA in regulatory authority, marketing programs (state-grown branding), and specialty crop focus, with a broader geographic base.
• Texas Department of Agriculture: Texas's agriculture agency with mandate spanning rural economic development, trade, and farm regulation. Comparable to MDA in services (school nutrition, rural health, market development) but with a fundamentally larger agricultural economy.
• Ohio Department of Agriculture: Midwestern state agency providing food safety inspection, plant and animal health regulation, and farm service programs. Directly comparable to MDA's regulatory and conservation portfolio.
• Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development: Michigan's state agriculture agency with similar mandate across food/dairy regulation, environmental stewardship, and rural development. Comparable to MDA in scope and program structure.
• Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship: State agriculture department serving Iowa, a neighboring top agricultural state. Directly comparable to MDA in mandate (regulatory, financial, conservation, market development services) and product mix (farmer loans, water quality, livestock, international trade).
• Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection: Wisconsin's combined agriculture and consumer protection agency. Highly comparable to MDA in regulatory scope (food, dairy, plant industry), farm lending programs, and conservation services, with overlapping dairy and crop portfolios.
• North Dakota Department of Agriculture: State agriculture department serving a neighboring crop-and-livestock economy. Comparable to MDA in regulatory oversight, ag finance oversight, and specialty crop programs, but with a smaller program scope.
• Illinois Department of Agriculture: Midwestern state agriculture agency with comparable mandate including livestock regulation, ag products inspection, and conservation programs. Directly comparable to MDA in regulatory and market development roles.

Broad incumbents

• USDA (United States Department of Agriculture): Federal department that funds and partners with MDA via NRCS, AMS, and other subagencies. Operates the same categories (farm lending, conservation, trade, food safety) at national scale, but as a broader incumbent rather than a state-level specialist.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mnagriculture
• YouTubeyoutube.com/mnagriculture
• Facebookfacebook.com/mnagriculture
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mnhealth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Minnesota Department of Agriculture