Minnesota Statutes Agriculture (Ch. 17-42) § 17.9896. Certification procedures

Subdivision 1.Producer duties. A producer who seeks certification of eligible land shall conduct an initial assessment using the certification instrument, obtain technical assistance if necessary to achieve a satisfactory score on the certification instrument, and apply for certification from a licensed certifying agent.

Subd. 2.Owned land. Once certified, if a producer obtains ownership of additional agricultural land, the producer must notify a certifying agent and obtain certification of the additional land within one year in order to retain the producer's original certification.

Subd. 3.Leased land. Once certified, if a producer leases additional land, then the producer must notify a certifying agent before farming operations commence on the newly leased land. A producer who operates leased land is not required to implement practices that permanently alter the landscape in order to be certified or remain certified if the land is added following the original certification. A producer who operates leased land must demonstrate sufficient annual crop management practices, consistent with the original certification agreement, in order to remain certified.