Pesticide Monitoring Program- Increased Capability and Capacity
The purpose of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's monitoring activities is to determine the presence and concentration of pesticides in Minnesota's groundwater and surface water. Monitoring information is used to characterize and assess the extent of pesticide impacts to Minnesota's water resources.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has been monitoring the state's water resources continuously for more than 25 years. With over two decades of monitoring data, the MDA operates one of the few programs with sufficient long-term data to evaluate changes in water quality over time.
Clean Water funding has allowed the MDA to increase the number of detectable pesticides, increase the sensitivity of detection of certain pesticides and increase the overall number of samples that can be analyzed on an annual basis. As a result, Minnesota’s pesticide water monitoring program is one of the most comprehensive programs in the country and is regarded as a national leader.
- The MDA increased the number of detectable pesticides from 44 in 2009 to 185 in 2022.
- Pesticides on the new method are now being quantified at a parts-per-trillion (ppt) level, which is a shift from the previous parts-per-billion (ppb) level.
- Approximately 1600 pesticide samples were submitted for analysis during 2010, an increase of 600 samples compared to 2009. This increase of 600 samples should be maintained, but may be lower if dry weather conditions persist.
To learn more about our monitoring program, please visit MDA's Clean Water Fund website or the MDA's pesticide monitoring website.
In 2011, the MDA laboratory purchased equipment for a liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analytical methods. This switch to new methods has greatly expanded the MDA's monitoring capability. Whereas in 2009, MDA routinely analyzed for approximately 44 chemicals requiring three different analytical procedures. Clean Water Funds have supported an increase in the number of detectable pesticides from 44 in 2009 to 185 in 2022. The most significant advancement of the new methods is the ability to quantify concentrations for many of these chemicals at much lower levels.
In general, the MDA looks for pesticides that are widely used and / or pose the greatest risk to groundwater or surface water. The MDA follows a pesticide selection process which prioritizes the specific compounds to be tested. Common compounds include pesticides applied in agricultural settings and those applied to lawns and gardens.The program is designed specifically to evaluate pesticides, however, analysis of nutrients and sediment is also considered.
Annual water quality monitoring reports are available in the Minnesota Water Research Digital Library. Links to the most recent reports are listed below.
M.L. 2023: (a) $350,000 the first year and $350,000 the second year are to increase monitoring for pesticides and pesticide degradates in surface water and groundwater and to use data collected to assess pesticide use practices. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2028.
- Total pesticide monitoring sample events
- Number of pesticide samples collected
- Total number of pesticide analytes
- Total number of detected pesticide analytes in groundwater
- Total number of detected pesticide analytes in surface water
- Total pesticide analyses completed
- Total number of pesticide detections
- Most frequently detected pesticide analyte in groundwater
- Most frequently detected pesticide analyte in surface water
- Active pesticide surface waterbody impairments
M.L. 2023: (a) $350,000 the first year and $350,000 the second year are to increase monitoring for pesticides and pesticide degradates in surface water and groundwater and to use data collected to assess pesticide use practices. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2028.
- Total pesticide monitoring sample events
- Number of pesticide samples collected
- Total number of pesticide analytes
- Total number of detected pesticide analytes in groundwater
- Total number of detected pesticide analytes in surface water
- Total pesticide analyses completed
- Total number of pesticide detections
- Most frequently detected pesticide analyte in groundwater
- Most frequently detected pesticide analyte in surface water
- Active pesticide surface waterbody impairments
The results for FY24 are currently under review and analysis. The final report will be available in June 2025.
M.L. 2021: (a) $350,000 the first year and $350,000 the second year are to increase monitoring for pesticides and pesticide degradates in surface water and groundwater and to use data collected to assess pesticide use practices. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2025.
- Total pesticide monitoring sample events
- Number of pesticide samples collected
- Total number of pesticide analytes
- Total number of detected pesticide analytes in groundwater
- Total number of detected pesticide analytes in surface water
- Total pesticide analyses completed
- Total number of pesticide detections
- Most frequently detected pesticide analyte in groundwater
- Most frequently detected pesticide analyte in surface water
- Active pesticide surface waterbody impairments
- Total pesticide monitoring sample events - 820
- Number of pesticide samples collected - 1,580
- Total number of pesticide analytes - 186
- Total number of detected pesticide analytes in groundwater - 49
- Total number of detected pesticide analytes in surface water - 70
- Total pesticide analyses completed - 122,239
- Total number of pesticide detections - 5,897
- Most frequently detected pesticide analyte in groundwater - Metolachlor ESA (84)
- Most frequently detected pesticide analyte in surface water - Hydroxyatrazine (94)
- Active pesticide surface waterbody impairments - Acetochlor (1), and Chlorpyrifos (10)
M.L. 2021: (a) $350,000 the first year and $350,000 the second year are to increase monitoring for pesticides and pesticide degradates in surface water and groundwater and to use data collected to assess pesticide use practices. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2025.
- Total pesticide monitoring sample events
- Number of pesticide samples collected
- Total number of pesticide analytes
- Total number of detected pesticide analytes in groundwater
- Total number of detected pesticide analytes in surface water
- Total pesticide analyses completed
- Total number of pesticide detections
- Most frequently detected pesticide analyte in groundwater
- Most frequently detected pesticide analyte in surface water
- Active pesticide surface waterbody impairments
- Total pesticide monitoring sample events - 851
- Number of pesticide samples collected - 1,623
- Total number of pesticide analytes - 185
- Total number of detected pesticide analytes in groundwater - 49
- Total number of detected pesticide analytes in surface water - 77
- Total pesticide analyses completed - 122,293
- Total number of pesticide detections - 6,828
- Most frequently detected pesticide analyte in groundwater - Metolachlor (84)
- Most frequently detected pesticide analyte in surface water - Hydroxyatrazine (93)
- Active pesticide surface waterbody impairments - Acetochlor (1) and Chlorpyrifos (13)
M.L. 2019: a) $350,000 the first year and $350,000 the second year are to increase monitoring for pesticides and pesticide degradates in surface water and groundwater and to use data collected to assess pesticide use practices.
- Total pesticide monitoring sample events
- Number of pesticide samples collected
- Total number of pesticide analytes
- Total number of detected pesticide analytes in groundwater
- Total number of detected pesticide analytes in surface water
- Total pesticide analyses completed
- Total number of pesticide detections
- Most frequently detected pesticide analyte in groundwater
- Most frequently detected pesticide analyte in surface water
- Active pesticide surface waterbody impairments
- Total pesticide monitoring sample events - 714
- Number of pesticide samples collected - 1,379
- Total number of pesticide analytes - 181
- Total number of detected pesticide analytes in groundwater - 42
- Total number of detected pesticide analytes in surface water - 73
- Total pesticide analyses completed - 100,465
- Total number of pesticide detections - 4,365
- Most frequently detected pesticide analyte in groundwater - Metolachlor ESA
- Most frequently detected pesticide analyte in surface water - Hydoxyatrazine
- Active pesticide surface waterbody impairments - Acetochlor (1), Chlorpyrifos (13)
M.L. 2019: a) $350,000 the first year and $350,000 the second year are to increase monitoring for pesticides and pesticide degradates in surface water and groundwater and to use data collected to assess pesticide use practices.
- Total pesticide monitoring sample events
- Number of pesticide samples collected
- Total number of pesticide analytes
- Total number of detected pesticide analytes in groundwater
- Total number of detected pesticide analytes in surface water
- Total pesticide analyses completed
- Total number of pesticide detections
- Most frequently detected pesticide analyte in groundwater
- Most frequently detected pesticide analyte in surface water
- Active pesticide surface waterbody impairments
- Total pesticide monitoring sample events - 838
- Number of pesticide samples collected - 1,586
- Total number of pesticide analytes - 178
- Total number of detected pesticide analytes in groundwater - 45
- Total number of detected pesticide analytes in surface water - 73
- Total pesticide analyses completed - 121,384
- Total number of pesticide detections - 7,274
- Most frequently detected pesticide analyte in groundwater - Metolachlor ESA (87)
- Most frequently detected pesticide analyte in surface water - Hydroxyatrazine (95)
- Active pesticide surface waterbody impairments - Acetochlor (1) and Chlorpyrifos (13)
M. L. 2017: (a) $350,000 the first year and $350,000 the second year are to increase monitoring for pesticides and pesticide degradates in surface water and groundwater and to use data collected to assess pesticide use practices.
- Total pesticide monitoring sample events
- Number of pesticide samples collected
- Total number of pesticide analytes
- Total number of detected pesticide analytes in groundwater
- Total number of detected pesticide analytes in surface water
- Total pesticide analyses completed
- Total number of pesticide detections
- Most frequently detected pesticide analyte in groundwater
- Most frequently detected pesticide analyte in surface water
- Active pesticide surface waterbody impairments
- Total pesticide monitoring sample events - 972
- Number of pesticide samples collected - 1,909
- Total number of pesticide analytes - 166
- Total number of detected pesticide analytes in groundwater - 47
- Total number of detected pesticide analytes in surface water - 69
- Total pesticide analyses completed - 119,963
- Total number of pesticide detections - 7,605
- Most frequently detected pesticide analyte in groundwater - Metolachlor ESA (82)
- Most frequently detected pesticide analyte in surface water - Hydroxyatrazine (97)
- Active pesticide surface waterbody impairments - Acetochlor (1) and Chrlopyrifos (13)
M.L. 2017: (a) $350,000 the first year and $350,000 the second year are to increase monitoring for pesticides and pesticide degradates in surface water and groundwater and to use data collected to assess pesticide use practices.
- Total pesticide monitoring sample events
- Number of pesticide samples collected
- Total number of pesticide analytes
- Total number of detected pesticide analytes in groundwater
- Total number of detected pesticide analytes in surface water
- Total pesticide analyses completed
- Total number of pesticide detections
- Most frequently detected pesticide analyte in groundwater
- Most frequently detected pesticide analyte in surface water
- Active pesticide surface waterbody impairments
- Total pesticide monitoring sample events - 957
- Number of pesticide samples collected - 1,819
- Total number of pesticide analytes - 155
- Total number of detected pesticide analytes in groundwater - 40
- Total number of detected pesticide analytes in surface water - 66
- Total pesticide analyses completed - 103,375
- Total number of pesticide detections - 6,188
- Most frequently detected pesticide analyte in groundwater - Metolachlor ESA (81)
- Most frequently detected pesticide analyte in surface water - Hydroxyatrazine (93)
- Active pesticide surface waterbody impairments - Acetochlor (1) and Chlorpyrifos (9)
(a) $350,000 the first year and $350,000 the second year are to increase monitoring for pesticides and pesticide degradates in surface water and groundwater and to use data collected to assess pesticide use practices.
- Number of target analytes considered per year
- Number of target analytes detected per year
Minnesota state agencies are working together to establish and report outcome-based performance measures that monitor the progress and effectiveness of Clean Water Fund activities. This inter-agency group completed a Clean Water Fund Performance Report in February 2012, 2014 and 2016. At the heart of the report is a suite of quantifiable performance measures. MDA's water quality monitoring program is reporting on performance measure EDWOM2: Changes over time in key water quality parameters for lakes, streams and wetlands and EDWOM3: Changes over time in pesticides, nitrate and other key water quality parameters in groundwater.
(a) $350,000 the first year and $350,000 the second year are to increase monitoring for pesticides and pesticide degradates in surface water and groundwater and to use data collected to assess pesticide use practices.
• Number of target analytes considered per year
• Number of target analytes detected per year
Minnesota state agencies are working together to establish and report outcome-based performance measures that monitor the progress and effectiveness of Clean Water Fund activities. This inter-agency group completed a Clean Water Fund Performance Report in February 2012, 2014 and 2016. At the heart of the report is a suite of quantifiable performance measures. MDA's water quality monitoring program is reporting on performance measure EDWOM2: Changes over time in key water quality parameters for lakes, streams and wetlands and EDWOM3: Changes over time in pesticides, nitrate and other key water quality parameters in groundwater.
• Number of target analytes considered per year (143)
• Number of target analytes detected per year (108)
- Groundwater detections: 39
- Surfacewater detections: 69
The MDA's Pesticide Monitoring Program is supported by the MDA's Pesticide Regulatory Account, Fertilizer Regulatory Account, General Funds and a federal grant.
(a) $350,000 the first year and $350,000 the second year are to increase monitoring for pesticides and pesticide degradates in surface water and groundwater and to use data collected to assess pesticide use practices.
Number of target analytes considered per year (138)
• Number of target analytes detected per year (98)
-
- Groundwater detections: 36
- Surfacewater detections: 62
The MDA's Pesticide Monitoring Program is supported by the MDA's Pesticide Regulatory Account, Fertilizer Regulatory Account, General Funds and a federal grant.
(a) $350,000 the first year and $350,000 the second year are to increase monitoring for pesticides and pesticide degradates in surface water and groundwater and to use data collected to assess pesticide use practices.
• Number of target analytes considered per year (135)
• Number of target analytes detected per year (96)
- Groundwater detections: 37
- Surfacewater detections: 59
M.L. 2011: (a) $350,000 the first year and $350,000 the second year are to increase monitoring for pesticides and pesticide degradates in surface water and groundwater and to use data collected to assess pesticide use practices.
• Number of target analytes considered per year
• Number of target analytes detected per year
Minnesota state agencies are working together to establish and report outcome-based performance measures that monitor the progress and effectiveness of Clean Water Fund activities. This inter-agency group completed a Clean Water Fund Performance Report in February 2012, 2014 and 2016. At the heart of the report is a suite of quantifiable performance measures.
MDA's water quality monitoring program is reporting on performance measure EDWOM2: Changes over time in key water quality parameters for lakes, streams and wetlands and EDWOM3:Changes over time in pesticides, nitrate and other key water quality parameters in groundwater.
• Number of target analytes considered (129)
• Number of target analytes detected (57)
M.L. 2011: (a) $350,000 the first year and $350,000 the second year are to increase monitoring for pesticides and pesticide degradates in surface water and groundwater and to use data collected to assess pesticide use practices.
- Number of target analytes considered per year
- Number of target analytes detected per year
• Number of target analytes considered (126)
• Number of target analytes detected (61)
M.L. 2009: (b) $325,000 the first year and $350,000 the second year are to increase monitoring for pesticides and pesticide degradates in surface water and groundwater and to use data collected to assess pesticide use practices.
• Number of target analytes considered per year
• Number of target analytes detected per year
• Number of target analytes considered (114)
• Number of target analytes detected (57)
M.L. 2009: (b) $325,000 the first year and $350,000 the second year are to increase monitoring for pesticides and pesticide degradates in surface water and groundwater and to use data collected to assess pesticide use practices.
• Number of target analytes considered per year
• Number of target analytes detected per year
• Number of target analytes considered (110)
• Number of target analytes detected (56)