The duties of the County Agricultural Inspector (CAI) are to see that all laws and rules dealing with noxious weeds are carried out within their jurisdiction. CAI services are now provided through the Clay Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD).

If you are taking your commercial and/or noncommercial pesticide applicators test to obtain your license, contact the Clay SWCD to schedule a day / time by calling 218-287-2255.

Biological Control

Biological control is the use of natural enemies to control non-native pests.

Controlling Leafy Spurge With Flea Beetles in Clay County

Clay County, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has been involved in a program since 1989 in which flea beetles are being used to control leafy spurge in the county. Since 1999, over 6 million flea beetles have been collected and released in Clay County with impressive results. Leafy spurge has been eradicated from several hundred acres of land in Clay County through this program.

Noxious Weed Program

The County Agricultural Inspector (CAI) assists in administering and enforcing the noxious weed law and rules in an effective and uniform manner, resulting in the protection of the county's citizens and the environment from the harmful effects of noxious weeds. This can be accomplished through control of noxious weeds found growing on land within the county.

The CAI inspects all lands within the county for noxious weeds annually and attains as high a level of voluntary compliance as possible. The CAI seeks cooperation from local governments in the inspection and enforcement of the noxious weed law in a manner that will maximize the voluntary compliance. In those instances where voluntary compliance fails, standardized enforcement procedures will be used to insure that the law is uniformly complied within the county.

View the State of Minnesota Noxious Weed list.

Pesticide Program / License Process

Pesticide Applicator Testing

It is the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's (MDA) policy to allow pesticide applicators to be tested by their County Agricultural Inspector (CAI). The CAI assists in the testing of pesticide applicators to insure that pesticide applications within the county are conducted by properly trained and licensed personnel.

License Process

To apply for or renew a Pesticide Applicator License and pay the application fee online, follow the steps on the apply / renew a license webpage of the MDA website.