The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has proposed to the increase the fertilizer tonnage fee by 25 cents per ton. This fee funds inspections, permitting, and nitrogen point source evaluations. Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen says the cost to individual farmers would average about $20 per year, but that would come with safety benefits. This tonnage fee would be raised from a total of $1.27 per ton to $1.52 per ton. According to state statutes, a tonnage report and inspection fee is not required by a licensee who distributes fertilizer solely by custom application.
