The Minnesota Department of Agriculture encourages farmers to take part in its annual pesticide and fertilizer use survey.

According to a press release, the phone survey is directed at soybean and wheat producers. The data helps MDA track the use of agricultural chemicals on Minnesota farms and provides guidance to educational and research programs.

The survey begins Monday and will be completed by April 15. Questions will focus on the 2016 growing season and survey farmers on pesticide and fertilizer applications on soybeans and wheat grown in Minnesota. The annual survey is completely voluntary and producers are not asked any personal questions.

The MDA has conducted similar surveys over the past decade. The survey is conducted for the MDA by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Statistics Service out of their regional offices in Missouri.

Minnesota farmers may be getting calls from multiple agencies and companies conducting a variety of surveys this time of year, but the information gathered from this survey is critical for research purposes.

For more information about MDA’s annual survey, or to view results of previous surveys, visit the MDA website.

Producers can also call the Minnesota Department of Agriculture at 651-261-1993 between 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.