Stearns County Agriculture Inspector Bob Dunning was recently honored with Agricultural Inspector of the Year award. He was recognized for his leadership, commitment, and hard work.
Dunning was acknowledged for his efforts with the Minnesota Legislature, providing information and testimony at the legislative session advocating for funding for ag inspector positions across the state. The position is currently an unfunded mandate which has led to inconsistent weed management throughout the state.
He has also done a lot of work on emerging species such as “rough potato” even though it is not on the noxious weed list. Rough Potato was discovered by a Master Naturalist growing along the Wobegon Trail near Holdingford in 2020. Not much is known about the plant other than it’s a fast-growing plant that smothers other vegetation and spreads quickly. Dunning acquired grant funding to begin management on all known 25 sites. Rough Potato has only been reported in the Holdingford area and is not known to be anywhere else in the U.S.
Dunning was also recognized for his effective communication with landowners, Minnesota Department of Agriculture staff and with members of the Minnesota Invasive Species Advisory Council. He is regarded as a statewide leader in weed management at the local level.
Dunning runs the biological control program, which uses bugs to kill noxious weeds, insects that only live and die on those noxious weeds and prove not to cause any other environmental harm or plant damage, eliminating the need for herbicides. He is also the seed inspector, checking facilities of seed sellers and sampling seeds to make sure they aren’t outdated and that what’s on the label is really what’s in the package. Dunning manages the pesticide applicator program, administering exams and giving licenses to those who spray pesticides. He is also a certified tree inspector and is trained to spot disease and invasive pests.
Bob Dunning
