Crookston, MINN— On Tuesday, September 13, 2016, the Minnesota House Agriculture Policy Committee held an informational hearing to receive clarification from the Department of Agriculture about Governor Dayton’s Executive Order 16-07 regarding pollinators and the use of neonicotinoids.
Representative Deb Kiel (R-Crookston) attended the hearing and released the following statement:
“Tuesday’s hearing left us with more questions than answers regarding Governor Dayton’s executive order. Farmers across the state will be affected by this order, and more should have been done to engage stakeholders to come up with a science-based solution that works for our agricultural community, bee keepers, environmental advocates and Minnesotans instead of a unilateral directive from the top.
We all share concerns about the health of our pollinators in Minnesota, but yesterday’s informational hearing did little to ease the minds of farmers who will be affected by this one-size-fits-all mandate that may create more problems than solutions.”