[mfgamembers] FYI: An Act to protect Massachusetts pollinators

[maurice tougas]

Jon

My quick reading suggests to me that there is more to this than the text of
the bill suggests. Looks to me that someone is attempting to lay groundwork
for using the legislature to take over the role of the pesticide board in
the registering of materials. In other words, make the approval process a
political one rather than scientific one. There is a reason tjhat
applicators are being exempted during the "blooming period" which happens
to coincide with the growing season.The reason is to highlight the "bloom"
for emotional purposes. Is there a use for neonics other than during the
period of March 1 to October 31? Maybe there is? Since nursery plants are
excluded then greenhouse plants are as well excluded?

Wouldn't simply making them restricted use accomplish all that the bill is
suggesting, with the scientific review process that the pesticide
subcommittee, which is chaired by public health and not MDAR, being the
logical and credible body making this decision? I think this is an attempt
to circumvent the scientific process to be supplanted by the political
process.

Just my two cents, and you didn't even pay that!

Mo

On Thu, Jan 18, 2018 at 11:45 AM, Jon Clements <jmcextman at gmail.com> wrote:

> https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H4041
>
> Does anyone have any concerns/issues with this? (Besides being another
> regulation.)
>
> The way I read it, pretty minimal impact to most apple/peach growers
> unless you are NOT a certified applicator. In summary, it means:
>
>    1. During and after blooming season, neonicotinoids “shall only be
>    sprayed, 38 released, deposited or applied by a certified commercial
>    applicator, a certified private applicator, 39 or a licensed applicator.”
>    2. Blooming season is defined as: “the period of the calendar year
>    during which blooming or flowering plants are actively blooming, which
>    shall include, at a minimum, the period between March 1 and October 31,
>    provided, that the department may increase the period of time by
>    regulation.”
>    3. During bloom time, neonicotinoids may be applied (by the above
>    listed groups) only for agricultural and horticultural uses as defined by
>    Chapter 61A.
>
> Agricultural use defined here: https://malegislature.gov/
> Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleIX/Chapter61A/Section1 .
>
> Horticultural use defined here: https://malegislature.gov/
> Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleIX/Chapter61A/Section2 .
>
>
> --
> JMCEXTMAN (aka Jon Clements)
> 413.478.7219 <(413)%20478-7219> Verizon
> 413.378.3068 <(413)%20378-3068> Project Fi
> UMass Cold Spring Orchard
> 393 Sabin Street
> Belchertown, MA  01007
> http://umassfruit.com
>
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-- 
Maurice Tougas
Tougas Family Farm
Northborough,MA 01532
508-450-0844
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