[mfgamembers] FYI: An Act to protect Massachusetts pollinators

[maurice tougas]

PS

You all know that I've been know to fly off the hook now and then. You been
reminded!

On Thu, Jan 18, 2018 at 12:49 PM, maurice tougas <appleman.maurice at gmail.com
> wrote:

> 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 <(508)%20450-0844>
>



-- 
Maurice Tougas
Tougas Family Farm
Northborough,MA 01532
508-450-0844
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