[mfgamembers] FYI: An Act to protect Massachusetts pollinators

[Brad Mitchell]

Mo is correct. Science, should be the basis for pesticide registration
decisions - including restrictions. This bill is not based on science.

Farm Bureau' has a number of concerns with this bill. The most important
one is that it would restrict the use of a pesticide absent a scientific
review, and by bypassing the process laid out in law and regulation. While
the restriction of neonics may not impact fruit growers (though I'd read
the bill carefully relative to "plant materials" before deciding this),
passage of this bill would create a precedent for future action on
pesticides by legislators - including ones that are important to the fruit
industry.

 I've attached Farm Bureau's testimony on HB 2113. HB 4041 us the amended
version of this bill - . Unfortunately, the amendments did very little to
address our concerns. Some commodity groups have supported the bill as they
have taken a very short-term view that it won't impact them.  We're trying
to bring everyone around to see if we can get some common ground.

Brad

On Thu, Jan 18, 2018 at 12:51 PM, maurice tougas <appleman.maurice at gmail.com
> wrote:

> 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
>>> <https://maps.google.com/?q=393+Sabin+StreetBelchertown,+MA%C2%A0+01007&entry=gmail&source=g>
>>> Belchertown, MA  01007
>>> <https://maps.google.com/?q=393+Sabin+StreetBelchertown,+MA%C2%A0+01007&entry=gmail&source=g>
>>> http://umassfruit.com
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> mfgamembers mailing list
>>> mfgamembers at virtualorchard.com
>>> http://virtualorchard.com/mailman/listinfo/mfgamembers
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> 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 <(508)%20450-0844>
>
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