[mfgamembers] FYI: An Act to protect Massachusetts pollinators

[Franklyn Carlson]

Well spoken Mo.  These are very delicate topics as we deal with this type of thing often.  Clear heads must prevail.
Frank

From: mfgamembers [mailto:mfgamembers-bounces at virtualorchard.com] On Behalf Of Stephen Wood
Sent: Thursday, January 18, 2018 1:11 PM
To: maurice tougas <appleman.maurice at gmail.com>
Cc: MFGA Members <mfgamembers at virtualorchard.com>; <brad at mfbf.net> <brad at mfbf.net>
Subject: Re: [mfgamembers] FYI: An Act to protect Massachusetts pollinators

This isn't flying off the hook. Obviously, this doesn't affect us directly, but I entirely agree with Mo.
S.W.
Stephen M. Wood, Farnum Hill Ciders/Poverty Lane Orchards, Lebanon, NH
               (603) 252-5696    swood at farnumhillciders.com<mailto:swood at farnumhillciders.com>

Sent from my iPad

On Jan 18, 2018, at 12:51 PM, maurice tougas <appleman.maurice at gmail.com<mailto: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<mailto: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<mailto: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<tel:(413)%20478-7219> Verizon
413.378.3068<tel:(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<tel:(508)%20450-0844>



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