[mfgamembers] FYI: An Act to protect Massachusetts pollinators

Sun Jan 21 21:15:42 EST 2018

The bill has actually toned down very little. By far the biggest issue
remains - that this makes registration decision based on how many emails a
group can generate to legislators - not science.
The hobby beekeepers are well organized and most other commodity groups
have supported this under the logic it doesn't have an immediate impact on
them. Farm Bureau is trying to bring them around, but I don't have very high
 hopes.   It would be helpful if the Fruit Growers and UMASS could weigh in
on this with the legislature. Farm Bureau has been the lone voice opposing
this bill.

On Sun, Jan 21, 2018 at 7:14 PM, Alex Dowse <dowse.orchards at gmail.com>
wrote:

> It is populism at an increasingly dangerous rate.  Significant numbers of
> beekeepers (hobbyist)convinced a legislative member the world would end if
> this pesticide was allowed to be used around pollinators. The bill was
> toned down some but the precedence of legislating pesticide controls and
> bypassing established review and science testing will not bode well for the
> industry. Users and growers need to step up and step out to fight these
> issues before the choices are made for you
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Jan 21, 2018, at 12:45 PM, Daniel Cooley <dcooley at umass.edu> wrote:
>
> I totally agree. This is an attempt to get the camel’s nose into the
> pesticide regulatory tent. As Mo, Brad and others have said, we have a
> system. We should use it.
>
> Dan
>
>
> On Jan 18, 2018, at 6:56 PM, Franklyn Carlson <
> fcarlson at carlsonorchards.com> wrote:
>
> 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
> <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
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
>
> On 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
> <https://maps.google.com/?q=393+Sabin+StreetBelchertown,+MA%C2%A0+01007&entry=gmail&source=g>
> 01007
> <https://maps.google.com/?q=393+Sabin+StreetBelchertown,+MA%C2%A0+01007&entry=gmail&source=g>
> 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 <(508)%20450-0844>
>
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