<div dir="ltr">Mo is correct. Science, should be the basis for pesticide registration decisions - including restrictions. This bill is not based on science.<div><br></div><div>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. </div><div><br></div><div> 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.</div><div><br></div><div>Brad</div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Jan 18, 2018 at 12:51 PM, maurice tougas <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:appleman.maurice@gmail.com" target="_blank">appleman.maurice@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">PS<div><br></div><div>You all know that I've been know to fly off the hook now and then. You been reminded!</div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Jan 18, 2018 at 12:49 PM, maurice tougas <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:appleman.maurice@gmail.com" target="_blank">appleman.maurice@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">Jon<div><br></div><div>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?</div><div><br></div><div>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. </div><div><br></div><div>Just my two cents, and you didn't even pay that! </div><div><br></div><div>Mo</div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div><div class="m_-6127357289460833832h5">On Thu, Jan 18, 2018 at 11:45 AM, Jon Clements <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:jmcextman@gmail.com" target="_blank">jmcextman@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br></div></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div><div class="m_-6127357289460833832h5"><div dir="ltr"><a href="https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H4041" target="_blank">https://malegislature.gov/Bill<wbr>s/190/H4041</a><div><br></div><div>Does anyone have any concerns/issues with this? (Besides being another regulation.)</div><div><br></div><div>The way I read it, pretty minimal impact to most apple/peach growers unless you are NOT a certified applicator. In summary, it means:</div><div><div><div><ol><li>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.”</li><li>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.”</li><li>During bloom time, neonicotinoids may be applied (by the above listed groups) only for agricultural and horticultural uses as defined by Chapter 61A.<br></li></ol></div><div>Agricultural use defined here: <a href="https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleIX/Chapter61A/Section1" target="_blank">https://malegislature.gov/Laws<wbr>/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleIX/Cha<wbr>pter61A/Section1</a> .<br></div><div><br></div><div>Horticultural use defined here: <a href="https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleIX/Chapter61A/Section2" target="_blank">https://malegislature.gov/Laws<wbr>/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleIX/Cha<wbr>pter61A/Section2</a> .<span class="m_-6127357289460833832m_396480728464246589HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><br></font></span></div></div><span class="m_-6127357289460833832m_396480728464246589HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><div><br></div><div><br></div>-- <br><div class="m_-6127357289460833832m_396480728464246589m_8501812432131262246gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div>JMCEXTMAN (aka Jon Clements)<br><a href="tel:(413)%20478-7219" value="+14134787219" target="_blank">413.478.7219</a> Verizon</div><div><a href="tel:(413)%20378-3068" value="+14133783068" target="_blank">413.378.3068</a> Project Fi</div><div>UMass Cold Spring Orchard</div><div><a href="https://maps.google.com/?q=393+Sabin+StreetBelchertown,+MA%C2%A0+01007&entry=gmail&source=g">393 Sabin Street</a></div><div><a href="https://maps.google.com/?q=393+Sabin+StreetBelchertown,+MA%C2%A0+01007&entry=gmail&source=g">Belchertown, MA 01007</a></div><div><a href="http://umassfruit.com" target="_blank">http://umassfruit.com</a></div></div></div>
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<br></blockquote></div><span class="m_-6127357289460833832HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><br><br clear="all"><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><div><br></div>-- <br><div class="m_-6127357289460833832m_396480728464246589gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">Maurice Tougas<br>Tougas Family Farm<br>Northborough,MA 01532<br><a href="tel:(508)%20450-0844" value="+15084500844" target="_blank">508-450-0844</a></div>
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</font></span></blockquote></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div class="m_-6127357289460833832gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">Maurice Tougas<br>Tougas Family Farm<br>Northborough,MA 01532<br><a href="tel:(508)%20450-0844" value="+15084500844" target="_blank">508-450-0844</a></div>
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