Saint Paul, MINN— On Tuesday, September 13, 2016, the Minnesota House Agriculture Policy Committee held an informational hearing to receive clarification from the Department of Agriculture about Governor Dayton’s Executive Order 16-07 regarding pollinators and the use of neonicotinoids.
Representative Dan Fabian (R-Roseau) attended the hearing and released the following statement:
“In spite of the comments made today by the Agriculture Commissioner trying to reassure farmers, past unfriendly comments and actions by Governor Dayton toward the ag community leave me with serious concerns about the implementation and impact of this executive order. Instead of engaging the agriculture community, the governor has put farmers on the defensive and added layers of bureaucracy to farming in Minnesota.
Agriculture stakeholders, farmers, bee keepers and Minnesotans share the governor’s concerns over the health of pollinators. I think all stakeholders should come together to find common sense, workable solutions to this problem instead of adding burdensome directives that may have both short and long-term consequences on a vital industry to our state.”