Nursery plantings may be on the store shelves in March, but it’s wishful thinking to assume they’ll make it outdoors into warm soil anytime soon. The delay can create a problem for consumers.
In a 130-0 vote, the House passed HF598 Feb. 26 that addresses the growing number of complaints to the Agriculture Department regarding the condition of dormant plant stock shipped to Minnesota from southern states. The bill now goes to the Senate, where Sen. Dan Skogen (DFL-Hewitt) is its sponsor.
The stock has been arriving earlier each year from the southern states, according to the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Kent Eken (DFL-Twin Valley). By the time the ground unfreezes in Minnesota, he said many times people are buying dead stock. “Unfortunately, at times the stock has not been maintained adequately and the plant viability and survival has been low in some of the stock.”
The bill clarifies definitions regarding dormant stock and requires the material to be properly maintained to protect its viability. The bill also adds nursery stock dealers to the nursery stock certification requirements, which could include inspections to ensure stock is free from quarantine and dangerous plant pests.