MPCA Announces Withdrawal of Rulemaking Process for Pesticide Treated Seed Disposal

Nov 04, 2025

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced Nov. 3 that it’s withdrawing the rulemaking process for pesticide treated seed disposal. The withdrawal is due to a May report from the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), which disapproved of the MPCA rulemaking because of procedural errors made by MPCA in the rulemaking process. If MPCA decides to proceed with the rulemaking, it will need to start from the beginning.

The withdrawal is a positive development for the farm groups that have opposed this rulemaking since it was first proposed by the Minnesota Legislature.

“The withdrawal of the treated seed rulemaking process is a win for the farm groups who have argued against this misguided policy since first proposed at the legislature,” stated Wesley Beck, president of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association. “Treated seed is a vital crop production tool for Minnesota’s corn farmers, who responsibly steward the product and use it judiciously given its cost.”

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Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.