MSGA, MN Corn Growers Advocacy Leads MPCA to Withdraw Rulemaking Process for Pesticide Treated Seed Disposal

Following a sustained advocacy push from Minnesota farm groups, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced Nov. 3 that it’s withdrawing the rulemaking process for pesticide treated seed disposal. The withdrawal follows 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, the agency will need to start from the beginning.  

The withdrawal is a positive development for the farm groups that collaborated to oppose 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,” said 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.”