Minnesota Governor Restricts Neonicotinoid Use

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton issued Executive Order 16-07, requiring the state to take specific actions to reverse the decline of bees and other pollinator populations that play a crucial role in agriculture and food production. The governor’s order follows the completion of a Special Registration Review of Neonicotinoid Pesticides conducted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) that outlines action steps for minimizing the impact of pesticide use in the state.  Executive Order 16-07 requires the Department of Agriculture to immediately initiate action steps, which include requiring verification that the application of neonicotinoid pesticides is made due to an imminent threat of significant crop loss, reviewing pesticide product labels and implementing appropriate Minnesota-specific restrictions on their use, increasing enforcement of label requirements for pesticides that are acutely toxic to pollinators, and to continue developing and promoting best management practices designed to protect and enhance pollinator health in Minnesota.  The Governor’s order further requires the State Department of Administration to take immediate steps to support pollinator health on state property.