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Dayton limits use of neonicotinoids

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton issued an executive order Friday limiting neonicotinoid applications.

Speaking at the State Fair, Dayton suggested the insecticide has played a role in the decline of bee and other pollinator populations.

Minnesota Soybean Growers Association director of public affairs Joe Smentek says the governor should have consulted farm groups before making the announcement.

“We’re disappointed the Governor decided to go about it this way.  We’ve tried to be really good stewards of these chemicals.”

The neonicotinoid class of insecticide is commonly used to control soybean aphids, and Smentek tells Brownfield an unintended consequence of Dayton’s decision could be resistance.

“We’re seeing resistance to some chemicals, specifically pyrethroids in aphids.  So neonics are a really important tool to have when we have those resistance issues.  And we’ve really been harping on farmers to look at their integrated pest management plan and not overuse these chemicals because we don’t want to build up resistance.”

Dayton’s order requires the Department of Agriculture to immediately initiate action steps including verification that neonicotinoid applications are only made when there is an imminent threat of significant crop loss.

Smentek says Minnesota Soybean will continue working with the University of Minnesota to figure out how to use these chemicals in the least impactful way possible.