Azar Participates in Stakeholder Meeting with Minnesota Department of Agriculture
January 14, 2020
Allyson Azar, Director of State Government Relations & Public Policy (Western Region), attended a stakeholder meeting on January 13 with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Peterson and his staff to discuss anticipated legislation regarding pesticide preemption. Last year, legislation was introduced that would repeal the state pesticide preemption law and allow the Department of Agriculture to delegate certain responsibilities on pesticides to first class cities, including Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Rochester and Duluth.
This legislation has been driven by localities’ desire to restrict the use and sale of neonicotinoids. Stakeholders reiterated to the Department of Agriculture that localities do not have the resources that a state agency has in order to make appropriate, science-backed policy decisions on pesticides. HCPA anticipates legislation to be introduced in the coming months and will work with a coalition to oppose.
Please contact Allyson Azar at aazar@thehcpa.org with questions or for more information.
Allyson Azar, Director of State Government Relations & Public Policy (Western Region), attended a stakeholder meeting on January 13 with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Peterson and his staff to discuss anticipated legislation regarding pesticide preemption. Last year, legislation was introduced that would repeal the state pesticide preemption law and allow the Department of Agriculture to delegate certain responsibilities on pesticides to first class cities, including Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Rochester and Duluth.
This legislation has been driven by localities’ desire to restrict the use and sale of neonicotinoids. Stakeholders reiterated to the Department of Agriculture that localities do not have the resources that a state agency has in order to make appropriate, science-backed policy decisions on pesticides. HCPA anticipates legislation to be introduced in the coming months and will work with a coalition to oppose.
Please contact Allyson Azar at aazar@thehcpa.org with questions or for more information.