A friend sent along the language added to state law about bees and other pollinators after reading our post While state's pollinators perished, MN GOP blocked, ridiculed bee habitat funding. It's not much like the descriptions the House Republicans have been circulating, now is it?
There's this:
Article 1 (Ag Appropriations), section 3, subdivision 2
Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 18B.05, $150,000 the first year and $150,000 the second year are from the pesticide regulatory account in the agricultural fund to: develop and use best management practices that protect pollinators by providing habitat necessary for their survival and reproduction; incorporate these practices into pesticide applicator and county agricultural inspector training; and increase public awareness of the importance of pollinators and pollinator habitat. The commissioner may transfer a portion of this appropriation to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to design habitat and measure and report the outcomes achieved under this paragraph. This is a onetime appropriation.
And this:
POLLINATOR REPORT REQUIRED.
No later than January 15, 2014, the commissioner of agriculture must submit a pollinator report to the legislative committees and divisions with jurisdiction over agriculture and natural resources. The commissioner of agriculture must develop the report in consultation with the commissioners of natural resources and the Pollution Control Agency, the Board of Water and Soil Resources, and representatives of the University of Minnesota. The report must include, but is not limited to, the following:(1) a proposal to establish a pollinator bank to preserve pollinator species diversity;(2) a proposal to efficiently and effectively create and enhance pollinator nesting and foraging habitat in this state including establishment of pollinator reserves or refuges; and (3) the process and criteria the commissioner of agriculture would use to perform a special review of neonicotinoid pesticides registered by the commissioner for use in this state currently and in the future.
And this:
Article 4 (DNR Policy), section 12
Sec. 12. [84.973] POLLINATOR HABITAT PROGRAM. (a) The commissioner shall develop best management practices and habitat restoration guidelines for pollinator habitat enhancement. Best management practices and guidelines developed under this section must be used for all habitat enhancement or restoration of lands under the commissioner's control.
(b) Prairie restorations conducted on state lands or with state funds must include an appropriate diversity of native species selected to provide habitat for pollinators throughout the growing season.
Doubtless we'll continue to hear the same talking point repeated; perhaps those repeating the mantra should be asked where exactly the "signage" language actually appears in statute.
So what do they have against food and the bees that help plants produce it?
Photo: A honeybee helps an apple tree produce apples.
If you enjoy reading posts like this on Bluestem Prairie, consider throwing some coin in the tip jar:
Comments