Contacts:  
Jesús Canchola Sánchez, NRDCAF, jcanchola@nrdc.org, (312) 847-6808 

Sarah Horner, MCEA, shorner@mncenter.org, (612) 868-3024 

Kristen Poppleton, MNTU, kristen.poppleton@mntu.org, (651) 332-0070 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Agency denies rulemaking petition to remedy longstanding violations of Minnesotans’ environmental rights 

SAINT PAUL, MN (December 19, 2024) – Today, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) rejected a rulemaking petition submitted by environmental and public health groups urging MDA to protect Minnesota’s environment and people from neonicotinoid pesticides, or “neonics.” 

The petition, submitted by the NRDC Action Fund, the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA), and Minnesota Trout Unlimited (MNTU), asserted MDA was legally obligated to address the widespread, unnecessary use of crop seeds coated with neonics. These “treated seeds” are the number one source of neonic contamination that is causing widespread ecological damage and posing threats to human health. 

“We are disappointed that the Department of Agriculture is unwilling to regulate neonicotinoid-coated seeds like it does any other dangerous pesticide,” said Leigh Currie, Chief Legal Officer for MCEA. “Minnesota’s pollinators are dying off and studies show that neonic contamination is threatening human health as well. We had hoped the Department of Agriculture would use its authority to protect Minnesotans.” 

The petition encouraged MDA to close a regulatory loophole that allows treated seeds to escape direct regulation, contributing to their widespread, unchecked use. Action on the petition could have positioned the state as a leader in a national movement to address the neonic contamination crisis. 

“Given the Department of Agriculture’s own data shows that concentrations of neonicotinoid pesticides in streams routinely exceed safe levels for aquatic insects, its claim to lack authority or resources to act is disappointing,” said John Lenczewski, Executive Director for Minnesota Trout Unlimited. “Coldwater fisheries are being impacted by these dangerous insecticides while the MDA refuses to use its authority to keep these toxins out of public waters. MNTU will continue to advocate for protection of coldwater fisheries from neonics as well as other threats.”   

“Neonic pesticides are decimating pollinators, hollowing out ecosystems, and threatening human health, and yet MDA refuses to take commonsense steps to address widespread neonic pollution,” said Lucas Rhoads, a senior advisor to the NRDC Action Fund. “With this worsening ecological crisis, Minnesotans deserve better than to have their leaders bury their head in the sand. We’ll continue fighting to defend Minnesotans’ rights to a healthy environment.” 

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The NRDC Action Fund is a national environmental advocacy and political organization that is affiliated with but separate from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). The two organizations’ names may not be used interchangeably. News and information released by the NRDC Action Fund should be identified as from “the NRDC Action Fund.” and not from NRDC. Learn more at www.nrdcactionfund.org. 

Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA) is Minnesota’s leading nonprofit environmental law and public policy organization working to protect our environment and the health of our people  

Minnesota Trout Unlimited (MNTU) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan conservation organization whose mission is to protect, restore, and sustain Minnesota’s coldwater fisheries and the watersheds and groundwater sources that support them.