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Agriculture

Law prohibits human exposure

Minnesota state law specifically prohibits human exposure to pesticides during application.

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'Same old, same old' attitude at Ag Department?

The Department of Agriculture says it is doing a good job of protecting people from pesticides. Environmental Response and Enforcement Manager Paul Liemandt says the records show a pattern of aggressive enforcement.

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Undue corporate influence?

Cheryl Bergian contends human exposure is routinely overlooked by the Ag Department. Bergian worked as a legal services attorney for nine years. She handled numerous cases of alleged pesticide exposure to farm workers. She says in nine years, the Ag Department never substantiated a case of human exposure she brought to them.

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The Lopez family's story

One case of pesticide exposure involves Griselda Lopez and four other migrant workers.

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Pesticide records are protected

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is the only state agency with authority to investigate pesticide misuse. Only the Ag Department has access to pesticide records. Say you want to find out what chemical was sprayed yesterday on a field or the golf course across the road. State law says that information is protected.

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Complaints filed with the state Agriculture Department

A summary of complaints filed with the state Department of Agriculture, alleging human exposure to pesticides, finds that in 75 percent of those cases, there is no penalty assessed against the responsible party.

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Ag Department resists changes in laws

Rep. Jean Wagenius is not the only legislator who's tried and failed to change pesticide law. State Rep. Mary Ellen Otremba, a DFLer, owns a farm near Long Prairie. Last year she proposed opening pesticide records for public inspection. Otremba says the Ag Department and the agribusiness lobby moved swiftly to kill the proposal.

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Investigating human exposure

Minnesota law says it's illegal to apply a pesticide to a person by direct spray or overspray, commonly called drift. But one case from Detroit Lakes calls into question the enforcement of that law.

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The state law on pesticide regulations

Excerpts from the state law which regulates pesticide use and sale.

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Clouds of Doubt: Questions about enforcement of pesticide laws

Millions of pounds of pesticides are used in Minnesota every year. They're used on a variety of farm crops across rural Minnesota. Pesticides are also commonly used on lawns, parks and golf courses. And every year some of those chemicals are misused. Sometimes people and animals are exposed to pesticides, which is illegal. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is responsible for enforcing those laws. But an MPR investigation finds violations of the law are often unpunished, and sometimes ignored.

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