St. Paul, MN - The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)
has extended the public comment period for its draft proposal for the use of
nitrogen fertilizer in Minnesota. The purpose of the proposed Nitrogen
Fertilizer Rule is to minimize the potential for nitrate-nitrogen contamination
from fertilizer in the state's groundwater and drinking water. Public comments
will now be accepted through Friday, August 25, 2017.
“We’ve heard from farmers, commodity groups, and other
leaders in our ag industry that more time is needed for them to weigh in on
this proposal,” said MDA Commissioner Dave Frederickson. “We need their input
and we’re going to make that extension. We’re also going to hold additional
meetings in Northwestern Minnesota at the request of ag leaders and members of
the public in that region.”
Public listening sessions on the draft rule will be held at
the following locations:
Roseau: Roseau Civic Center, 121 Center Street East, Roseau,
MN 56751 Wed. July 26, 6:30pm
Warren: Warren Community Center, 110 West Johnson Avenue,
Warren, MN 56762 Thurs. July 27, 8:30am
Hawley: Hawley High School, 714 Joseph Street, Hawley, MN
56549 Thurs. July 27, 7pm
All comments regarding the proposed rule must be submitted
in writing. After consideration of comments received, the MDA expects to
publish the final draft of the rule in the fall of 2017. The rule is expected
to be adopted in the fall of 2018.
Written comments on the draft Nitrogen Fertilizer Rule
should be submitted by Friday August 25, 2017 via mail or email to:
Larry Gunderson
Fertilizer Technical Unit Supervisor
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
625 Robert Street North
St. Paul, MN, 55155-2538
Fertilizer Technical Unit Supervisor
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
625 Robert Street North
St. Paul, MN, 55155-2538
All comments should, but are not required to, include a
contact name, phone number and/or email address to provide for follow-up
discussion on specific comments.
