Public Notice
*New* Final Clothianidin and Imidacloprid BMPs Now Available
The MDA has adopted water quality BMPs for the agricultural use of two neonicotinoid insecticides, clothianidin and imidacloprid.
View the Water Quality Best Management Practices for Agricultural Use of Clothianidin and Imidacloprid in the Minnesota Water Resource Digital Library.
Draft BMPs were published on November 21, 2022 (47 SR 475), and public comments were accepted for a 60-day period ending on January 19, 2023. Minor revisions were made to the draft BMPs based on comments received. For more information, see the Summary of Comments and Responses (PDF). Notice of the adoption of the new BMPs was published in the March 13, 2023 Minnesota State Register.
New “Surface Water Pesticides of Concern” Designated
The Commissioner of the MDA has determined that the neonicotinoid insecticides clothianidin and imidacloprid are “surface water pesticides of concern” in accordance with the state Pesticide Management Plan (PMP). For more information on this designation and the supporting resources for the determination visit the surface water pesticides of concern page.
Stewardship Guidelines and BMPs
The MDA adopted stewardship guidelines and best management practices (BMPs) for a few specific neonicotinoid uses. These voluntary BMPs were developed in response to a special registration review on neonicotinoid insecticides. The MDA, in cooperation with University of Minnesota Extension and others, has developed these BMPs to protect pollinators and their habitat. The MDA would like to thank you those who reviewed and provided comments on these BMPs.
- Stewardship Guidelines and Best Management Practices for Home and Residential Use of Neonicotinoid Insecticides (PDF)
- Stewardship Guidelines and Best Management Practices for use of Soil and Foliar-applied Neonicotinoid Insecticides (PDF)
- Stewardship Guidelines and Best Management Practices for Neonicotinoid Insecticide-Treated Seed (PDF)
Special Registration Review
The MDA has conducted a special registration review of neonicotinoid insecticides. Neonicotinoids are widely used systemic insecticides that can be absorbed into plant tissue and moved throughout the plant. They are effective at low concentrations and can impact pests on contact or through the consumption of treated plant material.
In order to conduct this review, the MDA followed a scoping document that solicited input from the public and several interested stakeholders. Based on the review, the MDA identified several opportunities for action to minimize the impact of neonicotinoids on pollinators.
Outcomes from the neonicotinoid review:
- Proposed action steps to minimize the impact of neonicotinoid insecticides on pollinators
- Executive summary special registration review of neonicotinoids (PDF)
- Special registration review of neonicotinoids (PDF)
- Frequently asked questions about the special registration review of neonicotinoids
- Pollinators Summit Outcomes Report (PDF)
At the direction of the Minnesota legislature and the Commissioner of Agriculture (PDF), the MDA along with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, University of Minnesota, and Board of Water and Soil Resources, determined the criteria necessary to conduct a special registration review of neonicotinoid insecticides for the State of Minnesota. The draft document was prepared to guide the special registration review of neonicotinoid insecticides, describing the process and criteria to be used when conducting the review.
In 2014, our agency (MDA) conducted a public review of the scoping document and received 444 public comments. The MDA has created two documents to encourage stakeholder review. The first is a compilation of Unique comments (PDF), the second document is composed of comments that have a common theme, Common text comments (PDF).
After posting the 444 public comments, the MDA developed a response to individual comments on the draft special registration review neonicotinoid scoping document (PDF)
Responding to public comments, the MDA modified the draft scoping document. The final was published on October 27, 2014 in the State Register. The final scoping document was used to guide the special registration review of neonicotinoid insecticides.
