Enforcement
The MDA has statewide Agricultural Chemical Inspectors (ACIs) who conduct routine and unannounced site visits. Under state law, and working within the Pesticide & Fertilizer Management Division (PFMD) the inspectors are authorized to visit farms, operations and facilities that use, store, handle, distribute and dispose of agricultural chemicals. ACIs check for compliance and safety. They may specify and document corrections or changes that need to be made.
When inspections are complete, compliance reviews are completed by PFMD program staff, including review of any Orders/Notices of Violation issued in the field. Noncompliance issues may be addressed by additional non-penalty Actions, or by penalty Actions. The MDA works with regulated parties to gain and maintain compliance with Minnesota regulations.
Compensation
The MDA does not seek compensation on behalf of a party or entity, nor does the agency provide consultant services. We strive to help urban, agricultural and industrial pesticide users by:
- Investigating formal (written) complaints
- Visiting sites and reviewing records
- Gathering samples for lab analysis
- Enforcing regulations
Bee Kill Compensation
The MDA will investigate bee kill incidents to determine if acute pesticide poisoning has taken place. The following criteria are strongly considered in evaluating compensation eligibility:
1. Are there ≥100 dead bees in/around a hive for every live frame of bees quantified?
Lower and Upper Limits:
- If 3 or fewer frames of bees present, a minimum of 300 dead bees needed.
- If 10 or more frames of bees present, a maximum of 1,000 dead bees needed.
2. Are there pesticides present on/in dead bees?
3. Was the affected apiary registered with BeeCheck/DriftWatch before the incident?
