1997 Minnesota Statutes

     18.0228 Control provisions. 

    Subdivision 1.    Pesticide selection.  (a) The 
 commissioner, in consultation with the Minnesota extension 
 service entomologist, shall prepare a list of registered 
 pesticides and their federal label requirements for use in the 
 grasshopper control program.  The commissioner shall recommend 
 pesticides and application methods in designated grasshopper 
 control zones that will minimize the adverse impact on foraging 
 bees.  The pesticides must economically and efficiently control 
 grasshoppers and minimize adverse environmental impacts.  
 Grasshopper control may only be conducted under this chapter 
 with pesticides used according to their label requirements. 

    (b) The commissioner shall prescribe methods to determine 
 grasshopper densities and densities causing economic or 
 potential economic damage. 

    Subd. 2.    Individual notices.  (a) The individual 
 notices required under this chapter for the grasshopper control 
 program must be in a form prescribed by the commissioner and 
 state at least the following: 

    (1) the legal description of the property covered by the 
 notice to control; 

    (2) the date the notice is issued; 

    (3) the name and work telephone number of the inspector 
 issuing the notice; 

    (4) the grasshopper counts found on the property; 

    (5) the approximate date the grasshoppers on the property 
 will be controlled by the county or municipality if the owner or 
 occupant does not comply with the notice, which must be at least 
 three days after the date the notice was served; 

    (6) that the costs of the control will be a lien and 
 applied against the property's tax roll; and 

    (7) that the owner or occupant may contact the inspector 
 about the notice before the time that the county or the 
 municipality will control grasshoppers, which must be at least 
 three days after the date the notice was served.  

    (b) The commissioner, a county agricultural inspector, or a 
 local weed inspector issuing a notice under this subdivision 
 shall provide the same number of days for compliance under 
 paragraph (a), clause (5), for property controlled by a private 
 land owner or occupant as for property controlled by a unit of 
 state or local government. 

    Subd. 3.    Effects on foraging bees.  (a) The Minnesota 
 extension service shall hold meetings in grasshopper control 
 zone areas explaining grasshopper control methods and procedures 
 to minimize adverse effects on foraging bees. 

    (b) Not later than May 1 of each year, an owner of honeybee 
 colonies must notify the commissioner as to the number and 
 location of the colonies.  Notification under this section must 
 be accomplished by identifying on a map provided by the 
 commissioner the location of colonies.  The notice must include 
 the name, address, and telephone number of the owner.  If an 
 owner of honeybee colonies relocates the colonies the owner must 
 report the relocation orally, by phone, or in writing to the 
 extension agent, the town clerk, and the commissioner within ten 
 days after the relocation. 

    (c) The commissioner shall prepare maps of the location of 
 all registered honeybee colonies, including identification of 
 the name, address, and telephone number of the owner.  The maps 
 must be updated at least once each 14 days if owners of 
 registered honeybee colonies give notice of relocations. 

    (d) The commissioner shall provide a list of licensed 
 commercial and noncommercial pesticide applicators, including 
 the applicator's name, business address, and phone number, to 
 the registered beekeepers in designated grasshopper control 
 zones. 

    (e) The commissioner shall prescribe a system by which 
 owners of honeybee colonies, licensed commercial and 
 noncommercial pesticide applicators, and county extension agents 
 must, and town clerks may, be advised of the location of 
 registered honeybee colonies reported under this section, of the 
 federal pesticide label requirements pertaining to foraging 
 bees, and of penalties for violating label requirements. 

    (f) The commissioner shall also develop guidelines for a 
 voluntary system to facilitate the exchange of information 
 between owners of registered honeybee colonies and pesticide 
 applicators regarding the pesticide selected for use, the 
 anticipated date and time of application, and the location of 
 honeybee colonies. 

    (g) In a year in which grasshopper control zones are 
 designated, the commissioner shall report to the chairs of the 
 house and senate agriculture and environment committees on the 
 number of acres treated for grasshopper control, the pesticides 
 recommended for use, the pesticides used, the results of 
 research and application of nonpesticide grasshopper control, 
 the number of acres exempted from grasshopper control, and any 
 evidence of negative environmental impacts of the grasshopper 
 control program. 

    HIST: 1990 c 607 s 2