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Pesticide Action Network

Pesticide Action Network

Minnesota Updates: January 2020

The latest out of Minnesota: Conference season; EPA approving dangerous products; Farmworker protections

As Minnesota is one of the states in which PAN does on-the-ground campaign work, we send out regular updates on PAN and partners’ work in Minnesota and beyond — from pesticide-related science to opportunities to take action. If you’d like to recieve these updates via email, sign up here.

State updates

It’s conference season: Last week, Minnesota organizer Willa saw some of you at the MN Organic Conference — our first conference of an exciting lineup! On the conference table this year we have updated versions of our In Case of Drift toolkits — come find us at one of the following conferences in the next few months to chat and get your copy:

  • Northern Plains Food and Farming Conference, Fargo, ND (1/23-1/26)
  • Emerging Farming Conference, St. Paul, MN (1/24-1/25)
  • MOSES Organic Farming Conference, La Crosse, WI (2/27-2/29)
  • Indigenous Farming Conference, Callaway, MN (3/5-3/8)
  • Best Practices for Pollinators Summit, St. Anthony, MN (3/23)

Gathering for farmers of color, Native farmers: Are you a farmer of color or Native farmer? Are you interested in a space to connect and organize with other Minnesota BIPOC (Black/ Indigenous/ People of color) farmers around policy and justice? Save the date for a convening on February 22nd — reach out to willa@panna.org if you’re interested and we’ll connect you with other organizers.

Nationwide updates

Toxic Hangover: report released last week by our friends at the Center for Biological Diversity has some sobering findings. In 2017 and 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved more than 100 pesticide products containing ingredients widely considered to be the most dangerous still in use, including some that have been banned in multiple countries or targeted for phaseout in the U.S.

Included in the approvals are 17 new products containing the endocrine disruptor atrazine, which is banned across much of Europe, 15 new products containing neurotoxic organophosphates including chlorpyrifos, and 69 products containing a “known” or “likely” carcinogen. Read more here.

Latest science

Exposure to pyrethroids associated with risk of death: Pyrethroids are the second most popular class of insecticides used in the world, with people mainly exposed through their food (such as fruits and vegetables) and through dust in homes when these pesticides are used indoors.

A new study in the U.S. found that people with the highest exposure to pyrethroids were 56% more likely to die from any cause within the study’s follow-up period, and three times as likely to die from cardiovascular disease than those in the lowest group of pyrethroid exposure — indicating that a link is likely. Researchers measured exposure to two common pyrethroids via breakdown products in human urine samples collected between 1999 and 2002 by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Read more here.

Upcoming events

Food Justice Facilitation Workshop
Attend this training to build facilitation skills, work to center food justice in your meetings, and bring communities together more effectively.

Northern Plains Food and Farming Conference
Join PAN and others for this conference hosted by the Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society. PAN will be moderating a panel on dicamba.

Emerging Farmers Conference
The annual Emerging Farmers Conference serves to advance the success and sustainability of farmers who traditionally face barriers to the education and resources necessary to build profitable agricultural businesses.

Take action

EPA is proposing to weaken an existing rule protecting farmworkers and their communities from pesticide spray drift — the application exclusion zone, or AEZ — a provision in the Worker Protection Standard.

EPA is now accepting public comments on their proposed changes. Take action today to safeguard farmworker protections!

Take Action

If you would like to receive these updates via email, sign up here.

Pesticide Action Network

Pesticide Action Network

Pesticide Action Network is dedicated to advancing alternatives to pesticides worldwide. Follow @pesticideaction

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