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Agriculture

The Lopez family's story

One case of pesticide exposure involves Griselda Lopez and four other migrant workers.

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Pesticide records are protected

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is the only state agency with authority to investigate pesticide misuse. Only the Ag Department has access to pesticide records. Say you want to find out what chemical was sprayed yesterday on a field or the golf course across the road. State law says that information is protected.

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Complaints filed with the state Agriculture Department

A summary of complaints filed with the state Department of Agriculture, alleging human exposure to pesticides, finds that in 75 percent of those cases, there is no penalty assessed against the responsible party.

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Ag Department resists changes in laws

Rep. Jean Wagenius is not the only legislator who's tried and failed to change pesticide law. State Rep. Mary Ellen Otremba, a DFLer, owns a farm near Long Prairie. Last year she proposed opening pesticide records for public inspection. Otremba says the Ag Department and the agribusiness lobby moved swiftly to kill the proposal.

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Investigating human exposure

Minnesota law says it's illegal to apply a pesticide to a person by direct spray or overspray, commonly called drift. But one case from Detroit Lakes calls into question the enforcement of that law.

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Clouds of Doubt: Questions about enforcement of pesticide laws

Millions of pounds of pesticides are used in Minnesota every year. They're used on a variety of farm crops across rural Minnesota. Pesticides are also commonly used on lawns, parks and golf courses. And every year some of those chemicals are misused. Sometimes people and animals are exposed to pesticides, which is illegal. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is responsible for enforcing those laws. But an MPR investigation finds violations of the law are often unpunished, and sometimes ignored.

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Bush's plan for the Mississippi River

President Bush's request to increase funding for the Army Corps of Engineers' Mississippi River environmental restoration program is encouraging to environmental groups. But some are wary of the Corps' intentions.

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New herbicide debated

Minnesota corn growers are waiting to find out whether they can use a new herbicide this spring. "Balance Pro" is used in 17 states. But not in Minnesota, Michigan, or Wisconsin. Critics say Balance gets into rivers and lakes too easily, and it could hurt wildlife or even humans.

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A tough year for dairy farmers

Dairy farmers say the past year has been a tough one. For more than a year, the payments farmers receive for their milk have been less than it costs farmers to to produce the milk. Analysts say the low prices are caused by a supply-and-demand problem, and they don't think relief will come for months. The low prices have forced farmers to become smarter business owners.

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