MCGA responds to petition for federal intervention

In response to a petition by the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency asking the agency to use its emergency authority to regulate nitrates from agricultural sources in southeast Minnesota under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Minnesota Corn Growers Association issued the following statement:

Minnesota has a robust framework for limiting nutrient movement that relies on both voluntary and regulatory processes. The key to this framework is the goal of reducing nutrient levels in major lakes and rivers by 10% to 20% by 2025, as adopted under the 2014 Nutrient Reduction Strategy. Furthermore, the state was one of the first in the nation to adopt a groundwater protection rule to minimize potential sources of nitrate pollution in groundwater. The rule clearly prescribes a process for addressing situations in which drinking water supply management areas have elevated nitrate levels, mandating that local farmers, agronomists, and other community members collaborate to implement best management practices.

Minnesota corn farmers have proactively taken steps to limit nutrient movement and ensure on-farm sustainability through substantial investments in research, education, and on-farm monitoring.  Minnesota’s process and system to limit nutrient impact through regulatory and voluntary actions is focused on input from the communities that know their local conditions best. MCGA continues to support the framework that engages these local communities in the joint effort to address nutrient movement.