Fines for illegally spraying pesticides in Missouri could be on the rise

Jul 29, 2016

State Rep. Don Rone plans to introduce a bill in January

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

The Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) is investigating about 115 complaints related to pesticides and at least one State Representative feels changes are needed.

State Rep. Done Rone plans to pre-file legislation in December which would increase the penalties for those who misuse or illegally spray pesticides under the Missouri Pesticide Use Act.

Judy Grundler, division director for plant industries MDA told St. Louis Public Radio that there’s usually about 80 complaints annually.

Grundler said seventy investigations are ongoing and encompass an area spanning 40,000 acres and 400 fields. Soybeans, peaches and watermelons are among the damaged crops reported.

Spraying

The current penalty is $1,000 per field. Under Rone’s bill, that penalty could increase to $10,000 per field.

Mssourinet reports that Rone is going to ask House Speaker Todd Richardson to fast-track the bill in January in the hopes it gets passed before next year’s planting season begins.

“Because if we don’t fast-track this, then the growing season down there (southeast Missouri) starts in March and we need to have this already in place, the Governor signed it and make it law before the next planting season which starts in the end of March,” Rone told Missourinet.

Video: A chain harrow is a game changer

Utilizing a rotational grazing method on our farmstead with our sheep helps to let the pasture/paddocks rest. We also just invested in a chain harrow to allow us to drag the paddocks our sheep just left to break up and spread their manure around, dethatch thicker grass areas, and to rough up bare dirt areas to all for a better seed to soil contact if we overseed that paddock. This was our first time really using the chain harrow besides initially testing it out. We are very impressed with the work it did and how and area that was majority dirt, could be roughed up before reseeding.

Did you know we also operate a small business on the homestead. We make homemade, handcrafted soaps, shampoo bars, hair and beard products in addition to offering our pasture raised pork, lamb, and 100% raw honey. You can find out more about our products and ingredients by visiting our website at www.mimiandpoppysplace.com. There you can shop our products and sign up for our monthly newsletter that highlights a soap or ingredient, gives monthly updates about the homestead, and also lists the markets, festivals, and events we’ll be attending that month.