From: To: Subject: Date: Attachments: Stokes, Susan (MDA) Stamper, Joshua (MDA); Montgomery, Bruce (MDA); Stoddard, Dan (MDA); Gunderson, Larry (MDA) RE: soybean growers rule presentation Thursday, May 10, 2018 3:48:03 PM image001.jpg image002.jpg image003.jpg image004.jpg image005.jpg Well let’s think carefully about the value of sending someone up there (aside from the perk of getting to stay at Craguns). Susan Stokes Assistant Commissioner Commissioner’s Office Minnesota Department of Agriculture P: 651-201-6395 susan.stokes@state.mn.us From: Stamper, Joshua (MDA) Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2018 3:22 PM To: Montgomery, Bruce (MDA) ; Stokes, Susan (MDA) ; Stoddard, Dan (MDA) ; Gunderson, Larry (MDA) Subject: RE: soybean growers rule presentation Yes, Heidi and Jeppe were present at the research retreat at Craguns last year along with me. David had asked me to give a very brief overview of the proposed rule last year before breakfast on the 2nd day. I had 2 slides in my presentation, and there were about 30 people in room for the hour. I talked for about 15 minutes, and then got yelled at by Commerford and his followers for another 45 minutes. They brought up everything from goose shit nitrate loading to well casings that were broken by frost heave. They largely used it as a sounding board for their arguments. I addressed as many of their issues with data and research as I could, and encouraged them to submit written comments. But largely the experience was like that great line from LBJ, “sometimes you just have to stand there and take it, like a jackass in a hailstorm”. I did have 2-3 farmer board members come up to me privately and indicate that they thought that the rule was the right thing to do. However, no one would publically say that. While I appreciated the opportunity to interact with the growers, their board subsists on such a steady diet of scientific baloney, I questioned the value of our presence at the meeting. Joshua Stamper, CPAg, CCA Director, Pesticide and Fertilizer Management Division Minnesota Department of Agriculture 625 Robert St. North St. Paul, MN 55155-2538 651-201-6639 From: Montgomery, Bruce (MDA) Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2018 2:41 PM To: Stokes, Susan (MDA) ; Stamper, Joshua (MDA) ; Stoddard, Dan (MDA) ; Gunderson, Larry (MDA) ; Wolf, Katie (MDA) Subject: RE: soybean growers rule presentation FYI………I believe that Jeppe and Heidi Peterson attend the research meeting last summer. From: Stokes, Susan (MDA) Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2018 2:22 PM To: Stamper, Joshua (MDA) ; Stoddard, Dan (MDA) ; Gunderson, Larry (MDA) ; Montgomery, Bruce (MDA) ; Wolf, Katie (MDA) Subject: soybean growers rule presentation I spoke with David Kee a little while ago about his the request to have someone speak about the rule at their meeting in Brainerd on July 23-24. He clarified that those are the dates that they meet to talk about research. He said that we had 3 researchers attend last year and this year, he thought that there should be someone from MDA who would be able to answer any rule questions that come up but he was not expecting a presentation. I told him that the comment deadline was July 26 and I offered to have someone from our team do a presentation to their members or board before then so they could get the information they need to comment if they want to. I did tell him that the statements coming from the soybean growers had been very inaccurate. He said he would talk with Joe and others about their agendas for their upcoming June 10 and June 12 meetings to see if they want to put us into one of the time slots. Susan Stokes Assistant Commissioner Commissioner’s Office Minnesota Department of Agriculture P: 651-201-6395 susan.stokes@state.mn.us