Boston — Behind-the-scenes negotiating in the state legislature on restricting phosphorus in lawn fertilizer gave agriculture the opportunity to set the record straight about plant nutrients being preempted from regulation in any one of the 351 towns in the state, according to the Massachusetts Farm Bureau. “It’s worth noting that we defined plant nutrients to include not just fertilizer, but micronutrients and manure as well,” Massachusetts Farm Bureau Director of Government Relations Brad Mitchell told Green Markets. The bill, now on Gov. Deval Patrick’s desk for signature, requires the use of low-phosphorus or phosphorus-free fertilizers on lawns – with an exemption for new lawns, agriculture, and turf farms. “There are some flaws in the phosphorus bill, but it’s livable since we gained a lot more than we lost.” He explained that Rep. John Fernandes had pushed for the bill to help municipalities and businesses meet strict U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines to reduce phosphorus runoff into streams and lakes. “We started with two competing bills,” Mitchell explained. “One of the bills would have put limitations on phosphorus use for lawns, and the other would have preempted municipalities and anyone other than the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture from regulating use of plant nutrients, and that would have included both fertilizer, micronutrients and manure. In the end, the legislature combined the two bills. The lawn care people said they can live with the phosphorus restrictions, and anyone who uses plant nutrients, including manure and fertilizer, won’t have to worry about the prospect of having 351 different towns imposing their will on agriculture. Overall, this is a good thing.” Governor Patrick has until Sept. 2 to sign or veto the measure, and according to his press office has given no indication one way or the other.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain