Minnesota Soybean Growers Association officials are concerned the State Department of Agriculture is moving too quickly with nitrogen fertilizer rules. Public Policy Director Joe Smentek says the Ag Department needs to make sure there’s legislative oversight over any rule they propose before it’s finalized.

He says rather than backing legislation that would ban the rule, the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association is backing State Representative Jeff Backer’s bill requiring legislative approval of the nitrogen fertilizer regulation.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture plans to release their final rule in May and then hold a 30-day public comment period, which Smentek says is poor timing.

The Agriculture Department said under their proposal, the earliest fall restrictions of nitrogen application would occur in the fall of 2020.