The Minnesota Department of Environment and Natural Resources has released new buffer zone maps. State Soybean Association Director of Public Affairs Joe Smentek says while the move was unexpected, state officials are moving in the right direction with more reasonable buffer requirements that benefit farmers.

He says the map improvements are significant because there were 650 miles of ditch buffers subject to strict regulation prior to the re-issuing of the maps.

Smentek says it’s obvious ditches don’t belong in a lengthy buffer zone and the new maps point that out.

Smentek is hoping state lawmakers come up with more improvements to the buffer law which is scheduled to go into effect November 1. He says legislators are starting to see the need for delaying the implementation and is hoping they can work that out with the Governor.