In the State of Minnesota, environmental activist groups have put farmers in the crosshairs with litigation. Lobbyist Bruce Kleven said these groups are asking the courts to compel state agencies to act. “We’ve seen it in three areas; we’ve seen it on nitrates in the water; we’ve seen it on treated seed, and we’re likely to see it on drainage,” said Kleven. “It’s under the Environmental Rights Act, and the guts of the claim are that the state isn’t doing enough, so these environmental groups are asking courts to force them to do what they want.” Kleven said agriculture groups have intervened in these cases, so they will be at the table as these cases move forward.
