Minnesota residents study pesticide drift from potato fields

By: Marie Nitke, Forum
Park Rapids Enterprise

FRAZEE, Minn. – Norma Smith knew something wasn’t right when, after several years of successful breeding, her family’s flock of nearly 70 sheep produced just six lambs. More were born the next year, but many of those were sick or deformed. By that winter, 29 of the sheep had mysteriously died.

Other strange things were happening: The Smiths would come home from church on Sunday to find dead birds in their yard. And the long familiar summer sound of frogs croaking and chirping? Suddenly silent.

The family, which lives near Frazee, had only one clue about what was going on: potato fields.

The Smiths’ troubles began in 1996, one year after potato fields started sprouting up in the area, including right next door to their property.

The fields were being sprayed with chemicals at least once a week, Norma said. The timing was too suspicious for her to ignore.

The family eventually found others in the area who shared their concerns. They formed a group called Minnesotans for Pesticide Awareness, and later partnered with the Pesticide Action Network out of California to study pesticides in the air.

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