SECTION 1.  Section 2 of Chapter 128 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding, after subsection (j), the following new subsection:-

(k) The Department of Agricultural Resources shall maintain exclusive authority to regulate and enforce the registration and application of plant nutrients put on or in soil to improve the quality or quantity of plant growth, including but not limited to fertilizer, manure, and micronutrients in the Commonwealth.  Any rule, regulation, ordinance or bylaw of a city or town or any other political subdivision within the state purporting to regulate the application and use of fertilizer shall be void. 

The Department shall work in conjunction with the University of Massachusetts Amherst Extension to ensure any such regulations of the Department are consistent with University of Massachusetts Amherst Extension program’s published information, educational materials and other public outreach programs relative to nutrient management and fertilizer guidelines; provided further, that subject to appropriation, the Department may establish regulations pursuant to this paragraph which shall be developed in consultation with the University of Massachusetts Amherst Extension.