New York Farm Bureau Leads Coalition Letter Calling for Veto of Neonic Ban Bill

The bill would remove oversight by the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation to review and regulate pesticides.

A large coalition representing more than six dozen agricultural groups, agribusinesses, and green partners sent a letter today to Gov. Hochul asking her to veto the “Birds and Bees Protection Act” (S1856-A/A7460) that would ban an entire class of pesticides and treated seeds known as neonicotinoids.

The letter explains the importance and safety of the class of neonics, and how New York State growers, golf courses and others would be put at a serious disadvantage should the current bill be signed. Moreover, it encourages the governor to work with the coalition on potential changes to the legislation.

The letter reads in part, “The agricultural, golf, specialty, and business coalition opposed to this legislation has conveyed our concerns, made itself available for questions and information, and even proposed alternative concepts and amendatory language given the serious impact and unworkability of the existing bill. The legislation, as drafted, is poorly crafted, technically deficient, and almost impossible to implement by state agencies.”   

The bill is deeply concerning, especially because of the precedent it sets. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and its scientific expertise should maintain the authority to properly review and register risk management tools, something the legislature is wanting to strip away. This is the same justification cited by Gov. Hochul in her veto message last month of S5957/A5949, that would have allowed local governments to ban the use of certain pesticides in freshwater wetlands.

Click here to read the full letter.

 
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New York Farm Bureau is the State’s largest agricultural lobbying/trade organization. Its members and the public know the organization as “The Voice of New York Agriculture.” New York Farm Bureau’s mission is “Supporting today’s agricultural needs and creating member opportunities for tomorrow through advocacy and education.”