At the end of the legislative session in Albany last Friday, New York passed the Birds and Bees Protection Act that would ban 80 to 90 percent of neonicotinoid pesticides that are used to coat corn, soybean and wheat seeds as well as for lawns and gardens.
At the end of the legislative session in Albany last Friday, New York passed the Birds and Bees Protection Act that would ban 80 to 90 percent of neonicotinoid pesticides that are used to coat corn, soybean and wheat seeds as well as for lawns and gardens.
New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher said Friday’s vote was a step backward in protecting our environment and reducing climate impacts. Fisher released the following statement on behalf of Farm Bureau:
“The vote to ban an entire class of pesticides and treated seeds is deeply concerning, especially because of the precedent it sets. The Department of Environmental Conservation and its expertise should maintain the authority to properly review and register risk management tools, something the legislature is stripping away.
Seeds treated with neonicotinoids were designed to be safer and reduce pesticide use. While we share the same goal as supporters of the legislation, to always look for ways to reduce our environmental footprint, we believe the end result of this ban will force farms to revert back to spraying greater amounts of older pesticides as well as increasing tillage to combat harmful pests, releasing more carbon in the soil and increasing the likelihood of soil erosion. This will only create additional environmental and climate issues for the state, moving us backward.
New York Farm Bureau asks Gov. Hochul to do the right thing and veto the bill.”
