Gov. Phil Scott has vetoed a bill which would ban the use of seeds treated with neonicotinoid pesticides in most instances.
Many environmentalists and beekeepers have supported the legislation, H.706, because of research that shows the deadly impact of neonicotinoids on native pollinators and honeybee colonies.
In his letter to lawmakers explaining his veto, Scott agreed that pollinators are “essential to growing food and maintaining a healthy, thriving ecosystem.”
But he contended that the “same is true of farmers, who are also critical contributors to our economy,” arguing the legislation is “more anti-farmer than it is pro-pollinator.”
“This bill unfairly targets dairy farmers reliant on corn crops,” he wrote, “and will harm farmers without achieving its goals for pollinators.”
Both the House and Senate may have enough votes to override Scott’s veto. The bill had won strong support in the Statehouse, passing in a 25-2 vote in the Senate. While the House passed the bill on a voice vote, an earlier roll call vote on an amendment to the bill saw 112 votes in favor and 29 against.
Farmers use neonicotinoids to protect crops, including corn and soy, against pests such as the seedcorn maggot, which can cause significant crop losses. (A recent study from Cornell University, however, showed that the use of the pesticides may not benefit crop yield.)
Members of the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets have expressed concern about the regulation’s potential impact on the state’s dairy farmers, who rely on corn and soybean crops.
Scott doubled down on that sentiment in his letter, referring to the chemicals’ approval for use by the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
“Rather than eliminating an important EPA-approved tool,” he wrote, “we should continue to closely monitor and study the issues and science to protect both family farms – and the food they produce – and pollinators.”
Scott cited data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Census and said the “honeybee population has grown, while the use of neonics has persisted.” Meanwhile, Vermont beekeepers have been sounding alarms about the health of their colonies, and have disputed the Agency of Agriculture’s assessment that their colonies are thriving.
Had Scott signed the bill — or if legislators override his veto — the seed ban would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2029.
The bill would allow the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets to issue an exemption order if a farmer experienced environmental or agricultural emergencies involving a pest presenting “an imminent risk of significant harm, injury, or loss to agricultural crops.” The farmer would only be eligible for such an exemption if they could not effectively substitute another legal pesticide to address the pest.
H.706 also proposes a ban on other uses of the pesticides, such as spraying them on certain types of crops or any ornamental plants, and on any crop while it’s in bloom.
Lawmakers who supported the bill felt comfortable with the ban because it mirrors a similar law in New York, potentially prompting enough demand for seeds that aren’t treated with neonicotinoids to spur suppliers to offer alternatives. The bill includes a provision that would repeal Vermont’s ban on neonicotinoid treated seeds if New York’s ban is repealed.
This isn’t the first time lawmakers have debated the use of neonicotinoids in Vermont. Two years ago, lawmakers considered banning the chemicals until state officials developed a set of required best management practices. Later, lawmakers removed the ban from a bill that ultimately passed, but required state officials to move forward with the best management practices, which were published earlier this year. The report largely recommended additional research.
Read the story on VTDigger here: Scott vetoes bill that would ban some uses of pollinator-harming pesticides.