Action Alert! H.706 Neonic Phase-Out Bill on the House Floor this Week!
We anticipate H.706 reaching the House floor this week. Despite this bill moving favorably thus far through committees - there are indications it may face more resistance on the floor. It is critical that community members, in particular farmers and farm workers, contact their representatives in the House, urge them to support this bill, and explain why it is important to you that they vote in favor of a just transition away from the widespread use of neonicotinoid pesticides. Below you'll find a sample message, link to your Reps' contact info, and some more details about the bill and helpful info to share with your Reps.
TAKE ACTION NOW!
SAMPLE MESSAGE:
copy, paste, customize!
Dear Representative/s ________________,
My name is ____________, I live in _[town]_. [If you are a farmer or farm worker, you can identify that here]. I am writing to urge you to vote in favor of H.706 when it reaches the House Floor. This is an important bill for the health and equity of our farming community and food systems, as well as for pollinators and the greater environment.
H.706 prohibits the sale or use of neonic coatings on corn, soybean, wheat and cereal seeds by 2029; prohibits outdoor uses that risk significant harm to pollinators by 2025 (flowering crops, ornamental plants, turf grass); and requires BMPs (best management practices) for permitted uses of neonics. This bill acknowledges and faces the significant negative environmental and biological impacts that neonics are having, their resilience and mobility in the environment, the need to provide time and support for those using the pesticide in transitioning, and the need to protect the vast majority of VT’s farmers and community members who are choosing not to use the pesticide from exposure and impact (these people are currently being non-consensually exposed given what we know about the spread of neonics in the environment away from the immediate location of use, and their far reaching and systemic impacts).
This bill is important to me because…. [add your own story and points here]
Work to limit the use of and exposure to neonics in VT has been ongoing for a number of years. There is precedent for neonic phase out and transition - very similar to this legislation - in the European Union, in Ontario, in Quebec, and now New York has passed legislation that will phase out treated seed and other uses by 2029. Data and farmer testimony from those regions which have transitioned has shown little to no impact on crop yields or farm economics.
At least 3 of VT’s larger member based farming organizations have come out in support of this bill: Rural VT, NOFA VT, and the Champlain Valley Farmers Coalition. The New York Farm Bureau supported the final version of the NY bill, which this bill is now very similar to. This shows the broad agricultural support across farm types and sizes and regions despite testimony from some farms and farmers opposing the bill.
Please vote in favor of H.706 - and thank you for work.
Respectfully,
_____________
What to Know about H.706 &
Helpful Info to Share with your Reps
H.706 prohibits the sale or use of neonic coatings on corn, soybean, wheat and cereal seeds by 2029; prohibits outdoor uses that risk significant harm to pollinators by 2025 (flowering crops, ornamental plants, turf grass); and requires BMPs (best management practices) for permitted uses of neonics.
Work to limit the use of and exposure to neonics in VT has been ongoing for a number of years. There is precedent for neonic phase out and transition - very similar to this legislation - in the European Union, in Ontario, in Quebec, and now New York has passed legislation that will phase out treated seed and other uses by 2029. Data and farmer testimony from those regions which have transitioned has shown little to no impact on crop yields or farm economics.
At least 3 of VT’s larger member based farming organizations have come out in support of this bill: Rural VT, NOFA VT, and the Champlain Valley Farmers Coalition. The New York Farm Bureau supported the final version of the NY bill, which this bill is now very similar to. This shows the broad agricultural support across farm types and sizes and regions despite testimony from some farms and farmers opposing the bill.
This bill acknowledges and faces the significant negative environmental and biological impacts that neonics are having, their resilience and mobility in the environment, the need to provide time and support for those using the pesticide in transitioning, and the need to protect the vast majority of VT’s farmers and community members who are choosing not to use the pesticide from exposure and impact (these people are currently being non-consensually exposed given what we know about the spread of neonics in the environment away from the immediate location of use, and their far reaching and systemic impacts).
Testimony has shown that companies took away farmers’ choice related to neonic seed treatment years ago. The challenge related to alternative seed and treatment sourcing for farmers currently using neonics is not related to availability of seed varieties - it’s related to the willingness of the purveyors of the seed to return their former policy allowing choice for farmers, and to not universally treat all conventional seed with neonics. It is unacceptable that seed companies’ commitment to proprietary products and profit would threaten our State’s, and our farmers’, ability to practice democracy related to how we farm and what we - and the places we inhabit - are exposed to.
We have the data. We need to focus on the real and potential needs of farmers and others in this transition; but we must begin the transition with this bill now.
THANK YOU!
P.S. Do you want to learn more about, or provide input on, H.706 or Rural Vermont's other work in the State House and beyond? Join our next virtual Quarterly Member Forum on Thursday, April 11th from 6 - 7:30pm. All members welcome- please let us know you're coming!