To the editor:
An important heads-up to our local community of pollinator-loving environmentalists, and anyone who cares about the robust health of our Vermont landscape, and food security in general.
A few days ago, August 29, Vermont Public published a story by Abagael Giles entitled, “Beekeepers, dairy farmers weigh in on rules for neonicotinoid pesticides,” that recaps some of the recent testimony heard by the Vermont Agricultural Innovation Board. Later this month, they will be voting on a new set of rules and exemptions concerning the use of neonic-treated seeds and the spraying of neonic pesticides.
When the Vermont Legislature passed a neonic ban in 2024, they decided to exempt orchards and golf courses, something that rankles dairy farmers, who use treated seeds to grow corn to feed their cows. The treated-seed ban goes into effect in 2029, but the restrictions on spraying the chemicals will go into effect this year.
So now, dairy farmers are asking for exemptions as well, while environmentalists such as myself, want to see this new set of rules be more specific, and include language that guarantees the restrictions will be upheld.
With thousands of studies verifying the apocalyptic harm caused by neonics not just to pollinators, but to our entire ecosystem, it really would be quite a bit better if neonics were entirely banned for ornamental and orchard use as well, but that’s a little further down the pike.
The deadline for public comment about the proposed rules related to neonic pesticides is September 11. To make a public comment to the Agricultural Innovation Board, email them at PHARMRules@vermont.gov.
The proposed set of new rules is at agriculture.vermont.gov/best–management–practices–neonicotinoid–treated–article–seeds–and–neonicotinoid–pesticides.
The final public hearing is happening today, Wednesday, September 3, 5 p.m., at the Brooks Memorial Library in Brattleboro, and online at microsoft.com/en–us/microsoft–teams/join–a–meeting (Meeting ID: 239 248 720 071 2 Passcode: h34Bb7yt).
Emily Lanxner
Hardwick
Emily Lanxner is a member of the Vermont Pesticide and Poison Action Network, and hosts a monthly radio show on Central Vermont Community Radio entitled “The Pollinator Report”. Information is at livehive802@gmail.com
