[S]enators gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a bill that would restrict the use of a class of pesticides considered to be toxic to bees. But senators expressed concerns that, by not banning the pesticide, the bill doesn’t go far enough to protect pollinators.
The bill, H.205, classifies neonicotinoids as a “restricted use” pesticide, meaning that only certified applicators would be able to buy and use them. Originally developed in the 1980s, neonicotinoids are now the most widely used class of insecticide in the world, largely because of their use to treat agricultural seeds.
Neonicotinoids have come under fire in recent years for their toxicity to bees.
Sen. Anthony Pollina, D/P-Washington, warned senators while reporting the bill on the Senate floor that “if we lose bees, we lose our food supply.”
Sen. Alison Clarkson, D-Windsor, rose to speak in support of the bill, referencing a “grim report” on species decline from the UN. Report authors found that around 1 million species face extinction unless threats to biodiversity are addressed, according to a summary of their forthcoming global assessment on biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Pollina referred to H.205 as a “small step” in the direction of banning neonicotinoids in that it would curtail home use but not restrict agricultural or commercial use.
The bill exempts pet products and seeds treated with neonicotinoids, which are commonly used by farmers growing corn and soy. A 2015 report from the state Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets estimated that treated seeds introduce 8,270 pounds of neonicotinoids a year to the environment.
The pesticides are systemic, meaning the plants — and their pollen — that sprout from treated seeds also contain the pesticides. Samantha Alger, a research affiliate with UVM, said in an interview last month that neonicotinoids not only can be lethal to bees in high enough doses but also pose a risk from chronic exposure. [“Sub-lethal” exposure to the pesticide can impact bees’ ability to forage for pollen and nectar and impact egg laying of queens, she said.
Because the pesticides dissolve in water, scientists have found that most of the seed coating disperses into the soil and water, raising concerns about impacts to non-target species.
Sen. Michael Sirotkin, D-Chittenden, recalled that in his first year as a lawmaker, the Legislature had been having similar “bee debates” and had opted to study the issue further instead of instituting a ban.
“Are we just in a holding pattern now?” he said.
Pollina responded that the state will be gathering more information about the availability of alternatives to treated seeds before a ban is revisited.
“We felt that it would be difficult to ban treated seeds right away,” he said.
The bill also makes changes to beekeeping regulations, such as requiring beekeepers to develop a varroa mite management plan and prohibiting the transport of hives into the state without a permit. H.205 also requires the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets to work with the Vermont Beekeepers Association to establish a voluntary beekeeper educational program.
