Farmers feed us and our families. They sustain us, and, as a crop consultant, I have the privilege of assisting them in that pursuit. That is why legislation on the table in Albany is so worrisome to those of us who work to support agricultural interests in the state.
S.1856(Hoylman-Sigal)/A.3226 (Glick) will prohibit the sale or use of any neonicotinoid products (neonics), including treated corn, soybean or wheat seed in New York. Advocates for this legislation incorrectly believe that neonics are negatively impacting the environment and causing population declines in pollinators. If studies truly showed a direct negative correlation, regulating agencies would ban their use. We need to allow science instead of sensationalism dictate policy.
Seed treatments play a critical role in agriculture and the production of healthy crops.
If farmers are robbed of this technological advancement, they will be forced to revert to less environmentally friendly soil practices. This will reduce crop production, requiring more land for the same amount of produce; increase erosion potential, fuel usage and the carbon footprint; and force the use of additional chemical spray applications.
