Concord panel to ask golf courses and applicators for neonic use reports

The Town of Concord Pollinator Advisory Committee voted informally to pursue information from local turf managers and licensed pesticide applicators about neonicotinoid use, after members said turf applications could be substantially greater than the seed treatments commonly discussed.

Speaker 1 raised the item as “turf neonics,” saying the intensity of neonic use on golf courses and similar turf can be much higher than seed treatments for crops. "The intensity of neonics ... on golf courses is about four times what it is in neonic-treated seed for corn," Speaker 1 said, arguing the committee should start by contacting the two local golf courses to see how much they apply and whether they would consider reducing use.

Speaker 4 recommended a more formal, accountable approach: "If you write the board and say there is this concern about overuse ... can you get back to us about your use of it?" Speaker 4 added that licensed applicators are required to report annual usage to the state and suggested asking for copies of those reports as public records rather than relying on ad hoc recollections.

The committee agreed Speaker 1 will draft a template letter and pursue the state applicator reports; Speaker 4 asked the draft be circulated to the committee for review before it is sent. Members discussed broadening the review to include related herbicides and coated seeds, but agreed to keep neonics as the immediate focus while they consider whether to update the committee charge.

Next steps: Speaker 1 will draft and circulate a letter template requesting applicator usage reports and invite the committee to review it; the group plans to discuss charge updates and whether to widen the scope at a future working session in January.