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Lawmakers debate banning neonic-treated seed, weighing environmental harm against farm risks
Summary
The House Environment & Agriculture Committee debated two related bills: HB 14 31 to restrict neonic pesticides and HB 10 86 to ban certain neonic-treated seeds. Supporters cited aquatic and soil harms; seed-industry and growers warned a ban could lead to heavier, less-targeted insecticide use and jeopardize crop stands.
The House Environment and Agriculture Committee on Tuesday reopened debate on two related measures aimed at curbing neonicotinoid use in agriculture and other settings. Committee members and witnesses argued over environmental risks, agricultural impacts and whether regulatory agencies should write rules or the legislature should adopt a statutory ban.
Representative Peter Bixby, sponsor and longtime committee member, told colleagues the testimony the committee heard previously showed neonics harm multiple systems: “the neonics are damaging aquatic zooplankton that eat the cyanobacteria,” he said, tying the chemical’s runoff to…
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