Vermont Senate Agriculture committee continues paraquat hearings after orchardists describe targeted, limited use

The Vermont Senate Agriculture Committee continued hearings on paraquat on testimony from orchardists who described limited, targeted use of the herbicide and emphasized safety measures.

Dan Bear, owner of Peek Farm Orchard in East Mont, told the committee that paraquat is “not broadcast over a wide area. It's a narrow band just beneath the tree,” and said his operation applies the product by hand or with a small mechanical unit to a band roughly 3 to 6 inches above ground. He said a 2.5-gallon container can last his farm years and described using full protective gear during mixing and application.

The committee heard similar accounts from Laura Marx, operations manager at Southern Vermont Orchards in Bennington. “It's a really effective product for us for young trees. It doesn't hurt our baby trees, which is why we use it,” Marx said, adding that the orchard uses closed-transfer systems and that three staff members are certified applicators. She estimated the farm manages about 217 acres and said they used roughly 30 gallons of paraquat last year.

Mechanic Peter Fington described equipment details, saying a spray height near 14 inches produced a 32–36 inch pattern and that applications are made on still days to minimize drift. Witnesses repeatedly emphasized waiting after application — commonly 48–72 hours — and following label instructions for re-entry and worker safety.

Committee members reviewed conflicting scientific evidence presented to the panel. One member summarized recent literature and agency findings, noting a meta-analysis that reported an increased risk of Parkinson's disease associated with paraquat exposure but also flagged potential conflicts of interest among some authors. The member also read from an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) review that described discrepancies among lines of evidence about paraquat volatility and called for additional data to resolve uncertainty.

Committee discussion ranged from equipment and nonchemical alternatives (mowing attachments and groundcover strategies) to economic constraints of modern high‑density orchards, which growers said can cost roughly $40,000 per acre to establish and require precise management. Members asked staff to identify other in‑state users — including berry growers and nurseries — and to compile additional research and sales data.

The committee did not take a vote. The chair said members were not ready to decide and would continue to take testimony at a later date, seeking experts and long‑term users to inform any future action.

What happens next: The committee directed staff to gather additional studies, sales and usage information, and to invite more witnesses on both sides of the question before scheduling further deliberation.