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Environmental Working Group briefs Ulster County committee on House farm bill: pesticide preemption removed but EQIP and nutrition supports cut
Summary
Jeff Horfield of the Environmental Working Group told the committee the House farm bill removed the most egregious pesticide preemption language but included a $500 million cut to EQIP and failed to restore farm‑to‑school funding or reverse SNAP cuts; he said the measure now moves to the Senate.
Jeff Horfield of the Environmental Working Group briefed the Ulster County committee on the recent House farm bill actions and their implications for conservation, pesticides and nutrition programs.
Horfield said House negotiators removed an amendment that would have preempted state and local pesticide regulation, which he described as a win for counties that maintain local restrictions such as neighbor‑notification rules. However, he warned the House bill contains other concerning carve‑outs — for example language he said could exempt some pesticide applications from statutory protections under federal laws in particular circumstances — and it reduces funding for conservation programs.
Horfield highlighted a proposed $500 million cut to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) over five years, noting that the program is popular and oversubscribed in New York; only roughly 29–35% of New York applicants currently receive EQIP funding, he said. He also said the House text did not restore prior farm‑to‑school levels or nutrition supports removed in recent federal actions.
Horfield said Congressman Josh Riley supported removing the pesticide preemption language but voted for the larger House bill that included other cuts. The House bill must now move to the Senate, where Horfield said leaders have indicated they will try to avoid certain poison‑pill provisions.
Provenance: Farm bill briefing: SEG 2414–SEG 2560.
