By Guy Page
Gov. Phil Scott has vetoed H.706, banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides, calling it “more anti-farmer than it is pro-pollinator.”
The bill claims that “Neonicotinoids are a class of neurotoxic, systemic insecticides that are extremely toxic to bees and other pollinators,” which – the bill says – are in numerical decline in Vermont. Also, some bee species in Vermont are endangered, the bill says. The bill has long been championed by Rep. Robin-Chesnut-Tangerman, a Middletown Springs Democrat who has also run as a Progressive.
In his letter explaining the veto, Scott – already the all-time record holder for Vermont gubernatorial vetoes – promised many more such letters before the June 17 veto override session of the Legislature. The Legislature’s rush to pass so many bills in the final week of the Session makes this necessary, he said.
The Democratic supermajority has the votes to overturn any veto. However, the taxpayer revolt against double-digit property taxes (23 school districts having turned down a school budget more than once) could make some lawmakers leery of overriding every veto.
About H.706, Scott wrote:
Pollinators are essential to growing food and maintaining a healthy, thriving ecosystem. The same is true of farmers, who are also critical contributors to our economy, but altogether, this legislation is more anti-farmer than it is pro-pollinator.
It’s important to note, the honeybee population has grown, while the use of neonics has persisted. In fact, the USDA Census for 2017-2022 shows Vermont’s honeybee population has grown about 30 percent. Additionally, the science is not conclusive on whether this ban will achieve the desired results, but the bill has the potential to produce severe unintended environmental and economic consequences—particularly for Vermont’s dairy farmers.
Although neonics are approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and used on a variety of crops, this bill would ban neonic-treated seeds of corn, soybean, and all other cereal grains (wheat, rice, oats, etc.) and it bans outdoor uses on soybeans, cereal grains, ornamental plants, any plant in bloom and certain vegetables after bloom.
To put the impacts of this bill into context, Vermont grows about 90,000 acres of corn, while the U.S. grows 90 million acres of corn, and almost all corn seed sold in the U.S. is treated with neonics. This would put Vermont farmers at a significant disadvantage.
This is especially concerning given the fact Vermont is struggling to keep dairy farmers, and many more have been put at risk through higher taxes and energy prices, crop losses associated with last year’s spring frost, and summer and winter floods.
This bill unfairly targets dairy farmers reliant on corn crops and will harm farmers without achieving its goals for pollinators. For these reasons I cannot sign it into law.
Rather than eliminating an important EPA-approved tool, we should continue to closely monitor and study the issues and science to protect both family farms – and the food they produce – and pollinators.
Expect more such letters, Scott strongly suggested in the statement announcing the H706 veto:
“Over the last few years, I’ve tried to meet legislators in the middle, so we can achieve shared priorities. Unfortunately, due to a lack of balance in the Legislature, opposing perspectives and data are often not listened to, or even invited, in the debate. This means some bills are passed without thinking through all the consequences, and therefore, could do more harm than good. Due to the sheer number of bills passed in the last three days of the session, there are many that will fall into this category.
“Please know, as Governor – and therefore the final check before a bill becomes law – I have an obligation to carefully weigh the good against the bad for each, making decisions based on whether the benefits outweigh the negative impacts for our entire state. That is what I’ve been elected to do, and I will follow through.”
To view a complete list of action on bills passed during the 2024 legislative session, click here.