Republican Vermont Gov. Phil Scott has vetoed a bill that would severely restrict a type of pesticide that is toxic to bees and other pollinators, saying the legislation is “more anti-farmer than pro-pollinator.”
The bill would have banned the use of neonicotinoids – commonly called “Neonics” – as well as the sale or distribution of soybean seeds and grains coated with the substance. The lawmakers said the pesticides are neurotoxins and are the most widely used class of pesticides in the world.
Vermont's Democratic-controlled Legislature may consider overriding the governor's veto during a special session next month.
“It is hard to believe that the Governor chose World Bee Day to veto this commonsense legislation to protect bees and other pollinators from toxic pesticides while supporting farmers through a just transition to safer alternatives,” said Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group. Monday's statement said.
The Vermont Legislature passed the bill after New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed what she called a nation-leading bill last year in support of the bill. Severely limit the use of neonics In her jurisdiction.
Nearly all corn seed sold in the country is treated with EPA-approved neonicotinoids, and Vermont grows about 90,000 acres of corn while the United States grows 90 million acres, Scott wrote in his veto letter.
“This would put Vermont farmers at a severe disadvantage,” he wrote, saying dairy farmers face higher costs and crop losses due to summer and winter floods, in addition to last year's spring frosts.
He suggested that the state closely monitor and study this issue to protect family farms and pollinators.
Scott is expected to veto a number of bills, saying there is a lack of balance in the Legislature that causes conflicting views and statements to not be taken into account.
“This means that some bills were passed without thinking through all the consequences, and therefore could do more harm than good,” he said in a statement on Monday. “Given the sheer number of bills passed in the last three days of the session, there are many bills that would fall into this category.”