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Dianne Peters
Lock Haven
I would like to draw attention to an article in The Express newspaper on March 23 called "Vermont House passes a bill to restrict a pesticide that is toxic to bees." I'm very concerned because a farm in my town has many bee hives placed there by Penn State. All people should be concerned about this topic whether a farmer or gardener.
I'll try to summarize the article for you: Two states north of us, Vermont and New York, are working on a ban of neonicotinoids -- commonly called neonics, as well as the sale and distribution of seeds coated in the substance, which are used to grow soybeans and cereal grains. These pesticides are neurotoxins and the most widely used class of insecticides in the world, the House of Vermont said.
In December New York governor, Kathy Hochul, signed a nation-leading bill to severely limit the use of neonics in New York.
In Vermont the Conservation Law Foundation testified that just one teaspoon of the pesticide was enough to kill more than one billion honey bees.
Resident Kevin Mack was among those supporting the bill. "Corn is the most widely used application for neonicotinoids and any steps to reduce use in Vermont's working agricultural lands would make a tremendous difference and greatly reduce the negative impacts to birds, pollinators, water quality and nontarget species," he said in written testimony.
Please call your local and state representatives and senators to pass a similar bill in Pennsylvania.