April 12, 2016
YOUR NAME
YOUR ADDRESS
The Honorable Mark Leno and Ben Allen
California State Senate
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: SB 1282 - Pesticides: neonicotinoids: labeling and restricted material designation - OPPOSE
Dear Senator Leno and Senator Allen:
I’m writing to express my opposition to your legislation, SB 1282, which would make neonicotinoids a restricted use material and require citrus trees sold at retail establishments to be labeled as harmful to bees.
As a long-time citrusgrower, it is very important that I have access to modern crop protection tools like neonicotinoids, which are critical to my integrated pest management program. Neonicotinoids are the most effective material against the Asian citrus psyllid, an invasive pestthat can spread the deadly and incurable Huanglongbing (HLB) disease. HLB has destroyed almost 60% of Florida’s citrus production and threatens to do the same here in California. This disease is so serious that every citrus grower in California pays into a state run program to control Asian citrus psyllid populations in urban areas like Southern California where 60% of homes have a citrus tree in the backyard.
It is critical that homeowners support this program by allowing the California Department of Food and Agriculture to treat their trees. This bill is nothing more than ascare tactic that will result in homeowners opting out of our program for fear that neonicotinoids are harmful to beesdespite evidence to the contrary.
While I understand the importance of pollinators to agriculture, my experience has shown that these products can be safely used without affecting bee populations. Furthermore, science shows that there are multiple causes for poor pollinator health. Simply eliminating one potential stressor will not solve the issue of declining bee health.
This bill is a futile attempt by anti-pesticide groups to eliminate neonicotinoids under the false pretext that doing so will promote pollinator health. It’s important for you to know that farmers and beekeepers have worked together successfully for decades. Beekeepers and farmers agree that crops must be protected and know there are many ways to cooperate without incident. It is simply wrong to ignore the scientific evidence and place an entire industry at risk, especially when there are so many other factors affecting bee health.
I understand that you are concerned about bee health. I am too. But, it is illogical to assume that removing neonicotinoids from the consumer market will protect bees. It is not right to force nurseries to label citrus trees treated with neonicotinoids as harmful to bees when there is no evidence to prove it.
I respectfully ask that you reconsider SB 1282.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME