New York Gov. Kathy Hochul finally signed the Birds and Bees Protection Act into law, and thanks go to any who encouraged this development.  

The birds, bees and other pollinators are threatened with extinction, so it’s good that the law prohibits the use of neonicotinoids on lawns and ornamental landscapes; unfortunately, it doesn’t go into effect for three years. 

The ban is also on the most widely used neonic-coated seeds, which turn any plant emerging from them into a killer of anything that eats it—and that doesn’t go into effect for five years. The wheels of progress grind much too slowly.

Now we must convince the EPA to enact a ban on neonics nationwide.  Despite the fact that the agency already determined that neonics threaten over 200 species with extinction, it is currently reviewing, as it does every 15 years, the safety of neonics.  What are they waiting for?  Maybe us—to pressure them to actually DO something!

They know that neonics are dangerous but are reviewing rather than acting.  Let’s get them while they consider what they already know. (FDR was known to say, “Make me do it.”)  You can send your comment to the EPA at pesticidequestions@epa.gov. 

Doris  Chorny
Wallkill, NY