By Mike Rice, NOFA/Mass Interim Policy Director & Dago Driggs, NOFA/Mass Senior Policy Advisor

Note: Deadline Extended in Search for Next NOFA/Mass Policy Director

Please help us find the right candidate for this crucial position so that we can continue to grow the NOFA/Mass Policy Department and keep building on our momentum! Check out the job posting here and share with your network! The job posting will be available until filled.

Update on MA Pesticides Reform Bills 

The State Legislature continues to consider several bills related to pesticides reform.  Awareness of the consequences of our continued reliance on toxic pesticides and support for reform among legislators has grown significantly.  New science continues to emerge validating our movement’s support for swift action to protect the health and integrity of our communities. Now is the time to make sure your voice is being heard!  As legislators return from their summer recess, we need to remind them that pesticides reform bills should be a priority! Committees are reviewing bills and making decisions about which bills will advance, so please use this quick form to reach out to your legislators today.

Read on below for information on our priority bills:

Create a Pesticide Reform Task Force (S.521/H.783)

A bill to create a “pesticide control modernization and environmental protection task force” was recommended and “ought to pass” last session and is our top priority this session, as it will help address a host of systemic concerns in a holistic manner. Whatever your concerns are re: pesticides, you have a reason to support this bill.

Return local control over pesticides (S.540/H.814)

This bill would return power to communities to protect their families, food and water from harmful pesticide exposure.

Modernize Pesticide Reporting AND protect children from pesticide exposure (S.487/H.825)

This combined bill, which was approved by both chambers last year, would create an online portal and database for pesticide use reporting records with clear, online public access to the annual data and it would require that pesticides be proven safe before being used on playgrounds and fields where children learn and play. UPDATE: This bill was recently reported out favorably to the House Ways and Means Committee! That means that it is past the first hurdle, but still has a long way to go. It’s great news that it was moved early, now we have to contact our legislators and keep the momentum up!

You can use this form to send a message to your legislators asking them to support these important bills.

We are relying on the strength of this grassroots movement for pesticides reduction, so please share this link with your fellow gardeners, farmers, and food activists! While you’re at it, remind them to subscribe to this newsletter so that they get alerts like this directly in the future.

Federal Bills Related to Pesticides and Pollinators

In addition to keeping up the momentum on pesticides reform at home in Massachusetts, we also need to make our voices heard on two bills that have been introduced in Congress

Our priority bills:

Saving America’s Pollinators Act of 2023 (HR.4277)

introduced by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), is a groundbreaking bill that directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take actions to protect pollinators.

The bill states that the EPA must “take measures to reverse declines in pollinator populations, including by identifying and addressing threats faced by pollinators, including the immediate threats presented by neonicotinoid pesticides, other systemic insecticides, and other pesticides.”

It also states that the Center for Pollinator Conservation must protect and consider native bees and other native pollinators to ensure their long term health and that, “scientists, conservation groups, beekeepers, organic farmers, and other parties that have a substantial interest in the protection and conservation of pollinators” must be part of the conversation.

In addition to Rep. McGovern, the only other Massachusetts Representatives who have signed on as co-sponsors of this legislation so far are Rep. Neal and Rep. Lynch. We need to fix that! Use this form to ask your representative to sign on to this critically important bill today!

The Pollinator-Friendly Plant Labeling Act (S.2199)

has been proposed by Sen. Merkley (D-OR). This legislation would make a huge difference in how plants are labeled, so that we can be confident that the plants we’re purchasing do not contain pesticides. To receive the label, plants would be required to be native and not treated with pesticides. There are currently only seven co-sponsors of this bill. We need your help to get Sen. Warren and Sen. Markey (or your senators if you are reading this outside of MA) to sign on as co-sponsors. Calls and emails are especially effective. Use the contact info linked above to reach out and send a personal message letting your senators know how important this is to you. Or you can quickly send a letter using this form.

Rep. McGovern Leads on Opposition to Federal Preemption of State and Local Pesticide Laws

Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), along with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) have issued a letter asking their colleagues in Congress to oppose efforts that would restrict state and local authority to set pesticide standards that go further than those imposed by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

Other members of Congress have floated the idea of attaching these harmful proposals to the upcoming Farm Bill. Rep. McGovern wrote that he is, “deeply concerned that those efforts could remove important protections for communities while limiting accountability for pesticide manufacturers  who fail to warn consumers about risks associated with their products.”

NOFA/Mass is working to highlight Rep. McGovern’s efforts and encouraging the other members of the Massachusetts delegation to commit to joining the effort to stop this dangerous federal preemption effort.

Image of farm animals with caption : Urgent Action Needed! Organic Animal Welfare Rules are at Risk

Action Alert: Protect Organic Animal Welfare Rules

After years of delays, USDA has nearly finalized a new regulation, the Organic Livestock and Poultry Standard Rule, to strengthen animal welfare standards in organic agriculture and eliminate loopholes that allow some operations to deny organic chickens access to the outdoors. Now, Senator Marshall (R-KS) has introduced an amendment to block the rule from moving forward. We need your help to make sure the Marshall amendment is defeated! Use this form to contact your US Senators and ask them to oppose this amendment and support the strengthening of animal welfare standards in organic agriculture!

Our partners at the National Organic Coalition (NOC) are offering a limited number of scholarships to farmers who want to attend the NOC Pre-NOSB meeting (October 23) and the NOSB meeting (October 24-26) in Providence, RI. They will disperse the pool of scholarship funds based on the number of applications and stated needs, so the amount of each scholarship is unknown at this time. Get your application in ASAP if you’d like to attend these meetings, where topics will include: the 2023 Farm Bill, new rules to prevent fraud in organic supply chains, building a more equitable and inclusive organic movement, helping farmers transition to organic, materials used in organic production, and more!

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