(WHTM)– A Pennsylvania lawmaker is proposing banning a commonly used insecticide for field crops in the state.
The bill, proposed by State Sen. Judith Schwank (D-11), aims to ban neonicotinoid insecticide (neonic) treatments for field crops in Pennsylvania.
According to research from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, neonicotinoids are a class of insecticides applied to seeds and soil to protect seedlings and are widely used.
The treatments are commonly used because they are intended to combat severe pests.
The use of neonicotinoid treatments, like most insecticides, has raised concerns about their impact on non-target organisms. The DEP said that sub-lethal effects on vertebrates and non-target invertebrates, including bees, have been seen.
The bill’s memo said that New York and Vermont have previously banned neonic seed treatments for field crops.
Sen. Schwank argues that banning them would strengthen protections for beneficial insects and realign Pennsylvania with the “agricultural best practices of integrated pest management.”
The bill has not yet been submitted for introduction.
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