Teed-off New York golf courses are urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to veto legislation that would ban the use of “nerve agent” pesticides on their greens — while foes say the chemicals destroy the birds and bees.
Golf-course operators say the state’s proposed “Birds and Bees Protection Act” would ban crucial “neonic” pesticides they use on grass seeds to prevent pests such as white grubs.
The measure, which passed the legislature in June, was championed by state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and state Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, both Manhattan Democrats. Hochul is now weighing whether to sign it into law.
Grub infestations can devastate a golf course not only with the damage the pests can cause but also because of the wild animals that dig up areas to feed on them, the golf courses say.
Before the insecticides were available, golf courses applied more pesticide products to treat the greens, golf-course operators say.
The course operators claim the prohibition of neonics would force major golf tournaments to abandon New York.
“Governor Hochul will sandbag golfers and the golf industry in the state as a whole if neonicotinoids are banned for use in New York,” said Joe Lucas, vice president of Greens and Grounds at Saratoga National Golf Club.
“After a great year with huge success with tournaments and partners, we cannot stand by and let misinformation about the safety of these products destroy our courses and the future of the game in our state.”
Tom Kaplun, golf course superintendent of the North Hempstead Country Club in Port Washington, LI, said, “Golf has long been popular and an important driver of the economy in New York— to the tune of over $5 billion a year in revenue, employing more than 55,000 residents and growing local businesses nearby.
“However, as someone who has taken care of golf courses for years, I am worried about what my colleagues and I may face as a result of overzealous legislation waiting for Governor Hochul’s action.”
But Sen. Hoylman-Sigal urged Hochul to sign the measure into law.
“Neonicotinoids is a nerve agent. It kills pests, but it also decimates the bee population,” Hoylman said.
“This is a pesticide that is very dangerous. A veto of this bill would be disastrous for pollinators like bees and impact the food chain.”
Other states — including New Jersey and Maine — restrict the use of neonicotinoids, as does Canada and the European Union.
“This issue is a sand trap for the governor. Environmentalists have been pushing for a ban for years. We finally got the bill passed,” Hoylman-Sigal said.
The bill does provide an exception from the ban if the state agricultural commissioner determines there is an insufficient amount of other commercially available treatment for crops and compliance would result in undue financial hardship.
Neonics are a class of synthetic, neurotoxic insecticides that are used on crops such as corn, soybeans and wheat seeds, as well as on lawns, gardens, golf courses and in flea and tick pet treatments.
Developed in the mid-1990s, neonics are now the single-most popular insecticide class in the United States, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council .
The pesticide permanently binds to the nerve cells of insects, overstimulating and destroying them, NRDC said
“Exposed insects often exhibit uncontrollable shaking and twitching followed by paralysis before eventually dying. Even at nonlethal doses, neonics can weaken critical functions, such as an insect’s immune system, navigation, stamina, memory, and fertility,” the advocacy group said.
A Hochul spokesperson said the governor is reviewing the legislation.