Large Turnout to Discuss MontCo’s Pesticide Legislation

3 Responses to “Large Turnout to Discuss MontCo’s Pesticide Legislation”

1. 

   On February 13, 2015 at 9:40 pm responded with... #

   NORAHG RESPONDS AGAINST MONTGOMERY COUNTY’S PROPOSED PROHIBITION IN MARYLAND ― NO ONE WANTS THIS #@!!% DANGEROUS BAN NONSENSE THAT PLACES CHILDREN AT RISK !

   BEWARE ! You CANNOT have a beautiful, lush, weed-free, and green lawn without the use of conventional pest control products. THERE IS GOOD NEW ! These conventional products DO NOT threaten children and pets. With anti-pesticide prohibition, Montgomery County will become inflicted with dangerous pest-infested garbage dump green spaces. In all jurisdictions where prohibition has been arbitrarily imposed, so-called pesticide-free parks and green spaces have ended in dismal failure. Consequently, municipal officials have scrambled to find a way to rescind their self-imposed and arbitrary prohibition. Montgomery County will soon face the dilemma of unsafe playing surfaces for children that may lead to injuries and liabilities issues. http://wp.me/P1jq40-2ha With pesticide-free parks and green spaces, children are actually at high risk of slipping and tripping and becoming seriously hurt. Conversely, pesticides are scientifically-safe, cause no harm, are no threat to children, and represent no liability for Montgomery County. Furthermore, it will be impossible for home-owners or professionals of Montgomery County to keep their properties beautiful by using so-called green alternative pesticides and practices. Throughout North America, anti-pesticide prohibitions have clearly demonstrated that green alternative pesticides and practices are dismal failures. http://wp.me/P1jq40-44g http://wp.me/P1jq40-4z3 http://wp.me/P1jq40-445 http://wp.me/P1jq40-3yl Montgomery County’s municipal officials will soon be thinking twice about prohibition, and will regret not having looked at the experience of those jurisdictions that have suffered the hardship and stunningly exorbitant costs of this #@!!% nonsense ! http://wp.me/p1jq40-5×1 http://wp.me/P1jq40-43V Furthermore, Montgomery County’s municipal officials will eventually join the real trends against prohibition. There are already dozens of jurisdictions that have stopped or rescinded or limited prohibition, or have granted professional lawn care businesses with an exception status. The trends against anti-pesticide prohibition continue again and again. http://wp.me/P1jq40-1JO These trends come with the realization that the extensive toxicology database of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Health Canada clearly prove that pest control products are scientifically safe and will cause no harm ! NO ONE WANTS THIS #@!!% DANGEROUS BAN NONSENSE THAT PLACES CHILDREN AT RISK ! Pest control products are SCIENTIFICALLY-SAFE, and WILL NOT CAUSE HARM TO CHILDREN, ADULTS, ANIMALS, OR THE ENVIRONMENT. http://wp.me/p1jq40-7HR http://wp.me/P1jq40-2ha http://wp.me/p1jq40-5ni We are the National Organization Responding Against HUJE that conspire to destroy the Green space and other industries ( NORAH G ). As a non-profit and independent organization, we are dedicated to reporting PESTICIDE FREE FAILURES, as well as the work of RESPECTED and HIGHLY RATED EXPERTS who promote ENVIRONMENTAL REALISM and PESTICIDE TRUTHS. http://wp.me/p1jq40-8DV Get the latest details at http://pesticidetruths.com/ http://pesticidetruths.com/toc/ http://wp.me/P1jq40-2rr https://www.facebook.com/norah.gfon WILLIAM H GATHERCOLE AND NORAH G
2. 

   On February 16, 2015 at 11:06 am responded with... #

   Bill 52-14 marks an important step forward for Montgomery County and its residents to both address public health concerns surrounding pesticide and fertilizer application and the future health of the Chesapeake Bay. In reality the health and ecological byproducts of many of the chemicals used by both home owners and perhaps more so by lawn maintenance firms have not been vigorously studied. Indeed, homeowners can walk into a big box store, purchase an assortment of chemicals without any certificate demonstrating that they have knowledge regarding the timing and means of application, rates of application or proper safety precautions required.

   Ironically, farmers in the state of Maryland must maintain Nutrient Management Plans which require them to take soil samples, report crop plans and fertilizer/ nutrient application rates. These plans must be completed by all farmers in order to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay. The state in turn either approves or prescribes a different course of nutrient application. No doubt, farmers are going to tend to be more knowledgable about chemical application in the fields than homeowners or landscape firms and yet they must abide by a stricter level of government compliance.

   Home owners are the source of much unneeded nutrient runoff in part because of the ease at which chemicals can be purchased and the relative few restrictions placed on landscape companies.

   Yards can be maintained with the use of fewer chemicals by incorporating a few changes to maintenance practices including aeration, regular seeding, liming and organic matter (such as locally made Leaf Gro) application at the correct times.

   As the owner of an organic farm in Montgomery County, The Farm at Our House, I know that the timing of planting and input application are critical to plant success. I also know that land management practices centered around long term health of the soil are the key to success.

   This bill will encourage residents and lawn care firms in the county to research how to avoid the use of non-essential and often toxic chemicals and at the same time encourage better soil management. While, the initial cost of lawn care may go up the lives saved and the nature preserved as a result of a very common sense approach towards encouraging better land stewardship is invaluable.

   Please support this bill that will continue to make Montgomery County, Maryland a leader in the country in its approach to ecological sound land management.

   The articles below are a sample of the link between widely applied pesticides and fertilizers and the unforeseen health and ecological impacts they caused.

   http://wi.water.usgs.gov/pubs/wrir-02-4130/wrir-02-4130.pdf
   http://www.beyondpesticides.org/documents/toxic-fairways-1995.pdf
   http://www.breastcancerfund.org/clear-science/radiation-chemicals-and-breast-cancer/pesticides.html
   http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/study-strengthens-link-between-neonicotinoids-and-collapse-of-honey-bee-colonies/

   Sincerely,

   Marc Grossman
   The Farm at Our House
   www.thefarmatourhouse.com
3. 

   On March 4, 2015 at 9:43 pm responded with... #

   I am against bill 52-14 unless all golf courses in Mountgomery County are included as they are the most heavily users of pesticides. BarbarabBloomfield