KGMI News
OLYMPIA, Wash. – A new bill introduced in the Washington Senate would make it harder for berry farmers, including in Whatcom County, to apply pesticides.
Orcas Island Democrat Senator Kevin Ranker is a sponsor of the bill, under which berry farms would provide pesticide application records to the Washington State Department of Health monthly.
Additionally, the Department would maintain a list of persons to be notified of a planned pesticide application on a farm.
Farmers would need to give notice of planned application four days prior.
Sponsors of the bill say it would protect agricultural workers and community members from pesticides by providing notice of planned application.
Opponents of the bill, including the Washington Farm Bureau, say it would actually harm farm workers by making it harder to stay in business by placing unnecessary and unworkable restrictions on when a farm can apply pesticides, since waiting four business days before applying pesticides to address a pest or disease issue is often too late.