On February 25, the Sports Field Management Association (SFMA) sent out a letter to its members, on behalf of SFMA President James Bergdoll, CSFM, regarding Senate Bill 3283. It read as follows:
SFMA has become aware of a bill introduced in the Senate, bill 3283, that will destroy the current pesticide regulatory system under FIFRA. This undermines 70 years of pesticide regulatory advancement based on the best available science. If passed, bill 3283 would ban organophosphates, neonicotinoids and any product that is banned or otherwise prohibited by the European Union or Canada. The bill would also allow localities to restrict pesticide products in defiance of state preemption laws while enabling individual citizens to petition the EPA to ban products.
We are joining forces with others in the industry to stop this bill before it gains traction. GCSAA has a robust government relations program and has invited our members to use their advocacy portal to electronically send a personalized message to senators. They have prepopulated a message that can be easily customized to the sports field industry by switching out golf course superintendents for sports field managers. However, it is highly recommended that you further personalize the message by highlighting how these proposed changes will negatively impact the safety of sports fields for players at all levels.
Here is the link to provide your comments: https://www.votervoice.net/GCSAA/campaigns/91500/respond. There is not a date by when to respond since it has been introduced and assigned to the Senate Ag committee, but there hasn’t been a hearing or any other action scheduled yet. Action by you now can help keep it that way. Thank you in advance for your support of this effort.
Sincerely,
James Bergdoll, CSFM
SFMA President