02
Jun
Organic Solution to Pesticide Pollution Embraced Across Political Parties in Recent Action
(Beyond Pesticides, June 2, 2026) “Show me what democracy looks like; this is what democracy looks like†is a common chant at rallies across the United States and worldwide when people come out to express their outrage at the complacency of the political system to address current societal hardships and inequities. On the eve of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the state of U.S. politics has become especially divisive and polarized. One area of agreement, however, that continues to break through the fractious political climate was on display recently in South Carolina, when the state’s House of Representatives unanimously passed a House Resolution encouraging local communities to transition to organic land management across the state earlier this spring. This action serves as one signal among many of widespread agreement that the protection of people and the environment from pesticides has bipartisan support.
Passed in March, H.5305 was introduced by William G. “Bill” Herbkersman (R) and cosponsored by a bipartisan group of over 100 House members. State Representative Herbkersman is chair of the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee. The Resolution seeks to “encourage counties, municipalities, and other political subdivisions of the State, including school districts†to establish the adoption of organic practices as a priority. While falling far short of a mandate, environmental and public health advocates view this as a foundational shift in the right direction toward building broader momentum for the transition to pest management in sync with biodiversity, public health, climate resilience, and prosperity, rather than actively undermining these critical pillars of American society.
The Resolution begins with a recognition that there is a shared public good in ensuring safe shared community spaces, stating, “South Carolina’s public lands, parks, roadside corridors, and waterways are shared community assets.†The Resolution continues, “Routine synthetic pesticide and herbicide applications create avoidable exposure pathways for residents, workers, and wildlife, and increase stormwater and watershed risks.†Additionally, it says: “The use of organic practices can help create and maintain healthy landscapes and ecosystems while reducing chemical dependence.â€
The Resolution emphasizes the public health and environmental risks of pesticides, the stewardship opportunity and examples of local ordinances in other contexts, and the benefits of organic practices. Also identified are local ecological concerns, including monarch butterfly and honey bee populations facing pesticide and chemical pressures, in addition to growing community demand for safer pest management on parks and playing fields, athletic fields, and rights-of-way.
The Resolution expresses bipartisan solidarity for pesticide accountability, similar to a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives in April that struck from the House Agriculture Committee-passed Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026 provisions weakening protections from toxic pesticides, with 73 Republicans representing 25 states joining with Democrats. See here for a vote tally on the amendment introduced by U.S. Representative Anna Luna (R-Florida), which was identical to the Protect Our Health Amendment, introduced by Representative Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) and Representative Chellie Pingree (D-Maine).
Model Policies
Most states have explicitly preempted local governments from restricting pesticides on both private and public lands at the behest of the chemical industry after the Supreme Court in Wisconsin v. Mortier (1991) (see court decision) upheld the right of local jurisdictions to restrict pesticides under federal pesticide law. This does not stop local and state governments from banning or regulating pesticides on public land, as advocates have successfully organized to adopt ordinances across the United States, including New York City, New York; Maui, Hawai’i; Stamford, Connecticut; and Montgomery County and Baltimore, Maryland, among numerous others. The ordinances embrace organic management standards and allowed materials under relevant sections of the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA),
One model policy that advocates point to includes various local ordinances in Maine, including the coastal town of Falmouth. Maine does not preempt the authority of local political subdivisions from restricting pesticides more stringently than the state. Several years after the adoption of the original lawn care ordinance in Falmouth, Maine (2020), the town’s Conservation Commission studied the issues, the Town Council held hearings, and public input was collected, leading to the town’s adoption of a stronger ordinance with an effective date that was later extended to 2026. See here for the testimony of Jay Feldman, executive director of Beyond Pesticides, delivered to the town council of Falmouth at an April 2024 hearing. This followed landmark policy adopted first in South Portland and then in Portland, Maine.
The updated Falmouth ordinance, like the ones in South Portland and Portland, embraces the core purpose of protecting health and the environment, while extending the ordinance’s restrictions to all petrochemical pesticide and fertilizer users (residents, commercial groups, and licensed applicators).
The model ordinance is explicit in restricting substances to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances in OFPA and updated by the National Organic Standards Board. Synthetic substances are banned under OFPA unless they are listed on the National List. For example, the bee-toxic neonicotinoid insecticides, always highly toxic to ecosystems and human health, are prohibited under OFPA’s allowed and prohibited list. For additional information on Falmouth, Maine, please see the following Daily News, Community Votes Down Ballot Initiative To Repeal Local Pesticide Restrictions in Maine.
In Massachusetts, as distinguished from Maine, there is a circuitous (some would argue undemocratic) process for local communities to pass ordinances on private and public lands. Four towns—Orleans, Wellfleet, Truro, and Eastham— have passed local ordinances; however, the home rule petition process prevents these common-sense protections from going into effect until both chambers of the legislature approve the measures. On many matters, ranging from the incorporation of a new fire department, establishing a real estate transfer fee for local properties, or prohibiting the use of a pesticide that is not prohibited statewide, actions of local governments—after voting on a measure by the locality’s governing body—must go through review by the State Attorney General’s office and both chambers of the state legislature before becoming local law.
For our model ordinance in Massachusetts, please see here. If you are a Massachusetts resident, take action to pass a local ordinance in your town.
Previous Coverage
The core criteria of organic land management, as defined by the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA), are sixfold:
- Definition clarity and enforceability;
- Creation of a Systems plan to establish a baseline for pest management practices
- Rigorous standard for allowed/prohibited substances list;
- Certification and enforcement system (third-party enforcement);
- Bi-annual Public Comment Process
- Funding
In the agricultural context, the Rodale Institute determined significant benefits of organic versus conventional agriculture (See Daily News here and here):
- Organic systems achieve 3–6 times the profit of conventional production;
- Yields for the organic approach are competitive with those of conventional systems (after a five-year transition period);
- Organic yields during stressful drought periods are 40% higher than conventional yields;
- Organic systems leach no toxic compounds into nearby waterways (unlike pesticide-intensive conventional farming;
- Organic systems use 45% less energy than conventional systems; and,
- Organic systems emit 40% less carbon into the atmosphere.
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) arrive at similar findings, according to data published in the Journal of Environmental Quality. They reported that a 4-year organically managed corn-soybean-oat system reduces nitrogen (N) loads by 50 percent with corn and soybean yields “equivalent to or higher than conventional [chemical-intensive] in most years.†The findings from a 7-year study comparing nitrate loss in organic and chemical-intensive management found that organically managed perennial pasture reduced nitrogen loads significantly. The study, which focused on nitrate pollution in agriculture that harms biodiversity, threatens waterways, drinking water, and public health, and releases nitrous oxide (an extremely potent greenhouse gas), was conducted at USDA’s National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment. See Daily News here.)
Consumption of organic food has also been found to reduce pesticide levels in humans, according to multiple studies. (See Daily News here and here.) One recent analysis leveraging data from University of Michigan’s Health and Retirement Study (HRS) – “a longitudinal panel study that surveys a representative sample of more than 20,000 Americans over the age of 50 every two years†—as well as an HRS supplemental study, the Health Care and Nutrition Study (HCNS)— “utilizing validated Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQ) to assess food consumption and nutritional status, conducted in 2013†– found that consumption of organic animal-based and plant-based foods is positively associated with higher cognitive scores. (See Daily News here.)
Call to Action
Integrated pest management without strict criteria for synthetic input elimination will only perpetuate pesticide poisoning and contamination. See Defining a Strong IPM or EPM Program to learn how to engage with decision-makers in your community, your state legislature, or Congress.
Beyond Pesticides engages with communities and local governments across the nation through the Parks for a Sustainable Future Program to transition public parks and playing fields to organic land management. You can become a Parks Advocate today and bring about the organic transition to your community!
All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides.
Source: H.5305
