HB161 - AGRICULTURE & VEGETABLE SEED LAW PREEMPTION

HB161 - AGRICULTURE & VEGETABLE SEED LAW PREEMPTION Seed Standardization = Freedom to Farm = Fresh, Local Food NMF&LB supports HB161, - Agriculture & Vegetable Seed Law Preemption giving the New Mexico Department of Agriculture regulatory control over which seeds can be planted in our state. Farmers in certain counties in California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington cannot "propagate, cultivate, raise or grow seeds or crops of genetically engineered organisms" due to the passage of local ordinances. In New Mexico this would affect not only corn, cotton and alfalfa growers who use Roundup ready seeds, but would also leave open the door for a future ban on seeds with a neonicotinoid coating. There are groups that oppose this We anticipate that the bill will be heard by the House State Government, Indian & Veterans Affairs on Tuesday, February 6th. This committee is comprised of: Georgene Louis (D) Chair (505) 986-4327 georgene.louis@nmlegis.gov Rodolpho "Rudy" S. Martinez (D) Vice Chair (505) 986-4248 rodolpho.martinez@nmlegis.gov Sharon Clahchischilliage (R) (505) 986-4453 sharon.clahchischill@nmlegis.gov Yvette Herrell (R) (505) 986-4210 yherrell@yahoo.com Wonda Johnson (D) (505) 986-4236 dwonda.johnson@nmlegis.gov Derrick J. Lente (D) (505) 986-4433 derrick.lente@nmlegis.gov William "Bill" R. Rehm (R) (505) 986-4214 rehm@nmlegis.gov Dennis J. Roch (R) (505) 986-4227 denroch@hotmail.com G. Andrés Romero (D) (505) 986-4435 andres.romero@nmlegis.gov We know that there are significant forces aligned against this bill including environmentalist groups, pueblo governments and acequias associations. We need to be just as vocal. Please contact the committee members and urge them to support the bill for these reasons: • HB161 Seed Preemption would ensure that farmers are not navigating a patchwork of county and municipality rules related to seeds. Passing HB161 would give NMDA control over seeds and give famers the predictability they need. • HB 161 ensures the consistent statewide regulation of seed, just as is the case with pesticides. The measure simply ensures that the authority to regulate seed lies with the experts at the New Mexico Department of Agriculture. Thirty fives states have seen the wisdom of one, state-wide body regulating seeds and have passed similar laws. • Seed standardization legislation maintains private property rights. Farmers are seed experts and they should decide which crops make sense for their family farm. • The bill provides for regulatory consistency, creating an environment where the marketplace drives business decisions, not a patchwork of regulations that creates burdensome roadblocks for family farms. • Codifying the uniform regulation of seed by the statewide experts - well credentialed officials at NMDA - provides long term certainty for growers and farmers. This is especially useful given that there are 136 municipal governments (county, city & town) in New Mexico. • Farmers and growers in New Mexico may own or lease land in multiple jurisdictions. Being forced to comply with varying regulations across city and town lines, even though a farmer is on his or her private property, is cost prohibitive and burdensome. Keep an eye out for future HB161 Calls to Action, we're going to need your help to get this bill passed!