There are ideological priorities at work here. A set of activists in the state and beyond oppose any type of chemical crop protection [or pesticide] use, and seek any opportunity to ban it. A recent open letter to Gov. Hochul says as much — signed by 100 growers, almost all of whom are organic growers, calling for her to sign the bill. While it is the prerogative of those growers to abstain from conventional crop protection, they should not get to undermine the choices of other growers and of the consumers who buy the products. As a reminder, only 4% of NY state farmland is organic. While higher than the 0.6% national number, it still represents a priority for only a small number of growers.

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