Expanding Colorado’s agricultural stewardship: incentivizing bee-friendly farming

The Colorado’s Agricultural Stewardship Tax Credit is a program that represents a valuable opportunity to support farmers in our state who are adopting practices that benefit the environment. It’s a great thing that recognizes the hard work of farmers doing right by our land and water.

This tax credit is a positive step, and we believe it can be even more impactful by expanding it to reward farmers who choose to avoid neonicotinoid-coated seeds.

Why is this important: The problem with neonics 

Neonicotinoids (neonics) are incredibly potent pesticides, 1,000 times more potent than DDT. Their use, particularly as a coating on seeds, poses significant risks to our environment. Only a small amount of the pesticide is absorbed by the plant; the rest can spread as toxic dust during planting or leach into the soil and waterways, persisting for a long time.

These pesticides are harmful to a wide range of non-target species. In Colorado, our diverse population of around 1,000 bee species—a quarter of North America’s total—are particularly vulnerable and are experiencing significant declines. Species like the Western bumblebee have seen dramatic drops in population in the Southern Rockies, and several native bumblebee species are under review for Endangered Species Act protection. It’s not just insects; research also shows harm to other wildlife, including birds.

How to incentivize the right thing: Avoiding neonics as a stewardship practice 

By including the avoidance of neonic-coated seeds as a qualified stewardship practice, the Agricultural Stewardship Tax Credit can directly incentivize a practice that is good for pollinators, good for soil health, good for water quality, and ultimately, good for the entire ecosystem. This aligns perfectly with the program’s goal of fostering more diverse and beneficial ecosystems while maintaining farm productivity.

Colorado has already demonstrated leadership by banning retail sales of neonics. Now, we have another opportunity to lead by using this tax credit to encourage a move away from these harmful seed treatments.

We appreciate the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s work on this important program. By specifically recognizing farmers who choose not to use neonic-coated seeds, we can incentivize a critical practice that supports the health of Colorado’s vital pollinators, birds, and natural landscapes for a more sustainable agricultural future.