John,

Right now, farms are planting seeds across millions of acres. For America's major crops, such as corn and wheat, the majority of those seeds are coated in neonicotinoids -- pesticides that are deadly for bees.1

As farm equipment deposits countless seeds across the field, it churns up huge dust clouds of toxic pesticides that can drift for miles.

A tiny bee can't outfly a cloud of poison floating its way. And everywhere the dust settles becomes a hazard for little bees.

We need to stop pesticide-coated seeds now. Tell your state legislators: Ban the pesticide-coated seeds that are killing bees.

The wild bees that buzz across Colorado are in trouble.

Toxic pesticide-coated seeds are planted on 150 million acres of cropland nationwide. It's becoming near impossible for the bees to escape the deadly impacts.2

One species of bee called the American bumblebee has diminished by 89%. Another bee called the rusty-patched bumblebee is endangered and on the edge of extinction. On and on, the bees native to our environment are dying out.3,4

When these bees are exposed to toxic neonics, they suffer. Their small legs and wings go numb as they become paralyzed. And then, they die.5

We need to ban neonic-coated seeds. Tell your state legislators to take action for the bees.

Just a little bit of neonicotinoid pesticides (neonics) can kill a bee. And a single seed, when eaten, can kill a songbird.6

All it takes to kill a bee is a pesticide concentration equivalent to a pinch of salt in 10 tons of potato chips.7

That's why we need to ban the worst uses of bee-killing neonic pesticides. When such a small amount can be incredibly deadly, it's the least we can do for the bees.

Environment Colorado already won some restrictions on the consumer use of bee-killing pesticides. We've made progress, but pesticide-coated seeds can still be planted in farms throughout Colorado. Last year, New York became the first state to restrict neonic-coated seeds. By sending a message to your state legislators today, you can help convince Colorado to tackle neonic-coated seeds next.

Send a message today: No more neonic-coated seeds.

Thank you,

Ellen Montgomery

1. Dan Charles, "2 Scientists, 2 Different Approaches To Saving Bees From Poison Dust," NPR, May 27, 2017.
2. John F. Tooker, "Farmers are overusing insecticide-coated seeds, with mounting harmful effects on nature," The Conversation, February 22, 2022.
3. Catherine Ferris, "Population of American Bumblebee Diminished by Nearly 90 Percent Study Says," Newsweek, October 12, 2021.
4. "Rusty patched bumble bee," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, last accessed May 9, 2024.
5. Oliver Milman, "Fears for bees as US set to extend use of toxic pesticides that paralyse insects," The Guardian, March 8, 2022.
6. Kimberly A. Stoner, "Best Management Practices for Farmers Using Seeds Treated With Neonicotinoid Insecticides," Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, January 1, 2017.
7. John F. Tooker, "Farmers are overusing insecticide-coated seeds, with mounting harmful effects on nature," The Conversation, February 22, 2022.