Bob Eaton

Dear Members of the House Agriculture Committee, I am a Wolfeboro resident, retired engineer, gardener, bird watcher, and fly fisherman. Over my lifetime, I have watched New Hampshire’s insects and birds decline at an alarming rate. We must act now. I urge you to support HB 1431 to restrict neonicotinoid pesticides. In my own garden, I use native plants, no chemicals, and natural mulch—yet butterflies are scarce, and bees are fewer and less diverse each year. Science shows neonicotinoids persist in soil and water, harming pollinators, beneficial insects, and aquatic life long after application. Gardeners and farmers alike have proven that effective pest management is possible without systemic pesticides that cause lasting environmental damage. HB 1431 is a reasonable, science-based step to protect New Hampshire’s waters, ecosystems, and future food security Thank you for your consideration and for acting to protect our state.