What's happening
This bill amends agriculture law to allow and provide guidance on pesticide use for protecting livestock and farms from Asian longhorned ticks.
Why it matters
Expands tools for farmers. By explicitly allowing the use of pesticides—not just as a last resort—this bill gives farmers more immediate and flexible options to control Asian longhorned ticks, which can threaten livestock health and farm productivity.
Science-based guidance and safety emphasis. The bill requires that recommendations for pesticide use be grounded in scientific data and include detailed usage instructions and label warnings, aiming to ensure both effectiveness and safety for livestock, people, pets, and the environment.
Broader collaboration and dissemination. The amendment brings in the Department of Environmental Conservation alongside the Department of Health and universities, promoting a more comprehensive, expert-driven approach to tick management and ensuring that farmers get up-to-date, accessible information.
Addresses a growing agricultural threat. With the increasing spread of Asian longhorned ticks in New York, providing clear, proactive strategies—including pesticide use—may help prevent economic losses, animal suffering, and the potential for disease transmission associated with these invasive pests.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Livestock from Ticks
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Signed chap.67
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading cal.446
- Substituted for A9742
- Referred to agriculture
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.45
- Referred to rules
- Referred to rules
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Protect Livestock from Ticks
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Didi Barrett
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6966
IN SENATE
January 6, 2020
Introduced by Sen. METZGER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the use of pesticides to protect livestock and farm property against Asian longhorned ticks
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 50 of section 16 of the agriculture and markets law, as added by a chapter of the laws of 2019, amending the agriculture and markets law relating to requiring the preparation of recommendations for best practices in treating livestock and farm properties for Asian longhorned tick treatment, prevention, and management, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 4876-A and A. 8098, is amended to read as follows:
50. Develop, in consultation with the commissioner of the department of health and the New York state land grant university, best-practice recommendations for treatment, prevention and management of livestock and farm property to protect against Asian longhorned ticks. Such recommendations shall be based upon scientific data and shall include, but not be limited to, the use of landscape techniques demonstrated to be safe for livestock, people, pets and the environment, methods to discourage rodent activity, and, [as a method of last resort,] the effective use of [effective active ingredients] pesticides, as defined in subdivision [one] thirty-five of section 33-0101 of the environmental conservation law, including usage information and any label warnings or caution statements. The commissioner, in consultation with the department of environmental conservation and the New York state land grant university, shall develop and distribute to farmers information on Asian longhorned tick treatment, management, and prevention. Such information and recommendations shall also be made available on the department's website.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2019, amending the agriculture and markets law relating to requiring the preparation of recommendations for
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08422-03-0
S. 6966 2
best practices in treating livestock and farm properties for Asian longhorned tick treatment, prevention, and management, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 4876-A and A. 8098, takes effect.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the use of pesticides to protect livestock and farm property against Asian long- horned ticks
Purpose
To reduce exposure to a new invasive species, the Asian longhorned tick, on livestock and farm properties, and thereby reduce incidence of tick- borne diseases and livestock death, through the development and promotion of best practices.
Summary of provisions
This legislation amends the underlying chapter by replacing the term active ingredients with pesticides.
Justification
Pursuant to approval memo 58 of 2019, minor amendments were made in order to substitute cross-references to the Environmental Conservation Law.
Legislative history
Chapter amendment to Chapter 674 of the Laws of 2019.
Fiscal implications
Potential agency costs.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.