Ag groups respond to new EPA insecticide plan

WASHINGTON — The recently implemented U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new Final Insecticide Strategy drew support from various agriculture groups for its “commonsense” approach and efforts to work with stakeholders.

Here’s what representatives from farm and governmental organizations said about the strategy.

“This strategy provides much needed improvements that will undoubtedly better protect U.S homegrown crops from pests and diseases. We look forward to continued partnership with EPA to ensure our growers continue to have the crop protection tools and flexibility needed to feed, fuel and clothe our nation and the world.”

Brooke Rollins, secretary

U.S. Department of Agriculture

“EPA’s numerous pragmatic improvements to the draft Insecticide Strategy have created a final strategy that can be better implemented by applicators while also protecting threatened and endangered species. We are grateful EPA has crafted this strategy by listening to, among others, constructive feedback from state agriculture departments, as they are the lead agency tasked with implementing and enforcing pesticide regulations in 43 states, as well as the territory of Puerto Rico. The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture is eager to continue to work with EPA to ensure state lead agencies have the resources and clarity to meaningfully enforce this strategy.”

Ted McKinney, CEO

National Association of State Departments of Agriculture

“Farmers are dedicated to responsibly using pesticides, and frequent updates to the pesticide strategies are important to ensure the health and safety of America’s families. EPA understands there cannot be an effective conservation strategy as a nation without a meaningful partnership with farmers and ranchers. As we evaluate the final strategy in full, we urge EPA to continue to refine and improve upon the plan to enable farmers to grow healthy food for the nation while caring for, and improving, the natural resources they’ve been entrusted with.”

Zippy Duvall, president

American Farm Bureau Federation

“The American Soybean Association appreciates EPA for incorporating commonsense improvements into its Insecticide Strategy, especially with little time to do so before its court deadline. These enhancements will help make Endangered Species Act implementation easier for U.S. farmers; however, more work remains to be done, including reforming how EPA assesses risks to species to ensure the process is using the best available science.”

Caleb Ragland, president

American Soybean Association

“We are appreciative of the EPA’s efforts to identify commonsense ways of protecting endangered species from insecticides. Our growers support the agency’s approach to providing mitigation relief through enhanced conservation processes that give growers more credit for their participation than was initially proposed. We look forward to continued dialogue with the EPA as we move forward on the path to protect species, as well as the food, feed and fuel supply.”

Kenneth Hartman Jr., president

National Corn Growers Association

“We look forward to reviewing EPA’s Insecticide Strategy and appreciate the agency’s continued efforts to engage stakeholders on mitigations that support fresh produce growers’ ability to produce the healthy and nutritious food Americans require, while being protective of threatened and endangered species. We commit to working collaboratively with EPA to support this evolving effort and ensure that the strategy rewards grower innovations to reduce risk to species.”

Rebeckah Adcock, vice president of U.S. government relations

International Fresh Produce Association

“The National Cotton Council thanks the administration for listening to America’s farmers in updating the EPA Insecticide Strategy. By updating buffer distances, tailoring mitigation to real-world conditions, and recognizing conservation efforts, the new strategy strengthens environmental protections without compromising our nation’s safe and secure supply of food, feed and fiber.”

Patrick Johnson, chairman

National Cotton Council