Agricultural News
Oklahoma Ag Secretary Blayne Arthur to EPA- Enlist Herbicide Registration Problematic for Many Oklahoma Crop Producers
Mon, 14 Feb 2022 05:02:31 CST
Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur has sent a letter to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Michael Regan, about what she sees as inequitable treatment of many farmers in Oklahoma in regards to the use of Enlist One and Enlist Duo, products from Corteva.
Secretary Arthur says that while she is pleased that the EPA has issued seven year registrations for the two products- the "label restrictions and limiitations make practical use of these products impossible for the cotton, soybean and corn producers in over half of Oklahoma's 77 counties."
The new rules issued by EPA take the use of Enlist herbicides off the table for approximately 70% of Oklahoma soybean acres. Secretary Arthur writes that "this is deeply concerning, as it takes a crucial tool away from so many producers and comes at a time when many have already made purchases of products they can no longer utilize."
The Secertary raises the issue of county level bans for these products- and that they are apparently because of ESA (Endangered Species Act) Concerns by the EPA- when in fact a preeminent expert on the insect in question, the American Burying Beetle, sees no harm to the species be allowing the use of these herbicides. Dr. Wyatt Hoback, Associate Professor in Entomology and Plant Pathology at Oklahoma State University, was not consulted about the impact of this herbicide by EPA.
Secretary Arthur is asking EPA Administrator Regan to consider all the data available in regards to the ABB - and be more transparent about it going forward.
The full letter can be read by clicking on the PDF link below.
02187_Arthur_Letter_to_EPA_re_Enlist_Registration_2.22.docx.pdf
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