Agricultural News
ASA, Ag Groups Encourage EPA to Consider New Data to Alleviate Enlist Challenges for Growers at the County Level
Mon, 14 Feb 2022 11:26:43 CST
ASA, Ag Groups Encourage EPA to Consider New Data to Alleviate Enlist Challenges for Growers at the County Level
As planting season nears, ASA and several other national agriculture groups are imploring EPA to consider new data that may allow for the lifting of inflexible, county-level herbicide prohibitions put in place on new registrations for Enlist and Enlist Duo. While the agency recently issued new seven-year registrations for the herbicides, many growers, despite having used these products historically, operate in counties prohibited from continued use of the product due to new Endangered Species Act (ESA) restrictions.
Herbicides are essential for many growers to protect their crops from economically damaging weeds and support conservation practices, such as reductions in tillage, that allow growers to improve soil and water quality while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
In the comments, the groups emphasize that, while the grower community at-large appreciates continued access to these important tools, the announcement does little for growers in the 217 counties where ESA restrictions have resulted in challenges due to the county-level prohibitions on these products.
"This challenge has been heightened by the close proximity of this announcement to spring planting, as many growers have already taken delivery of Enlist herbicide and seed they now cannot use," ASA and the groups state. "Switching to a different herbicide-tolerant seed is not an easy solution, as supply chain disruptions have impacted the cost and availability of alternative herbicides, and desired hybrids and varieties are likely already reserved and now unavailable."
The letter urges EPA to swiftly consider new data at its disposal which could hopefully support lifting disruptive, county-level prohibitions and, in the future, steer clear of new product restriction announcements so close to spring planting. ASA is ready to work with EPA moving forward to identify flexible, appropriate mitigations that may be necessary that will be both workable for growers and will protect species and their habitats. Joining ASA on the letter was the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cotton Council, and National Corn Growers Association. Read the full comments here.
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