New EPA rules on herbicides worry soy producers
The American Soybean Association (ASA) has voiced its concerns following the announcement of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final herbicide strategy under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Josh Gackle, ASA president and soybean farmer from North Dakota, expressed disappointment over the strategy’s complexity and potential financial burdens on farmers.
Despite recognizing some enhancements from the initial proposals, the ASA finds that the final strategy falls short in terms of clarity and feasibility for implementation.
Concerns persist regarding the scientific basis and affordability of the suggested runoff mitigations, spray drift buffers, and the overall number of mitigations required.
In addition, the ASA is troubled by the EPA’s current pesticide risk evaluation process, which it believes overestimates potential risks, resulting in overly stringent restrictions that are not justified by the needs for species protection. This was also emphasized in a recent letter to the EPA, co-signed by over 300 groups, urging for a revision of the evaluation process.
The association acknowledges that the strategy will be gradually implemented in upcoming pesticide registration decisions and maintains its willingness to collaborate with the EPA to achieve a more balanced and scientifically valid framework.
As the EPA moves forward with its strategy, the ASA emphasizes the importance of ensuring that the agency’s regulations are both legally compliant and practically sustainable for agriculture.