"EPA risk assessment threatens important pesticides"

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued draft ecological risk assessments for 27 pesticides that is raising alarm among farmers nationwide. The list includes a large number of chemicals known as pyrethroids and are made available by AMVAC, BASF, Bayer, FMC, Syngenta and Valent.

“EPA’s assessment does not reflect sound science and the agency’s poor decision-making approach could mean farmers losing access to critical crop protection products,” said Laura Campbell, Michigan Farm Bureau’s Agricultural Ecology Department Manager. “We’re asking farmers to tell their story, that as users they follow label directions and restrictions and use pest control products responsibly including maintaining buffer zones and respecting limits on spray drift.”

Michigan farmers would be among the most affected in the country because of the state’s crop diversity: Corn, soy, sugar beets, dry beans, tomatoes, peppers, blueberries, alfalfa, wheat, grapes, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, squash, pumpkin, zucchini, gourds, carrots, potatoes, and leafy greens production may all be affected if these chemistries become more restricted.

Growers can tell EPA to revise their assessment and allow for continued responsible use of these critical crop protection tools by visiting the Legislative Action Center (no login required) before March 31.