On Thursday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced several proposed label changes to atrazine products, a key herbicide used in agriculture. Atrazine is commonly used in corn along with sugarcane and sorghum. EPA is looking to make changes to reduce runoff of the herbicide from farm fields to protect aquatic plant species. There is now a 60 day public comment period in place and farmers are encouraged to share their views on the matter. It can be found under the docket identification number EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0266 at www.regulations.gov.
Read more of this story from DTN/Progressive Farmer here: https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/crops/article/2022/06/30/biden-administration-proposes-label
Also, many ag groups have voiced their opposition to this news including the National Corn Growers Association. You can view a statement from NCGA President and Iowa farmer Chris Edgington below:
NCGA EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT IN EPA’S REVISION TO ATRAZINE’S REGISTRATION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that it is revising its registration for atrazine, a well-studied herbicide essential to farming.
“We are disappointed by EPA’s decision,” said Iowa farmer and National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Chris Edgington. “We can feed and fuel the world and fight climate change, but we can’t do these things without modern farming tools, and atrazine is a tool that is critical to our work.”
The new labeling requirements will impose arduous new restrictions and mitigation measures on the herbicide, limiting how much of the product farmers use.
The latest development marks a step backward in EPA’s commitment to transparency and the use of the best available science, Edgington said. However, he noted that EPA listened to growers’ requests and agreed to additional scientific review. Edgington said NCGA is committed to working with EPA in that process.
The proposal will now enter a 60-day public comment period.
