POTUS, WOTUS, SCOTUS

Jim Rogers Legislative, Water

By Frank Giles The debate over the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Waters of the United States (WOTUS) has been ongoing for years. During the President of the United States (POTUS) Barack Obama administration, a new definition of WOTUS was laid out that left a lot of ambiguity on what EPA’s jurisdiction might …

FFVA Submits Letter to EPA Regarding Methomyl

Jim Rogers Pests

The Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) submitted comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week in response to the agency’s proposed interim registration review decision for the insecticide methomyl. Vegetable and blueberry producers rely on the low-coast, broad-spectrum, long-lasting insect management benefits that the insecticide provides. The FFVA emphasized in the letter that any move to limit …

usda

Potential Organophosphate Ban Latest Challenge for Vegetable Producers

Jim Rogers Environment

By Clint Thompson First chlorpyrifos. Now, potentially, all organophosphate pesticides. What’s the next resource that the Environmental Protection Agency could be petitioned to take away from specialty crop producers? “At some point it becomes a threat to the food supply,” said Stormy Sparks, University of Georgia Extension vegetable entomologist. It’s a concern for Sparks, who believes carbamates could be next. …

epa

Organophosphate Insecticides Ban? Comment Period to EPA is Sept. 25

Jim Rogers Environment

By Clint Thompson Specialty crop producers are reminded that Sunday, Sept. 25 is the deadline to submit a comment to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about the ramifications of the potential cancellation of multiple organophosphate pesticides. Growers would lose the last broad spectrum soil insecticide in vegetables in diazinon if the cancellation goes through. It would also impact different areas …

epa

Comment Period for Cancellation of Organophosphate Pesticides Extended

Jim Rogers EPA

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended the comment period for the potential cancellation of organophosphate pesticides until Sept. 25, according to the University of Georgia (UGA) Extension Vegetable Blog. Stormy Sparks, University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension vegetable entomologist, said that if organophosphates are important to your production program, growers should submit their comments to the EPA. “If organophosphates …

epa

Reps. Franklin, Soto Request EPA to Reconsider Ban of Thiram Fungicide

Jim Rogers General, Specialty Crops

WASHINGTON — Representatives Scott Franklin (FL-15) and Darren Soto (FL-09) sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency on May 20 urging reconsideration of a ban on the usage of Thiram, an important fungicide used in the cultivation of strawberries. A ban of Thiram would be devastating to the strawberry production, according to industry experts. In December, the EPA proposed …

hemp

Pesticide Products Registered for Use on Hemp

Dan Cooper Hemp, Industry News Release, Top Posts

In December 2019, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved adding hemp to the use sites of 10 pesticides. Nine of the products are biopesticides and one is a conventional pesticide. As EPA receives additional applications to amend product labels to add use on hemp, the agency will process those applications on an ongoing basis and update this list.  Biopesticides EPA Registration Number: 70310-5. Applicant: Agro Logistic …

wotus

Industry Responds to EPA WOTUS Announcement

Dan Cooper Industry News Release, Water

(Washington, D.C. (USDA-September 12, 2019) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue praised the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for taking another step to fulfill President Trump’s pledge to repeal and replace the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. “Repealing the WOTUS rule is a major win for American agriculture. The extreme overreach from the past Administration had government taking …