NASDA ADOPTS RESOLUTION ON PESTICIDE CANCELLATION
News Date February 18, 2008
NASDA has adopted a resolution urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) not to cancel the registration of a widely-used pesticide until effective, alternative products are available.
In a letter to James Gulliford, EPA deputy administrator for prevention, pesticides and toxic substances, NASDA expressed concern about the continued availability of effective agricultural products that are critical to producers and the farm economy. EPA's proposal to cancel the crop protection chemical carbofuran is a matter of concern, particularly to Midwestern corn growing states. The use of carbofuran is also important to specialty crop producers, such as sunflower growers who use it to control stem weevils, especially when there are no alternative or cost-effective products available in the marketplace.
The state departments of agriculture have long been the lead state agencies for implementing federal pesticide laws. NASDA supports efforts to ensure that chemical/pesticide use does not cause unreasonable adverse effects to human health and the environment. The carbofuran issue was presented by Illinois Agriculture Director Chuck Hartke and Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey. NASDA members adopted the resolution on carbofuran during their recent midyear meeting in Washington, D.C. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)