News

EPA finalizing plans for Endangered Species Act pilot program

The Environmental Protection Agency says they’re keeping all stakeholders in mind as the agency finalizes plans for its Endangered Species Act pilot project, which will limit herbicide and insecticide applications in areas with endangered species.

EPA Ag Advisor Rod Snyder tells Brownfield the agency intends to measure the pilot’s success in several ways.

“Getting to a place where across the entire pesticide regulatory program, we are ensuring we’re complying with the ESA, doing the necessary steps to ensure the ESA is being followed as we take these registration actions.”

Snyder says at the same time, EPA is trying to be practical and minimize disruptions to farmers.

“The industry and agency all agree, we want products to stay on the field. What can farmers do to maximize that?”

Snyder says it’s unclear when the pilot project will begin.

The EPA is also taking comments on a draft herbicide strategy framework for the ESA with a comment period deadline of October 22. Snyder says the feedback provided on that strategy will be reviewed in the coming months.

Hear Brownfield’s interview with Rod Snyder from the Ag Outlook Forum in Kansas City.