Pesticide Rule Needs Change

Pesticide Rule Needs Change. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

Farmers throughout the country are hoping a federal court will reconsider its ruling they fear could force them to seek permits to apply pesticides that protect their crops.

WEGMEYER: This ultimately could add tremendous expense to the farmer without providing any additional environmental benefit. 

American Farm Bureau regulatory specialist Tyler Wegmeyer says growers are disappointed that the Environmental Protection Agency did not appeal. They believe current pesticide regulations already cover the issue of how pesticides are used near waterways.  

WEGMEYER: If a farmer is required to have a permit every time that they go out and spray, it is going to take time to get that permit.  If in that time a bug or disease is out destroying their crop, it’s going to cost them a lot of money. They need to be able to respond to a pest or a disease immediately. Having to get a permit could not allow them to do that. 

Wegmeyer says the wording of the court ruling is so broad it will be hard for farmers to know what to do to comply with it.

WEGMEYER: All it takes is one molecule found in a body of water to make the farmer liable and subject to a lawsuit.  What this court says is that a permit is required in order to protect them.

Wegmeyer argues that current pesticide regulations do the job.

WEGMEYER: they follow the label.  The label is the law currently and so why does there need to be another regulatory burden put on them to apply pesticides in the safe manner in which they are doing today. 

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.