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US EPA announced a new policy which requires a more robust review of agri-chemicals in relation to the Endangered Species Act, impacting farmers who had planned on using some Enlist products this year. Why was this policy created? Get answers from Ohio Farm Bureau Policy Counsel Leah Curtis.
Listen to Legal with Leah, a podcast featuring Ohio Farm Bureau’s Policy Counsel Leah Curtis discussing topics impacting farmers and landowners.
Transcript
Ty Higgins [00:00:00] Well, U.S. EPA announced a new policy that will require a more robust review of agri-chemicals in relation to the Endangered Species Act. Leah Curtis joins us for Legal with Leah. She is policy counsel with Ohio Farm Bureau and Leah, first question is why was this policy created?
Leah Curtis [00:00:17] EPA’s justification in this new policy is that they are sued a lot, for a lot of reasons. But one of those big reasons is the Endangered Species Act. The Endangered Species Act is a very robust law. It requires a lot of different reviews for a lot of different actions, and one of those is in regards to these agri-chemical reviews. So EPA is saying we keep getting sued. We have to go through this litigation to argue that we are upholding the Endangered Species Act. This will give us a more robust argument that yes, we are upholding the Endangered Species Act. Hopefully this would also limit litigation, which limits costs, et cetera.
Ty Higgins [00:00:56] So these reviews for new active ingredients could result in changes as their labels come up for renewal. What product do these changes affect in particular?
Leah Curtis [00:01:04] So right now, this is news, because this came out on about Jan. 11 from EPA, and at the same time they released a new label for Enlist One and Enlist Duo, which are two chemicals that are used on corn, soybeans and cotton. Those labels were going to expire on Jan. 11, so they had their renewal done and that renewal was issued on Jan. 12, but it has a number of new restrictions on the use of those products.
Ty Higgins [00:01:30] Some of those restrictions, actual bans, keeping Ohio farmers from using these products. Who is affected?
Leah Curtis [00:01:37] Yes. So importantly about this label, there are some changes about spray nozzles and stuff. But more importantly, is this ban on use in a number of counties across the country, including 12 counties in Ohio. So those would be Athens, Butler, Fairfield, Guernsey, Hamilton, Hocking, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Vinton and Washington.
Ty Higgins [00:01:57] Corteva is the company that makes Enlist products the one we’re talking about now that’s been impacted by this EPA policy change. What are they saying about this?
Leah Curtis [00:02:07] So Corteva says they realize this is going to be a problem for a lot of people, they’re working with EPA to try to amend the label, but the label did have to be renewed or nobody would have been able to use the product. So they’re working to try to amend the label. Of course, they’re not going to make any assurances to anyone that this is going to change, though, so there’s no guarantee. And you know, this is a problematic time for farmers to have this come out because people have already made their planting decisions based on, I can use these chemicals with these seeds. Not to mention, there’s limitations on dicamba, which would be another option that you might have. And then just availability generally and price increases of all these agri-chemicals as well.
Ty Higgins [00:02:49] So we talked about what Corteva says. What actions are being done for Farm Bureau here in Ohio and for the American Farm Bureau on this issue.
Leah Curtis [00:02:57] So again, these were just announced. So we are working on this particularly at the national level. We are having discussions directly with EPA about how this is impacting everyone. Are there ways to mitigate this impact or limit, change how this is happening? And then we’re also coordinating with all of our colleagues. Remember, there are Farm Bureaus in every state and of course, we are talking with all of our colleagues in our neighboring states that are also affected by this decision to see how we can kind of work together to deal with this issue as well.
Ty Higgins [00:03:26] Information is ever changing. Updates are coming in pretty much by the day at this point. Of course, we’ll be sharing anything we learn with you through our publications and communications channels.
My first recommendation in your journey is to start out with a local farming friend or mentor along with joining an organization like Ohio Farm Bureau.
We’re just so thankful for the Farm Bureau and the foundation for helping put this together. And of course, the Boyert family for the vision they had with this grant. It’s jumping us forward 10 years. It’s unbelievable.
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
It wasn’t until I joined the Wilmington College Collegiate Farm Bureau that I truly saw how my passion could translate into leadership, advocacy and a career.
The issue of property taxation remains as one of the biggest challenges our members face today. Ensuring agricultural property is valued for its agricultural potential and not development is critical to the continued success of Ohio agriculture.
Through the Select Partner program, we became educated in farm insurance and weren't just selling policies. It became more and more clear why farmers need an advocate like Ohio Farm Bureau.
So many of the issues that OFBF and its members are advocating for are important to all Ohioans. I look at OFBF as an agricultural watchdog advocating for farmers and rural communities across Ohio.
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