|
|
|
|
Blog
EPA Releases Workplan to Address Backlog of Endangered Species Pesticide Reviews
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week released a workplan to address its obligations to protect both endangered species and register pesticides. The plan identifies as the agency’s highest priority those evaluations that are required to meet court-ordered deadlines of more than 50 pesticide active ingredients, including neonicotinoids.
“Completing this work will take EPA past 2040, yet the work represents less than 5% of all the (Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act) decisions in the next decade for which ESA obligations exist,” EPA’s press release said. “This is an unsustainable and legally tenuous situation, in which EPA’s schedule for meeting its ESA obligations has historically been determined through the courts,” the agency said. “The work-plan must provide a path for the agency to meet those obligations on its own, thus protecting endangered species while supporting responsible pesticide use.”
The next priority will be new registrations for conventional pesticide active ingredients following the agency’s announcement earlier this year that it would not register new active ingredients without first assessing their impacts on endangered species. The plan also calls out the Pesticide Program’s low staffing levels (603 in 2021 compared to 808 in 2005) as compounding the extent of the backlog.
The National Potato Council is currently in the process of reviewing the workplan along with others in the agricultural community and will be providing suggestions to EPA to assist with the plan.
Agreement Reached to Open Mexican Market to U.S. Potatoes by May 15
This week in Mexico, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack met with Mexico Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development Victor Villalobos to discuss their shared priorities on agriculture trade, science-based policy making, and sustainable and climate-smart agricultural production. At the conclusion of their meetings on Tuesday, Secretaries Vilsack and Villalobos announced the two countries “have concluded all necessary plant health protocols and agreed to a final visit by Mexican officials in April that finalizes expanded access to the entire Mexican market no later than May 15 for all U.S. table stock and chipping potatoes according to the agreed workplan.”
During a press availability after the meeting, Politico (subscription required) reported that Secretary Vilsack called Mexico’s agreement to live up to its trade obligations to allow U.S. potatoes full access by May 15 the “most significant” announcement from his visit with this Mexican counterpart.
From ‘Eye on D.C.’ Newsletter. Read more here.
Global Produce & Floral Show
Connect with all your global fresh produce and floral peers in one place.
WHEN: October 27-29, 2022
WHERE: Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL
LEARN MORE: https://bit.ly/34TUESy
NPPGA Field Days
WHEN: August 25, 2022
WHERE: Larimore, Inkster, Hoople, ND
Potatoes USA Summer Meeting
NPPGA Annual Golf Tournament
WHEN: July 21, 2022
WHERE: Grafton, ND
More information to come.
Potato Association of America – 106th Annual Meeting
National Potato Council Summer Meeting
Each summer, potato growers and industry leaders from across the country come together for public policy and organizational updates at NPC’s Summer Meeting. Meeting attendees participate in NPC’s Legislative, Environmental, Trade, and Grower Outreach and Industry Research, and Finance Committee meetings where a wide range of important topics to the grower community are discussed.
WHEN: June 16-17, 2022
WHERE: Renaissance Nashville Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee
LEARN MORE: https://bit.ly/3tlBwq3
