January 2024
Due to pressures regarding the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a series of pesticide framework strategies to minimize ecological impacts on endangered species and their habitats.
The first of several frameworks to be proposed is the Herbicide Strategy Framework. The primary goal of the Herbicide Strategy is to minimize erosion/runoff and spray drift risks of agricultural herbicides.
In order to do this, the EPA would require herbicide labels that growers earn “efficacy points” by implementing approved conservation practices. Additionally, if a producer is in one of the four Pesticide Use Limitation Areas (PULA), they are subject to gain additional efficacy points. The 4 PULA maps can be found here.
“As stated in Florida Farm Bureau’s policy nine, the organization does not support the herbicide strategy framework,” said Maddie Campbell, Assistant Director of Ag Policy. “We offered various recommendations for the framework, such as the BMP program being offered in lieu of efficacy points. We also requested to work alongside the EPA in revisions of the framework and other means to uphold their commitment to the Endangered Species Act.”
The EPA plans to release a series of proposed frameworks that will impact the practices of producers. The release dates of these frameworks are to be determined and more information is to come.