In a letter signed by 318 agricultural organizations, these groups argue that without reforms to Endangered Species Act processes, farmers will face significant and costly restrictions that may be unnecessary to protect endangered species.
Josh Gackle, president of the American Soybean Association, emphasized that while the groups support EPA’s efforts to comply with legal requirements, the agency needs to go beyond minimal compliance. He criticized EPA for often making conservative assumptions instead of using the best available scientific and commercial data, leading to unnecessary restrictions for farmers and legal vulnerabilities for pesticide registrations.
Federal courts have repeatedly found EPA had not fulfilled its ESA obligations, leading to the striking down of pesticide registrations. To address this, EPA has attempted to bring its pesticide program into compliance, but the regulatory pendulum has swung too far, resulting in overregulation based on worst-case scenarios. Neil Rockstad, president of the American Sugarbeet Growers Association, stressed the need for EPA to use realistic data and engage with farmers to understand actual agricultural practices.
The agricultural groups advocate for the use of more accurate data and refined models to provide precise assessments and impose restrictions only when truly necessary. They call on EPA to engage with stakeholders by September 2024 to ensure timely refinements to the ESA processes. The organizations plan to follow up with EPA to facilitate stakeholder engagement and assist the agency in meeting its legal requirements while avoiding unnecessary restrictions on farmers.
