48. EPA's New Approach to Pesticide Registrations: Farmers Should Get Informed and Get Ready

Herbicides, insecticides and fungicides make up some of the most important tools in a farmer’s tool box. And it’s up to each one of us to take seriously the responsibilities of being a good steward for those tools, and the environment around us. But recently, the process by which the Environmental Protection Agency regulates pesticides has been challenged in court, on the grounds that it didn’t comply with parts of the Endangered Species Act. And so EPA has to build a plan to prove it’s in compliance with the ESA, causing potential disruptions for growers. In this episode, we’re examining how we got here, what changes growers should expect, how farmers should get prepared, and how groups like the National Corn Growers Association are working with the EPA and other environmental services to minimize the impact on farming operations. Our expert guests include: Megan Dwyer, the Director of Conservation and Nutrient Stewardship for Illinois Corn Stanley Culpepper, an Extension Weed Scientist with the University of Georgia Bill Belzer, the Global Stewardship Director at Corteva This episode is sponsored by Corteva Agriscience.