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GFB Action Alert: Tell EPA farmers need atrazine

by Georgia Farm Bureau

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking public comment for its “Proposed Revisions to the Atrazine Interim Registration Review Decision.” Atrazine is an important tool for weed mitigation in several crops, including corn, sorghum and sugarcane. This proposal would severely limit how Georgia farmers can use Atrazine, which is an important tool for controlling broadleaf weeds, especially pigweed.

If the rule is adopted, more than 72% of U.S. corn acres would be out of compliance, according to corn grower associations in Kansas and Missouri.

Areas predicted to exceed the limit would then be required to implement and document one or more mitigation practices from an EPA “picklist” and use a lower rate of atrazine.

Even in flat areas with little or no runoff, EPA’s prediction model would require growers to use mitigation practices like adding buffer strips and terraces. Meanwhile, with no input from USDA, other viable options like split applications were not included on the proposed picklist.

Additionally, EPA is proposing label changes that reduce atrazine application rates by 20 percent, banning aerial applications and applying the herbicide within 48 hours of a predicted rain event that could produce runoff.

Please take action now! Click here to be directed to the GFB action center where draft comments to EPA have been prepared for commenters to personalize or send as is.

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