According to a corn grower, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency should consider farmers in its efforts to mitigate pesticide-related issues.
Patty Mann from Jackson Center, Ohio said, “We respect the EPAs responsibility for protecting the environment including endangered species.” We ask that the agency collaborate closely with growers in the development and implementation of mitigation measures.
Mann’s remarks were addressed to the IWG, which consists of the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It also includes the Department of Commerce, the Department of the Interior, the Department of the Interior, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The 2018 farm bill created the IWG to identify and improve the federal government’s pesticide consultation processes.
Mann, who has been working with the National Corn Growers and Ohio Corn and Wheat in these areas, cautioned the group not to apply a one-size fits all approach.
She stated that it is crucial for the EPA to understand the real-world, on-farm consequences of mitigation measures. Every farm is different, so it is important to be flexible in the implementation of mitigation measures for the best possible chance of success for both the farmer as well as the at-risk species.
Mann stated that the EPA should draw on the successes of farmers.
She stated that it was important that the EPA considers and takes into account the positive effects of farming practices on the environment. Conservation practices can serve multiple purposes.
Mann stressed the importance of maintaining dialogue between IWG farmers and IWG members to protect endangered species, and regulate pesticide use in a fair transparent and predictable way.