Growers Encouraged to Prepare for Updated ESA Workplan Impacts

Industry members are being encouraged to familiarize themselves with updated plans from the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Adjustments are coming to EPA’s Endangered Species Act (ESA) Workplan. Announced in April 2022, EPA plans to modernize the ESA workplan to address certain compliance issues. The Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) is among a group of industry organizations urging growers to understand the impact of changes on the horizon.

“The EPA’s recent reregistration of the Enlist One and Enlist Duo herbicides provides a preview of what’s in store,” ESA committee chair for WSSA, Bill Chism said in a press release. “The updated product labels include new application timing requirements designed to reduce runoff, leaching, spray drift and other off-target impacts on threatened and endangered species and their critical habitats. In addition, the products can no longer be used in certain counties.”

It has been determined that EPA has not been complying with the requirements of the ESA in the registration and reregistration of pesticides. The issue has reportedly been ongoing for several decades. To remedy the compliance issue, EPA published an updated ESA workplan back in November. The document includes several mitigation measures aimed at minimizing risk to endangered species. Notable changes are likely to come to certain farming practices. As such, growers would be best served by reading up on the ESA workplan, Balancing Wildlife Protection and Responsible Pesticide Use.

WSSA and its affiliates were among those who submitted a response to EPA’s call for public comment on the effort. The organizations highlighted EPA’s plan to post application instructions online as being a concern, as not all farmers will have access. Other concerns were also raised by the California Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA). In submitted comments, CFFA described the mitigation measures as “generally unacceptable, infeasible, and impracticable for the farmers of specialty vegetable, fruit, nut, and berry crops.”