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Farm groups call on EPA’s Atrazine proposal

One month remains for farmers to comment on EPA’s proposed revisions for a commonly used herbicide.

Michigan Farm Bureau’s John Kran tells Brownfield EPA’s proposal includes lowering the rates Atrazine can be used as well as implementing additional restrictions.

“EPA’s own science advisory panel did not support the studies EPA used to develop this current proposed restriction,” he says.  “This chemistry has been around for more than 60 years, it’s been widely studied, and has a long safety record.”

He says Atrazine is a key component in more than 90 products farmers use.

“For Michigan, it means about three and a half million acres of things like field corn, sweet corn, wheat, Christmas trees, sod, sorghum, and more,” he says.  “If we were to lower it to these levels, it’s just not going to be effective for farmers to continue to use.”

EPA’s comment period closes on October 7^th.