A routine draft assessment of glyphosate by the EPA says it’s a beneficial tool for farmers and promotes conservation-based practices.  The American Farmer Bureau Federation’s Allison Crittenden said the draft review by the EPA should keep glyphosate in the farmer’s toolbox.

 

“This is part of the typical registration review process that EPA does for all of the labels that it has. In this proposed interim registration review decision, EPA maintains that glyphosate is safe to use and should be available to farmers.”

 

However, the decision is not final as EPA is accepting comments on the draft review.  Crittenden said it’s critical farmers support the EPA assessment by submitting comments by September 3rd

 

“We certainty expect and have already seen that a lot of the anti-groups are weighing in with their thoughts. So, it’s important that farmers demonstrate glyphosate’s important to the ag industry, it allows farmers to actually use conservation practices. So, it’s just important that those farmers weigh in with those thoughts as well.”

 

Comments can be submitted through the Farm Bureau’s Website.  Crittenden is encouraging farmers to highlight the environmental benefits of glyphosate.

 

“It’s important for farmers to reiterate in their comments that although glyphosate is an herbicide, that it actually has environmental benefits. Because of its use in herbicide tolerant crops farmers have actually been able to improve soil health and continue to be good stewards of the land.”

 

 

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