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Groups say biological evaluation of neonics doesn’t look at real data
The American Soybean Association and three other grower groups say the EPA’s draft biological evaluation for several neonicotinoid products fails to consider real-world use in its analysis.
Kevin Scott, ASA president, tells Brownfield the EPA draft assumes soybean farmers apply a massive amount of a certain neonicotinoid which isn’t true because it’s applied as seed treatment.
“EPA assumes we use the maximum amount of the available product and we spray it on the crop throughout the summer or during the growing season and it just doesn’t happen that way.”
As a coalition, Scott says ASA, American Farm Bureau, the National Cotton Council and the Minor Crop Farmer Alliance will apply some pressure to the EPA.
“We will push it as far as we can and as hard as we can and we’ll see if science wins out.”
The groups says the EPA analysis – part of the Endangered Species Act – could limit growers’ ability to protect their crops and livelihoods and “not assure endangered species are any safer.”
