WSDA Looking For Pesticide Label Feedback

The Washington State Department of Agriculture is asking farmers and industry partners to share their thoughts on new pesticide label rules.  The Department will hold a workshop Tuesday, February 18th, from 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m., at the McGregor Training Center, 401 Airport Rd., Colfax.

The EPA is rolling out a new process to help protect endangered species  Under the new system, some pesticide labels will include a “mitigation menu”, meaning farmers may need to use specific conservation practices to get “points” before using the pesticide.  Some ways to earn points include changing application methods, timing or locations.

“We want to make sure the EPA’s new requirements are workable for farmers,” said Margaret Drennan, WSDA workshop coordinator. “This workshop is a chance for farmers to provide feedback on the new rules and suggest practical ways to meet them.”

The first new herbicide registration to go through this process is glufosinate-P, a newly approved product.  From now on, all new pesticide registrations and regular reviews might have these requirements.  The WSDA said their goal is to ensure these practices make sense for Washington farmers.

To attend, the WSDA is asking producers to register for the workshop before February 11th.  Those that can’t attend can still share information by taking WSDA’s survey.

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