AFBF, Other Groups Intervene in Court Case
Ag groups filed a motion in Federal court concerning a case on pesticide use.
Compiled by staff
Published: Mar 29, 2011
Several agriculture groups have filed a motion to intervene in a California federal court in a lawsuit aimed at imposing needless restrictions or bans on pesticide use. The Center for Biological Diversity's lawsuit alleges that EPA violated the Endangered Species Act by allowing the use of nearly 400 pesticides without conducting consultations with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service regarding potential impacts on 214 listed species.
"This case aims to use the Endangered Species Act to impose restrictions, if not outright bans, on hundreds of pesticides," American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman said. "To protect the interests of growers nationwide who rely on the availability of safe, affordable and effective pesticides, we have sought to intervene in the lawsuit in order to participate fully in how the case is resolved."
Stallman says the pesticides listed in the complaint have already been approved by EPA as safe for use under stringent federal pesticide laws. If consultation between EPA and the Services is required, then EPA should move forward with that process, but farmers should not be denied the use of important pest control products to protect their crops in the meantime.
Other groups who filed the motion to intervene with AFBF include: National Agricultural Aviation Association, National Alliance of Forest Owners, National Association of Corn Growers, National Cotton Council, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, National Potato Council, Oregonians for Food and Shelter, USA Rice Federation and Washington Friends of Farms and Forests.
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Tagged: EPA, pesticide, farm, Farm Bureau, cotton
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