The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to revoke food tolerances for carbofuran, an important pesticide used to control corn rootworm. The National Corn Growers Association is concerned about the EPA proposal. Revoking the food tolerances would be the first step toward total cancellation of the product in the United States.
Earlier this year, Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer wrote to the EPA, asking it to conduct a crop-by-crop risk-benefit analysis to minimize exposure. He was asking for a possible alternative other than a complete cancellation of all uses of carbofuran. He wrote that carbofuran is an economically important resource for agriculture.
According to National Corn Growers Association President Ron Litterer, many growers say this is a critical tool for controlling corn rootworm when needed after the crop emerges. Litterer says they believe an outright ban goes too far, and hope that the industry can convince the EPA to allow for at least a limited use of this pesticide for protecting our nation's corn supply.
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