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Council of Producers & Distributors of Agrotechnology
Terry Kippley, CPDA
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In this Issue:
- Agricultural Groups Support Drift Reduction Adjuvants as an Endangered Species Act Mitigation Tool
- House Agriculture Committee Farm Bill Mark-Up
- EPA Draft Risk Assessment on Use of Formaldehyde
- PRIA Coalition Appropriations Letter
- EPA Issues 2023 Annual Report for Pesticide Registration Improvement Act
- Non-Notification Update
- U.S. International Trade Commission Update on 2,4-D
- Tax Changes Coming?
- Battelle Tour
- Mark Your Calendar & Make Plans to Attend the 2024 CPDA Annual Meeting
- Industry Events
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Agricultural Groups Support Drift Reduction Adjuvants as an Endangered Species Act Mitigation Tool
A CPDA-led effort seeking support for the use of Drift Reduction Adjuvants (DRAs) as an ESA mitigation tool has been backed by thirty-five agricultural groups.
Last week, I was able to hand-deliver a letter to EPA Deputy Assistant Administrator Jake Li signed by the thirty-five groups during a USDA/EPA Workshop on ESA mitigation options. CPDA had been working to solicit agricultural ally support for DRAs and I’m pleased to report on this ongoing progress.
The letter to Jake Li states, in part:
“Use of DRAs is a highly effective, easy to implement and often low-cost option for growers and applicators to reduce drift risks and keep more product on the field, reducing potential exposure to non-target species. We strongly urge EPA to add to the approved mitigation list DRAs and other adjuvants that can be effective in reducing off-target pesticide movement while providing pesticide users a practical compliance option.”
These are the groups who signed the CPDA letter to Deputy Assistant Administrator Li:
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House Agriculture Committee Farm Bill Mark-Up
On May 23, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) will lead a mark-up of the 2024 Farm Bill. If it’s approved by the Committee, it then heads to the full House of Representatives for approval.
On the Senate side, things are moving more slowly. Senator Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) has not released a schedule for Senate action on a new Farm Bill. However, she is expected to release the text of a proposed Farm Bill soon.
For agriculture, few pieces of legislation are more significant than the farm bill when it comes to providing farmers with up-to-date risk management tools. For consumers, a Farm Bill provides the assurance that our food systems are secure, highlighting the adage that food security is national security.
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EPA Draft Risk Assessment on Use of Formaldehyde
On April 19, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its draft risk assessment for formaldehyde and paraformaldehyde for public comment. The risk assessment identifies risks to human health and the environment from the pesticidal uses of formaldehyde and describes some of the sources of uncertainties in EPA’s findings.
Formaldehyde is registered under FIFRA to disinfect various agricultural locations such as citrus packing houses, egg hatcheries and livestock confinement buildings. It’s also used as a preservative to extend the shelf life of consumer products such as laundry detergents, automotive cleaning products, and household cleaners. Paraformaldehyde, which releases formaldehyde, is registered under FIFRA as a sterilant.
Because formaldehyde comes from many sources and is found nearly everywhere, people are routinely exposed to formaldehyde in indoor and outdoor environments, often from more than one source at a time. People and animals produce and release formaldehyde.
EPA is accepting public comments on the formaldehyde draft risk assessment until June 19. Formaldehyde is also undergoing review under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) risk evaluation process.
The draft risk assessment for formaldehyde can be found here: https://www.regulations.gov/document/EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0739-0011
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PRIA Coalition Appropriations Letter
On May 9, the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act Coalition, of which CPDA is a member, sent a letter to the Chair and Ranking Member of the House and Senate Appropriations Committee seeking full funding for EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs. The letter states:
“The undersigned consortium of trade associations writes to request that the FY 25 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act include at least $166 million in funding for the EPA Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), the minimum funding level required by the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act of 2022. Our organizations first came together in 2004 to seek passage of the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act. This legislation brought new, dedicated funds to OPP for more efficient pesticide registration and re-registration activities; it gave registrants certainty in the registration process after decades of uncertainty; it provided funding for farm worker education and training; and it brought needed funds for training for agricultural and healthcare workers.”
Without full funding, OPP is unable to process either PRIA or non-PRIA submissions in a timely and predictable manner, creating a backlog of regulatory decisions. Full funding of OPP would go a long way toward fixing this problem.
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EPA Issues 2023 Annual Report for Pesticide Registration Improvement Act
On May 17, EPA issued the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA) Annual Report, the first one published since PRIA 5 was authorized in 2022. This report describes EPA’s implementation of PRIA 5 including: tracking and status for EPA’s review of pesticide registration actions, registration review cases, and process improvements related to the review of PRIA and non-PRIA submissions.
PRIA was first enacted in 2004 and its passage authorized the system for registering pesticides, including: registration service fees paid by applicants and specified decision review times. PRIA fees provide about one third of EPA’s pesticide program funding. The remaining two thirds come from annual Congressional appropriations.
As noted above, Congress estimated that EPA’s pesticide program would need $166 million in appropriated funds, with the remaining funding expected to come from PRIA fees. In FY 2023, Congress appropriated $138.6 million to support pesticide program activities, $27.4 million dollars below the needed appropriations level. For FY 2024, appropriations for the pesticide program are approximately $132.5 million, reducing EPA’s budget for the pesticide program by approximately $6 million from FY 2023, and almost $33 million below the minimum level specified in PRIA 5.
The reduction means that EPA’s pesticide program will need to reduce the size of its office by as many as thirty full-time equivalents leading to additional delays in processing pesticide registration applications and completing registration review cases.
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Non-Notification Update
Last week, Jenn Saunders of the Registration Division (EPA/OPP) advised CPDA of two additions to EPA’s “Pesticide Labeling Questions & Answers” regarding non-notification (item 16 at that link). Specifically, these additions:
- Give guidance on language to use in adding geographic restrictions to a label so it qualifies as non-notification; and
- Clarify that certain label changes allowed by non-notification must first be made to the basic registrant’s section 3 label before they can be made to associated distributor product labels (also by non-notification). While not specifically mentioned as an example, we assume EPA includes Spanish translation in this category.
View the full text of these additions.
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U.S. International Trade Commission Update on 2,4-D
On May 17, 2024, the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) determined “that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of 2,4-D from China and India…at less than fair value and subsidized by the governments of China and India.”
As a result of this decision, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue its investigation of 2,4-D from China and India and deliver its preliminary countervailing duty determinations on or about June 27, 2024, and its preliminary antidumping duty determinations on or about September 10, 2024.
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Tax Changes Coming?
Last week, at the invitation of CPDA's Political Advisor, former Congressman Peter Roskam, I attended a tax seminar hosted by Peter’s law firm, BakerHostetler.
The focus was on the “The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” a comprehensive tax reform package signed by President Trump in December of 2017. The Act slashed taxes for almost all Americans, reduced corporate and small business taxes, and increased the standard deduction for individuals and couples.
The reforms are set to expire – and certain provisions have already expired – in 2025. Unless the Congress moves to make the 2017 tax reforms permanent, Americans will see significant tax increases affecting businesses and personal tax obligations.
This was an especially insightful seminar as Peter Roskam chaired the House Ways & Means Tax Policy Subcommittee during the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
View a video recap.
View a full recap.
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Former Congressman Peter Roskam, CPDA's Political Advisor with Senator John Thune (R-SD). Currently the Senate Republican Whip and leading potential successor to Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, serving on Agriculture Committee. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY). | |
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Battelle Tour
CPDA member Battelle will hold a tour of their West Jefferson and Columbus, Ohio facilities on July 31st. The tour will focus on their wind tunnel and volatility testing capabilities along with an overview of its analytical labs, PFAS research and emerging contaminants work.
Register by July 10th for this free tour.
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Mark Your Calendar & Make Plans to Attend the 2024 CPDA Annual Meeting
The date and location for the 2024 CPDA Annual Meeting are set. This year’s meeting will be held on September 15-19 in beautiful San Diego, California. Please make plans to attend as we will layout our 2025 policy agenda while providing updates on a number of key CPDA initiatives.
Like the last two annual meetings, we will be holding our annual meeting at the same time CropLife America is holding theirs. To take advantage of this partnership, we will be holding a joint networking reception with CLA where you can reconnect with old friends while making new ones.
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Thank You!
Kudos to Meister Media and CropLife Magazine for their exceptional coverage of CPDA events! Their dedication to reporting on the latest developments in crop protection and agrotechnology provides invaluable insights to the industry.
The recent CPDA Adjuvants, Inerts & Crop Protection Conference, highlighted by CropLife Magazine, showcased advancements in adjuvant technology and offered a platform for professionals to network and share knowledge. It's through such committed journalism that industry leaders can stay informed and connected. View the latest articles.
CropLife Magazine
AgriBusiness Global
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AgriBusiness GlobalSM Trade Summit
7-8 August 2024
Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort | Florida, USA
Dedicated to Worldwide Networking and New Business Development
The Trade Summit is the trusted forum for advancing development in the rapidly emerging global crop protection, ag tech, plant health, and biological sectors. It attracts leaders in the upstream value chain of manufacturing companies, export and trading companies, importers, and distributors at the national level.
The 2024 Trade Summit will facilitate global trade by offering educational sessions, a robust exhibit floor, private meeting rooms, and dedicated networking opportunities for the world market to connect, engage, and build business.
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North Central Weed Science Society Volunteers Needed!
The NCWSS and ABG AG services are looking for volunteers for the NCWSS Weed Contest to be held on July 25th at ABG Ag in Sheridan, Indiana. This is a great opportunity to build awareness of our industry, and your company, with the next crop of agronomists and weed scientists.
If you would like to volunteer, please fill out the NCWSS Contest Volunteer Form and send to LeAnna Trail (ltrail@abgagservices.com) by June 14, 2024.
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