Council of Producers & Distributors of Agrotechnology

Terry Kippley, CPDA

October 17, 2024

In this Issue:

• Passing of Tim Stoehr
• CPDA Meets with EPA Leadership
• USDA's NRCS Practice Standards
• Appropriations Update
• EPA Proposes to Expand PFAS List
• California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) Fee Increase
• Western Plant Health Annual Meeting
• CPDA/ARA Adjuvant Advantage Webinar Series Sponsorships Available

Passing of Tim Stoehr

It is with great sadness that I report on the sudden passing of long-time CPDA Board and Executive Committee member Tim Stoehr. Tim passed away Sunday, October 13 at the age of 60.

Tim was the Vice President of Marketing for Albaugh, a position he held since February of 2017. Tim was a terrific supporter of CPDA for many years. He lifted up everyone around him with his easy-going manner and great sense of humor.

Tim’s Funeral Service will be held on October 23, 2024, at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Olathe, KS. If you would like to leave a message or memory you can do so here.

Our deepest condolences go to his wife Gina and his family on their loss. He will be missed and remembered.

CPDA Meets with EPA Leadership

On October 10, Andrew Walmsley and I joined our PRIA coalition partners in a meeting with EPA Assistant Administrator Michal Freedhoff to discuss the implementation of the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA). This was a meeting organized by the PRIA Coalition, of which CPDA is a member.

Other participants included Ed Messina, the Director of EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP), and most OPP Division Directors. The discussion centered around the ongoing registration delays and implementation issues associated with the passage of PRIA V. This meeting stemmed from a September 9 letter from the PRIA Coalition to EPA Administrator Michael Regan pressing Regan to place a higher priority on PRIA implementation. Regan delegated this request to Assistant Administrator Freedhoff.

Freedhoff and Messina discussed how OPP’s budget and staff shortfalls have limited OPP’s ability to meet timelines for both PRIA and non-PRIA submissions. While process improvement and efficiencies are improving, including the utilization of Salesforce, results will take time before gains are fully realized.

CPDA Meets with EPA Registration Division

Earlier that week, CPDA held the latest in our ongoing series of meetings with OPP’s Registration Division discuss PRIA implementation and ways to improve efficiencies within OPP and, from our end, ways registrants can make life easier for OPP.

These meetings have been fruitful and productive as the RD team has responded positively to the ongoing collaboration and dialogue.

Stanley Bernard, Drexel; Dave Bolin, Committee Chair, Atticus; Dr. Nandi Nagaraj, UPL; Alexis Bromley, Nutrien; and Terry Kippley, CPDA.

USDA's NRCS Practice Standards: Incentives for DRAs

We continue to press our case that the incentives for Drift Reduction Adjuvants (DRAs) included in the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Practice Standards should be increased to reflect DRA’s benefit in reducing offsite movement of pesticides. After a disappointing response from NRCS staff, our advocacy has expanded to include the involvement of Congress and NRCS leadership.

To that end, Andrew and I met last week with House Agriculture Committee staff to discuss our frustrations with the NRCS initial response to our Practice Standards “ask.” They, in turn, have done their own due diligence to ensure NRCS is responsive to new approaches to risk mitigation and offsite movement.

We also met with Alyssa Charney, Senior Advisor, Farm Production and Conservation at USDA to discuss our concerns with the NRCS response. Our next step is technical outreach to the career NRCS staff, which will occur later this month.

Andrew Walmsley and Terry Kippley, CPDA.

Appropriations Update

In preparation for a lame duck Congressional session following the election, along with setting the stage for the Fiscal Year (FY) 26 appropriations process, CPDA has been working alongside the PRIA coalition in meetings with House and Senate Appropriations Committee staff making the case for full funding for EPA’s OPP. While we know not much progress might be made in the near term, elevating the issue keeps it on their radar for next year.



In addition to our Congressional outreach and to discuss our CPDA political strategy moving forward, Andrew and I sat down with former Congressman Peter Roskam and current CPDA political advisor on an appropriations and Political Action Committee strategy for the new Congress. 

Andrew Walmsley, CPDA; Former Congressman Peter Roskam, CPDA Political Advisor; Terry Kippley, CPDA.

EPA Proposes to Expand PFAS List

Last week, EPA announced its proposal to add sixteen individual per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and 15 PFAS categories representing more than 100 individual PFAS to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). It would also designate them as chemicals of special concern which means they must meet more robust reporting requirements, even for small concentrations.



EPA is proposing to set a reporting threshold of 100 pounds for manufacture, processing and other uses. This is consistent with reporting requirements for other PFAS on the TRI list added pursuant to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA). If finalized as proposed, all of the PFAS in a given category would count towards the 100-pound reporting threshold for that category.

California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) Fee Increase

DPR, as expected, has adopted, by emergency regulation, revised registration and annual registration renewal fees. The new fees, shown in the table below, became effective October 1.

Revised Fees Effective October 1, 2024

Western Plant Health Annual Meeting

Last week, I attended the Western Plant Health Annual Meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona. With so much going on in California and the west coast, it’s always a great opportunity to reconnect with those CPDA members and industry allies on the front lines.

A special thank you goes to WPH President & CEO Renee Pinel for her hospitality and collaborative leadership to resolve the issues affecting our freedom to operate.

Terry Kippley, CPDA; Renee Pinel, Western Plant Health Association; Richard Gupton, Agricultural Retailers Association.

Season 3: CPDA/ARA Adjuvant Advantage Webinar Series Sponsorship Opportunities Available

Back by popular demand, CPDA is again working with ARA on a third season for the Adjuvant Advantage for the Sales Agronomist webinar series. Sponsorship opportunities are now available for this 5-part series. There will be two sponsorships available per webinar at $5,000 per sponsorship.

Ready to sponsor?

Click below to email us and we can get started.

Mark Your Calendars! Dates for the 2025 Washington DC Fly-In are Set

The dates for the 2025 CPDA Washington DC Fly-In are February 24-26 at the Arlington Westin in Arlington, Virginia. Once again, we will be partnering and collaborating with our good friends at the Agricultural Retailers Association for part of our agenda. Make plans now to attend as we kickoff 2025 with a new President and Congress in place.

Until next time...