|
Council of Producers & Distributors of Agrotechnology
Terry Kippley, CPDA
| |
|
Welcome New Members!
CPDA is pleased to welcome four new members: Kincannon & Reed, Ashland, CNI and Gaylord Chemical. Membership dues fund our advocacy efforts which include working with EPA on the PRIA and non-PRIA backlog and on the possibility of giving growers credit for the use of Drift Reduction Adjuvants as an ESA mitigation tool alternative to No-Spray buffers which would be difficult for growers and our members.
| |
This dynamic organization specializes in recruiting and developing leaders for organizations that play a crucial role in feeding the world. With a focus on driving innovation and growth across the agriculture and food value chain, Kincannon & Reed is dedicated to placing impactful leaders who can make a difference. | |
Ashland, a specialty adjuvant company, is at the forefront of advancing sustainable solutions for the global Crop Care market. With their expertise in sustainable chemistry, they are innovating eco-friendly solutions to address environmental challenges and support world population growth. | |
CNI, a leading wholesale distributor of crop protection products, is committed to supporting independent agricultural retailers with a wide-reaching network of distribution centers throughout the United States. With a focus on providing top-quality crop protection, seed, seed treatment, adjuvants, and specialty fertilizers, CNI serves over 400 independent ag retailers across the country. | |
Gaylord Chemical Company, LLC is the world’s oldest producer of Dimethyl Sulfide, Dimethyl Sulfoxide. Gaylord operated its production facility in the greater New Orleans, USA area for almost 60 years and has customers in more than 60 countries. | |
|
EPA: InertFinder Update
CPDA has been in communication with EPA’s Registration Division, regarding problems with the CITAB InertFinder Program and the issues it poses for pesticide formulators, data owners as well as EPA staff.
To address this, I sent the following letter:
I’m writing about a situation that our CPDA members have raised.
Recent email correspondence from the CITAB staff has noted the following:
“We are unable to update InertFinder as we have been having technical issues (with no updates since February 2024) and we have received further budget cuts, which means InertFinder will remain as is for the foreseeable future.”
This raises several serious concerns for pesticide formulators, data owners, and EPA staff alike.
- When the information in the InertFinder database cannot be trusted because it almost a year out of date, formulators must inquire directly of EPA staff regarding which inert ingredients have been approved for which uses, what data compensation rights are in effect, whether an ingredient qualifies as a commodity inert, etc. Such inquiries can become a tremendous drain on the time and resources of EPA personnel, which should be better utilized in processing PRIA actions.
- Without up-to-date information in InertFinder, the 21-day initial screen for all PRIA submissions becomes more complicated for EPA staff and contractors (see PRIA 21-Day Content Screen Worksheet, footnote A).
- When the InertFinder database is kept up to date, all of that essential information on inert ingredients is available at any time to any individual without intervention by EPA personnel.
- Postponing resolution to the situation will compound the workload for EPA staff including having to verify inert ingredient status with CITAB for newly approved inerts.
- Appropriate updates to InertFinder on a compound-by-compound basis must be an essential and integral step in completing any and all of the 18 separate PRIA actions outlined in PRIA Table 18. Until the InertFinder is updated, the PRIA action is not complete.
- The lack of updates to InertFinder results in:
- Uncertainty about which inert ingredients are approved for which pesticide use;
Lack of availability of newly approved inerts to formulators;
- Uncertainty about which Inert ingredients have commodity status;
- Delay in commercialization of formulated products, with consequent financial losses to industry;
- Hampered ability of EPA and State Lead Agencies to enforce FIFRA;
- Financial loss to suppliers of inert ingredients, who should be owed data compensation.
How can CPDA and its members assist in and expedite the updating of the InertFinder database? We look forward to collaborating on this very important, if somewhat obscure facet of pesticide regulation.
Regards, Terry Kippley
CPDA will be meeting with EPA leadership on February 26 as part of our Washington DC Fly-In.
| |
|
EPA: Inert Trade Name Submissions
EPA has updated its process for how it wishes registrants to submit inert trade name requests. These should not be processed through the inerts email box as they have been done before, but submitted instead through CDX. The guidance is available here.
EPA informed CPDA that this change was partially done due to the loss of contract dollars that supported the inert email box for the fiscal year. Moving forward, the Registration Division will process the non-PRIA inerts the same way as all other non-PRIA submissions.
| |
|
MyPest App Update– Predictive Completion Date
EPA reports roughly 80% of submissions have projection completion dates. There will always be about 10% without the projected completion date populated because the actions are coming through the frontend screen and are not yet assigned.
There will be a placeholder projection completion date in the MyPest App of 9/9/2099 for any actions that currently cannot be completed without policy determinations that require further guidance from the new administration. Examples of such policy issues include but are not limited to, registration actions such as those subject to EPA’s new framework for antifungal/antimicrobial resistance or PFAS. This information is based solely on verbal communication with EPA. This is an evolving situation with several open questions to be addressed in the future.
| |
|
CPDA Updates
Upcoming CPDA Quarterly State Affairs Committee Meeting
Please join us for our next CPDA State Affairs Committee meetings on February 18 at 2:00 pm EST via Teams. There’s lots to discuss, including:
- Developments at the Washington State Department of Agriculture regarding adjuvants;
- Staffing and budget issues in California affecting the Department of Pesticide Regulation backlog and the timing of possible new adjuvant regulations
- Potential new PFAS regulations in several states; and
- Potential new plastic recycling mandates in several states.
If you would like to participate, please contact Andrew Walmsley at Andrew.walmsley@cpda.com for a Teams invitation.
CPDA Washington DC Fly-In
The CPDA Washington DC Fly-In is almost here! Get your seat at the table by registering today! This year’s Fly-In will be held in conjunction with the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) on February 24-26. The Fly-In is the focal point of CPDA’s federal advocacy efforts where we will meet with Congressional leaders, members of the Trump Administration and agricultural allies.
| |
|
CPDA Capitol Connection
Stay up-to-speed with what’s happening in our nation’s capitol by tuning in to CPDA’s Capitol Connection where CPDA’s Vice President of Government Relations, Andrew Walmsley gives an insider view on policies impacting your business. The latest Capitol Connection can be found here.
| |
Lee Zeldin Confirmed as the Next EPA Administrator
On January 29, former Republican Congressman, Lee Zeldin, was confirmed by the Senate to be the 17th administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency by a 56-42 vote.
| |
|
CPDA at the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting
Last week, Andrew made the trek to San Antonio where he joined more than 5,000 attendees at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) annual meeting. As an AFBF alumnus, Andrew was able to “sharpen the saw” while reconnecting with Farm Bureau colleagues and industry allies. He also attended a fundraiser for House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-MN). Another highlight was being a part of a Farm Bill discussion with House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson (R-PA) and Congresswoman Craig.
| |
Josie Montoney-Crawford, CropLife America; Alex Dunn, CropLife America; Rep. Angie Craig; Former House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson; Renee Munasifi, Nutrien; Andrew Walmsley, CPDA. | |
Sam Kieffer, American Farm Bureau Federation VP of Public Policy; Sara Wyant, Farm Journal; House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig; House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson. | |
|
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Confirmation Hearings
On January 29 and 30, the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held confirmation hearings for Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to be Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).
RFK Jr’s. nomination by President Trump is attracting a lot of attention due to Mr. Kennedy’s outspoken and unconventional views on vaccines, nutrition research, agricultural technology, and large farms. Because the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are housed within HHS, if confirmed, Mr. Kennedy would have significant influence over agricultural interests.
While Mr. Kennedy committed to working with Ag Secretary-nominee Brooke Rollins to serve and support farmers, he reiterated his support for assisting farmers to transition to regenerative agricultural techniques, including the use of less chemical-intensive practices that he said are destroying the soil and making people sick.
Mr. Kennedy was voted favorably 14-13 out of the Senate Finance Committee. His nomination now heads to the Senate floor.
| |
|
Senate Agriculture Committee Leadership Announcements
Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) and Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) announced subcommittee leadership assignments. For the Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, Natural Resources, and Biotechnology, which has oversight of conservation programs and pesticide issues, Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) will serve as the Chairman with Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) serving as the Ranking Member.
| |
|
House Agriculture Committee Leadership Announcements
House Committee on Agriculture Chairman G.T. Thompson (R-PA) and Ranking Member Angie Craig (R-MN) also announced subcommittee leadership assignments. For the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research and Biotechnology, which has oversight of conservation programs and pesticide issues, former House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) will serve as Chairman while Jill Tokuda will serve as Ranking Member.
This is an important subcommittee for CPDA’s advocacy efforts as it is responsible for reviewing the effect on farmers due to Endangered Species Act pesticide restrictions. This subcommittee also has jurisdiction of EPA’s implementation of the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act and the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act.
| |
|
President Trump Returns to the Office. Will Federal Employees Do the Same?
Shortly after Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President, he signed a flurry of executive orders to kick start his Administration. CPDA will be monitoring several of the orders including one that new rules that might have been in the regulatory pipeline may not be published in the Federal Register until it’s been reviewed and approved by an official of the new Administration. This could impact the release date of EPA’s Insecticide Strategy.
Another is an order mandating a return to in-person work for federal employees. This was a CPDA recommendation made to Trump transition officials to encourage a return to the office for EPA Office of Pesticide Program employees with the goal of improving productivity and reducing the PRIA backlog at EPA.
| |
|
Brooke Rollins Confirmation Hearing
On January 23, the Senate Agriculture Committee held a confirmation hearing for Agriculture Secretary-nominee Brooke Rollins. During the four-hour hearing, she assured Senators that the Trump administration would provide another round of financial aid if farmers were hurt by a trade war sparked by increased tariffs. She also indicated that among her priorities is a “fast and furious” effort to distribute the $10 billion in economic assistance to farmers authorized by Congress last December.
Mrs. Rollins was voted unanimously out of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Her nomination now heads to the Senate floor.
| |
CPDA/ARA Adjuvant Advantage Webinar Series | |
|
Tuesday, February 11th
Storage & Handling Pesticides
Geared to applicator personnel. How to deal with compatibility, mixing, cold water, pumps, hoses, etc. Sponsored by Brandt.
Certified Crop Advisers attending the webinar will earn one Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) program, IPM CEU.
| |
| | | |
