CLA Submits Comments on the Proposed Revisions to the National Handbook of Conservation Practices for the Natural Resources Conservation Service
ARLINGTON, VA – Today, CLA submitted comments on the Proposed Revisions to the National Handbook of Conservation Practices for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) (the Proposed Revisions); specifically, proposed changes to Conservation Practice Standard, Pest Management Conservation System Code 595 (the Practice Standard). Established in 1933, CLA represents the developers, manufacturers, formulators and distributors of plant science solutions for agriculture and pest management in the U.S. CLA’s member companies produce, sell and distribute virtually all the pesticide and biotechnology products used by American farmers.
CLA provided the following comments:
CLA encourages NRCS to review current pesticide label restrictions and mitigations prescribed by the EPA to specifically reduce spray drift and other exposure to pollinators and consider steps to reduce complexity for farmers.
The potential requirement to select “low-emission pesticides” reduces viable options for pest control and does not account for improvements in pesticide formulations.
Language supporting pest resistance management should not be removed.
Read the full set of comments here.