.jpg) American Farm Bureau Federation Vice President Barry Bushue says the process for crop protection registration is “hopelessly broken.” Bushue, who testified before a joint public hearing of the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Natural Resources, cited the need for reconciliation between two federal agencies that both perform crop protection risk assessments.
Because law specifically requires the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Marine Fisheries Services to perform risk assessment procedures, AFBF says legislation is needed to reconcile the roles of these agencies and to mesh two risk assessment requirements into one. Bushue called the duplication of risk assessment between the two agencies a prime example of the duplication and waste that exists in our federal agencies. He said, the current process is not effective for anyone, including growers, regulators and endangered species.
AFBF contends that EPA and the Services need to determine how best to work with one another to satisfy the missions of both. Bushue pointed out there are times when the only way we can save or protect a crop is by using crop protection products. The availability of these products is important.
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