EPA invites farmers and public to comment on draft fungicide plan
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released a draft Fungicide Strategy and is inviting public input on the proposal. The strategy will guide how fungicides are reviewed and registered while protecting endangered species and supporting agricultural production.
The draft follows a three-step framework. First, the EPA identifies possible population-level risks to federally listed species. Second, it reviews mitigation options to reduce these risks. Third, it decides where these protections should be applied. The strategy will support EPA decisions related to conventional agricultural fungicides used across the lower 48 states.
The plan considers where endangered species live, what resources they depend on, and how fungicides may move through soil, air, and water. It also examines possible effects on non-target plants and animals. The strategy itself does not create new rules but will guide future regulatory actions, each of which will include public review.
Flexibility for farmers and states is a key feature of the draft. The EPA emphasizes collaboration with state agencies, Tribal partners, and growers to create practical and effective protections. The strategy also updates options to reduce spray drift by expanding approved adjuvants and introducing guar gum as an additional mitigation tool.
This draft builds earlier EPA strategies for herbicides and insecticides and reflects lessons learned from public feedback on those efforts. The EPA says the goal is to make implementation easier for applicators while maintaining strong environmental safeguards.
The public can submit comments for 60 days, with the deadline set for June 29, 2026. The EPA will also host a public webinar on May 20, 2026, to explain the proposal and answer questions. The agency expects to finalize the Fungicide Strategy by November 2026. Click on the link to register for the webinar.
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