New EPA strategy emphasizes the use of drift reduction adjuvants

Sep 16, 2024
By Farms.com

EPA’s latest plan protects endangered species

In a move applauded by the Weed Science Society of America, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has updated its herbicide strategy to enhance protection for endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.

The strategy now emphasizes the use of drift reduction adjuvants (DRAs), marking a significant advancement in pesticide application methods.

Greg Dahl, WSSA President, highlighted the importance of this update, stating that incorporating DRAs represents a practical and efficient approach to safeguarding sensitive species from potential herbicide impact.

The strategy aims to reduce the risk of spray drift, a major factor affecting non-target species and their habitats.

The updated EPA strategy outlines comprehensive mitigation measures including enhanced buffer zones and detailed management of runoff and erosion. These initiatives are designed to protect endangered and threatened species across various ecosystems.

Additionally, the strategy has been enriched with new training materials to help pesticide applicators understand and implement the necessary precautions.

The EPA’s proactive approach ensures that farmers and land managers can continue their operations while adhering to stricter environmental standards.

This herbicide strategy, expected to evolve over the next 15 years as it is integrated into pesticide labels, showcases a pivotal shift towards more responsible and sustainable agricultural practices, ensuring the long-term health of U.S. ecosystems and the species that inhabit them.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.