The Environmental Protection Agency continues to review the use of dicamba for the 2022 growing season. A decision was expected at the end of October and we’re still waiting. CropLife America President and CEO Chris Novak says this review must be timely and based in science. “If there are any changes coming out of EPA at this point in time, farmers may not be able to get the seed or be able to purchase different chemistries from what they already planned,” said Novak. “I’m hopeful, if there are changes EPA will recognize where farmers are in the season and provide them the time and allowance to get through the 2022 crop season before any of thoses changes would take effect.” CropLife America represents the manufacturers of crop protection products. This organization has conducted consumer focus group research in major cities nationwide. “When we ask consumers how long they think it takes a new pesticide to come to market and one of the answers was six months. EPA takes three years, but my companies take eight-to-nine years developing the research, information and data that is submitted to EPA so it takes almost 12 years to bring a product to market.” The disconnect between agriculture and consumers is seen as a limiting factor for innovation. Listen to the full interview.
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