By Scout Nelson
A big decision in November 2023 by a court has changed the rules about using a chemical called chlorpyrifos on farms. Before this, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which checks if things are safe, said no to using chlorpyrifos on food crops because they weren't sure it was safe.
But the court looked at the EPA's own research from 2020, which said some ways of using chlorpyrifos were okay, and decided that farmers could use it again.
Now, farmers can use chlorpyrifos products that are already out there to help protect their crops from bugs, if they follow the instructions on how to use it safely.
In North Dakota, for example, there are two kinds of chlorpyrifos products available for farmers in 2024. One is a liquid spray for leaves, and the other is a granule for the soil to protect plants like sugarbeets from insects living in the ground.
Experts remind farmers to always check with their state's rules because even though the court said it's okay to use chlorpyrifos, not every place might have it available.
Chlorpyrifos is really important for fighting off pests in a lot of different crops, like alfalfa, corn, soybeans, sugarbeets, and wheat. It's especially helpful when other bug sprays don't work anymore because the bugs have gotten used to them.
But, using chlorpyrifos carefully is very important. It can be dangerous for bees, which are important for plants to grow and make food.
Farmers need to spray it when bees aren't around, usually after the sun goes down, to keep the bees safe. Also, there are rules about how much to use, how to spray it safely, and what protective gear to wear.
Even with the court's decision, the future of using chlorpyrifos isn't completely sure. The EPA is still looking into it and might change the rules again based on what they find out.
So, it's important for farmers and others who care about how food is grown to keep up with any new information and share their thoughts with the EPA.
This whole situation shows how farming, safety, and taking care of the environment all need to work together. It's a big deal for farmers because they need safe and effective ways to protect their crops from pests, but everyone wants to make sure it's done in a way that keeps our food and environment safe.
Photo Credit -istock-fotokostic
Categories: North Dakota, Crops