Back
Sep 18, 2014
ASA Washington staff joined a coalition of agricultural stakeholders in meeting with senior EPA officials to discuss pollinator health issues, including the importance of maintaining registrations for important seed-treatment products widely used by soybean farmers. “Pollinators” is the widely-used term that includes honey bees, native bees, birds, bats and butterflies.
Leading the meeting was Jim Jones, Assistant Administrator of the Office of Chemical Safety & Pollution Prevention, who encouraged the group to find ways to work with beekeeping organizations and explained that under the Pollinator Health Task Force, established by President Obama, EPA is responsible for all pesticide issues and USDA is largely responsible for issues pertaining to pollinator habitat. Scientists believe that bee losses are likely caused by a combination of stressors, including poor bee nutrition, loss of forage lands, parasites, pathogens, lack of genetic diversity, and exposure to pesticides. Jones reminded the group to stay focused on the “end game” of increasing pollinator populations. ASA will continue to engage with both EPA and USDA on pollinator issues, focusing on both the science surrounding crop protection products as well as ways to improve forage.
