Ag groups want court to rehear pesticide case

Farm and Ranch April 16, 2009 The National Association of Wheat Growers, the American Farm Bureau Federation and 20 other agricultural organizations are asking a federal court to reconsider its ruling they fear could force producers to seek permits to apply pesticides that protect their crops. It was the first U.S. court ruling that pesticide discharge is a point source of pollution subject to additional regulation and permitting under the Clean Water Act. Wegmeyer: "This ultimately could add tremendous expense to the farmer without providing any additional environmental benefit." That is American Farm Bureau Regulatory Specialist Tyler Wegmeyer who says growers are disappointed that the Environmental Protection Agency has decided not to appeal. Producers believe current pesticide regulations already cover the issue of how pesticides are used near waterways. Wegmeyer: "If a farmer is required to have a permit every time they go out and spray it is going to take time to get that permit. If in that time a disease or a bug is out destroying their crop it is going to cost them a lot of money. They need to be able to respond to a pest or a disease immediately. Having to get a permit could not allow them to do that." Wegmeyer says the wording of the court ruling is so broad it will be hard for farmers to know what to do to comply with it. Wegmeyer: "All it takes is one molecule found in a body of water to make the farmer liable and subject to a lawsuit. What this court says is that a permit is required in order to protect them." The Sixth Circuit Court made the ruling and it is unclear what it will decide to do next. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.