EPA-Required Labeling

EPA-Required Labeling. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

Honeybees and other pollinators have died in droves in recent years causing billions in losses to beekeepers and growers of fruits, vegetables and flowers. New EPA-required labels due by September 30th - prohibit use of some pesticides where bees are present. Farm Bureau Public Policy Director Dale Moore says that may be a good thing.

MOORE: EPA has been working with the chemical registrants. Certainly working with us in agriculture we’re hopeful this plot provides that little bit extra measure and protection and eliminates one possible cause to what’s happening to the honeybees around the world.

Moore calls the new labels a straightforward, commonsense approach.

MOORE: It seems to be a pretty rational kind of step forward giving the registrants the opportunity - some of whom may already be covering concerns about spray drift or other types of things relative to protecting pollinators.
 
EPA and USDA released a major report on honeybee health in May that showed scientific consensus for a number of possible causes of bee declines. Among them - loss of habitat, parasites and disease, genetics, poor nutrition and pesticide exposure.

MOORE: This is a little bit extra of a effort here that hopefully will maybe not yield dramatic results but hopefully will eliminate one possible cause of the honeybee die-off.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.