EPA Moratorium & Spotted Owl Changes

EPA Moratorium & Spotted Owl Changes

EPA Moratorium & Spotted Owl Changes. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

Users of neonicitinoids need to be aware that the insecticide is currently under a moratorium. EPA has issued the restriction that will affect any future products containing neonicitinoids. Any products currently on the market are unaffected by the moratorium. Neonics are blamed for declining bee populations. Jim McFerson with the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission says there's two sides to this story.

McFERSON: Our Research Commission has been strongly supportive of developing integrated pest management programs for our crops and the neonicitinoids have been a major part of that effort. At the same time we're strongly supportive of the pollinator industry and understand some of the concerns that exist from their perspective and some of the concerns that exist from the perspective of the impact of neonics on our natural enemies and we've supported research to understand the implications of their use.

A new look at the northern spotted owl may change its Endangered Species designation. Federal biologists are agreeing that new evidence in a conservation group's petition warrant giving the owl a hard look. That study should take about two years to complete. The timber industry has suffered due to the listing back in 1990. Some experts are agreeing that a lot has happened since then and there is enough evidence to look at the issue again.

That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.

Previous ReportWolf Population Increase & Small and Part-Time Farmers
Next ReportFood Safety & Predicting the Fire Season