Most Midwestern farmers not affected by new pesticide permit rule

Date:11-18-2011

The Region Seven area of the EPA says the National Pollutant Discharge pesticide permit (NPDES) is not going to affect most farmers in the region - which includes Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas and nine tribal nations.

The EPA Region 7 office has issued a "fact sheet" which explains that the federal court decision in the case of the National Cotton Council versus the EPA "covers operators who apply pesticides that result in discharges into waters of the U.S. from mosquito and other flying insect pest control; aquatic weed control; aquatic animal pest control, such as zebra mussels, and forest canopy pest control."

It says row crop farmers most likely won't notice a change in their practices "or a need for permit coverage when applying pesticides, as long as they follow the pesticide label instructions."