Kentucky agriculture officials are protesting an EPA proposal to lower acceptable levels of a commonly used herbicide. Atrazine is used to limit the growth of weeds in Kentucky’s corn crops.
The Environmental Protection Agency wants to limit atrazine levels found in watershed areas to 3.4 parts per billion.
Michael Williams is the Director for the Division of Environmental Services at the Ag Department. He said farmers rely on the herbicide because it’s versatile and economical.
“There are other options out there. Some other options may not be as effective as the atrazine. Other options would be more expensive than the atrazine. Atrazine is available at a very low cost per acre to the producers,” said Williams.
Williams said research on the chemical’s effect on aquatic species shows that the EPA’s initial assessment that 15 parts per billion is safe was correct.
“The rates that are established on the product label keep that at a level where it does not have ill effects on the environment in any way,” said Williams.
Williams and other ag officials said the proposed limit is too restrictive and would cause extra burden for farmers.
Earlier this year the EPA released a review of atrazine, finding that amounts greater than 3.4 parts per billion has a more than 50 percent chance of negatively impacting aquatic species.
The organization has proposed application methods that will help farmers reduce atrazine runoff from fields.
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