Cochran, Wicker: EPA Stalls Decision-Making, Endangers Cotton Crops

U.S. Senators Thad Cochran, R-Miss., and Roger Wicker, R-Miss., sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy asking the agency to move swiftly on making a determination for emergency use requests of an insecticide critical to the success of cotton production in Mississippi.

An emergency use request from Mississippi for the insecticide Transform has been pending with EPA since March 10. Cotton farmers, particularly in Mississippi, will be susceptible to significant cotton crop losses unless EPA processes the request in a more timely manner.

"Farmers in Mississippi face economic hardship because of bureaucratic delays. The Environmental Protection Agency has already exceeded its normal schedule to approve insecticide use. It should act soon to allow our cotton farmers to carry out their growing season," Cochran said.

"EPA has heard from farmers and stakeholders on this important issue, yet it continues to put off making a decision," Wicker said. "The planting season is almost here, and our farmers need to be able to treat their crops. The agency should provide farmers with the certainty they deserve regarding this urgent request."

The letter reads, in part: "Cotton growers in the Mid-South are getting dangerously close to when applications must be made to treat for the tarnished plant bug. Without Transform in their toolbox soon, growers of these crops are destined for significant crop losses that are otherwise avoidable. ... Time is of the essence for farmers to have access to this critical tool."

Earlier this year, Texas farmers were confronted with a similar emergency situation in which EPA took 129 days to approve Transform for the state's sorghum crop. These requests have typically been approved within 50 days of the initial submission in previous years. The current Mississippi request for cotton is standing at 60 days with a comment period that started on May 5.

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