The American Farm Bureau Federation, American Seed Trade Association, American Soybean Association and National Corn Growers Association were among the signatories on a letter urging USDA to follow science-based decisions on new products derived from biotechnology. Friday was the final day for comments on the agency’s consideration of granting non-regulated status to a new variety of herbicide-tolerant corn from Dow AgroSciences – DAS-40278. The Save Our Crops Coalition has asked USDA for an environmental impact statement on the cumulative effect of using synthetic auxin herbicide tolerant crops – including Dow’s DAS-40278. In the letter sent Friday – the groups ask the agency to reject such petitions that would delay science-based decisions by requiring an environmental impact statement.
AgriPulse reports the SOCC also wants a Scientific Advisory Panel conducted by the EPA to discuss and address herbicide spray drift and volatilization impacts associated with the use of such crops. Dow AgroSciences says they have worked with many current members of the SOCC and produced a product specifically designed to address their concerns.
Source: NAFB News Service