Western Conference: NALC’s Rollins to discuss future of pesticide use in the U.S.
“Over the last several years, we’ve seen a series of court decisions, state laws and new federal policy that have influenced pesticide use. For producers, staying on top of these changes, such as the recent ruling out of a federal court in Arizona, is crucial.” — Brigit Rollins
By Drew Viguet
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture
April 18, 2024
Fast facts:
- Future of pesticides in the West on agenda for National Ag Law Center’s 2nd Annual Western
- NALC Staff Attorney Brigit Rollins will present the session
- Registration is online
(359 words)
(Newsrooms: With art of Rollins)
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Court decisions and policymakers are reshaping pesticide use
in the United States, and a recent California proposal, the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap for California, is designed to phase out certain pesticides altogether.
“California’s proposed policy would result in the state phasing out use of ‘high-risk’
pesticides by 2050,” Rollins said. “If that policy comes to fruition, it will of course
have major ramifications for Western producers.”
Rollins will examine what is on the horizon for Western pesticide use during the NALC’s
Western Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference. Her session, “The Future of
Pesticides in the Western States: The Latest Legal Developments & Trends,” will discuss
the California proposal and other policy developments from recent years that could
shake up Western agriculture.
The conference will be held June 13-14 at the University of Nevada, Reno. Registration is online, and a livestream option for the program is available.
“Over the last several years, we’ve seen a series of court decisions, state laws and
new federal policy that have influenced pesticide use,” Brigit Rollins, staff attorney
for the National Agricultural Law Center, said. “For producers, staying on top of
these changes, such as the recent ruling out of a federal court in Arizona, is crucial.”
The Feb. 6 decision from the U.S. District Court of Arizona resulted in the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency vacating the 2020 registration allowing over-the-top use of dicamba-based
pesticides XtendiMax, Engenia and Tavium. Following the federal court’s ruling, EPA released a memo stating that farmers are able to use existing dicamba stocks during the 2024 growing season.
During her session, Rollins will also explain EPA’s new policy approach for protecting
endangered species from pesticide exposure, and what those changes could mean for
pesticide users.
“The EPA’s new policy for how it carries out its Endangered Species Act responsibilities
holds enormous weight for the future of pesticide use,” Rollins said. “As the EPA
further integrates pesticide registration with the ESA, it won’t be surprising to
see greater restrictions on pesticide use coming down the line as a result. I look
forward to providing an update on the latest in pesticide use at the 2nd Annual Western Conference.”
Continuing education available
The Western Conference has been approved for continuing legal education credit in
Nevada, and will be submitted for CLE approval in Arizona, California, Idaho, Oregon
and Utah. The conference has also been approved for continuing education by the American
Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. The NALC will coordinate with attendees
to self-report in other states.
For information about the National Agricultural Law Center, visit nationalaglawcenter.org or follow @Nataglaw on X. The National Agricultural Law Center is also on Facebook and LinkedIn.
For updates on agricultural law and policy developments, subscribe free of charge
to The Feed, the NALC’s twice-monthly newsletter highlighting recent legal developments facing
agriculture.
About the National Agricultural Law Center
The National Agricultural Law Center serves as the nation’s leading source of agricultural
and food law research and information. The NALC works with producers, state and federal
policymakers, Congressional staffers, attorneys, land grant universities, and many
others to provide objective, nonpartisan agricultural and food law research and information
to the nation’s agricultural community.
The NALC is a unit of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and
works in close partnership with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Agricultural
Library.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen
agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption
of best practices. The Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work
within the nation’s historic land grant education system through the Agricultural
Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas
System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal
access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to
participate or need materials in another format, please contact dviguet@uark.edu as
soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
# # #
Media contact:
Drew Viguet
Communications & Special Projects Coordinator
National Agricultural Law Center
dviguet@uark.edu