Slide Presentation

TITLE    (click title to view slides)
Family Farms, The Endangered Species Act, and The Environment

AUTHOR
Stanley Culpepper
Professor and Extension Weed Specialist
University of Georgia

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
  1. Family Farms, The Endangered Species Act, and The Environment
  2. Presentation Objectives
  3. The Endangered Species Act (ESA)
  4. The Farm’s Dilemma with ESA
  5. Herbicide Strategy Evolves
  6. The Ultimate Goal of EPA Scientists to Reach Compliance is Sound; Unfortunately, the Approach has Been Painful
  7. Agricultural Stakeholders Became Very Engaged in Support of Our Family Farms
  8. Enormous Effort = Game Changer = Science
  9. Herbicide Strategy Evolves
  10. Herbicide Strategy Evolves
  11. Must Understand To Get Started
  12. It is Quite Complicated
  13. New Liberty Ultra Label - ESA Restrictions
  14. Decisions by Field - Product - Crop for Mitigations^
  15. Who the heck can do that on the farm?
  16. We Have Time and Can Simplify for Farmers
  17. Extension Approach To Overcome Herbicide Strategy!
  18. Runoff Mitigation Approach - By Production Practice
  19. Agronomic Crop in Georgia
  20. Information Available To Help = EPA Resource Toolbox?
  21. Agronomic Crop in Georgia - Mitigation Relief Points - Runoff & Erosion
  22. Agronomic Crop in Georgia - Mitigation Relief Points - Predominately Sandy Soil
  23. Are Our "Definitions" of Mitigations Same as the EPA's?
  24. Agronomic Crop in Georgia - Mitigation Relief Points - Cover Crop Options
  25. Agronomic Crop in Georgia - Mitigation Relief Points - Total
  26. Other Options if Needed - Agronomic Crop
  27. Culpepper Farms: Fields 1- 36
  28. Culpepper Farms: Fields 37-40
  29. Impact From In-Field Drift Buffers*
  30. Spray Drift Ground Application- (0 to 230 feet)
  31. Boom Height and Spray Droplet Size Impacts Pesticide Drift Distance (feet) to COTTON
  32. Spray Drift Ground Application- (0 to 230 feet)
  33. Additional Methods to Reduce Buffer
  34. Managed Areas Adjacent To Treated Field Downwind Can Represent Spray Drift Buffers
  35. Essential to Protect Species and Farms
  36. EPA Takes Mapping Approach National - Dec of 2024
  37. ESA Take Home Messages
  38. Science, Cooperation, & Communication



SLIDE CONTENTS
  1. Stanley Culpepper University of Georgia Tifton, Georgia 1772 Woodland, NC Family Farms, The Endangered Species Act, and The Environment Dr. Alan York
  2. Presentation Objectives 1772 Herbicide strategy adds flexibility Outreach – education extremely complex but achievable Species mapping improvements
  3. ESA implemented in 1973 Provides framework to conserve & protect endangered & threatened species & their habitats! The Endangered Species Act (ESA) Total of ~1600 species + 900 critical habitats!!! Grey Wolf Wood Bison Black-footed Ferret Whorled Sunflower
  4. Court removal of tools Overwhelming regulations The Farm’s Dilemma with ESA Pest Management Toolbox
  5. Herbicide Strategy Evolves Proposed strategy = likely game over for many of us
  6. The Ultimate Goal of EPA Scientists to Reach Compliance is Sound; Unfortunately, the Approach has Been Painful Herbicide Footprint GOAL: Ensure pesticides are applied on-target and remain there! Spray Drift
  7. Pesticide Stewardship and the Endangered Species Act Agricultural Stakeholders Became Very Engaged in Support of Our Family Farms
  8. Enormous Effort = Game Changer = Science Farmers
  9. Herbicide Strategy Evolves Proposed strategy = likely game over for many of us FINAL strategy = still in the game Does not impose restrictions - starts as products are registered or reviewed
  10. Herbicide Strategy Evolves Flexibility for the farm Complexity Decision by field (not farm) Decision by product Decision by crop Challenging but provides an opportunity to do our own risk assessment at the field Buffers for drift Runoff mitigations
  11. #1 Particle drift #2 #3 Bulletins Live! Two 1. Runoff: each pesticide will be assigned a value of potential of product to runoff and damage species or habitat (0-9 points). 2. Particle Drift: each pesticide will be given a buffer drift requirement as influenced by application method (ground, airblast, airplane, etc.) 3. BLT: Website identifies if your field is in a pesticide use limitation area (PULA). Must Understand To Get Started
  12. It is Quite Complicated Particle drift Runoff 0-9 points Drift - ground 0-230 feet #1 #2 #3 Pesticide Use Limitation Area *Increase points for runoff *Increase drift buffers *Remove tool each field each field BLT
  13. New Liberty Ultra Label - ESA Restrictions BLT avoidance area
  14. Decisions by Field – Product – Crop for Mitigations^ Culpepper Farm 2024, NC (small farm) 5 agronomic crops, 40 fields 30 pesticide active ingredients 372 runoff & 372 drift buffer calculations^ SC-LTF 2024, GA (dynamic farm) 26 unique vegetable & agronomic crops 16 agronomic fields, 372 vegetable “fields” (3 crops/yr) 78 pesticide active ingredients 4344 runoff & 4344 drift buffer calculations^ Particle drift ^Assumes insecticide/fungicide strategy follow final herbicide strategy approach.
  15. Who the heck can do that on the farm? Particle drift Must simplify greatly…..
  16. Extension Consultants Retailers Manufacturers Department of Agriculture We Have Time and Can Simplify for Farmers Advisors
  17. Extension Approach To Overcome Herbicide Strategy! Objective 1: Get growers to 9 points for all fields overcoming runoff mitigations. Objective 2: Help growers take 230-foot drift buffer down to near 0 (ground application). Objective 3: Get input from growers helping us understand any barriers to meet these objectives. #1 Particle drift #2
  18. Runoff Mitigation Approach – By Production Practice Raised Large Bed Plasticulture Agronomic Production Bareground – Tilled Center Pivot Veggies For this exercise just think about one field next to the house ….after we get more comfortable, we will start thinking about other fields
  19. Agronomic Crop in Georgia
  20. Information Available To Help = EPA Resource Toolbox? Mitigation Menu Mitigation Calculator Guide Calculator is Key Advisor……KEY Farmer…not so much https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/mitigation-menu https://www.epa.gov/endangered-species/pesticides-and-endangered-species-educational-resources-toolbox EPA’s RUNOFF POINTS CALCULATOR
  21. Agronomic Crop in Georgia
  22. Agronomic Crop in Georgia Predominately Sandy Soil 50% sand, loamy sand, or sandy loam without restrictive layer that impedes movement of water into the soil 2 points
  23. Are Our “Definitions” of Mitigations Same as the EPA’s? Working hard to be on the same page, resources are available
  24. Agronomic Crop in Georgia Cover Crop Options – Points Tilled cover: terminated using tillage. POINTS = 1 Short duration cover: planted in fall but no active growth in spring or planted in spring. POINTS = 2 Long duration cover: planted in fall growing into spring, vegetation on field year around. POINTS = 3
  25. Agronomic Crop in Georgia Do you have at least 9 points?
  26. Other Options if Needed – Agronomic Crop Rate of product applied (annual max) Percent of field treated (new technologies) Exempt – managed areas 1000 foot down gradient Expert (1 point) or conservation program (2 points) 3. Water sensors with center pivot = 2 points 4. Mitigation measures from multiple categories = 1 pt Trying even harder to avoid Trying to avoid
  27. Culpepper Farms: Fields 1- 36 16 As you ride around the farm this summer, think about grouping your fields and covering them on one mitigation form. Example for 36 of our fields all on one form.
  28. Culpepper Farms: Fields 37-40 13 A few fields do not have grass waterways so when I take that away I lose multiple category mitigation as well so I am using a second form to get the last 4 fields on the farm.
  29. Impact From In-Field Drift Buffers* EPA DETERMINED WORST CASE FOR GROUND RIG WILL BE 230 FEET DOWNWIND * As interpreted in the Draft Herbicide Strategy
  30. Spray Drift Ground Application– (0 to 230 feet) OBJECTIVE: Take 230 feet and figure out how to make it workable on your farm
  31. Boom Height and Spray Droplet Size Impacts Pesticide Drift Distance (feet) to COTTON 85 b 188 a Medium droplet 48” 24” Boom Height 68 b 36 c Ultra Coarse droplet 48” 24” Boom Height
  32. Spray Drift Ground Application– (0 to 230 feet) Low boom, coarse droplets, DRA (15%), RH = 75 + 15 + 10 = 100%
  33. Layby Rig: 50% Hooded: 75% Additional Methods to Reduce Buffer Broadcast Hooded: 50%
  34. Managed Areas Adjacent To Treated Field Downwind Can Represent Spray Drift Buffers *More options are available through herbicide strategy!
  35. Essential to Protect Species and Farms Location of fields treated with pesticides Overlap? * * PULA Refinement Vulnerable Species Action Plan Focus on highly vulnerable species (27) Runoff, drift, volatility, bioaccumulation Maps refined before restrictions
  36. EPA Takes Mapping Approach National – Dec of 2024
  37. ESA Take Home Messages 1772 Advisors key to ESA; calculator key for advisor… calculator continues to improve Drift calculator being developed Help us identify issues, challenges, errors We have time….herbicides for 2025 Liberty Ultra, Enlist One, Enlist Duo EPA webinar in March Remember pesticide applicators must do their part, be accountable!
  38. Industry Partners Science, Cooperation, & Communication Farmers Consultants