U.S. Sens. Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) recently joined other senators in asking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for sound scientific proof of the need to regulate pesticides.
The letter, signed by a bipartisan group of 10 senators, was sent to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy.
The letter encourages the EPA to avoid making hasty regulation decisions, especially regulations for neonicotinoid products, which are used by many farmers in Mississippi.
The two U.S. senators asked the EPA to provide science-based, comprehensive, investigative evidence concerning which environmental stressors have been affecting pollinators, such as honeybees, before the agency makes any decisions on new regulations.
“Before acting on potentially damaging regulations, the Environmental Protection Agency must first listen to the farmers and producers,” Cochran said. “They have firsthand knowledge of the issues affecting pollinators because their livelihoods depend on the health and sustained growth of their colonies.”
“Mississippi farmers rely heavily on these pesticides to treat seeds,” Wicker said. “It would be unfair and irresponsible to proceed with regulating an important agricultural tool without first conducting a thorough and exhaustive investigation of the issues.”
“Experts in the field cite multiple stressors that are contributing to variability in beehive counts and pollinator populations,” the letter said. “We ask EPA to take care to investigate all the likely impacts on pollinator health before taking regulatory action.”