The EPA has announced its final insecticide strategy in order to meet its Endangered Species Act obligations.
The announcement comes nine months after the original draft’s release. The EPA says that it includes practical protections for federally endangered and threatened species while providing growers some flexibility.
These include:
- Reducing buffer distance across all application methods
- Developing a process to qualify conservation programs
- Creating a process to qualify external parties that would ultimately assess farms
- Updating key data sources and identification of invertebrate species that may occur on ag fields
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said that the agency has “found common sense ways to keep endangered species safe that won’t place unneeded burden on the growers who rely on these tools for their livelihood, and which are necessary to ensure a safe and plentiful food supply... We are committed to ensuring the agriculture community has the tools they need to protect our country, especially our food supply, from pests and disease.”
NCBA Chief Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart discussed the legal process behind delisting the prairie chicken, the challenges ranchers faced under the bird’s previous protections, and the benefits of cooperative habitat management for both livestock and wildlife.
February 27, 2026 10:55 AM
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At Commodity Classic in San Antonio, growers explore new herbicide options, John Deere’s latest 8 Series tractors, and cutting-edge ag technology shaping the 2026 planting season. Here are some of RFD NEWS’ highlights from the event so far.
February 26, 2026 02:57 PM
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Cotton jassid, a invasive pest, is raising concerns for Southeast cotton growers as experts work to understand its impact this season.
February 24, 2026 09:00 AM
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President Donald Trump signed an executive order this week to accelerate domestic production of phosphorus and glyphosate, signaling that farm input availability is now treated as a national security risk.
February 19, 2026 11:18 AM
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Richard Gupton of the Agricultural Retailers Association discusses the EPA’s new decision on over-the-top Dicamba and what it means for growers this year.
February 11, 2026 01:32 PM
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The EPA has approved over-the-top dicamba applications for the 2026 and 2027 growing seasons, outlining new rules that impact herbicide use for U.S. crop producers.
February 09, 2026 11:32 AM
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