Entry Details

About the Entry

Category: 
Print > Special Issue or Supplement > Heartland

Title of entry: 
The ABCs of ESA: The agriculture industry faces profound changes under the Environmental Protection Agency’s workplan to comply with the Endangered Species Act

Issue or Publication date:
December 2024

Publication name: 
CropLife

View Website home page:
https://www.croplife.com

Links to Uploaded Entry Files

Please note: The links below are the same links as clicking on the Preview images at the top of this column. You may click the links below to view and download each submitted entry file.

View/download entry file #1
View/download entry file #2

Entry Essay: 
CropLife is a B2B media brand serving the agricultural retail industry. The audience is comprised of retailers, farmers, crop protection companies, fertilizer manufacturers, equipment manufacturers, and various agriculture technology companies.

In 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a workplan (“Balancing Wildlife Protection and Responsible Pesticide Use: How EPA’s Pesticide Program Will Meet Its Endangered Species Act (ESA) Obligations”) outlining how the agency would comply with ESA rules regarding pesticide use. The workplan not only applied to new conventional pesticides, but also existing active ingredients that are subject to registration reviews every 15 years. The industry, particularly retailers and their farmer-customers, braced themselves for additional requirements and updates to product labels, dramatic changes to farming practices and operations, especially pertaining to buffer zones designed to separate critical species and habitats from pesticides, and significant increases in costs, recordkeeping, and risks associated with non-compliance. Recognizing the monumental impact of the EPA’s workplan and the need for timely and accurate information, CropLife initiated a multi-media content strategy focused on this single topic.

Specifically, CropLife committed to comprehensive coverage of the EPA’s workplan for compliance with the ESA with a series of special reports (print and digital) along with interactive educational webinars. The first report, The ABCs of ESA, was published in December 2024. The first interactive educational webinar was held in November 2024, attracting nearly 600 registrants representing all segments of agriculture. Panelists on the first webinar represented retailers and farmers, including the American Soybean Association. There was no formal presentation from the panelists. Rather, CropLife moderators conducted an hour-long interactive discussion with panelists, taking questions from registrants in real-time. The series will continue into 2025 with additional special reports, video interviews, webinars, and supplemental material for retailers and growers to help comply with the new requirements and updated product labels. Ultimately, the goal is to support industry collaboration, education, and awareness for what ranks as one of the most profound regulatory developments in agriculture in decades.