How Are Farmers Working to Reduce Pesticide Risks?
Today, many farmers are using integrated pest management techniques to mini-
mize pesticide use. IPM works in harmony with nature by using ‘‘good bugs,’’ such
as ladybugs, to destroy ‘‘bad bugs’’ and other natural control methods. Under IPM,
pesticides are used only in limited amounts when pests reach damaging levels, rather
than on a routine basis. Many pesticides now being developed use biological or natu-
ral substances in the environment to help destroy pests. Research in plant breeding
continues to develop heartier, more pest-resistant crops.
The objective of IPM is not to eliminate a pest but to reduce its population to lev-
els that no longer pose an economic threat to plants and animals. IPM is not an
‘‘organic’’ or non-pesticide approach to pest control. Organic producers also use IPM
and certain approved pesticides to protect their crops and livestock. One of the main
goals of IPM is to promote the use of effective, less-toxic pesticides only if and when
necessary. It is a decision-making process that supports a balanced approach to man-
aging crop and livestock production systems. The goal is effective, economical, and
environmentally sound suppression of pests, including insects and mites, plant dis-
eases, weeds, and problem wildlife.
The concept of IPM evolved in response to problems caused by an overreliance on
chemical pesticides. Some of these problems are development of well-known pest re-
sistance, elimination of natural enemies of pests, outbreaks of formerly suppressed
pests, hazards to non-target species, and environmental contamination.
Most growers, if asked (and especially if asked by a concerned consumer), would
state that they practice IPM. Most would say that they use pesticides only when nec-
essary and that they are good stewards of the environment. If this is true, perhaps the
public should understand better and hear more about the practice of IPM.^57
Loopholes and Amendments
Pesticide regulations are full of loopholes. Many pesticides in use today were regis-
tered using old test protocols and have not yet been reevaluated under current stan-
dards. Pesticide manufacturers perform or fund pesticide testing, setting up a built-in
conflict of interest. Many tests are only conditionally required and are often waived.
Tests ignore the multiple pesticides to which people are regularly exposed because
they examine only one pesticide at a time.
There are laws to protect farmworkers, but for almost every law, there is a loop-
hole. For example, OSHA safety standards apply only to farms that hire at least ten
workers. That covers about 471,600 farmworkers nationwide, but excludes an esti-
mated one million who labor on small farms.^58
The EPA Weakens Protection Standards
Even when tougher laws are passed, they are often watered down later. The EPA
enacted WPS in 1974. It required growers (regardless of the number of workers) to
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