Farm Bureau Expresses Importance of Methyl Bromide

In preparation for a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee hearing on the U.S. Agriculture Sector Relief Act of 2012 - the American Farm Bureau Federation sent a letter to lawmakers on the importance of methyl bromide. AFBF President Bob Stallman says methyl bromide is an indispensable pest control tool used in crop production, grain storage, food processing and general pest management. For some agricultural users - he says its availability is nearly essential to providing consumers the safe and reliable food they expect. That's why Farm Bureau is telling Congress that the continued shortage of methyl bromide and viable alternatives will negatively impact crop production in the U.S. and lead to higher dependence on imported food sources.

The U.S. Agriculture Sector Relief Act of 2012 supports all continued uses of methyl bromide. Non-critical use of the chemical compound was phased out in the U.S. in early 2005. Since then - Farm Bureau says the EPA has increasingly rejected critical uses of methyl bromide. Sales of viable alternatives have also been suspended - and the EPA has proposed withdrawing tolerances of another alternative. Farm Bureau says no other compound has proven as effective.

In the end - Stallman says American consumers will suffer greatly from agriculture's loss of methyl bromide.

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