Illinois Soya Growers welcomed the EPA’s approval of new plant protection products

The Illinois Soybean Growers (ISG) have announced that they welcome the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approval of new plant protection products developed to support weed control, prevent yield losses and strengthen sustainable soya production.

It was noted that the inclusion of applications suitable for use in soya production amongst the approved products represents a significant development, particularly for producers in Illinois. ISG emphasised that, alongside the increasing adoption of production methods such as cover crop schemes to address weed resistance, pest pressure and improve soil health, access to modern crop protection solutions is of critical importance to producers.

Bryan Severs, Chairman of the ISG Board of Directors, said in a statement that he thanked EPA Chairman Lee Zeldin and agency officials for completing the new product registration processes and providing producers with the additional tools they need. Severs stated that soya producers in Illinois require science-based regulatory decisions and viable crop protection options to effectively manage weeds, maintain their yields and sustain their competitiveness.

Severs also noted that these approvals represent a significant step for soybean production and called on the EPA to continue conducting timely assessments of modern agricultural technologies that support both productivity and environmental responsibility.

It was noted that the EPA’s latest approvals followed recent federal measures aimed at supporting regenerative farming practices and agricultural resilience, whilst it was stated that the agency is undertaking efforts to accelerate the assessment processes for modern agricultural products. In its statement, the ISG emphasised that this approach, which supports producers’ access to innovative technologies, will make significant contributions to productive farming, long-term farm profitability and sustainability.

The Illinois Soybean Association’s (ISA) membership and check-off programmes represent more than 43,000 soybean producers in the state. The organisation carries out market development, production, public relations, research and education activities, as well as advocacy work supporting producers’ interests at local, state and national levels.