Cramer commends EPA herbicide approval for North Dakota

U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) said on April 2 he endorses the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to approve the usage of an herbicide manufactured by Dow.

Enlist Duo Herbicide has been approved by the EPA for usage in nine states, including North Dakota. “This ruling by the EPA allows North Dakota’s producers to have access to advance farming technologies to help them safely produce more food to feed a hungry world,” Cramer said.

Cramer first promoted the action on Feb. 19, 2014. In the communication, he expressed appreciation and support of the USDA’s recommendation to deregulate three Enlist corn and soybean traits for advantageous development.

Emphasizing his home state’s heavy reliance on agriculture, with 90 percent of the state’s total land area dedicated to the production of wheat, soybeans, barley, sunflowers, canola and corn, the congressman noted that approximately 24 percent of North Dakota’s workers are employed in agriculture-related occupations.

Cramer underscored the state’s strong interest in maintaining and improving access to future-looking tools. He said approximately 43 percent of his state’s farmers and ranchers are concerned about resistant weed growth. Cramer also said nearby Canadian growers already work with herbicide-tolerant crops, and that the United States needs to remain competitive.