ARA Brings EPA Officials to Learn at Ag Retail Facilities

ARA hosted more than 30 staff from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) to two ag retail facilities operated by ARA members located just a few hours outside of our nation’s capital.

The goal was for EPA officials to witness the exceptional efforts being made daily by both Nutrien Ag Solutions in Milford, Delaware, and Willard Agri-Service in Greenwood, Delaware, to offer sustainable, environmentally safe agricultural products and solutions to their grower customers.

“I wanted to express our sincere thanks for the opportunity for so many of us to see some representative facilities and get the chance to have such a fulsome conversation,” said Jan Matuszko, acting director at the EPA’s Environmental Fate and Effects Division, Office of Pesticide Programs.

 “It is clear that ARA’s team and the folks at the facilities put a lot of thought and effort into it, and it really contributed to the success of the trip.”

The participating EPA staff came with an interest to learn firsthand about the operations of an ag retail facility including the use of labels and the safe storage and handling of products such as atrazine, paraquat, and glyphosate – all of which are currently under review with the EPA OPP.