With chlorpyrifos on its way out, what's next for Oregon farmers?
The state Department of Agriculture last week classified chlorpyrifos as a restricted use pesticide. Chlorpyrifos is used to control a broad spectrum of insects in more than 50 crops statewide, but studies showed it may have harmful neurological effects. Growers say alternatives are urgently needed, but research could take one to five years per pest per crop, followed by a years-long registration process â and researchers say the state isnât supporting them with sufficient funding. âComing up with new modes of action has gotten harder and harder,â said Ian Grettenberger, a...