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WASHINGTON – Today over 387,000 farmers, farmworkers, health professionals, and concerned individuals from across the country joined together in urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reject Dow AgroSciences’ application seeking approval of controversial genetically engineered (GE) corn and soybean varieties that are resistant to the hazardous herbicide 2,4-D.

In addition, over 800 farmers from across the country petitioned Agriculture Secretary Vilsack to reject the pesticide-promoting seeds, warning that their introduction would directly harm their crops, farm businesses, livelihoods and health. The comments were submitted Tuesday, March 11, the last day of USDA’s public comment period on its draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), a report that was supposed to assess possible harms associated with release of the new seed varieties. Thousands of additional comments critical of the GE seeds are expected to be submitted by the midnight deadline.

As USDA itself concedes, approval of 2,4-D-resistant corn and soybeans would lead to an unprecedented 200% to nearly 600% increase in agricultural use of 2,4-D by 2020, from 26 million to as much as 176 million lbs. per year.  Independent scientists have projected far greater increases in corn alone. Even at current use levels, 2,4-D drift is responsible for more episodes of crop injury than any other herbicide.

“Farmers are on the front lines of this potential chemical disaster,” said Lisa Griffith of the National Family Farm Coalition. “Losing crops means they lose wages, seeds for future plantings and markets, which also stresses their communities.”

Karri Stroh, Executive Director of the Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society explains, “Our farmer members raise a variety of certified crops, including organic soybeans, fruit and vegetables, that are highly sensitive to 2,4-D. If Dow’s new 2,4-D seeds are approved and planted, and 2,4-D use surges across the country, those crops and the markets that depend on them will suffer tremendous losses. Those of us who live in farm country know that drift happens.”