December 12, 2008
The American Sheep Industry Association continues to work weekly to secure the final decision on the registration of sodium cyanide used in M-44s and Compound 1080 (sodium flouroacetate) used in Livestock Protection Collars (LPC) and has worked with members of Congress to actively indicate their support this month.
This week, Sen. Tim Johnson (S.D.) and Rep. Ciro D. Rodriguez (Texas) wrote letters to Stephen Johnson, acting administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, urging a quick decision on the issue as well as showed their support for the re-registration of the wildlife management tools.
"Sheep producers experienced a staggering $18.3 million loss in 2004 alone because of wildlife predators, even with comprehensive predator control programs. The M-44 and Livestock Protection Collar are two vitally important, effective tools for sheep producers, and I will continue to push to ensure these predator control methods remain available," said Johnson.
In their letters, both Johnson and Rodriguez pointed to the devastating effect predators have had on producers, as well as discussed how M44s and LPCs are specifically target to canids and are environmentally safe. Both requested a timely decision on this issue, with Rodriguez asking it occur before the end of 2008.
"It's imperative that we do everything we can to ensure that M-44 sodium cyanide capsules and sodium fluoroacetate registrations remain available to Texan farmers and ranchers. These two registrations represent vital roles in predator management programs and without them farmers and ranchers would undertake millions of dollars in livestock losses. The EPA has yet to issue its final opinion regarding these registrations, but I hope that the decision will be made soon so that it is not prolonged into 2009," Rodriguez said.
Letters or phone calls to the EPA concerning the decision have also been made by Sen. John Barrasso (Wyo.) and Rep. Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin (S.D.).
Staff contact: Peter Orwick, 303-771-3500 ext. 33
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