Schock Expresses Concern with Additional Government Farming Regulations

Schock makes opening statement at hearing debating current farming practices

Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL) expressed great concern today about the direction of an Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee hearing entitled "Are Superweeds an "Outgrowth' of USDA Biotech Policy." The hearing evaluated U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) biotechnology regulatory policy, with particular respect to genetically engineered (GE), herbicide-resistant crops and the environmental impact of the evolution of herbicide-resistant weeds.

Schock's statement highlighted his concerns of additional government regulations on farmers trying to control weed growth on their land.

"Farmers realize over use or reliance on any single product to mitigate weed growth, will only serve to accelerate the speed at which a new and more expensive product will have to be employed, as such it is already in their own financial interest to rotate weed mitigation techniques," said Schock. "I would argue the controls in place through the market are already more than enough to ensure farmers are employing the best practices to control any infusion of weed growth on their lands. It's actually our farmers, not the government who are more concerned about the development of new herbicide resistant weeds."

"Most farmers already employ crop and herbicide rotation and other best management practices to combat any weeds at the first sign of growth," Schock continued. "The farmer who employs these practices will lose less of his yield to weeds and be more profitable in the long run. And the farmer who doesn't, well he won't be a farmer for long. The fact of the matter is that farmers yield more efficient growth from their fields today than ever before. They have done this during the same period of time which these "superweeds' have supposedly begun taking over."

Schock additionally inserted into the official Hearing record statements from the Illinois Farm Bureau and Illinois Corn Growers who expressed equal concern over new regulations which would limit the mitigation techniques available to Illinois farmers.

"The majority of Illinois farmers employ cropping systems that require the use of glysophate," said Adam Nielsen, Director of National Legislation and Policy Development at the Illinois Farm Bureau. "Farmers adopted this valuable technology quickly because of the product's numerous agronomic attributes including better weed control, use of fewer pesticides, and the preservation of precious topsoil."

"While Illinois Farm Bureau is concerned about the increased incidence of weed resistance in some parts of the state, there is no cause for alarm. Not only are we optimistic that the industry will find new solutions, we are also supportive of the current federal regulatory structure," Nielsen concluded. "Finally, Illinois Farm Bureau is confident in our members' stewardship of all products that help us control weeds on our farms and allow us to produce food and fiber in the most cost effective and sustainable way possible."

"Corn producers support the continued study of potential weed-resistance problems and further development of resistance-management best practices. No other group is more dependent upon the continued availability of effective herbicide technologies. We are committed to best practices that will continue the efficacy of herbicides. Herbicide-tolerant biotech crops allow corn growers, their families and the consumer to have less exposure to chemicals", said Tim Lenz, president of the Illinois Corn Growers Association.

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