Legislation is pending in Congress that will have a considerable impact on golf course management. H.R. 2, the “Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018” (known as the "Farm Bill”) reauthorizes the nation’s agriculture and nutrition programs for the next five years. But it goes beyond regulating commodities and food stamps to also impact the inputs superintendents use at their facilities. That makes the Farm Bill very important to golf course management.  

National Turfgrass Research Initiative

First, Title 7 of the Farm Bill includes language that would establish the "National Turfgrass Research Initiative" as a high priority research and extension initiative at the USDA. This would allow the USDA to provide valuable funding for turf science projects across the country. This in turn would supplement the best management practices that superintendents use every day which have reduced water usage by 21 percent and nitrogen use by 33.6 percent.   

FIFRA Reform

Title 9 of the Farm Bill includes language that will address the registration of pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). First, the language will clarify how the EPA will work with other federal agencies on protecting threatened and endangered species during the pesticide review process. This addresses the long delays that have occurred during this process, which have hurt superintendents by denying them access to the pesticides they need while doing nothing to protect public health and safety. Also, the Farm Bill reauthorizes and strengthens the federal program for the review and registration of pesticides (PRIA), also helping to ensure a prompt and thorough review of pesticides used in golf course management. Finally, it clarifies that authority for the regulation of pesticides within most states and territories rests with the state department of agriculture, as the State Lead Agency (“preemption”). The states’ role as co-regulators with the EPA during the registration process has been negatively impacted by actions at the local level that are being based on public opinion and not on science. 

NPDES Fix

GCSAA has long urged Congress to repeal the duplicative requirement for a Clean Water Act (CWA) permit for aquatic pesticide applications in, over or near a “Water of the United States”. FIFRA already requires that the EPA ensure that pesticides cause ‘no unreasonable adverse effect’ to humans or the environment – including water quality and aquatic species - and use labels are crafted to protect these resources.The label is the law and we are pleased there is language in Title 9 of the Farm Bill that removes the need for a CWA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. 

Emergency Use of Methyl Bromide

Title 9 of the Farm Bill also allows limited amounts of methyl bromide to be used for "emergency events", defined as those involving a "plant or commodity" for which the lack of availability of methyl bromide would result in "significant economic loss" and where no "technically or economically feasible alternative" to methyl bromide exist. 

WOTUS Repeal

The House of Representatives has added by amendment language sponsored by Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) that would repeal outright the 2015 Clean Water Rule  “WOTUS”). GCSAA has long opposed WOTUS and much of the activity to replace it with a better version has been at the Administration level. GCSAA supported this amendment, which was approved by a 238-173 vote that included 13 Democrats voting in favor.

 

Concerns with the Farm Bill

The Farm Bill was defeated by a vote of 198-213 in the House of Representatives on May 18.  Democrats did not support it because of eligibility changes that impact the food stamp program, and a number of Republicans opposed the Farm Bill as part of a larger effort to force House leadership to hold a vote on immigration. A revote on the Farm Bill is expected, but additional efforts are going to be needed to secure the almost 30 additional votes for final passage. This will not stop work from continuing on the Farm Bill, including in the Senate where a version from Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) is expected soon. GCSAA will continue to advocate that Congress continues to support sustainable golf course management on any legislation it considers.