Wisconsin has taken the first step toward regulating 21 different pesticides in groundwater, including glyphosate, a key ingredient in roundup weed killer. President Trump recently declared glyphosate critical to national defense and directed the federal government to prioritize its production. The executive order also appeared to give immunity to chemical companies that make the pesticide amid concerns that the glyphosate may increase cancer risks.
Wisconsin is also pursuing possible safeguards for neonicotinoid insecticides, widely considered responsible for killing off bees and other important pollinators. The insecticides may have human health harms and are used on millions of acres of corn grown in Wisconsin for animal feed and ethanol as well as many other crops.
The Department of Natural Resources will now take the next 30 months to analyze potential standards for all 21 pesticide chemicals as part of its rulemaking process.
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