U.S Farmers Fear Economic Setbacks If U.S. Bans Herbicide Atrazine

Soundbite and Script

November 10, 2011

ANNOUNCER: 

EVEN WHILE AMERICA’S HEARTLAND STRUGGLES WITH HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT AND STAGNANT GROWTH, ACTIVISTS ARE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY ONE OF AMERICAN FARMING’S MOST IMPORTANT TOOLS.   ATRAZINE IS PRIMARILY USED FOR WEED CONTROL IN CORN, SORGHUM AND SUGARCANE.  WITHOUT IT, FARMERS SAY OUR ENVIRONMENT AND THE ECONOMY WOULD SUFFER HUGE LOSSES.  DOCTOR DAVID BRIDGES, IS PRESIDENT OF ABRAHAM BALDWIN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

DR. DAVID BRIDGES, PRESIDENT, ABRAHAM BALDWIN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE:

“Activists are still calling for a ban of Atrazine, even though it’s been proven safe to use by governments and health agencies around the world, including the World Health Organization and our own EPA. Without Atrazine and its sister compounds, corn farmers could see declines of almost eight bushels per acre. Soil erosion and CO2 emissions would increase dramatically and farming fuel costs would escalate. Farming communities would shed jobs and America’s economy as a whole would suffer nearly 5 billion dollars in losses at a time when we can ill afford it.”

ANNOUNCER: 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE ATRAZINE DEBATE, VISIT ATRAZINE.COM I’M LEE SHEPHARD.