ABSTRACT
Agricultural chemicals help make US agriculture the most productive in the world. Public demand expressed through members of Congress caused ever-more-strict federal regulations on development and use of agricultural chemicals. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Environmental Protection Agency have shown good evidence of more reasonable postures concerning laws, regulations, and interactions with manufacturers and users of agricultural chemicals. The FDA is also considering some liberalization of restrictions on feed manufacturers. The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology is an organization sponsored and managed by twenty-five scientific agricultural societies. Its major purpose is to assemble and report the scientific information on important issues of national scope for the benefit of lawmakers, regulators, and the general public. The Agricultural Extension Service in every state has a responsibility for assisting producers in the proper use of chemicals. The chapter presents a plea to agricultural producers for closer adherence to label requirements and restrictions on use of agricultural chemicals.
