Society
Science Policy
Lee Van Wychen, Ph.D.
Executive Director of Science Policy
Weed Science Society of America
5720 Glenmullen Pl,
Alexandria, VA 22303
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 202-746-4686
Updates & Recent Items
The six national and regional weed science societies supported two letters that would improve invasive species management. The first letter (CEQ letter) requests that the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) approve the Department of the Interior’s request for a number of categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for invasive species control.
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EPA’s glyphosate biological evaluations (BEs) lack a workable and consistent approach to endangered species assessments. An assessment process which essentially equates any exposure to a pesticide as a possible concern to any species does little to advance appropriate options which could be tailored to improve species protection.
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EPA’s triazine biological evaluations (BEs) lack a workable and consistent approach to endangered species assessments. An assessment process which essentially equates any exposure to a pesticide as a possible concern to any species does little to advance appropriate options which could be tailored to improve species protection.
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Given the value of paraquat as a unique weed management tool and the updated human health mitigation measures, WSSA is opposed to the following two application restrictions proposed by EPA: 1) prohibition of all aerial applications of paraquat except for cotton desiccation;
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The National and Regional Weed Science Societies applaud the Department of the Interior’s efforts to develop a concise, yet comprehensive Invasive Species Strategic Plan.
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The National and Regional Weed Science Societies, joined by more than 300 agriculture and conservation organizations, sent a letter to all members of the U.S.
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The Weed Science Society of America (WSSA), along with the Aquatic Plant Management Society, the North Central Weed Science Society, Northeastern Weed Science Society,
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The WSSA appreciates the opportunity to provide comment on the value and uniqueness of paraquat for weed management. We strongly support further education and awareness activities both on the label and through training.
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To date, EPA has used an interim process to evaluate 24 new active ingredient registrations. None of these reviews have ultimately impacted an existing EPA ecological risk assessment.
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The National and Regional Weed Science Societies compliment EPA on the many positive aspects of their proposal to mitigate potential risks with glyphosate use while noting its importance in the management of invasive and noxious weeds in agricultural and non-agricultural settings.
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Read the WSSA comments on APHIS’s June 6, 2019 Proposed Rule regarding the movement of certain genetically engineered (GE) organisms.
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By taking steps to reduce weed seeds in soybeans, participants along the supply chain will make U.S. soy even more competitive in the global marketplace.
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The Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) sponsored a research workshop on off-target movement of dicamba on April 16 -17, 2018 in Arlington,
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The National and Regional Weed Science Societies joined over one hundred fifty organizations in a letter to the Senate urging support of S.
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Read the guidance document (Pesticide Registration Notice (PRN) 2017-2) produced by the EPA for herbicide products applied in almost all crop and non-crop areas,
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Read the report produced by the EPA-OIG on its oversight of herbicide resistance management. It’s recommendations have been resolved.
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The National and Regional Weed Science Societies submitted comments on APHIS’s proposed rule regarding the importation, interstate movement, and environmental release of certain genetically engineered (GE) organisms.
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The National and Regional Weed Science Societies join over one hundred organizations in a letter to Congress urging support of H.R. 953,
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Oct. 5, 2016. A number of concerns have been raised by various stakeholders relative to EPA’s draft ecological risk assessment for the triazines.
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Dear Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member Klobuchar, and Members of the Committee:
We, the undersigned, appreciate the work that you have done on the Senate Agriculture Committee to promote and strengthen publicly funded agricultural research across our great nation,
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Dear Chair Thompson, Ranking Member Craig, Chair Boozman, and Ranking Member
Klobuchar,
The undersigned organizations, representing farmers, ranchers, agricultural scientists,
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Dear Chairman Harris, Chairman Hoeven, Ranking Member Bishop, and Ranking Member
Shaheen:
The undersigned research institutions, scientific societies, and agricultural stakeholders
respectfully request $400 million for animal health and $390 million for plant health
programs at U.S.
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Dear Chairman Harris, Chairman Hoeven, Ranking Member Bishop, and Ranking Member Shaheen:
The undersigned organizations representing agriculture, academia, industry, and the food and nutrition community write to thank you for your continued bipartisan support of the U.S.
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Dear Chairman Harris, Chairman Hoeven, Ranking Member Bishop, and Ranking Member Shaheen:
The undersigned research institutions, scientific societies,
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Answers to each of the 5 questions below will be submitted at: https://arsbiocontrol.ars.usda.gov/
- How can we improve this Roadmap that integrates biocontrol with other bio-based strategies and emerging tools?
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Dear Secretary Rollins,
The Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) along with our affiliate societies, the Aquatic Plant
Management Society (APMS),
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Dear Mr. Adam Telle,
Congratulations on your recent Senate confirmation as the new Assistant Secretary of the Army, Civil
Works.
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Dear Chairman Harris, Chairman Hoeven, Ranking Member Bishop, and Ranking Member Shaheen:
As Congress develops a Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 spending package,
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May 5 – 9, 2025
During the week of May 5, the National and Regional Weed Science Society Presidents traveled to Washington DC for Congressional and stakeholder visits.
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Dear Secretary Burgum: Our organizations write in full support of the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area. We urge you to fully fund the Ecosystems Mission Area (EMA) at the same FY25 funding level in the FY26 federal budget for the agency to continue its critical work of maintaining our nation’s natural resources,
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Dear Chairman Cole, Ranking Member DeLauro and Subcommittee Chairman Harris and Ranking Member
Bishop:
We, the Friends of IR-4 and the Commodity Liaison Committee (CLC) of the IR-4 are writing to you in strong support of the House Agriculture Appropriations bill that passed out of Committee on July 10,
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Dear Chairman Harris, Chairman Heinrich, Ranking Member Bishop, and Ranking Member Hoeven:
As your Committees consider Appropriations for the Agriculture,
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Dear Chairman Harris, Chairman Heinrich, Ranking Member Bishop, and Ranking Member Hoeven:
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Coalition is composed of research institutions,
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Dear Chairman Harris, Chairman Heinrich, Ranking Member Bishop, and Ranking Member Hoeven:
The undersigned members of the Friends of the Agricultural Research Service (FARS) Coalition write to thank you for your continued support of the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in FY 2024.
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During the week of April 17, the presidents from the four regional weed science societies and WSSA traveled to Washington DC to advocate on behalf of weed science policy initiatives and help WSSA achieve its mission of promoting research,
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The WSSA sent a letter to Congressional leadership in support of the $7.75 billion for agricultural research in the Budget Reconciliation proposal.
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The six national and regional weed science societies joined over 35 other organizations in a letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committee leaders with recommendations for FY 2022 invasive species management funding levels.
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The WSSA submitted both written and oral comments for a proposal about what technologies should be available to a “farm of the future”.
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The Weed Science Societies joined over 350 other national, regional, and state ag organizations and companies in a letter to House and Senate Agriculture Committee leadership to request their support for $11.5 billion in ag research infrastructure investments over five years.
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Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Jerry Moran (R-KS), reintroduced legislation, S. 1371, that would require a five percent annual funding increase each year for the next 10 years for research activities at USDA’s ARS,
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Presented on Feb. 26, 2021. The U.S. federal agencies responsible for invasive species management in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, in general, have sufficient legislative authority from Congress to manage invasive species.
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In early December, WSSA and APMS joined more than 170 other organizations and institutions across all disciplines and areas of science and research in a letter to congressional leadership,
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The National and Regional Weed Science Societies joined over 270 other national, regional and state organizations to urge Congress to provide $380 million to our agricultural research,
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The six National and Regional Weed Science Societies joined over 80 other organizations in supporting legislation introduced by Senator Dick Durbin (IL) that would authorize a 5% inflation-adjusted annual increase for the next 5 years for agricultural research at USDA-ARS,
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The Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) wrote to USDA Sec. Perdue to express concerns our members have about the relocation of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) outside the National Capitol Region (NCR).
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The National and Regional Weed Science Societies joined over 30 other organizations in supporting the agricultural research provisions in the Senate Farm Bill.
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There is currently a push to get IR-4 funded at $19 million in FY 2019. Annual funding for IR-4 has been stagnating at around $11.9 million for nearly a decade.
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WSSA Sponsors Seminar on Capitol Hill by Dr. Steve Fennimore Titled “Robotic Weed Wars: A New Game, New Players and New Rules”.
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Read the recent publication produced by the National Research Council of the National Academies on a review of the USDA-AFRI program.
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Read the set of scientific issues being considered by the Environmental Protection Agency on human health and ecological risk assessment of the RNAi technology.
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Read the report to the president on ‘Agricultural Preparedness and the Agriculture Research Enterprise’ by President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST).
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On July 25 the Plant Science Research Summit released Unleashing a Decade of Innovation in Plant Science: A Vision for 2015-2025 (PDF),
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Over the last several decades, the U.S. agricultural sector has sustained impressive productivity growth. The Nation’s agricultural research system, including Federal-State public research as well as private-sector research,
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Following is an archive of historical research priorities identified by the Weed Science Society of America. This collection includes documents such as comments to USDA-AFRI, reports of NIFA stakeholder workshops, USDA-ARS 5-year plans, manuscripts, among others.
- EVIDENCE-BASED POLICY MAKING: USDA’s Decision to Relocate Research Agencies to Kansas City Was Not Fully Consistent with an Evidence-Based Approach
-GAO-22-104540, April 2022 - Agency Relocations: Following Leading Practices Will Better Position USDA to Mitigate the Ongoing Impacts on Its Workforce
–GAO-23-104709, April 2022 - Army Corps of Engineers: Better Data and Planning Needed to Combat Aquatic Invasive Species
– GAO-24-105960, November 2023 - Aquatic Invasive Species: Additional Steps Could Help Measure Federal Progress in Achieving Strategic Goals
–GAO-16-49, November 2015 - Two USDA Agencies Can Enhance Safeguards against Project Duplication and Strengthen Collaborative Planning
–GAO-13-255, Apr 12, 2013 - Scientific Integrity: EPA’s Efforts to Enhance the Credibility and Transparency of Its Scientific Processes
– GAO-09-444T, June, 2009
– Highlights - Wildland Fire Management: Actions by Federal Agencies and Congress Could Mitigate Rising Fire Costs and Their Effects on Other Agency Programs
– GAO-09-444T, April, 2009 - Endangered Species Act: Many GAO Recommendations Have Been Implemented, but Some Issues Remain Unresolved
– GAO-09-225R, December, 2008 - Federal Land Management: Use of Stewardship Contracting Is Increasing, but Agencies Could Benefit from Better Data and Contracting Strategies
– GAO-09-23, November, 2008
– Highlights - Genetically Engineered Crops: Agencies Are Proposing Changes to Improve Oversight, but Could Take Additional Steps to Enhance Coordination and Monitoring
– GAO-09-60, November, 2008
– Highlights - Natural Resource Management: Opportunities Exist to Enhance Federal Participation in Collaborative Efforts to Reduce Conflicts and Improve Natural Resource Conditions
– GAO-08-262, February, 2008
– Highlights - Invasive Species: Cooperation and Coordination Are Important for Effective Management of Invasive Weeds
– GAO-05-185, February, 2005
– Highlights - Agricultural Quarantine Inspection Program: Management Problems May Increase Vulnerability of U.S. Agriculture to Foreign Pests and Diseases
– GAO-08-96T, October, 2007
– Highlights - Agricultural Conservation: Farm Program Payments Are an Important Factor in Landowners’ Decisions to Convert Grassland to Cropland
– GAO-07-1054, September, 2007
– Highlights - Prairie Pothole Region: At the Current Pace of Acquisitions, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Is Unlikely to Achieve Its Habitat Protection Goals for Migratory Birds
– GAO-07-1093, September, 2007
– Highlights - Forest Service: Vegetation Management Projects Approved during Calendar Years 2003 through 2005 Using Categorical Exclusions
– GAO-07-1016T, June, 2007
– Highlights - Agricultural Conservation: USDA Should Improve Its Management of Key Conservation Programs to Ensure Payments Promote Environmental Goals
– GAO-07-370T, January 17, 2007
– Highlights - USDA Conservation Programs: Stakeholder Views on Participation and Coordination to Benefit Threatened and Endangered Species and Their Habitats
– GAO-07-35, November, 2006
– Highlights