CAC CAC Agricultural Regulations & Policy 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the US Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), who is responsible for registering a pesticide before it can be sold or used commercially?
- State departments of agriculture
- The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Correct answer)
- USDA Agricultural Marketing Service
- Land-grant university extension services
Correct answer: The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
FIFRA requires EPA registration of all pesticides, ensuring they meet safety, efficacy, and labeling standards before commercial distribution.
Question 2: The 'endangered species protection box' on a pesticide label is required by the EPA to protect species listed under which federal law?
- Clean Water Act
- Endangered Species Act (ESA) (Correct answer)
- National Environmental Policy Act
- Migratory Bird Treaty Act
Correct answer: Endangered Species Act (ESA)
EPA-mandated ESA protection bulletins restrict pesticide use in certain counties to avoid harming threatened or endangered species or their habitat.
Question 3: Section 404 of the Clean Water Act regulates the discharge of what into waters of the United States?
- Pesticides from aerial application
- Dredged or fill material (Correct answer)
- Nitrate from fertilizer runoff
- Methane from livestock operations
Correct answer: Dredged or fill material
Section 404 requires Army Corps of Engineers permits for discharging dredged or fill material into wetlands and navigable waters.
Question 4: Under USDA's Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) provisions, farmers who are out of compliance risk losing eligibility for:
- State property tax exemptions
- USDA farm program benefits including crop insurance premium subsidies (Correct answer)
- EPA air quality permits
- County fair participation
Correct answer: USDA farm program benefits including crop insurance premium subsidies
HELC provisions link conservation compliance on highly erodible cropland to eligibility for federal farm program benefits.
Question 5: The National Organic Program (NOP) is administered by which USDA agency?
- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
- Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) (Correct answer)
- Farm Service Agency (FSA)
- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Correct answer: Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)
USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service oversees the NOP, accrediting certifying agents and enforcing organic production and handling regulations.
Question 6: Which farm bill program provides conservation payments to agricultural producers who install or maintain conservation practices on working lands?
- Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
- Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) (Correct answer)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Market Facilitation Program (MFP)
Correct answer: Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
EQIP provides financial and technical assistance to help farmers adopt conservation practices on actively farmed ground, unlike CRP which retires land.
CAC CAC Agricultural Regulations & Policy 1
Under the US Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), who is responsible for registering a pesticide before it can be sold or used commercially?