Recently Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation submitted coalition comments opposing USDA-APHIS proposed release of Bikasha collaris (Chinese flea beetle) and Gidurtha fusca moth as a biological control for tallow trees. While the signing organizations understand the challenges that tallow presents to some landowners, we felt the Environmental Assessment (EA) used in the proposal was inadequate. Our comments recommended that APHIS withdraw the proposed release until a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), covering multiple years across multiple states could be completed.

Tallow trees are an invasive weed species that are an important food source for honeybees, and approximately 60 percent of honey in Mississippi comes from tallow trees. The supplemental information in the EA did not adequately consider the true cost/benefits of tallow when addressing the economic damage to honey producers or the environmental benefits of pollinator health attributed to tallow trees. We requested that the EIS fully consider the cost/benefit analysis of honey production and pollinator health.

The EA also inadequately addressed our concerns of releasing a non-native insect without fully examining the potential for damage to other species, such as desirable trees or crops. The EA was limited to trees in the same family as tallow trees, and plants on the Endangered Species List. We requested APHIS consider the potential for these insects to harm beneficial tress such as loblolly pine and long-leaf pine as well as our major commodity crops (corn, cotton, soybeans, rice, etc.). Without full confidence that these insects will not escape their release location, themselves become invasive, and cause economic harm to commodity crops we cannot support their release.

Other organizations joining MFBF in opposition were the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, Mississippi Soybean Association, Mississippi Rice Council, Mississippi Agricultural Industries Council, Mississippi Corn Growers Association, North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation, South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation and Georgia Farm Bureau Federation.