Vitter says he works to get EPA bird repellant decision to help rice industry

U.S. Senator David Vitter, R-La., Tuesday announced a decision by the Environmental Protection Agency to again grant an exemption for a repellent called AV-1011 that prevents migratory birds from consuming rice seed, a news release from Vitter’s office stated.
Vitter has been working together with Louisiana farmers since 2013 to push the EPA to approve the use of the repellent to help fend off migratory birds, particularly blackbirds, the news release stated.
“Migratory birds pose a serious threat to Louisiana’s rice industry,” Vitter said. “This repellent is the only effective way for farmers to stop these birds from completely destroying their rice crops.”
Damage to rice crops from migratory birds can result in 100 percent loss and require farmers to incur additional costs to replant their crops, the news release stated.
At Vitter’s urging, EPA sent a letter to Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry on March 20 approving the use of rice seed to repel migratory birds, the news release stated.