US environmental regulators allow more pesticide on peas and soybeans

US environmental regulators have set new limits for pyridate, a pesticide, on several crops. This means farmers can now use pyridate on field peas, soybeans, and other dried shelled peas, and still sell their crops.

Pesticide approvals are usually boring, but they add up. Each new approval means another chemical can enter the food system. This particular chemical, pyridate, is a herbicide, which means it kills weeds. It has been approved for use on other crops before, but this expands its reach to common food crops like peas and soybeans.