A plan to use pesticides near the Rio Arriba in Northern Mexico was rescinded by federal land managers to control invasive grasshopper. The decision was reversed by the Bureau of Land Management(BLM) after environmentalists voiced concerns over potential collateral damage to the ecosystem. Carbaryl, the pesticide, is a potent neurological toxin that, while effective against grasshoppers, could also negatively impact bees, monarch butterflies, and other critical insects. The BLM found that more analysis and outreach were required, despite an earlier environmental assessment by the US Agriculture Department. The canceled project was initially intended to disperse 670 gallons of carbaryl over … Continue reading The Great Grasshopper Standoff: A Tale of Ecology, Agriculture, and Responsibility in Rio Arriba