Senator John Kennedy, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, called on March 12 for Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin to allow Louisiana to use a pesticide needed to address rice delphacid infestations.
The issue is important because rice delphacids are invasive insects that threaten rice production by feeding on plants and spreading diseases such as the rice hoja blanca virus. The pests have affected Texas since 2015 and were detected in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas in 2025. In response, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry requested emergency approval from the EPA in December 2025 to use buprofezin against these infestations.
“I write to express my concern regarding the emerging threat to Louisiana rice production posed by the rice delphacid. This invasive insect, originating in Central and South America, established itself in Texas in 2015 and has since been detected in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi. The pest damages rice by direct feeding, causing ‘hopperburn,’ and may also serve as a vector for rice hoja blanca virus, which can significantly reduce yields,” Kennedy said in his letter to Zeldin.
Kennedy said that falling rice prices at the end of 2025 combined with high input costs make this threat especially serious for producers. He explained that Section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act allows the EPA to grant emergency exemptions for unregistered pesticide uses when urgent conditions arise. “Access to timely and effective control measures is critical to ensuring producers can move forward with planting decisions and secure necessary financing,” he said.
“For these reasons, I respectfully encourage the timely consideration of the Section 18 request submitted by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry in December 2025. Ensuring that producers across the rice belt have the tools necessary to combat this growing threat is essential to protecting both farm viability and regional agricultural stability. I appreciate your attention to this important matter,” Kennedy concluded.
According to the official website, Kennedy represents all of Louisiana and operates district offices throughout several cities including Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, Monroe, New Orleans, and Shreveport. He has engaged constituents through newsletters, town halls, public events; advanced policies supporting veterans, farmers, small businesses and national security; chaired committees such as Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; served on Appropriations, Budget and Energy committees; and influenced policy through his committee work.
