A herbicide strategy ­proposed by the Environmental Protection Ag­ency (EPA) aimed at improving endangered species protections threatens to make herbicide usage nearly impossible for farmers and jeopardizes the viability of farming operations across the country, the Iowa Farm Bureau and a coalition of more than 100 other ag organizations said in joint comments filed Oct. 22. 

The groups urged the EPA to work with agriculture stakeholders to develop a different approach to bring its pesticide registration regulations into compliance with the Endangered Species Act. The agency said its new herbicide strategy is needed to settle numerous lawsuits filed by environmental groups.

However, at more than 900...