USE OF BIO-INTENSIVE CONTROLS

(a) The commissioner shall develop and adopt rules to allow a cotton grower in an eradication program to use biological, botanical, or other non-synthetic pest control methods. In developing the rules, the commissioner shall consider: (1) scientific studies and field trials of the effectiveness of a proposed alternative control method; (2) the feasibility of using a proposed alternative control technique within a particular region; (3) the degree of monitoring necessary to establish the success of the use of a proposed alternative control; and (4) methods to prevent the use of substances that would impede the use of alternative controls and the promotion of beneficial insect populations. (b) A cotton grower that chooses to use an alternative method of control as provided in Subsection (a) shall notify the board. The board and the cotton grower shall coordinate their actions to prevent the use of substances that would impede the use of alternative controls and the promotion of beneficial insect populations. (c) The cotton grower shall pay any additional cost of bio-intensive control in addition to any assessment.