EPA gives OK to pesticide for canola crop

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is giving a crisis exemption that allows Oklahoma canola farmers to use the pesticide diquat on their crops.

The EPA exemption is because of heavy rainfall which caused the fields to become overgrown and difficult for farmers to harvest the plants that have matured.

Canola specialist Mark Boyles at Oklahoma State University says the pesticide is not labeled for use on canola. He says that's because regulations haven't caught up with the growing canola industry.

Boyles says recent bans on trans fat is driving up demand for canola oil.