EPA Greenlights PAM As Pesticide Mitigation Tool
December 15, 2025 In April 2025, the EPA approved anionic polyacrylamide (PAM), a soil conditioner, as a mitigation measure for its ability to stabilize oil particles and reduce pesticide movement through sediment erosion and liquid runoff.
According to the USDA’s Agriculture Research Service (ARS), PAM has been used to improve soil structure since the 1940s. The early PAMs had lower molecular weights than today’s PAMs and were applied to soil at high rates (>450 lb/acre) and were tilled into the topsoil.
The new generation of agricultural PAMs have ultra-high molecular weights and are moderately (18%) anionic (referring to its negative charge). They are applied via irrigation water to the specific part of the soil that is active in erosion, sealing, and crust formation.
Marcos Amaro, Senior Sales Representative – Agricultural Chemicals, SNF, says high molecular weight polymers like those the company manufactures essentially bind soil particles together to keep them from eroding away. This feature is critical when spraying pesticides or fungicides and a significant rain or wind event develops and threatens to carry the crop protection product off the field.
“By binding the soil particles together, you’re keeping the soil bound in place and keeping the chemicals that were applied bound to the soil, and preventing erosion,” he says.
There are thousands of polymers and anionic PAM is just one type.
Dr. Connor Ferguson, Senior Adjuvant Portfolio Manager, Wilbur-Ellis, and Co-Chair for CPDA’s ESA Committee, says the EPA is still reviewing polymer data that was submitted to the agency in September 2024.
The EPA raised concerns over pump shearing and its potential for degrading polymers and reducing viscosity.
However, Ferguson says the new generation of polymers used in today’s formulations do not have this problem and many CPDA members have data to support that, and he’s hoping the committee can address EPA’s concerns with the latest polymer science.
In the meantime, Ferguson is optimistic about guar gum-based drift reduction adjuvants, which he thinks are “very likely” to be added to the approved drift reduction adjuvant section in the near future, perhaps with the release of EPA’s final Fungicide Strategy in April 2026.
If guars are approved by the EPA, “It would be the first mitigation addition since the summer of 2024 when we got the oil emulsion drift reduction adjuvant approved,” he says.
About Anionic Polyacrylamide (PAM)
- Anionic Polyacrylamide (PAM) is used as a soil conditioner in some agricultural and urban settings to reduce soil erosion. This is a new mitigation measure added in 2025. PAM stabilizes soil particles and would reduce pesticide movement through sediment erosion and liquid run-off.
- This mitigation measure is worth two points. To qualify, water-soluble formulations of anionic PAM must be used. This is because of toxicity concerns associated with oil-based formulations of anionic PAM.
- Apply anionic PAM according to the manufacturer’s recommended application rate, which may need adjustments for soil properties, slope, and type of irrigation used.
- Applications of anionic PAM should be made during the fi rst irrigation event and after any soil disturbing activities, e.g., tillage.
- Growers may also achieve mitigation credit for this measure when anionic PAM is applied in a manner consistent with NRCS Conservation Practice 450.
Source: EPA
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