Flow charts explain pesticide container regulations
May 17, 2012
EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs has provided three flow charts to provide assistance in complying with the pesticide container and repackaging regulations. Please note that flow charts #2 and #3 should be printed on legal-sized paper and that you need to manually select legal-sized paper.
U.S. fertilizer use and price data set
May 17, 2012
The USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) has updated its data set which "... brings together data on fertilizer consumption in the United States by plant nutrient and major selected product, as well as consumption of mixed fertilizers, secondary nutrients, and micronutrients. Share of crop area receiving fertilizer and fertilizer use per receiving acre, by nutrient, are presented for the major producing states for corn, cotton, soybeans, and wheat. Additional data include fertilizer farm prices and indices of wholesale fertilizer price ..." The May 4, 2012 ERS update of its "Fertilizer Use and Price" data set is available here.
Former KARA Chairman takes EPA inside his agribusiness
April 24, 2012
Last Monday Doyle Pearl, General Manager of J.B. Pearl Sales and Service in St. Marys, took six high-ranking officials of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on a behind-the-scenes look at his Kansas agribusiness. Included in the group were Jim Jones, Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP); Louise Wise, Deputy Assistant Administrator, OCSPP; Steve Bradbury, Director, Office of Pesticide Programs, OSCPP; Robert McNally, Director, Field and External Affairs Division, OSCPP; Damon Frizzel, Region 7 Ag Advisor; and Josh Svaty, Region 7 Ag Advisor.
The group’s visit to JB Pearl Sales and Service was a unique opportunity for the industry to share the importance of crop protection in providing food and fiber to the public. “No business wakes up hoping to receive a visit from the EPA, but our obligation to share the true story of agribusiness with consumers and governing agencies is all too important,” Pearl said.
The tour covered several aspects of a retail facility including a product warehouse, seed treatment facility, field application and corn planting. The EPA officials were actively engaged and able to understand the day-to-day operations of Kansas agribusinesses. During the visit, Pearl encouraged the EPA to consider the importance of keeping the crop protection toolbox robust while also weighing the regulation burden on rural businesses.
EPA denies petition on 2,4-D pesticide April 24, 2012
On April 9, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it was denying a 2008 Petition of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to cancel the pesticide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, or 2,4-D, and revoke all its tolerances.
Stating that the Agency had conducted a thorough evaluation of all the available data, the public comments submitted to the docket responding to the petition, and the state-of-the-science One Generation Reproduction test, Cathryn Britton of the EPA said they had no concern and would not re-open the safety assessment of 2,4-D.
"That study provides an in-depth examination of 2,4-D’s potential for endocrine disruptor, neurotoxic, and immunotoxic effects. The study and EPA’s comprehensive review confirmed EPA’s previous finding that the 2,4-D tolerances are safe. Based on studies addressing endocrine effects on wildlife species and the adequacy of personal protective equipment for workers, the Agency concluded that the science behind our current ecological and worker risk assessments for 2,4-D is sound and there is no basis to change the registrations." Click here to read EPA's Release on their decision.
Multi-Year Flex Account program applications available April 24, 2012
The Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Water Resources is accepting applications for the revised program that allows groundwater water right holders to manage their water right over a 5-year period.
The 2012 Legislature made significant changes to the state’s Multi-Year Flex Account (MYFA) program as part of a series of water law changes designed to conserve the state’s water supply and extend the life of the Ogallala Aquifer. Senate Bill 272, signed by Gov. Brownback in Garden City last month, provides for this expanded flexibility in managing wateruse. Read more.
CoBank closes merger with U.S. AgBank
January 19, 2012
CoBank, a cooperative bank serving agribusinesses, rural infrastructure providers and Farm Credit associations throughout the United States, announced that it has successfully completed its merger with Wichita-based U.S. AgBank.
The merger, which formally closed on January 1, 2012, creates an $85 billion financial services institution that serves as a leading source of credit to the U.S. rural economy. The combined bank's customer base includes agricultural cooperatives and rural power, water and communications service providers in all 50 states. In addition, the bank offers wholesale financing to 29 Farm Credit associations that provide loans and financial services to more than 70,000 farmers, ranchers and other rural borrowers in the west, northwest, southwest, central and northeastern parts of the country. Read more.
Commercial Fertilizer 2010 Report
January 19, 2012
The 2010 edition of the Commercial Fertilizers report has been finalized and copies are available for purchase. Commercial Fertilizers 2010 is a cooperative effort between The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) and the Association of American Plant Food Control Officials (AAPFCO) and is based on fertilizer consumption data submitted by state fertilizer control officials. The report’s basic findings show a 17.9 percent increase in U.S. fertilizer nutrient consumption to 20.843 million short tons for the fertilizer year (FY) ending June 30, 2010.
Specifically, the report found that in FY 2009/10 nitrogen consumption increased 7.2 percent to 12.285 million nutrient tons (MNT), phosphate consumption increased 30.7 percent to 4.099 MNT and potash consumption increased 44.7 percent to 4.458 MNT. The report also found that gross tonnage increased 18.4 percent to 55.837 million tons of material. That figure includes single, multiple and micro-nutrient materials, as well as organic and secondary materials. Click here for a summary by major material for the United States for FY 2008/09 and FY 2009/10.
Hard copies of the report can be ordered by completing the attached order form or going to TFI’s website at www.tfi.org. The report is not available in electronic format. The cost of the report is $30 per copy for members of TFI and AAPFCO and $100 per copy for non-members. All proceeds from the sale of the report go to AAPFCO to support the data collection effort.
