News & Information

With the Electronic Logging Device rule now in effect for six months, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is continuing to work to provide support and clarity to the industry as well as its law enforcement partners. A review … Continued

Photo Gallery Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association’s (KARA) office near downtown Topeka hosted Governor Dr. Jeff Colyer Saturday afternoon as he inked his signature onto House Bill 2280, which revises the Rules and Regulations Filing Act pertaining to economic impact statements. … Continued

2018 Kansas Legislative Report The Kansas Legislature adjourned Sine Die its 90-day legislative session on Friday, May 4. Your government affairs staff worked day and night watching for your best interests in Topeka so you didn’t have to. Take a … Continued

Kansas lawmakers returned to Topeka on Thursday after an almost three-week spring break. Heading into Veto Session, lawmakers were faced with three main tasks before final adjournment: passing a budget, adding the $80 million left out of the K-12 funding … Continued

New Requirement for CDL Holders to be Trained Starts July 1. A national organization that works closely with the trucking industry has been approved to provide anti-human trafficking training to commercial drivers license holders in Kansas, Attorney General Derek Schmidt … Continued

Photo Courtesy of iStock.com The Kansas Legislature adjourned just after midnight Sunday morning, but not before some baffling twists, turns and political maneuvering. First adjournment was originally scheduled for Friday, but lawmakers continued their work into Saturday before finally passing … Continued

Photo Courtesy of iStock.com Lawmakers spent most of last week debating bills on the floor, while non-exempt committees met intermittently as needed. Thursday was the last day for bills not “blessed” by the Speaker or Senate President to be considered … Continued

Photo Courtesy of iStock.com Friday marked the last day for non-exempt committees (budget, tax, federal and state affairs) to meet and finish their work for the 2018 Legislative Session. Both the House and Senate are on the floor all this … Continued

Photo Courtesy of iStock.com Last week, both the House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means Committees began hearing and working on their respective budget rescission bills, which marks a turning point during any legislative session. House Bill 2468 and Senate Bill 269 make adjustments … Continued

Courtesy of NGFA   WASHINGTON, D.C., and ARLINGTON, Va., March 13, 2018 – The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) and National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) today issued a joint statement regarding a stakeholder-driven proposal to resolve the unintended … Continued

Photo Courtesy of iStock.com The pace picked up in the Kansas Legislature last week, with plenty of hearings and bills being kicked out of committees. There was also floor debate on a few hot topic items, including teacher due process, … Continued

Photo Courtesy of iStock.com Legislators returned to Topeka on Wednesday after adjourning for a short Turnaround break on Thursday, February 22. With pro forma on Friday, the two-day week was a slow start to the second half of the 2018 … Continued

Photo Courtesy of iStock.com Kansas Legislature Update, February 19 – February 23 The Kansas Legislature adjourned on Thursday evening, officially completing the first half of the 2018 Legislative Session. Committees finished their work on Monday before churning through bill debate … Continued

Photo Courtesy of iStock.com Kansas Legislature Update, February 12 – February 16 Today is the last day for committees to meet and work bills. Starting tomorrow, each Chamber will be on the floor until adjournment on Thursday, which is the … Continued

With the official halfway point in the session nearing, Friday was the last day for bills to be introduced in non-exempt committees. All bills that have not passed their House of Origin by Turnaround on February 22 – or are … Continued

  Kansas Legislature Update, January 29 – February 2 Colyer Becomes 47th Governor of Kansas, Announces New Cabinet and Staff Former Lt. Governor Jeff Colyer was sworn in to office on Wednesday, making him the 47th governor of Kansas. He … Continued

Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA) is saddened to learn of the recent passing of longtime devoted member Steve Kruse. Kruse was a decorated member of the agribusiness industry, serving as KARA’s chairman in 1995, winning the Water Guardian Award in … Continued

Kansas Gets New Governor The biggest news under the dome last week was Governor Sam Brownback’s long-awaited U.S. Senate confirmation on Wednesday as Ambassador for International Religious Freedom. With a vote of 50-49 – Vice President Mike Pence casting the … Continued

While most legislators started their drives home Thursday evening, several members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees attended an ag facilities tour in and around the Manhattan area hosted by the Kansas Agricultural Alliance on Friday. Stops included a … Continued

Capitol Review, January 15-19   It was a short week in the Kansas Legislature with the Martin Luther King Jr., holiday on Monday and pro forma sessions on Friday. The remaining days were spent mostly on committee work, with plenty … Continued

The 20th class of Tomorrow’s Agribusiness Leaders (T.A.L.) wrapped up its first day of exposure to legislative affairs in the agriculture industry on Tuesday. Six members of Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association and five participants representing Kansas Grain and Feed Association … Continued

The 2018 Kansas Legislative Session commenced on Monday, January 8. Opening day was brief with each Chamber gaveling in at 2:00 p.m., for mostly formulaic procedure. The Legislature has the same makeup as last year with few changes. Kansas continues … Continued

Your browser does not support the video tag Kansas Certified Crop Advisors (CCA) named Winfield United a Land O’ Lakes Company’s Heath Peterson to its board Thursday afternoon. Peterson, who brings more than 20 years of crop advising experience to … Continued

Your browser does not support the video tag Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA) announced the hiring of Shahira Stafford as its vice president of government affairs Monday morning. Stafford is well-known in the industry, previously serving as KARA’s vice president … Continued

Kansas Grain and Feed Association (KGFA) and Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA) announced the 20th class of the annual Tomorrow’s Agribusiness Leaders Program (TAL) Friday afternoon. The 2018 TAL class representing KGFA are: Nathan Beachner, Beachner Grain, Inc.; Brandon Dills, … Continued

Your browser does not support the video tag Kansas Grain and Feed Association (KGFA) announced Tuesday morning it has promoted Randy Stookey to general counsel and senior vice president. Stookey, who has been general counsel for Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association … Continued

Kansas Grain and Feed Association’s (KGFA) board of directors announced senior vice president of government affairs, Ron Seeber, as the association’s president and CEO Monday morning. On Nov. 15, 2017, Seeber is set to become just the sixth person to … Continued

Tom Tunnell, Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association’s (KARA) president and CEO, was awarded CropLife America’s (CLA) 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award at its annual meeting in Dana Point, California, on Sept. 28. Tunnell, who has been at the helm of KARA since … Continued

Today, I announce my intention to retire as the Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association President and Chief Executive Officer effective March 31, 2018. This announcement sets into motion a predetermined plan to select my replacement, which will be executed by the association’s … Continued

Six-axle trucks may transport 90,000 lbs. beginning July 1, 2017 This Legislative session, your Association joined with a coalition of agricultural interests to seek an increase in the maximum gross weight that commercial trucks can lawfully transport in Kansas. Following the … Continued

TOPEKA – (June 27, 2017) – Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt released the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency’s announcement today that it is beginning the process of withdrawing the unlawful “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) Rule: “Kansans … Continued

Supreme Court to Hear WOTUS Case The Supreme Court of the United States has agreed to hear the Waters of the U.S. case. Many industry and agricultural groups asked the Supreme Court to hear the case after the Sixth Circuit … Continued

Marshall named to Ag Committee subcommittees (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Congressman Roger Marshall has been named to 3 subcommittees under the House Ag Committee. The subcommittees are Commodity Exchanges, Energy and Credit; Livestock and Foreign Agriculture; and Nutrition. The jurisdiction of the subcommittees are … Continued

Changes include increased training and minimum age requirements. WASHINGTON—On Monday, December 12, 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized new training and certification standards for applicators who apply restricted-use pesticides that are not available for purchase by the general … Continued

FDA issues Video Guidance on New Veterinary Feed Directive  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has made available a new video that provides an overview of the agency’s Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) regulation governing the use of medically important … Continued

AG Derek Schmidt: Federal court blocks new Obama administration overtime regulations Nov 22, 2016 TOPEKA – On Tuesday, November 22nd, a federal court in Texas agreed with Kansas and 20 other states that dramatic changes to federal overtime rules are … Continued

WASHINGTON — Brazilian regulators paved the way Thursday for imports of U.S. corn following a short crop, according to industry sources. The National Biosafety Technical Commission, known as CTNBio, met and authorized the outstanding biotech products needed to open the … Continued

The Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association co-authored comments noting concerns with the conclusions, and processes used to reach those conclusions, in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent Draft Ecological Risk Assessment for Atrazine, Propazine and Simazine.  The central theme of the comments … Continued

The Kansas Attorney General is fighting what he considers regulatory overreach by the Federal Department of Labor. “Once again, a Federal agency has taken it upon itself to rewrite the law,” said Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt. “We still believe in … Continued

The United States Department of Agriculture/Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will have financial and technical assistance available for fiscal year 2017 to assist producers with the implementation of conservation practices through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). NRCS accepts applications … Continued

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The D.C. Court of Appeals today ruled the Occupational Safety and Health Administration violated the Occupational Safety and Health Act when it issued an enforcement memorandum on July 22, 2015, redefining the “retail facility” exemption to the … Continued

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is currently addressing changes to the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program. DHS recently held webinars on its new Chemical Security Assessment Tool (CSAT) 2.0. These webinars were recorded and are available online, here. CSAT 2.0 is expected to significantly improve a … Continued

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is accepting public comments on a proposed pilot program to allow a limited number of individuals between the ages of 18 to 21 to operate commercial motor vehicles … Continued

ST. LOUIS — Bayer and Monsanto have announced that they signed a definitive merger agreement under which Bayer will acquire Monsanto for $128 per share in an all-cash transaction. Monsanto’s Board of Directors, Bayer’s Board of Management and Bayer’s Supervisory … Continued

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska have established an agreement in the longstanding conflict over water from the Republican River basin, as the Republican River Compact Administration signed two resolutions. Representatives from the three states have been meeting monthly … Continued

On May 18, 2016, President Obama announced a new U.S. Department of Labor final rule updating federal overtime regulations. Public and private sector concerns continue to be expressed over this new rule which will increase the salary threshold for mandatory … Continued

In 2015, the Kansas legislature passed HB 2193, creating the Risk Management Program (RMP)as an alternative to the Voluntary Cleanup and Property Redevelopment Program (VCP) administered by the Kansas Dept. of Health and Environment (KDHE). Your Association participated in a KDHE … Continued

EPA recently announced it is amending its hazardous chemical inventory reporting regulations due to the changes in the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard. Changes are required as a result of the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of … Continued

The Department of Homeland Security issued a notice in the Federal Register last week informing the public of the Department’s intent to begin the implementation of the improved tiering methodology for chemical facilities of interest regulated under CFATS. The notice … Continued

On June 30, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor issued an Interim Final Rule to implement theFederal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Improvements Act passed last Fall as part of the highly publicized “Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015” negotiated between the … Continued

Ivanka trumps everything for FHSU student 07/25/16 By Randy Gonzales University Relations and Marketing HAYS, Kan. — It was a whirlwind week for Kansas’ youngest representative at the Republican National Convention. Tanner Tempel, a Garden City senior agriculture business major … Continued

ASSOCIATION STAFF — The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has announced a new policy addressing our members’ number one concern with the Voluntary Cleanup and Property Redevelopment Program (VCP). Many Association members may be familiar with or enrolled … Continued

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently published a final rule that amends the agency’s food facility registration regulations to include provisions mandated by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and require additional information to be submitted during the … Continued

TOPEKA – (July 19, 2016) – Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt issued the following statement related to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announcement today that it is dropping efforts to list the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened species: … Continued

The Asmark Institute has released dates for its 2016 Emergency Response to Agricultural IncidentsCourse. This hands-on training course is specifically designed for employees working at agrichemical facilities who are expected to respond to a spill or release of a hazardous … Continued

(Lenexa, Kan., June 24, 2016) – The owner of an agricultural fertilizer plant in southwest Nebraska has agreed to comply with federal Risk Management Program (RMP) requirements as part of a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency related to … Continued

On June 6th, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a draft ecological risk assessment for its registration review of Atrazine. Registration review is EPA’s periodic review of a pesticide to ensure the pesticide continues to satisfy statutory standards. The … Continued

WASHINGTON — A unanimous Supreme Court today ruled landowners may challenge the federal government whenever the Army Corps of Engineers tries improperly to regulate land with regulations designed to protect water. Landowners have attempted many times to challenge Corps rulings known … Continued

On May 17, 2016, Governor Brownback signed into law House Bill 2490, granting the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to quarantine growing crops in the field due to the known presence of biological and chemical plant toxins. This is a … Continued

On Thursday, May 12, 2016, the Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association filed official comments on EPA’s proposed amendments to its Risk Management Program regulations for fertilizer facilities. On March 14, 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had published proposed amendments … Continued

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The U.S. government said Wednesday that it won’t appeal recent court rulings in Texas that stripped the lesser prairie chicken of federal protection under the Endangered Species Act. The Fish and Wild Service said in an … Continued

In separate communications earlier this week, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced plans to conduct formal rulemaking to change the retail exemption to Process Safety Management (PSM). In a letter to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, which … Continued

KARA testimony before a state water resources task force yesterday advocated for full funding of the state water plan, and offered a proposal to clean up nitrates in ground and surface water by increasing the size of the Kansas Agricultural … Continued

The [Poultry Industry] is concerned about the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) recent attempts to expand its authority to conduct wall-to-wall inspections of poultry processing facilities whenever they receive notice of any accident or employee complaint. There are legal … Continued

CFTC Reauthorization coming up in Senate Committee Source: NGFA On Thursday, April 14th, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts has announced that the committee will meet to mark up a bill reauthorizing operations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.  The … Continued

Last summer, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) stated its intention to require ag retailers of anhydrous ammonia to comply with Process Safety Management (PSM) regulations. While state and federal ag industry associations continue to push back on … Continued

On Thursday, February 25th, the USEPA announced that it will soon release proposed amendments to its Risk Management Program (RMP) regulations. These regulations are otherwise known as USEPA’s Accidental Release Preventionregulations under section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act (CAA). … Continued

The Kansas State University Crops Team recently captured the title of national Collegiate Crops Contest champion for the seventh year in a row. K-State teams have now won this contest in 14 of the past 17 years. To win the … Continued

The below article was written by James C. Greenwood, CEO of the Biotechnology Industry Organization, and published on October 16 in The Hill. KARA Staff Note: The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015 was introduced by Kansas’s forth district Congressman … Continued

KARA received the following member alert from the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) on October 21 and is sharing with members: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration yesterday announced it would extend its discretionary enforcement policy for Process Safety Management until … Continued

The ResponsibleAg Board of Directors on October 9 announced the selection of Bill Qualls, CPEA, as the organization’s new Executive Director. “We are thrilled to welcome someone with Bill’s experience and skills as Executive Director,” said J. Billy Pirkle, Chairman … Continued

Kansas has asked a federal appeals court to either put the EPA’s new water regulation on hold or send the case back to a district court judge for a decision, Attorney General Derek Schmidt said on September 10. For months, … Continued

On September 8, The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) joined the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) in sending a letter to OSHA requesting an extension to the Process Safety Management (PSM) compliance period for agricultural retailers. The letter follows a July decision by … Continued

Source: Asmark Institute Process Safety Management (PSM) is an OSHA standard that until recently did not apply to most retailers. To comply, one must first understand the definition of a process. A process is any activity or combination of activities … Continued

Your Association Office received the following memo from the Kansas Department of Agriculture regarding their new Intent to Install policy and would like to share it with our members: We are changing the policy on the submission of intent to … Continued

The Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA) has chosen the following five Kansas students to receive college scholarships for the 2015-2016 school year: Brittany Duer, Abilene – to study Agronomy at Ft. Hays State University Carley Hockett, Ulysses – to study … Continued