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Late last week, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the prepublication availability of the final "Revised Definition of 'Waters of the United States'" rule, which will be effective 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register. The rule is slated to replace the 2020 Navigable Waters Protection Rule with the pre-2015 regulation, including a few additional clarifications. Last October, the United States Supreme Court received arguments on a matter, referred to as Sackett v. EPA, which centers on the extent of the U.S. EPA’s jurisdiction to enforce the...

Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA) is facilitating six scholarships to graduating Kansas-based high school seniors and current college students in 2023. The deadline to submit applications if 5:00 p.m., on Friday, February 24, 2023. Since its inception, the KARA scholarship program has awarded countless deserving students funds necessary to pursue agriculture-related fields of study. "Thank you for selecting my application as one of the winners of your scholarship," Timothy Pearce, a 2022 recipient said. "I look forward to spending time at Kansas State improving my knowledge and experience in agriculture. Scholarships such as...

The selection committee for the Tomorrow’s Agribusiness Leaders (TAL) program met in early-December to review applications and select five members of the Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association and five members of the Kansas Grain and Feed Association to comprise the 25th class of agribusiness’ premier leadership development course. The selection committee of TAL alumni chose: Andrew Breese (Kansas Grain Inspection Service); Todd Dingler (ProValue Insurance); Jeff Ellis (Syngenta); Brandi Hartley (Farmers Coop Equity at Isabel); Blake Malcolm (AgMark LLC); Jed Miller (Ag Partners Cooperative Inc.); Kent Nichols (MKC); Todd Schultz (Producer Ag,...

With a potential rail strike still on the horizon, Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association signed a letter coordinated by GoRail to request congress take action averting a nationwide shutdown. On Nov. 9, two rail labor unions extended their "status quo" period to Dec. 4, pushing the potential for a strike back to Dec. 9 at the earliest. To date, seven labor unions have ratified agreements based on the recommendations of the Presidential Emergency Board appointed by President Biden, while three other ratification votes are pending....

Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA) filed comments to the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on the agency's proposed changes to Process Safety Management (PSM) regulations. The comment period closes on Nov. 14, 2022. PSM is a comprehensive set of performance-based standards that were established by OSHA in response to accidents and chemical releases at very large chemical manufacturing and processing facilities. The standard requires employers to implement safety programs that identify, evaluate, and control highly hazardous chemicals. OSHA is engaging stakeholders to provide comments on a list of...

Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA) joined its national affiliate organizations and sent a letter to congressional leaders Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-California) encouraging congressional action affirming EPA as the the primary, federal authority for making pesticide findings and decisions, and that states may build upon the agency’s findings should they choose. The letter points to states who have recently begun taking steps to risk limiting access to essential crop protection tools, contradicting...

Previously a co-signer of broad coalition letters, as agreements have continued to stall and the November 19 deadline for a rail strike/lockout quickly approaches, Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association joined a letter consisting of national and state agribusiness organizations requesting action from congress. "On behalf of our collective food and agricultural memberships, we write to urge swift action to avert a rail strike or lockout that would lead to shutdowns or slowdowns of rail-dependent facilities resulting in devastating consequences to our national and global food security," the letter said. The letter recommends congress...

Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA) submitted comments to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Oct. 27 concerning the agency's proposed changes to Risk Management Program regulations. The proposed revisions include several changes and amplifications to the accident prevention program requirements, enhancements to the emergency preparedness requirements, increased public availability of chemical hazard information, and several other changes to certain regulatory definitions or points of clarification. The comments point to KARA members remaining fully committed to chemical safety and security, however, In general, KARA opposes EPA’s newly proposed amendments to the...

Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA) and its national affiliate organization, CropLife America are requesting your assistance in contacting the Kansas congressional delegation to obtain full FY2023 funding for EPA. In order to do its job and curb the delay of new pesticide product registrations, the EPA needs adequate funding. Recently, falling just below CropLife America's initial request for $163 million in PRIA funding, the House-passed H.R. 8294 which included $158 million in funding under the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act. This is a 22 percent increase over the current fiscal year. The Interior...

Association has joined more than 100 state and national level organizations in signing a letter urging President Joe Biden's administration to continue working with the railroads and union officials to ensure an agreed-upon mid-September rail labor contract is ratified. To date, six of the 12 unions have ratified the agreement, however, there are concerns a strike could still take place which would have devastating consequences on the economy. Many major news organizations have published reports detailing the potential strike in November. Links to stories are below. Railroads reject sick time demands, raising...

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