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Kansas Dept. of Agriculture (KDA) is hosting a virtual federal infrastructure funding Zoom meeting on Oct. 15, 2021. See more information from KDA below. The Heartland’s economy – and our nation’s economy – relies on agriculture, transportation and technology industries working well together. With the focus on federal infrastructure funding, now is the time for our region to identify partnership opportunities and regional strategies that generate game-changing results for generations to come. The HomeField Advantage series is an opportunity to learn from each other and plan how to leverage our regional strengths. Maximizing investments...

Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association organized a coalition of agriculture organizations to submit a letter to EPA administrator Michael Regan requesting the agency provide regulatory certainty and ensure continued access to dicamba products under the 2020 approved label. The undersigned coalition of Kansas agricultural stakeholders represents cotton and soybean farmers, agribusiness, biofuels industry, and conservationists who seek the continued use of over-the-top (OTT), post-emergent application of dicamba herbicide products. The letter also seeks state level flexibility on use and cut-off dates as necessary to meet the needs and growing conditions present in each...

ARA received notice from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that it has published the chlorpyrifos final rule FAQs , which can be accessed through the chlorpyrifos main web page. These questions represent the most commonly asked questions EPA received since issuing the final rule. All but six of ARA’s questions were answered in the FAQs. For those six remaining questions, below are EPA’s responses. ARA is participating in several stakeholder calls later today for further discussions on how the industry can respond to EPA’s decision related to revoking all tolerances for...

Kansas Wheat has prepared a packet of information available via the button below. Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus and associated diseases have shown noticeable yield losses in Kansas. In this packet you will find timely information from Kansas State University as well as historical information from the 2017 crop year, which suffered devastating losses due to this disease. Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus is a growing issue in Kansas. Tests show that the disease showed up not only in western Kansas, but also in central Kansas this year. The best way to stop the...

Passage of the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation plan requires Kansas Dept. of Transportation (KDOT) to hold local consult meetings every two years to gather input on projects. This year, KDOT's Local Consult looks different. Out of an abundance of caution and to comply with current state guidance related to COVID-19, the Local Consult meetings will be held virtually, with two online options to participate: A virtual live Zoom meeting will take place for each region plus the Wichita and Kansas City metro areas. Visit https://www.ksdotike.org/projects/local-consult-process for the schedule and to register. This...

Amidst the excitement of returning to an in-person annual meeting, Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association’s 20-plus member board of directors selected Dustin Kuntz of Harveyville Seed Company, Inc., to serve a two-year term as chairman through August of 2023 earlier this week in Manhattan. "I am humbled and honored to carry this baton of leadership for our industry,” Kuntz, whose father also served as the association’s chairman in 1987, said. “I intend to continue building on the rich legacy of the many volunteer leaders who have served before me.” Kuntz is the 55th...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing the interim decision (ID) for the pesticide paraquat dichloride (paraquat) finalizing new, stronger safety measures to reduce exposure. The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) requires the agency to periodically re-evaluate pesticides through registration review to ensure that risk assessments and pesticide decisions reflect the best available science. The ID is part of the legally required registration review process to identify risks as well as actions that can mitigate risks. Paraquat is an herbicide applied annually to control invasive weeds and grasses in crops including cotton, corn, and soybeans. No direct one-to-one alternatives to paraquat are available. All paraquat products are Restricted Use Products and may only...

the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of the Army announced plans for upcoming community engagements to inform their efforts to revise the definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) to better ensure clean and safe water for all. EPA and Army are committed to developing a reasonable, effective, and durable definition of WOTUS that protects public health, the environment, and downstream communities while supporting economic opportunity, agriculture, and other industries. “We are committed to crafting an enduring definition of WOTUS by listening to all sides so that...

United States Environmental Protection Agency has extended the comment period for its proposed changes to the Risk Management Program Rule by 16 calendar days from July 15, 2021 to July 31, 2021. Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA) members now have until July 31, 2021 to submit comments to EPA at http://www.regulations.gov (Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OLEM-2021-0312). This week KARA submitted comments which are included in this email via the button below for member use in drafting their own responses. Based on comments it receives, EPA may propose additional changes for covered facilities (such as ag retail) similar...

Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association's (KARA) scholarship committee has awarded nearly $10,000 in scholarships to Kansas high school graduating seniors and current college students for the 2021-22 academic year. The scholarship committee, comprised of KARA's membership, received more than 100 applications and awarded six students scholarships to assist in advancing their academic endeavors. “Our board of directors and industry as a whole agree one of the most important things we can do is assist in ensuring our next generation of agribusiness professionals are able to access higher education,” KARA’s president and CEO Ron...

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