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Updated: July 01, 2021 At the request of the Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association on June 30, 2021 the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) submitted a 24(c) special local needs registration request to the EPA for Xtendimax with VaporGrip Technology (EPA Registration Number 264-1210). Today, KARA was informed that the special local need registration was not granted. Therefore, this product may not be applied to soybeans in Kansas after June 30, 2021. Story from June 28, 2021 New EPA-approved labels for certain dicamba herbicide products will prohibit application to soybeans after June 30, 2021, and...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 is hosting online Compliance Assistance Webinars on July 20 & Aug. 3 to discuss the Risk Management Program at agricultural facilities. These webinars are being hosted by EPA Region 7 Enforcement and Compliance Assurance staff. Discussion for the July webinar centers on spill reporting, public meetings following RMP reportable accidents, emergency response exercises, and enhanced coordination with local emergency planners and responders. Discussion for the August webinar focus Risk Management Program inspections. Following the presentation, a question-and-answer session was held that provided attendees...

New EPA-approved labels for certain dicamba herbicide products will prohibit application to soybeans after June 30, 2021, and to cotton after July 31, 2021. Due to this shortened application window, Kansas soybean growers and commercial applicators will be unable to use these beneficial products on many soybean acres. Federal law allows states to register a special local needs label for pesticide products within their state. Known as a FIFRA section 24(c) label, this registration would allow state regulators to broaden the application window of EPA-approved pesticide products. This year, Kansas Agribusiness Retailers...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers have asked a federal judge to remand the Waters of United States (WOTUS) rule without vacating it, essentially leaving the current rule in place while the agencies work on a replacement. “This action reflects the agencies’ intent to initiate a new rulemaking process that restores the protections in place prior to the 2015 WOTUS implementation, and anticipates developing a new rule that defines WOTUS and is informed by a robust engagement process…,” the announcement stated. Prior to the 2015 rule's implementation, those...

2021 Kansas Legislature Adjourns Sine Die The 2021 Kansas legislative session formally adjourned Sine Die just before 1:00 p.m., on Wednesday, May 26. The half-day of floor work was uneventful in terms of laws overridden as the Senate successfully Governor Laura Kelly’s veto of a short-term health insurance bill, but the House fell nearly 20 votes short of the 2/3 majority needed to pass the law. Neither chamber attempted any other overrides on bills vetoed. Lawmakers in both chambers did pass a concurrent resolution to Governor Kelly, urging her administration to end...

The Kansas Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) Board of Directors is accepting board member nominations for a three-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2022. Nominations are being accepted through Sept. 24, 2021. The selected nominee will have the option of serving a second term, but it is not required. CCA certification is the standard by which agronomy professionals are judged nationwide. The board meets biannually and members are asked to help chair committees and/or task forces established by the board. Serving on the Kansas CCA Board allows the selected individual to lead the...

Kansas Certified Crop Advisors (CCA) named MKC’s Nathan Eck to its board of directors Thursday morning. Eck, who brings nearly 20 years of crop advising experience to the program, will begin his board term immediately. “I discovered my passion for agronomy while working for Manhattan Coop as well as being a college student at K-State,” Eck said. “I received my CCA soon after graduating in 2001 and I am honored to be a member of the CCA Board of Directors. I feel that the CCA program brings great value to the entire...

Kansas State Treasurer Lynn Rogers announced a new linked deposit loan program to provide low-interest loans to Kansas businesses as well as to schools and businesses who experienced extraordinary natural gas bills from the February polar vortex weather event. The Extraordinary Utility Loan Program utilizes $20 million from the City Utility Loan Program to provide low-interest loans to wholesale natural gas customers, including businesses and school districts, who experienced higher utility bills resulting from the February winter weather. The program provides loans of no more than $500K with a term of up to three...

Legislative Veto Session Report The legislature met for additional legislative action last week during a time referred to as the Veto Session – historically meant to provide the legislature with a brief period to consider bills vetoed by the Governor. During this final week of action, lawmakers voted to override multiple vetoes of bills by Governor Laura Kelly. The legislature worked late into the evening on Friday, May 7, with the House adjourning at 1:40 a.m. on Saturday morning and the Senate adjourning at 2:15 a.m. The legislature passed a handful...

Following an announcement by OSHA in February concerning its guidance on COVID-19, OSHA now plans to issue an emergency temporary standard (ETS) on COVID-19. The agency has formally transmitted its draft Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) on COVID-19 to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. You can find the draft rule here: DASHBOARD - EO - REGINFO.GOV. After publication, OSHA could make enforcement of the standard a priority. The ETS could then be made permanent. AGENCY: DOL-OSHA TITLE: Subpart U – Emergency Temporary Standard – COVID-19 RIN: 1218-AD36 STAGE: Final...

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