Newsroom

Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association urges your support of FIFRA (Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act), the nation’s pesticide law, which provides for the federal regulation of pesticide distribution, sale and use. FIFRA also establishes stringent safety standards and oversight. Newly-proposed federal legislation (H.R. 7940 and S. 4406) would jeopardize the innovation, and continued availability of pesticide products by imposing an unscientific process that would unnecessarily remove pest control options from those who need them. A few weeks ago, KARA signed onto a stakeholder letter circulated to congressional offices. The letter defended the...

Bayer announced today that the European Commission has authorized XtendFlex soybean technology for food, feed, import and processing in the European Union. This milestone represents the final key authorization for XtendFlex soybeans. With this approval in hand, Bayer can now look forward to a full launch in the United States and Canada in 2021 and expects to be in a strong position to supply 20 million U.S. soy acres when the selling season arrives. “XtendFlex soybeans will be Bayer’s second major product launch in soybeans in the last 5 years,” said...

Despite cancellation of the 2020 Kansas Agri Business Expo, Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA) will still be raising money for its scholarship fund with a two-week online auction beginning at noon on Monday, November 16, 2020 and ending at noon on Tuesday, December 1. "The scholarship auction is the association's primary fundraiser for assisting students in our state pursue their educations," KARA President and CEO Ron Seeber said. "The items donated and the proceeds from the auction directly benefit our industry by helping fund the education of the future of our...

Today the Federal Register published a U.S. Department of Labor proposed rule offering clarity to the determination whether a worker is an employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) or an independent contractor. In the proposed rule, the Department would: Adopt an “economic reality” test to determine a worker’s status as an FLSA employee or an independent contractor. The test considers whether a worker is in business for himself or herself (independent contractor) or is economically dependent on a putative employer for work (employee); Identify and explain two “core factors,”...

Date: Thursday October 8, 2020 Time: 2 PM (EST) 11 AM (PST) With thousands of OSHA Standards, many employers find the rules are too numerous to memorize, not to mention they are often difficult to decipher and implement. Each year, OSHA publishes a list of "Top Ten Most Frequently Cited Standards" in an effort to alert employers about standards the agency has issued the most citations for. The hope is employers will learn from these results and take steps to find and abate the hazards addressed in this list of standards, before...

EPA announced the interim decision for atrazine last week, marking the end of the registration review process and clearing the way for continued use of a key herbicide for Kansas farmers. The Kansas Corn Growers Association (KCGA) is a founding member of the Triazine Network, a coalition of organizations from a variety of crops across the nation that advocates for science-based regulatory decisions for the triazine herbicides. KCGA CEO Greg Krissek said today’s announcement is a positive step forward for atrazine, a product that provides needed weed control and is a...

This week, Governor Laura Kelly signed Executive order No. 20-65, extending conditional and temporary relief from certain motor carrier rules and regulations. The rule is set to expire at 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2020 or until the statewide State of Disaster Emergency extended by House Bill 2016 expires, whichever is earlier. In accordance with the FMCSA's declaration under Title 49 C.F.R. § 390.23(a)(l)(i), Title 49 C.F.R §§ 390-399 are hereby suspended for motor carriers and persons operating commercial vehicles actively participating in COVID-19 relief or restoration efforts, except that...

Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association will hold its 1A, ag plant and commercial application, recertification at the Tony's Pizza Event Center (800 The Midway) in Salina on Thursday, November 5, 2020. For the first time, attendees will have the option to recertify in-person or online via recorded Zoom sessions. Both in-person and online programs are slated to be FULL RECERTIFICATION programs, including the Core Hour, needed to recertify On-site attendance includes meals and handouts for $140. In-person attendees must practice social distancing, wear masks in all common/gathering areas and be seated six feet apart. Attendees...

On Friday, September 11, 2020, the State Finance Council met to consider Governor Kelly’s request to extend her COVID-19 related disaster declaration which is set to expire on Tuesday, September 15th. On a vote of the members, the State Finance Council extended the Governor’s emergency disaster declaration for 30 days until October 15th, with additional language included stating that the Governor does not intend to close businesses. Without the extension of the emergency declaration, Kansas would lose access to federal CARES funding. Further extensions of the disaster declaration after October...

The Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA) board of directors approved the association's 2021 legislative and regulatory policy guide on August 25. The KARA Policy Guide contains the policy and position statements of the Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association relating to state and federal legislative and regulatory issues. It is intended to serve as a general reference for Association members, legislators, and other state officials. The policy guide is reviewed and updated annually by the KARA Legislative Committee and approved by the KARA Board of Directors. VIEW POLICY GUIDE...

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