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25 Mar

Posted at 12:00h in Advocacy, Industry News, Regulatory
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FMCSA has issued a waiver in response to COVID-19 outbreaks as several states are experiencing employee absences or have closed offices.  As a result, many drivers are unable to renew their CDLs or are unable to provide medical certificates.  In addition, many medical providers nationwide have canceled appointments to dedicate resources to the COVID-19 response.  As a result, drivers are unable to obtain physicals to comply with the regulations. Among the provisions, this waiver extends the expiration of CDLs due for renewal on or after March 1, 2020 until June 30,...

25 Mar

Posted at 07:41h in Advocacy, Industry News, Regulatory
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Beginning Friday, March 20, 2020, at least 14 Kansas counties have issued emergency “stay at home” orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each of these local orders defines, and exempts, “essential businesses.” Earlier this week, Governor Laura Kelly issued Executive Order #20-15. This Executive Order establishes a “Kansas Essential Functions Framework (KEFF)” to identify a state-wide list of “essential businesses.” The KEFF is based on national critical function guidelines established for pandemic and other disaster response efforts. The Governor’s Order identifies agribusiness, grain storage, and biofuel production as essential functions and...

24 Mar

Posted at 07:53h in Advocacy, Industry News, Regulatory
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Governor’s Executive Order Does Apply to Agriculture Products However, be ready to answer some questions about your load Governor Laura Kelly's Executive Order 20-09 (view by clicking the button below or HERE) allows a 10% weight waiver for motor carriers of essential services and food supplies. For our members’ clarification of the Executive Order, we requested clarification from the Kansas Highway Patrol if the waiver applies to the following: transport of agricultural crop inputs (seed/pesticide/fertilizer/diesel) from import/manufacturer to the end user/farmer transport of grain from farm to elevator transport of grain from...

24 Mar

Posted at 07:52h in Advocacy, Industry News, Regulatory
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Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association has partnered with Kansas Grain and Feed Association and Kansas Cooperative Council to work on behalf of the agribusiness and shared cooperative industries during this uncertain time. As a follow-up to the communication KARA provided earlier today regarding essential business definitions, please see below. Background and the Law: Kansas law grants each county health officer the authority to declare a pandemic emergency within its own county and to issue a “quarantine/stay at home” Order. These Orders are derived from the county health officer, and enforced by the County...

23 Mar

Posted at 09:04h in Advocacy, Industry News
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KARA members - Throughout this unprecedented time in our country, we have been working non-stop to ensure COVID-19 executive orders from Topeka do not impede on your ability to feed the world. In coordination with 15 agriculture-related organizations, known as the Kansas Agricultural Alliance, we spearheaded the effort to send the letter below to Governor Laura Kelly and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam this morning.We implored the governor to designate the agriculture commodity community as an essential service if she decided to deploy a “shelter in place” or “quarantine” order. We...

18 Mar

Posted at 08:37h in Industry News
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Please find below a press release from the Kansas Department of Agriculture stressing the importance of our industry and the vital role you play in the state, national and international supply chain. Your association has been in close communication with our state and federal regulators since the onset of the COVID-19 game changer and have received insurances that robust agribusiness operations are vital to keep the country moving. Please continue to contact your association with concerns and questions regarding this issue. Sincerely, Ronald C. Seeber Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association 785.234.0463 | ron@kansasag.org With Tuesday’s announcement...

16 Mar

Posted at 07:45h in Industry News
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Due to ongoing concerns over the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association has canceled its upcoming CDL Exam Preparation schools scheduled for March 26 in Manhattan and April 16 in Hays. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the association office by phone (785.234.0463) or by email (samantha@kansasag.org)....

16 Mar

Posted at 07:00h in Advocacy
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On Thursday evening, the Legislature wrapped up regular session business, adjourning nearly a full week before its regularly scheduled adjournment date as concerns of COVID-19 exposure continue to grow. This shortened session prevented final legislative action on many bills. However, the adjournment resolution is scheduled to bring the legislature back on Monday, April 27, and allow one final week of possible action on bills -- all of which is dependent on the broader COVID-19 pandemic. Legislature Passes Budget for fiscal years ’20 and ’21 On Thursday, March 19, following multiple rounds of...

09 Mar

Posted at 07:41h in Advocacy
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With daily news of COVID-19 marching across the country, and concerns of a shortened Kansas legislative session, the pace of legislative activity quickened this week. Committees in the House and Senate each passed out bills on the base budget and on the state’s next transportation plan. Though gone for the weekend, legislators will consider these measures when they return on Monday. Next week will bring more quick work during the final days of activity for non-exempt committees this session. Here are some of the highlights from this week: Committees Advance Budget Bills On...

06 Mar

Posted at 14:10h in Advocacy
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Week 8 for the Kansas legislature was a short one with only two days of committee work on Wednesday and Thursday following the break for Turnaround (the mandatory movement of bills from non-exempt committees from their house of origin to the opposite chamber). Exempt bills include all those that have passed through certain committees, including House or Senate Taxation, House Appropriations/Senate Ways and Means, and House and Senate Federal and State Affairs. Next week’s calendar promises to be very busy again with committees having their say on bills passed by the...

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