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Today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a response in an effort to clarify the current status of three dicamba registrations following the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ vacatur issued on June 3, 2020. Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association will continue to be in contact with Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA), EPA and our industry partners. KARA will disperse additional information as soon as it becomes available. Below is a direct link to EPA’s cancellation order, EPA’s press release and analysis from Agricultural Retailers Association. EPA’s Cancellation Order EPA Press Release Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection...

The Kansas Legislature returned this week for two days of Special Session after being called back into session by the Governor. The Special Session was called following the Governor’s veto of a COVID-19 bill that would have restricted her authority under the Kansas Emergency Management Act (KEMA) and provided certain liability protections to businesses concerning COVID-19. The Legislature reconvened on Wednesday and quickly passed House Bill 2016 as an amended version of the previous COVID-19 legislation. House Bill 2016 provides limited liability protections for businesses who manufacture or sell personal protective...

Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA) is aware of the June 3 decision in National Family Farm Coalition et al v. EPA handed down by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals concerning dicamba product registrations. Three of the dicamba herbicides were included: XtendiMax®, Engenia and FeXapan Herbicide. The Court found that USEPA failed to adequately account for risks and “made multiple errors in granting the conditional registrations.” KARA has spoken with Kansas state regulators who instructed that the purchase and application of the products in Kansas is not yet prohibited. Seasonal application can continue until instructed otherwise. KARA has recently...

Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA) is aware of yesterday's decision in National Family Farm Coalition et al v. EPA handed down by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals concerning dicamba product registrations. Three of the dicamba herbicides were included. The Court found that USEPA failed to adequately account for risks and “made multiple errors in granting the conditional registrations.” KARA has been notified that until the Court issues a mandate to enforce the order, the label remains effective and the product is legal to use. However, such a mandate could be issued...

The Kansas Applicator Institute: Where applicators and certified crop advisors discuss tomorrow’s precision application – today. Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association has officially opened registration for its annual Kansas Applicator Institute scheduled for Aug. 5 - 6, 2020 at the state fairgrounds in Hutchinson. The annual institute includes two days of hands-on learning including interactive pest control strategies, networking opportunities and the crowd-favorite ride-and-drive. LEARN MORE...

Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association’s postponed CDL Exam Preparation schools have been rescheduled for Aug. 4, Aug. 27 and Sept. 29, 2020. Attendees are not required to, but will have the opportunity to take the Kansas Commercial Learner’s Permit general knowledge, air brakes and combination exams upon completion of the review program.  The exam(s) will start no later than 2:00PM and those who wish to take the exam(s) will need to bring an additional $13 (cash, check or credit card paid to the Kansas Department of Revenue on site) , their valid...

This afternoon, Governor Kelly announced that she is using her constitutional authority to call the Kansas Legislature back in to a Special Session next week, beginning Wednesday, June 3, 2020. The Governor stated that she intends to veto CCR on Sen Sub for HB 2054, outlined below, which would have restricted the Governor’s authority to issue emergency disaster orders under the Kansas Emergency Management Act. She is directing the legislature to return to Topeka and asking that they pass a bill to extend her current emergency orders under the Act. The Governor’s...

On Thursday, May 21st, the Kansas legislature returned for one final day of business in 2020. Through 24 straight hours of debate and deliberation, conference committees met and assembled multiple bill packages. The Legislature was initially scheduled to return for a full veto session in April. That date was postponed, however, in response to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the truncated timeframe with which the legislature had to conduct its final business, Leadership limited action to only those bills which were arguably related to the pandemic. The weighty issue of...

Governor Laura Kelly's Executive Order 20-33, maintaining the 10 percent weight waiver up to 90,000 lbs for trucks hauling essential goods and supplies expires on June 14, 2020. 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 commercial elevator to end user (i.e., feed yards, feed mills, biofuel plants, export market, etc.) transport of...

The Kansas legislature will return for one final day of business on Thursday, May 21st. Multiple committee met this week to consider various bills – all of which will all compete for limited action next Thursday. Large items, such as Medicaid expansion, might still be open for discussion, as will certain tax bills and COVID-related items. The Legislature was initially scheduled to return a few weeks ago in April for a full veto session. That date was postponed, however, in response to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to adjourning in...

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