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Last week concluded Week 4 of the 2020 Kansas Legislature. Floor votes were taken in both the House and Senate on a constitutional amendment on abortion. The legislature had slow activity outside of that issue, as all activities on Wednesday were cancelled to allow people to attend a celebration for the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory. Please find a summary of some of highlights of the week below. Property Tax Focus This week saw additional hearings on property tax-related bills in the Senate Committee on Assessment and Taxation. SB 295, prohibiting...

In one week beginning Feb. 11 in Topeka, Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA) will host the first of its six annual NH3 safety workshops. The association encourages anyone who is a frequent user or distributor of anhydrous ammonia, as well as first responders, to attend and receive up-to-date training on safe practices concerning NH3. “As an association, we always look to create training programs emphasizing safety for our membership and the public in general,” KARA president and CEO Ron Seeber said. “Although NH3 is a common input, it still poses hazards...

While the third week of the 2020 Kansas Legislature was occupied with hearings on Medicaid expansion, a constitutional amendment on abortion, and the roll-out of the next Transportation Plan, an assortment of bills on other issues were also considered. A summary of highlights of the week is below. New Transportation Plan “FORWARD” Introduced On Wednesday, January 29th, in the House Appropriations Committee, Kansas Dept. of Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz introduced the transportation plan for the next decade. The plan, referred to as "FORWARD" will permit amendments as special needs arise that require...

EPA has concluded its regulatory review of glyphosate—the most widely used herbicide in the United States. After a thorough review of the best available science, as required under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, EPA has concluded that there are no risks of concern to human health when glyphosate is used according to the label and that it is not a carcinogen. These findings on human health risk are consistent with the conclusions of science reviews by many other countries and other federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of...

Kansas Grain and Feed Association (KGFA), Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA) and Kansas Cooperative Council (KCC) welcomed nearly 100 of their shared members to Topeka for the group’s annual joint Legislative Action Day on Wednesday, Jan. 22. The annual lunch and evening reception allows members of the agribusiness industry to see government in action and meet with elected officials. “The Legislative Action Day is one of the best programs offered by KGFA, KARA and the KCC,” Kanza Cooperative chief operations officer Nick Krehbiel said. “We believe that engaging with our political...

Kansas Grain and Feed Association (KGFA) and Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA) welcomed the 23rd class of Tomorrow’s Agribusiness Leaders to Topeka on Jan. 21 for the program’s first of three sessions. The program, which began in 1998 and has graduated more than 200 members, is a jointly-sponsored initiative of KGFA and KARA designed to hone leadership traits as well as teach members of the associations about the state and federal legislative and regulatory process. This year’s class featured: Aaron Anderson (Nutrien Ag Solutions); Hillary Birtell (CoMark Equity Alliance); Kalen Cromwell (Farmers Cooperative Grain Association); Kiley DeDonder (WinField...

Yesterday, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works R.D. James unveiled a new, clear definition for “waters of the United States.” With the Navigable Waters Protection Rule, EPA and the Department of the Army (Army) are delivering on President Trump’s promise to finalize a revised definition for “waters of the United States” that protects the nation’s navigable waters from pollution and will result in economic growth across the country. The Navigable Waters Protection Rule identifies four clear categories of waters that are federally regulated...

Kansas Capitol Review Week One (Jan. 20 - 24) By: KARA Government Affairs Staff The second week of the 2020 Kansas Legislative Session kicked off on Tuesday, Jan. 21, following the observation of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday. The week saw a flurry of bills introductions and hearings, while hearings on Medicaid expansion and a constitutional amendment on abortion consumed most of the oxygen in the capitol. A summary of some of those issues below. Tomorrow’s Agribusiness Leaders (TAL) Class Visits Capitol Kansas Grain and Feed Association (KGFA) and Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association...

Presented by: ProValue Insurance ProValue Insurance is an independent agency providing comprehensive insurance products and business services to organizations in need of risk protection. Delivering unparalleled knowledge and experience, ProValue helps protect against more than organizational risk, offering coverages for personal assets to individuals throughout Mid-America. Kansas Capitol Review Week One (Jan. 13 - 17) By: KARA Government Affairs Staff 2020 Legislative Session Begins The 2020 Kansas legislature gaveled in on Monday January 13, 2020. It was a busy week in the capitol building which saw a State of the State address by Governor Laura Kelly, the retirement...

The Kansas crop protection industry applauds the United States Senate's advancement of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to President Trump Thursday. Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA) worked with its national affiliate organizations to provide outreach to Kansans whom USMCA's passage would positively affect. Numerous crop protection organizations and producers contacted their elected officials in the House of Representatives and Senate advocating for the advancement of USMCA. “Advancement of the USMCA is a great win for Kansas agribusiness,” KARA president and CEO Ron Seeber said. “Whether it be grain, agriculture inputs or biofuels,...

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