A five-minute summary of AAI, regulation, and industry activities for members of the largest state agribusiness association in the nation. | |
EPA Publishes Update on Herbicide Strategy Progress
Source: US Environmental Protection Agency
| |
The following article is from the US EPA.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing an update to its draft Herbicide Strategy, which is part of the Agency’s plan to improve how it meets its Endangered Species Act (ESA) obligations. The purpose of this update is to describe some improvements that EPA plans to make as it continues finalizing the strategy to increase flexibility and improve ease of implementation while still protecting federally listed species. The Agency expects to publish the final strategy in August 2024.
The draft strategy, which EPA released for public comments in July 2023, describes whether, how much, and where mitigations may be needed to protect listed species from agricultural uses of conventional herbicides. The goal is for EPA to use the strategy to proactively determine mitigations for registration and registration review actions for herbicides even before EPA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) formally complete the lengthy ESA determination on whether an herbicide has effects on a listed species. By adopting these early mitigations, EPA can begin protecting listed species while FWS and NMFS are making their ESA determinations.
The strategy itself does not impose any requirements or restrictions on pesticide use. Rather, EPA will use the strategy to inform mitigations for new active ingredient registrations and registration review of conventional herbicides. Thus, for any herbicide, mitigations from the strategy will not become effective until EPA adopts labels (following public comment) for that herbicide as part of a new active ingredient registration or registration review decision.
EPA received extensive comments on the draft strategy, with many reiterating the importance of protecting listed species from herbicides. Commenters also identified concerns with specific aspects of the draft strategy and suggested revisions. EPA plans to make a number of improvements to the draft based on this feedback, with the primary changes falling into three categories.
- Making the strategy easier to understand. Many commenters noted the complexity of the strategy to determine the amount of mitigation a label requires for a particular pesticide—up to nine points of mitigation. In response, EPA is simplifying its approach, such as by using four tiers—none, low, medium, high—to describe the amount of mitigation that may be needed for each herbicide. EPA also plans to create educational materials that concisely explain the four-tier mitigation approach.
- Increasing flexibility for growers to implement the mitigation measures in the strategy. EPA expects to expand its mitigation measures, especially for specialty crops such as cherries and mint, to include new measures such as erosion barriers, reservoir tillage, and soil carbon amendments. EPA is also working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other organizations to identify other measures to add to the mitigation menu that can reduce pesticide runoff and erosion. In May 2024, for example, the EPA and USDA will host a workshop with agricultural stakeholders to identify other possible measures to add to the menu.
- Reducing the amount of mitigation that may be needed when growers have already adopted voluntary practices to reduce pesticide runoff or where runoff potential is lower due to geography. For example, in areas of the country with flat lands or minimal precipitation where runoff potential is low, growers may need less or no additional measures to use agricultural herbicides, compared to what is currently in the draft strategy. EPA is also considering whether growers could meet any necessary mitigation requirements if they participate in agricultural conservation programs or work with qualified experts to design and implement mitigation measures.
In addition to these types of improvements, EPA is also working on other changes to the Herbicide Strategy and how it is implemented. For many listed species, the maps used in the draft strategy for determining where mitigation measures would apply are often too broad, covering areas not needed to conserve the species. EPA is working with FWS and others to develop a process for refining maps for hundreds of species. This process could then be used by applicants for registration actions and by others to produce draft maps for the agencies to consider. Through this work, EPA expects that the land area subject to the pesticide restrictions under the final strategy could shrink for many species.
EPA appreciates the thoughtful perspectives from multiple stakeholders on the draft strategy and other ESA efforts. EPA continues to consider the public comments, meet with stakeholders, and collaborate with FWS, USDA, and state agencies. EPA expects to publish the final strategy by August 30, 2024.
The full update, along with additional details regarding the strategy, are available in the public docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2023-0365 at www.regulations.gov, and on EPA’s website.
| |
AAI CHAIRMAN'S FOUNDATION GOLF TOURNAMENT | |
Help Build The Employee Pipeline For Agribusiness In Iowa | |
All AAI member companies are invited to sponsor the AAI Chairman's Foundation Golf Tournament in support of the Agribusiness Career Day. This golf event takes place on September 11 in Moravia, Iowa, near Rathbun Lake.
Be recognized for your support!
All sponsors at the Chairman's Golf Tournament will receive:
- Special designation as a Chairman's Tournament Sponsor
- Special acknowledgement to the student attendees of company support at the Agribusiness Career Day in 2025
- PLUS all of the regular golf sponsor benefits and acknowledgements
The Agribusiness Career Day is an opportunity for first year students from ag programs at Iowa community colleges and FFA high school seniors to gain insight on future employment skills and opportunities from industry professionals, government officials, and ag experts.
The AAI Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization promoting research projects, member education, stewardship, and scholarships that benefit AAI members and their families.
| |
AAI GOLF OUTINGS REGISTRATION NOW | |
Golf Gets Going In July
Join with other agribusiness greats for a day (or four!) of golf this summer. Whether you're in it to win it or just putting for pleasure, the AAI Golf Outings are a champion's choice to entertain clients, gather with long time agribusiness colleagues, and enjoy the company of a great group of industry leaders.
Chairman's Tournament In September
On September 11, you can take part in the AAI Chairman's Foundation Golf Tournament. Proceeds support the AAI Foundation Agribusiness Career Day in February 2025 which promotes opportunities in agribusiness to FFA High School Seniors and Community College ag students.
July 25 - AAI Tournament
Emerald Hills Golf Course - Okoboji
August 15 - AAI Tournament
Amana Colonies Golf Course - Amana
August 22 - AAI Tournament
Coldwater Golf Links - Ames
September 11 - AAI Chairman's Foundation Tournament
The Preserve on Rathbun Lake - Moravia
| |
Thank You To Our 2024 Golf Sponsors!
Is your business missing from this list? Claim your sponsorship now and show your support for the success of agribusiness in Iowa.
| |
Thank You For Your Membership! | |
As a member of AAI, you are the driving force of the organization Where Agribusiness Matters. Thank you for your membership and your commitment to the success of agribusiness in Iowa.
The following companies have recently joined or renewed their membership for the 2024 Membership Year.
- Cargill
- Farm Credit Services of America
Not currently a member? Click Here to send us an email so we can follow up with your company and help you get connected to AAI.
| |
|
June 4 & 5
Iowa Ag Aviation Association Analysis Fly-In
AAI Members Invited To Attend
Newton Municipal Airport
June 25
AAI Animal Industry Committee Meeting
Iowa State University Kent Feed Mill & Grain Science Complex
June 27
AAI Board of Directors Meeting
10:00 AM | Northey Building Board Room
July 25
AAI Golf Outing - Okoboji
Emerald Hills Golf Club
August 15
AAI Golf Outing - Amana
Amana Colonies Golf Club
August 22
AAI Golf Outing - Ames
Coldwater Golf Links
September 11
AAI Golf Outing - Moravia
AAI CHAIRMAN'S GOLF TOURNAMENT
The Preserve On Rathbun Lake
| |
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Crop Scout School - May 16, 2024 | |
The Iowa State University Extension Crop Scout School prepares individuals with little or no previous crop scouting experience, providing a foundation of basic skills for crop scouting in the Midwest. Correctly identifying pests in the field is critical for selecting the correct tools to economically manage the issue.
Students will rotate through sessions and have the opportunity to have one-on-one interactions with specialists. Live corn and soybean plants and weed samples will be provided to give students the opportunity to look at living plants, rather than pictures, and practice with their field guides and other resources before they go to the field.
Cost is $150, and includes lunch, refreshments, and course materials including hard copies of the ISU Corn and Soybean Field Guide, Field Crop Insects Guide, Corn Disease Guide, and Soybean Disease Guide as well as a digital version of the ISU Weed ID Guide and other course materials.
For more information and to register, visit:
https://go.iastate.edu/CIODCP
| |
Source: Public News Service
| |
The chair of the Federal Trade Commission will be in rural Iowa this weekend to hear from farmers and other residents about the proposed sale of Iowa Fertilizer to Koch Industries.
The sale is pending FTC approval. Iowa spent $500 million to build an Iowa Fertilizer factory in Weverly to create competition in an already consolidated industry.
Aaron Lehman, president of the Iowa Farmers Union, said he plans to tell FTC Chair Linda Khan a sale to Koch Industries would backtrack on any competitive progress the state has made.
"Our concern is that an industry that already lacks competition and has all sorts of monopoly problems would only get worse if this sale is allowed to go through," Lehman explained.
Koch and other corporate ag conglomerates have said consolidating allows them to provide better products to farmers more efficiently. The hearing is set for Saturday on Main Street in Nevada.
In addition to reducing competition for fertilizer, Lehman argued the sale would increase prices for farmers, and ultimately mean higher food prices for Iowans. He wants Khan to hear stories firsthand, from the people on the ground in Nevada.
[...] Read Full Story
| |
|
Environmental groups filed a petition with the Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday to ask it to step in and take emergency action on the condition of Iowa’s drinking water.
The Iowa Environmental Council says people living in Northeast Iowa are being exposed to high levels of nitrates in the water supply.
Members of the Environmental Protection Commission denied requests to tighten drinking water regulations for Animal Feeding Operations, commonly known as CAFOs, at a meeting Tuesday.
Cherie Mortice with Iowa CCI Action said, “How can we expect to elevate the reputation of our state when we seem to embrace the this race to the bottom and refuse to mitigate the damage to our waterways by continuing to treat them like cesspools?”
Michael Schmidt with the Iowa Environmental Council says they’re concerned about CAFOs in northeast Iowa in particular, because of the karst landscape. That’s mainly found in the Driftless Area where porous limestone underground allows surface water and pollutants to easily seep in. “It has lots of springs, sinkholes, caves, so it’s very common in Northeast Iowa near the surface which means that it’s easy for anything on the surface like manure to get into the groundwater,” Schmidt said.
Since the Environmental Protection Commission declined the IEC’s request for tougher CAFO regulations, they’ve filed an emergency petition with the EPA.
[...] Read Full Story
| |
|
The U.S. food and agriculture sector dealt with at least 167 ransomware attacks last year, according to the leading industry group.
In its first annual report, the Food and Agriculture-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Food and Ag-ISAC) said the industry was the seventh most targeted sector in the country, behind manufacturing, financial services and others.
Thus far in the first quarter of 2024, the sector has counted 40 attacks, a slight decrease on the year before.
Multiple large food companies dealt with cyber incidents in 2023, including Dole, Sysco and Mondelez. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) told Recorded Future News last year that it was affected by a ransomware group’s exploitation of a popular file transfer tool, exposing troves of industry information.
Jonathan Braley, director of the Food and Ag-ISAC — which was formed in 2022 following a run of attacks on the industry that directly affected food pricing — told Recorded Future News that the sector is in the middle of the pack compared to other critical infrastructure sectors affected by ransomware.
Ransomware gangs are going after low-hanging fruit and organizations with discoverable or exploitable security lapses, he said. Braley noted that there was a 54% increase in ransomware attacks across sectors in January, year-on-year. The law enforcement takedowns of LockBit and BlackCat are having a noticeable effect, he said, with steep decreases seen in both February and March.
[...] Read Full Story
| |
|
Hogzilla or Jaws? More humans are killed annually by wild pigs than by sharks, a startling new study reveals. By slice, puncture, hook, and gouge, the global number of fatalities from wild pig attacks is rising by the decade.
Between 2014 and 2023, the average yearly number of fatal shark attacks worldwide was 5.8, while the average number of fatal wild pig attacks was 19.7. In 2024 alone, there have already been seven deaths from wild pig incidents.
According to groundbreaking research published in 2023, the number of humans killed by wild pig attacks steadily climbed from 2000 to 2019, for a total of 172 deaths—including a freakishly grisly fatality in southeast Texas.
“Most of the public doesn’t know the facts about wild pig attacks on humans,” says John J. Mayer, lead author of the study and wild pig research pioneer. “It’s not sharks, wolves, or bears that kill the most people—it’s wild pigs, and the numbers are consistently trending up.”
In 1973, well before the global pig bomb exploded, Mayer began noting wild pigs’ capacity for habitat destruction. At a steady drip, he also heard anecdotes of pig attacks on humans. Although many of the stories initially could not be verified, by the 1990s Mayer accumulated a folder bulging with confirmed encounters, and in 2013, he published research detailing wild pig attacks.
[...] Read Full Story
| |
NOTE: If you unsubscribe below you will no longer receive ANY emails from AAI, including important member specific information and notices. To unsubscribe from just this type of email (i.e. newsletter or event marketing), select Update Profile below. | | | | |
