In this Edition
Minnesota Crop Advisors Board Update – February 2024
Capitol Corner- State
- Committee Updates
- Environmental Priorities come into Focus for 2024 Minnesota Legislative Session
- EPA Directive Renews Debate over State’s Role in Protecting Drinking Water from Farm Pollution
- Related – Rep. Hansen’s Introduces HF 4135
Capitol Corner - Federal
- Biden-Harris Administration Announces Over $770 Million for Rural Infrastructure Projects During Investing in America Tour
- Vilsack Testifies Before House Ag Committee
- ARA, CLA, ASTA Joint Comments to EPA ANPR Concerning Treated Seed
Industry Related News
- Safety Advisory: Possible Catastrophic Failure of Nurse Tanks and Recommendation for Periodic Testing
- Potassium Depletion in Agricultural Soils Threatens Food Security
- Ag Retailers Can Ensure a Successful Tech Journey for Their Grower-Customers
- US Farmers Face Harsh Economics with Record Corn Supplies in Silos
- Which State Tops The List For Precision Ag Use?
Partner News / Announcements
- Pesticide Safety Workshop Information from UMN Extension Pesticide Safety and Environmental Education Team
- Ag Retailer Involvement in Conservation Planning
- EPA Policy and Proposals: Draft Herbicide Strategy will Impact all U.S. Farmers
- ESA Herbicide Strategy Deadline Extension
- MN Chamber Report – Streamlining Minnesota’s Environmental Permitting Process: Essential for Economic Growth
- MCA Seek Input on New Green Fertilizer Grant Program
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Minnesota Crop Advisors Board Update – February 2024
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The MCCA Board is developing an action plan to address two core objectives: maintaining CCAs and recruiting new individuals to become a CCA. Currently, there are around 500 CCAs in Minnesota. Unfortunately, we are seeing an increase in the number of CCAs not renewing and fewer individuals taking the CCA exam and becoming certified. This results in a downward trend in Minnesota's total number of CCA.
The International CCA board is reporting similar trends in other states. The ICCA board is considering reducing the number of credit hours required to renew to address this. They also propose allowing individuals who have lapsed in renewing their CCA for the past 5 years to get reinstated without taking the exam provided they get current on their earned credit hours.
In the coming weeks, MCCA will conduct a brief survey of CCA to gather more information about the barriers to obtaining credits and hear more about how we can improve the program. Additionally, the MCCA is exploring opportunities to engage colleges and universities to help promote the value of becoming a CCA and providing support for students and recent graduates to prepare for the exam. MCCA and MCPR will continue to review the credit offerings and how we promote the value of becoming a CCA. We strongly believe that ongoing professional development embodied in the CCA credential is valuable for individual career growth and enhances the overall professionalism of the services provided by Ag Retailers and our industry partners.
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Committee Updates
Senate Ag Committee 2/20
MN House Ag Committee 2/22 - MDA / U of MN Nitrates in Soil
- Minnesota Department of Agriculture
- University of Minnesota, Dr. Carl Rosen, Professor, Department of Soil, Water, and Climate
MN Senate Ag Committee – 2/26
- Presentation on Nitrates in the Karst Region by Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and Minnesota Department of Health
MN Senate Ag Committee – 2/28
MN House Ag Committee – 2/29
- Presentations on Nitrates – Ag Industry and Grower Groups
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Environmental Priorities come into Focus for 2024 Minnesota Legislative Session
Here’s an excerpt: “Hansen said he anticipates more PFAS legislation on the horizon in his committee. He’s also expecting a package related to nitrates seeping into and contaminating groundwater after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determined in November that the state needs to take action on the contamination.”
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EPA Directive Renews Debate over State’s Role in Protecting Drinking Water from Farm Pollution
For more than 30 years, Minnesota elected officials have directed time and public money into plans designed to address the growing issue of agricultural pollution in groundwater, largely with incentives for farmers to voluntarily adopt practices that reduce fertilizer runoff.
Rep. Rick Hansen, DFL-South St. Paul, was on a 1989 Nitrogen Fertilizer Task Force that outlined best management practices to reduce nitrate pollution.
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Related – Rep. Hansen’s Introduces HF 4135
- A bill for extending an agricultural fertilizer research fee and program by one year; establishing a drinking-water fee for nitrogen fertilizer and a private well drinking-water assistance program
- Increases the fertilizer fee by $0.99 per ton.
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Biden-Harris Administration Announces Over $770 Million for Rural Infrastructure Projects During Investing in America Tour
Funding Will Bring High-Speed Internet, Clean Drinking Water and Modern Infrastructure to More Than One Million People in Rural Communities
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Vilsack Testifies Before House Ag Committee
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack testified before the House Agriculture Committee at a five-hour hearing on Wednesday.
Vilsack defended the administration’s focus assisting small- and medium-scale farmers, and insisted there is “tremendous” demand for Inflation Reduction Act funding, some of which Republicans would like to reallocate to other farm bill priorities.
Vilsack also warned lawmakers that the Supreme Court’s decision upholding California’s Proposition 12 could lead to “chaos,” if other states follow suit in imposing their own standards for food products.
“I'm not sure that this Congress is going to be able to pass legislation [to address such laws] with due respect, but I would suggest that if we don't take this issue seriously we're going to have chaos, because there’s nothing to prevent any state from doing what California did,” Vilsack told committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa.
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ARA, CLA, ASTA Joint Comments to EPA ANPR Concerning Treated Seed
ARA letters and comments sent to Congress and federal agencies related to issues impacting ag retailers, suppliers, and their farmer customers.
ARA, CropLife America (CLA), and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) submitted joint comments to the EPA regarding its Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) concerning the Agency's approach to regulating seeds treated with a pesticide registered under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
ARA, ASTA and CLA request that EPA reinforce its interpretation of the Treated Article Exemption to exempt treated seeds from redundant registration under FIFRA because our members would be directly impacted by any rule imposing additional or duplicative regulatory requirements for treated seed.
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Safety Advisory: Possible Catastrophic Failure of Nurse Tanks and Recommendation for Periodic Testing
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issue this safety advisory to provide notice of the possibility of catastrophic failure of certain hazardous materials packages commonly known as “nurse tanks.” See Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR) §173.315(m).
Background
This notice focuses on nurse tanks manufactured from January 1, 2007, through December 31, 2011, by American Welding and Tank (AWT) at its Fremont, Ohio plant. Nurse tanks manufactured by AWT from 2009 to 2010 were the subject of a prior FMCSA investigation and enforcement action in response to improper manufacturing procedures.
On August 23, 2023, a 2009 AWT nurse tank containing anhydrous ammonia experienced a catastrophic failure in a farm co-op lot, resulting in the release of all product. The failure caused the tank shell to “rocket” over 300 feet from its original location. While no injuries were reported, this event is an indicator of potential continuing problems with AWT nurse tanks that have now been in service for over a decade.
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Potassium Depletion in Agricultural Soils Threatens Food Security
The threat of potassium depletion in agricultural soils, a crucial nutrient for plant growth, is emerging as a significant concern for global food security. This is the conclusion of new research led by University College London (UCL).
The study reveals a critical imbalance that is happening on a global scale. More potassium is being removed from soils than replenished, posing a risk to crop yields and, consequently, food supplies.
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Ag Retailers Can Ensure a Successful Tech Journey for Their Grower-Customers
Retailers should not only explain the technology they are selling, but also help lay out a technology plan for the next five years.
For me, the cold, dark days of winter are a time to slow down, do some organizing, foster new habits, catch up on reading, and indulge in some deep thinking.
One topic that I mull over frequently is technology and how it’s impacting nearly every facet of our lives. There are plenty of examples of negative effects, especially social ones like increased isolation, bullying, and intrusive surveillance. Yet, technology has also enabled greater connectedness and communication, telehealth, and access to more information than one can possibly imagine.
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US Farmers Face Harsh Economics with Record Corn Supplies in Silos
CHICAGO, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Illinois farmer Dan Henebry regrets not selling more of his corn crop last summer, when the Midwest needed rain and prices were high.
He is not alone.
Farmers across the United States are kicking themselves for putting off corn sales after fields dried up in May and June, fueling expectations for higher prices and smaller harvests. Instead, prices tanked as rains saved the crop. The size and speed of the price collapse stung farmers and left their storage bins stuffed with record amounts of corn.
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Which State Tops The List For Precision Ag Use?
In late January, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a study on the benefits and challenges for technology and its adoption. While using precision agriculture technologies can be beneficial for efficiency, profitability and the environment, high up-front costs can be a barrier for some farmers.
GAO's role is to help improve the performance and accountability of the federal government. While collecting information for the technology assessment, which was conducted from April 2022 to January 2024, GAO examined policy options to help address the challenges.
TECH ADOPTION BY STATE
While precision agriculture technologies have been available since the 1990s, only 27% of U.S. farms or ranches used precision agriculture practices to manage crops or livestock, based on 2023 USDA reporting. The following top five states for tech use account for approximately half of the 2022 U.S. cash receipts for corn (52.6%) and soybeans (45.7%):
- North Dakota
- Nebraska
- Iowa
- South Dakota
- Illinois
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Partner News / Announcements
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Pesticide Safety Workshop Information from UMN Extension Pesticide Safety and Environmental Education Team
PSEE provides recertification and pre-certification and professional development workshops for commercial and noncommercial pesticide applicators. If you need licensing information please visit the MDA website.
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Ag Retailer Involvement in Conservation Planning
ARA is calling on you to ask your lawmakers in Congress to support recently introduced bipartisan legislation to address the shortage of Technical Service Providers who help producers access U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation programs via technical assistance.
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EPA Policy and Proposals: Draft Herbicide Strategy will Impact all U.S. Farmers
Pesticide restrictions could fundamentally change the way farming takes place in America.
EPA’s proposed mitigations will impact every pesticide user in the U.S. The Agency has already released a set of proposed mitigations for herbicides, with the final version of the draft Herbicide Strategy expected later this year. Farmers and pesticide applicators should also prepare for similar proposals for insecticides and fungicides.
At a Glance
Pesticide applicators should be aware of the significant impacts and restrictions of the EPA's draft Herbicide Strategy.
- Once the EPA integrates restrictions into herbicide registrations, details can be found on the Bulletins Live! Two website.
- A picklist point system to reduce erosion and runoff makes it difficult for farmers to understand their compliance burden.
- This is an ongoing series on policy proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to bring its ESA-FIFRA process into compliance.
If you have been to a crop meeting lately, you’ve likely heard an update on proposals put out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address compliance issues with the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Of these are a series of mitigation strategies specifically targeted at groups of pesticides. The first of these, the draft Herbicide Strategy, was released by the EPA on July 24, 2023, intended to reduce potential environmental impacts from the use of herbicides for over 900 listed and endangered species and their designated critical habitats.
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ESA Herbicide Strategy Deadline Extension
The EPA’s Endangered Species Act (ESA) Herbicide Strategy Deadline has been extended by the federal court, which is great news for the ARA members and the industry.
The new deadline is August 30, 2024, which provides the EPA with more time to review comments submitted by industry stakeholders such ARA and to revise the proposed strategy that helps protect endangered species while also working for America’s ag retailers and their farmer customers.
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MN Chamber Report – Streamlining Minnesota’s Environmental Permitting Process: Essential for Economic Growth
The report can be accessed through the MN Chamber website by clicking HERE.
To view the webinar recording highlighting the report’s findings, please click HERE.
If you have any questions about the report, please get in touch with Jennifer Byers, jbyers@mnchamber.com, on the Minnesota Chamber Foundation team!
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MCA Seek Input on New Green Fertilizer Grant Program
St. Paul, MN: Through a request for information (RFI), the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) invites eligible cooperatives and other interested stakeholders in providing input to help the agency in designing a new Green Fertilizer Grant Program and in assessing business readiness of the green fertilizer industry in Minnesota.
During the 2023 session, the Minnesota Legislature appropriated $7 million to the MDA for a Green Fertilizer Grant Program. The program is intended to provide financial support to Minnesota agricultural and rural electric cooperatives investing in green fertilizer production facilities, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the use of renewable energy in the agriculture sector.
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Minnesota Crop Production Retailers | P: 763.235.6466
www.mcpr-cca.org
601 Carlson Parkway, Ste 450, Minnetonka, MN 55305
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