GAO to Investigate Pruitt NCBA Videos

Dan Cattle, Environment, Water

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) will investigate an appearance by Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt in a video by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Pruitt appeared earlier this year in a promotional video against the EPA Waters of the U.S. rule. In the video, Pruitt called for public comments in favor of repealing the rule. The GAO has been …

House Committee to Hold Hearing on Glyphosate Allegations

Dan Environment, Industry News Release

The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology announced that it may soon hold a hearing on the International Agency for Cancer Research’s 2015 assessment that glyphosate is a carcinogen. The Committee has been looking into the IARC, which receives American taxpayer funding, and it sent a letter to the agency’s director citing concerns over the “scientific integrity” of the …

Agriculture, Environmental Funding Pitched

Dan Economy, Environment, Florida, Industry News Release

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam will ask state lawmakers for $75 million next year to fund a depleted program that helps shield agricultural land from development. Meanwhile, Gov. Rick Scott said Thursday he will propose spending $21 million to help struggling citrus growers reeling after Hurricane Irma. “They have one crop a year. With all the wind and the rain, it …

Florida Commissioner’s Spotlight: Rural Farmlands

Dan Environment, FL Commissioner Report, Florida

On this week’s Commissioner’s Spotlight, Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam speaks on the importance of Florida’s farming families, and the efforts to preserve Florida’s rural family lands and conserve our natural resources. The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program is an agricultural land preservation program designed to protect important agricultural lands through the acquisition of permanent agricultural land conservation easements. View …

EPA Releases Guidance on Air Emissions

Dan Cattle, Environment, Industry News Release, Livestock

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released guidance to help farmers report the release of hazardous air emissions from animal waste at their farms. Pork Business Dot Com says the EPA made the information available to aid farmers in preparing for the reporting deadline, which is November 15. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt says his agency is working on addressing the undue …

Bloomberg Speculates Illegal Spraying Caused Dicamba Injuries

Dan Environment, Industry News Release

Illegal spraying seems to be the cause of a majority of crop damage earlier this year from dicamba-based herbicides. Given that BASF sold enough dicamba herbicide to cover roughly 52 percent of the dicamba-tolerant acres planted in Arkansas, Bloomberg speculates that a large quantity of off-label dicamba could have been used to fill the gap. Such versions of the herbicide …

Environmental Funding Draws Debate

Dan Environment, Florida, Industry News Release

Count former Gov. Bob Graham among those who were not overwhelmed by an environmental-funding proposal released this week by Gov. Rick Scott. Graham, a Democrat who also served in the U.S. Senate, said Scott’s proposal to spend $50 million on the once-celebrated Florida Forever preservation program doesn’t meet the needs of the program. “We have to decide the kind of …

Dicamba Label Features New Guidelines for 2018 Growing Season

Dan Environment, Industry News Release

Dicamba is now a restricted use pesticide, thanks to guidelines issued recently by the Environmental Protection Agency. The guidelines were reached through a deal between the Trump Administration and the three companies that make dicamba, including Monsanto, BASF, and DuPont. All of the changes will be on product labels heading into the 2018 season. Dr. Ahmit Jhala, Assistant Professor with …

NCGA Offers Reminder on Dicamba Label Changes

Dan Corn, Environment, Industry News Release

The National Corn Growers Association is urging farmers to be aware of the label changes for dicamba herbicides next year. NCGA says farmers interested in using dicamba as part of their crop strategy in the 2018 growing season need to be aware only certified applicators, or those under direct supervision will be allowed to apply the product. The Environmental Protection …