The process the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses for evaluating the potential for health and ecological effects of a pesticide is called risk assessment. This program is crucial to the process of making decisions about pesticides, both new and existing. We had a story last week where EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler discussed what the agency is doing to move …
EPA Administrator on Agency Moving Into 21st Century
Due to COVID-19, there have been few opportunities for in-person visits on Capitol Hill the past few months, but Texas farm broadcaster Tony St James spent all last week there as a part of the 4th Annual All Ag, All Day DC Capitol Ag Tour. He met with members of Congress and agricultural industry leaders to discuss various topics. One …
General Mills to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
General Mills announced a pledge to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 30% across its full value chain – from farm to fork to landfill – over the next 10 years. The company also committed to a long-term goal to achieve net-zero emission levels by 2050. The absolute greenhouse gas commitment was calculated using methodologies approved by the Science Based …
EPA Finalizes Interim Rules on Atrazine Use by Farmers
Atrazine is a widely used herbicide that farmers can apply before and after planting to control broadleaf and grassy weeds. It’s used primarily on corn, sorghum and sugarcane, and to a lesser extent, on residential lawns and golf courses. The Environmental Protection Agency released the Interim Registration Review Decision for atrazine, as well as propazine and simazine. With the rule, …
Warnell Deer Researchers See Face Coverings Differently
By Destin Kee/University of Georgia For students who work in the University of Georgia’s Deer Research Laboratory, the concept of face coverings is not new. That’s because when researchers study white-tailed deer, face coverings are used to keep the animals calm while necessary data is collected. Lately this data, such as size or DNA, has been collected as part of …
MOU Signing Recognizes Decades of Work
Last week, a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the Public Lands Council (PLC), Ducks Unlimited (DU), Safari Club International (SCI), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) was signed outlining the groups’ shared commitment to healthy natural resources and collective conservation of habitat through sustainable multiple use. NCBA Executive Director of Natural …
USDA/EPA Announce Next Generation Fertilizer Challenges
On Wednesday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the Next Gen Fertilizer Challenges, a joint EPA-USDA partnership and competition to advance agricultural sustainability in the United States. The competition includes two challenges that seek proposals for new and existing fertilizer technologies to maintain or improve crop yields while reducing the impacts of …
Federal, State Agencies Highlight Cooperative Approach to Land Management
GAINESVILLE, Fla.– Aug. 19, 2020 –A Shared Stewardship agreement between the USDA’s Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Farm Service Agency and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Florida Forest Service, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was signed yesterday during a virtual ceremony. This agreement establishes a framework for federal and state agencies …
Appeals Court Rejects Dicamba Rehearing Request
The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals this week declined a rehearing request on its June dicamba decision. The decision leaves Bayer, Corteva and BASF with one final legal option to overturn the ruling vacating registration of dicamba herbicides: appealing to the Supreme Court. On June 3, the court vacated the registration for Bayer’s XtendiMax, Corteva’s FeXapan and BASF’s Engenia, …
USDA’s Conservation Chief Returning to Farming
It’s been announced that the Chief of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Matt Lohr will be stepping down. Gary Crawford talked with him about the fact he is needed back on the farm, thus the decision to leave NRCS. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024