This is the first of a four part series on Nutrient Management sponsored by FS/GROWMARK In March of 2013, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency hosted a meeting of stakeholders to announce the beginning of a statewide Nutrient Reduction Strategy. Marcia Willhite, chief of the Illinois EPA Bureau of Water, says the first step in implementing this strategy was to get … Read More
Farmers Reminded of Conservation Compliance Changes
USDA is reminding farmers of conservation compliance changes included in the 2014 Farm Bill that may impact their operations. According to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, producers are now required to have on file a Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation Certification (AD-1026). The Farm Bill relinked highly erodible land conservation and wetland conservation compliance with eligibility for premium support … Read More
Protection from Effects of Lesser Prairie Chicken
U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) introduced an amendment to the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2014 to prohibit the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of the Interior from altering any land management practices based on the listing of the Lesser Prairie Chicken as a threatened species. “Just as we thought, in Kansas, the … Read More
EPA Chief Heading to Missouri
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy will travel to Missouri this week to defend and explain the Administration’s proposed rules defining Waters of the United States (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act (CWA). On Wednesday, McCarthy will visit Missouri corn and soybean farmer Bill Heffernan to view soil conservation practices used to protect local waterways. On Thursday, she will deliver … Read More
FAA Expected to Miss Drone Deadline
The commercial use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) may continue to be delayed as a new report finds the Federal Aviation Administration is unlikely to meet the September 2015 deadline set by Congress for integrating commercial drones into U.S. airspace. The report by the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Transportation concludes … Read More
Marrone Bio Opens Michigan Facility
Marrone Bio Innovations, a leading global provider of bio-based pest management and plant health products, celebrated the official opening of its Marrone Michigan Manufacturing (M3) facility Wednesday with a ribbon cutting ceremony featuring Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). “We know how to grow things and make things, so it’s no surprise that MBI chose to invest right here in Michigan,” said … Read More
Hillary Clinton Voices Support for Ag Biotech
Potential presidential candidate Hillary Clinton spent over an hour last week at the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) convention in San Diego chatting with BIO president and CEO Jim Greenwood, a former congressman from Pennsylvania. The wide ranging discussion touched on a variety of topics, including agricultural biotechnology. Greenwood asked Mrs. Clinton where she stood on the use of genetically modified … Read More
Soybean Grower Testifies on Biotech and Trade
The Senate Committee on Finance held a hearing Wednesday on “Trade Enforcement: Using Trade Rules to Level the Playing Field for U.S. Companies and Workers” addressing concerns that as new trade agreements are being considered those that are already in place are not being adequately enforced. “Without strong enforcement, no trade deal – old or new – is able to … Read More
ASTA Urges Congress to Ratify Plant Treaty
You may have never heard about the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture but the multi-lateral agreement is considered crucial in the fight against global hunger and poverty. “The treaty is an international regime where countries decided that we needed to do something about conserving and sustainably using plant genetic resources for food and agriculture,” said … Read More
Hick Chick Chat about Illinois Ethanol Bill
The Illinois Corn Growers Association and Illinois Renewable Fuels are supporting legislation that would allow consumers more choice at the fuel pump. Consumer Fuel Choice for Illinois (SB 52/HB 165) would eliminate the 20% Illinois state sales tax incentive for E-10 and establish a 10% Illinois state sales tax incentive for E-15, which models the successful program originally created by … Read More