Key members of Congress are quickly looking for solutions to a pesticide permitting debacle set to hit farmers and other users of crop protection products at month's end.
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DHS to hold ammonium nitrate listening sessions
The Department of Homeland Security will hold its first public listening sessions over ammonium nitrate security this week in Jackson, Miss.
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Corn harvest not as 'apocalyptic' as feared
Many U.S. corn farmers are generating yields better than the government projected last month, signaling this year’s harvest results won’t be as dire as once feared following a Midwest summer heat wave.
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mySPCC suite of guidance materials launched
The new mySPCC Web-based suite of tools and guidance has been developed specifically to help retail farm centers and farmers comply with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure plan requirements.
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Will direction be set for wetlands enforcement?
Will new legislation change the Clean Water Act so that it is rewritten to give the states more power on wetlands protection decisions, and what is the U.S. Supreme Court going to rule during this current court session that will affect Clean Water Act enforcement?
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EPA approves DuPont's LeadOff herbicide
The Environmental Protection Agency approved DuPont's LeadOff herbicide for use in growing corn, soybeans and cotton in the South and Delta areas.
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OSHA broadens definition of 'safety'
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has taken its authority to prevent accidents and hazards in the workplace and extended it to include violence in the workplace.
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Court may stop Alabama immigration law
The federal government filed a request with the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to stop enforcement of the Alabama immigration law.
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Do farms put profit ahead of principle?
The latest consumer research from the Center for Food Integrity shows a significant gap in consumer perception between current and ideal priorities for commercial farms.
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BIG PICTURE
By Doane EconomistUSDA released a new Crop Progress report on Oct. 3 for the week ending on Sunday, Oct. 2. The national corn condition rating held steady with last week at 52 percent good-to-excellent. This compares to 66 percent last year and 60 percent for the 10-year average. Corn harvested climbed six points last week to 21 percent. The harvest is behind last year’s early crop when the harvest was 37 percent at this point. Harvest is only two points below the 10-year average. USDA reports soybean harvesting progress is at 19 percent versus the 10-year average at 27 percent and 34 percent last year. The cotton crop rating was unchanged at 29 percent good to excellent. USDA reported the cotton crop harvest at 16 percent complete, up just three points from the previous week. Winter wheat planting progress increased to 42 percent, up from 26 percent the previous week.
