NSP Seeks to Protect Grower Access to Atrazine, Asks Members to Comment
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reopened the finalized re-registration of atrazine, a widely utilized herbicide in sorghum production, and is proposing to replace the approved 15 parts per billion (ppb) concentration equivalent level of concern (CE-LOC) in the aquatic assessment with the ultra-low 3.4 ppb CE-LOC proposed in 2016—a severely restricted level not supported by credible scientific evidence that would have a devastating impact on farmers. National Sorghum Producers strongly disagrees with the EPA’s proposed level of concern for atrazine and is actively seeking input from its grower community. The proposal (EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0266) is published in the Federal Register, and EPA will accept public comments for 60 days. NSP will continue to work with the EPA, Congress and the White House to help bring logic and science to the assessment process. Meanwhile, NSP is encouraging its members to comment on the issue by visiting SorghumGrowers.com. Read NSP's full statement on the proposal here. Additional information on the benefits of atrazine from the Triazine Network is available here.
POLICY, REGULATORY AND ISSUE UPDATES
USDA Expands Insurance Coverage for Double Cropping for 2023
USDA provided more detail in its broadening of the double-cropping or Following Another Crop (FAC) rules for insurance for 2023. The intent of the rule is to prevent lack of crop insurance availability from being justification for farmers not taking the additional risk to plant when the market is demanding it. This will make crop insurance more readily available for double-cropping where appropriate. The maps and policies are not final and RMA is still taking input through the contract change date in November. Read the USDA press release here and access the FAQs here.
House to Take Up Agriculture Appropriations Bill Next Week as Part of Minibus Appropriations Package, Senate Appropriations Subcommittees to Release Bills by End of July
The full House of Representatives is expected to take up a minibus appropriations bill next week that includes, amongst other appropriations bills, the Agriculture Appropriations Bill. The House Rules Committee meets on Monday to determine the contours of the debate, including which amendments shall be made in order. Historically, floor consideration is an opportunity for opponents of U.S. farm policy to offer hostile amendments, but House leadership is likely to look askance at such amendments because they would complicate passage of the overall legislation. Meanwhile, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee chairmen plan to release fiscal year 2023 bills by the end of July, a spokesman for Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) said in a news release. While the House plans to clear as many of the 12 annual appropriations bills as possible before the August recess, the Senate is not expected to move any of the bills through subcommittee, full committee or the full chamber. This will undoubtedly result in the need for at least one Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government running after September 30 and ultimately in an omnibus bill in the lame duck session or early next year. Failure to pass an omnibus would result in Congress passing a year-long CR. Read more here.
Senators Thune and Klobuchar Lead Senators in Letter Calling on USDA to Fix Emergency Relief Program Implementation Problems
Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), members of the Senate Agriculture Committee, led Senate colleagues in requesting that Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack address implementation issues with the Emergency Relief Program (ERP), including ensuring that all 2020 causes of loss are covered under ERP’s prevent plant, that the 75 percent rule not be implemented in a manner that harms producers with a negative AGI or excludes equipment sales from farm income, and ensuring that farmers who purchased supplemental crop insurance coverage (e.g., SCO, ECO, STAX) receive timely assistance. Senators John Hoeven (R-ND), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Steve Daines (R-MT) also signed the letter. Read the letter here.
Senator Boozman Leads GOP Senators in Pressing USTR To Step It Up On Advancing Trade, Market Access for U.S. Agriculture
In a letter to Doug McKalip, President Biden’s nominee for Chief Agricultural Negotiator for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Senator John Boozman (R-AR), the Ranking Republican Member on the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, led a group of Republican Senators in urging McKalip to “become an advocate within the Office of the United States Trade Representative for the prioritization and inclusion of market access commitments as part of U.S. trade discussions. Our farmers and ranchers are facing uncertain times due to the immense pressure of an exponential increase in input costs. Greater access to international markets for products we export would help alleviate some of that pressure. The Biden Administration has been criticized for allowing Trade Promotion Authority to lapse last summer, for not pursuing new trade agreements or completing ongoing negotiations, and for pursuing deals that do not translate into new market access for U.S. agriculture, such as the new Indo Pacific Economic Framework.” Read the letter here.
Ranking Republican Members Thompson, Boozman Urge EPA Not To ‘Politicize’ Pesticides
House Agriculture Committee Ranking Republican Member, Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA), and Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Republican Member, Senator John Boozman (R-AR), urged Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan to “cease politicization of crop protection tools” and defend federal preemption under FIFRA and sound science in evaluating crop protection products. "We once again seek your assurances and commitment to ensure this Administration and EPA cease the politicization of critical crop protection tools, adhere to a science-based and transparent regulatory process required under FIFRA, and defend the work of its career scientists to overcome these misguided decisions from the Ninth Circuit. Such actions would provide farmers and ranchers a consistent and predictable regulatory process necessary for U.S. producers to continue to feed, fuel, and clothe the world.” You may read the full letter here.
USDA Accepts More than 3.1 Million Acres in Grassland CRP Signup
USDA is accepting offers for more than 3.1 million acres from agricultural producers and private landowners through this year’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grassland Signup, the highest in history. This year, producers have enrolled 2 million acres through the General Signup and more than 464,000 acres have been submitted through the Continuous CRP Signup. About 5.6 million acres are entering CRP in 2023, surpassing the 3.9 million acres expiring this year. Read more here.
Endangered Species Act Vacated by Federal Judge
Endangered Species Act regulations adopted during the Trump Administration have been vacated by a federal judge. The judge ruled as such despite the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service having requested to keep the rules in place at least temporarily. Read more here.
EPA Could Soon Allow Electric Vehicles to Qualify for RFS Credits
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to act on Renewable Fuel Standard language that would allow power derived from renewable biomass for electric vehicle charging to qualify for credits through the program. The Energy Independence Act of 2007 made electricity from renewable biomass eligible under the Renewable Fuel Standard. The EPA has said it will need to “iron out how it would track whether renewable electricity was being generated from approved biomass and whether it was being used as transportation fuel.” It is unclear what a rule from the EPA would look like. Read more here.
Growth Energy Files Suit Over EPA’s ‘Alternative’ Approach to Small Refinery RFS Compliance
Growth Energy is challenging an “alternative" compliance approach for refineries to meet their obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). According to Growth Energy, "In a decision announced this April, EPA reversed 31 small refinery exemptions (SREs) it had previously granted for the 2018 compliance year but declined to hold affected refiners accountable for meeting any blending obligations for that year. Instead, EPA crafted a novel ‘alternative compliance’ approach that excused these refiners from ever having to comply with their 2018 blending obligations. In June, EPA reaffirmed this approach when it excused additional refiners whose petitions for 2016 and 2017 SREs it denied for the first time.” Growth filed its petition concerning the 2016-2018 compliance years in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Read more here.
ORGANIZATION UPDATES
Summer Sorghum Grower Magazine: Photo Submissions
Get your camera (or even phone camera) ready, we want to see your sorghum field! Submit your field photos here, or tag us in your #FromTheField photos on social media for a chance to be featured in the upcoming summer edition of the sorghum grower magazine!
ICYMI: RIPE with Martin Barbre on Sorghum Smart Talk: Policy Edition
Check out the newest episode of Sorghum Smart Talk: Policy Edition! Tune in for a special episode of Sorghum Smart Talk: Policy Edition about the Rural Investment to Protect Our Environment (RIPE). NSP's John Duff is joined by Martin Barbre, vice president of engagement and government affairs for RIPE, to discuss their work with farmers and on Capitol Hill. It's available at https://sorghumgrowers.com/podcast/ or on your favorite podcast platform!
Sorghum Checkoff Still Accepting Applications to Leadership Sorghum
The United Sorghum Checkoff Program is accepting applications for Leadership Sorghum Class VI, a program designed to cultivate the next generation of sorghum leaders. During the 14-month leadership program, class members will have the opportunity to experience various aspects of the sorghum industry in addition to personal development and networking opportunities. Applications are available here and are due by 5:00 pm CST on September 23. To learn more about Leadership Sorghum, visit SorghumGrowers.com.
Sorghum Checkoff Releases Weekly Sorghum Basis Snapshot
The Sorghum Checkoff, with Southwest Agribusiness Consulting, released its weekly sorghum basis snapshot, available at SorghumCheckoff.com.
Sorghum in the Spotlight:
Corn, sorghum growers say atrazine restrictions would curb conservation - AgriPulse
Sorghum Silage Could Fill Feed Gaps - Hay & Forage Grower
Sorghum growers unhappy with EPA proposal - World Grain
Husker Team Leads Effort to Help Sorghum Defend Itself from Aphid Attacks - AgriNews
Upcoming Events
July 18-21 Leadership Sorghum Session - Washington, DC
August 2 Mid-South Ruminant Nutrition Conference - Grapevine, TX
August 11 Sorghum U - Wichita, KS
August 15 NSP Board Meeting - Wichita, KS
August 17 USCP Board Meeting - Wichita, KS
October 8 Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE)
Market News - To view this week’s Gulf export grain report, click here.
About Sorghum Notes
Sorghum Notes is a publication of the National Sorghum Producers. NSP represents U.S. sorghum producers and serves as the voice of the sorghum industry from coast to coast through education and legislative and regulatory representation.