Block dicamba until weedkiller is under control, says report
The herbicide dicamba is too risky to use on row crops such as soybeans and cotton until independent research shows it won’t evaporate and harm nearby crops and plants, said a report from three conservation and environmental groups on Wednesday. Dicamba is blamed for “off-target” damage on millions of acres of property, and the EPA is considering possible rules for its use on crops in the future.
Biden says he would remove tariffs on China
President Trump is “going after China the wrong way” in a go-it-alone trade war that has damaged U.S. agriculture and manufacturing, said Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, in an interview to be aired on Thursday.
Lawmakers seek USDA aid for sheep ranchers
The USDA needs to step in to help sheep ranchers in the West following the bankruptcy of the second-largest U.S. sheep processor, said leaders of the House Agriculture Committee on Wednesday.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Black farmers markets as an option: Farmers markets exclusively for Black farmers are comparatively rare but an alternative to the traditional farmers market that often caters to affluent white customers and can be “a flat-out unwelcoming space for Black vendors.” (Facing South)
FDA finalizes guidance on rice cereal: The Food and Drug Administration has instructed foodmakers to limit the amount of inorganic arsenic in infant rice cereals to no more than 100 parts per billion, to avoid neurodevelopmental effects. (FDA)
Ag, food workers must be tested for Covid-19: Citing 11 outbreaks of Covid-19 at farms and food processing plants in the state, Michigan health officials will require companies to test their agricultural and food processing workers for the coronavirus. (Detroit News)
Ernst-Greenfield race is a toss-up: The Senate race in Iowa between first-term Republican Joni Ernst and Democrat Theresa Greenfield now rates as a toss-up; Ernst is not doing as well in state polls as President Trump. (Sabato’s Crystal Ball)
Largest corn stocks since 1987: A survey of farmers indicates a corn crop of 15.03 billion bushels this fall. It would be the second-largest crop ever, and would likely result in the largest carry-over stocks since 1987. (Farm Futures)
