EPA: Enhance Pesticide Use Regulations

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Protecting farm workers by altering the agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS) to heighten farm pesticide usage regulations was recommended last week by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). More than a dozen changes promoted by the EPA include requiring annual pesticide safety training for workers and handlers, expanding training content to include information on reducing take-home exposure, reducing the grace period for full WPS training from five days to two and requiring record keeping of training for two years. In addition, the changes would include requiring posting of treated areas when restricted entry intervals exceed 48 hours, requiring pesticide handlers and early-entry workers to be age 16 or older (with family exceptions), prohibiting entry into certain buffer areas around crop fields during pesticide applications and adapting the OSHA standard for respirators.

“What we don’t know is the exact total number of occupational incidents involving pesticides,” said Jim Jones of EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. “What we have found is that the most common types of incidents can be prevented with changes to our current worker protection standard.”

A public comment period on the EPA recommendations is expected to open within days. (AgWeb.com)

Good: Corn Prices Should Project Higher

URBANA – Under revised USDA projections issued Feb. 20, corn would suffer a significant price decrease among cash crops in the short term, with average prices sinking to $3.90 per bushel this year, followed by wheat, which would fall to $5.30/bu. Soybeans will also fall in price to $9.65/bu. in 2014, a 24 percent reduction from USDA estimates issued Feb. 13 as part of their 10-year Agricultural Outlook. Corn was valued at around $3.40/bu. in the initial USDA projection.

Some ag economists don’t agree with either the Feb. 13 or Feb. 20 USDA projections for crop prices, including Darrell Good from the University of Illinois at Urbana. “In contrast, the current futures market points to an average farm price (for corn) between $4.40 and $4.50 over the next four years. Projected stocks at the start of next year will be smaller than in the baseline projections and the forecast of planted coverage may also be smaller. The smaller supply projection, then, would point to smaller year-ending stocks and a higher average price,” Good said.

“Differences of opinion about the level of corn prices in the more distant future seem to reflect differences of opinion about a number of fundamental supply and demand factors. If corn demand is more price elastic than generally believed, large crops would result in less price weakness than reflected in some of the very low projections being offered. While a return to the high corn prices of the past three years is not expected any time soon, a combination of more modest trend yields and more responsive consumption suggest that larger crops would not be as bearish as reflected in some of the more extreme price forecasts,” he added.

USDA issued revised projections on Feb. 20 because their original 10-year forecast was based on provisions within the 2008 Farm Bill. President Obama signed a new farm bill into law earlier this month.

Aledo Woman’s Ag Journey Chronicled

BLOOMINGTON – Kate Danner, an Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) Soy Ambassador and 2012 graduate of Iowa State University, is sharing her personal journey to a career in agriculture. On February 20, Danner was on hand when the USDA announced revised projections for agriculture during the USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum in Arlington, Virginia. While there, she participated as a panelist for the special session “A  Roadmap for Women in Agriculture,” describing her experiences as a young farmer working alongside her father, Jhn Longley, growing soybeans and corn near Aledo. The panel included Krysta Harden, USDA deputy secretary of agriculture.

On Feb. 24, Danner joined Harden and an Oregon farmer for a USDA Google Plus online “Hangout” highlighting USDA’s commitment to building the new generation of agriculture. the Hangout explored the great challenges and opportunities for new and beginning farmers as the average age of farm operators continues to rise and more diversity is changing the face of agriculture.

The Hangout was the first in a planned series of USDA outreach and education efforts for new and beginning farmers and ranchers to be directed by Harden. (USDA, ISA news releases)

Illinois Corn Announces Continued NASCAR Sponsorship

BLOOMINGTON – Illinois Corn will once again participate in American Ethanol NASCAR sponsorship. According to Illinois Corn, American Ethanol is enhancing its partnership with Richard Childress Racing and driver Austin Dillon for the 2014 NASCAR season. Beginning March 2 with a NASCAR Sprint Cup series contest, Dillon will drive the number 3 American Ethanol Chevy SS in select races.

“Homegrown biofuels like American Ethanol have stepped up to help our nation’s economy, and are proving to be a better fuel,” stated Dillon, an official spokesperson for American Ethanol. “NASCAR drivers have run more than five million competitive miles on Sunoco Green E15 and I know we will reach even more milestones together.”

American Ethanol was launched by Growth Energy and the National Corn Growers Association along with the Illinois Corn Marketing Board and other supporters. Its purpose is to expand consumer awareness of the benefits of ethanol and E15. Corn ethanol reduces carbon emissions by 59 percent and helps create American jobs, according to the organization. (Ill. Corn Daily Update)

Soybean Management Site to Be Unveiled

PEORIA – Illinois Soybean Association directors and staff will unveil a new online production resource, www.ILSoyAdvisor.com, during the Illinois Soybean Summit in Peoria on March 7. The website promises to provide soybean management solutions fueled by the Illinois soybean community.  (ISA news release)

Illinois Farm Fact:

The Illinois Soybean Association represents more than 45,000 soybean farmers in Illinois through state soybean checkoff and membership efforts.

(Tim Alexander is a freelance reporter who writes agriculture, news and feature articles for the News Bulletin, Farm World and many other publications.)