EPA Announces Final Decision to Register Enlist Duo

The Environmental Protection Agency is registering the herbicide, Enlist Duo with first-time ever restrictions to manage the problem of resistant weeds. The pesticide is for use in controlling weeds in corn and soybeans genetically-engineered (GE) to tolerate 2,4-D and glyphosate. The agency's decision reflects a large body of science and an understanding of the risk of pesticides to human health and the environment.


The herbicides 2,4-D and glyphosate are two of the most widely used herbicides in the world for controlling weeds. Dozens of other countries including Canada, Mexico, Japan and 26 European Union Members have approved these pesticides for use on numerous crops and residential lawns. Last year, Canada approved the use of Enlist Duo for the same uses that EPA is authorizing.  

"The battle for approval of all components of this important technology has taken both determination and patience," said NCGA Trade Policy and Biotechnology Action Team Chair John Linder, a farmer from Edison, Ohio. "This final step should place a necessary, new tool in the hands of corn and soybean farmers in immediate need of new systems to combat growing weed pressures throughout the Corn and Cotton Belts." 

"Today's registration of Enlist Duo herbicide means that America's soybean farmers are a step closer to having access to another integral mode of action with which they can fight yield-robbing weeds," said ASA President and Iowa farmer Ray Gaesser. "We now look to our key export partners to approve this trait so that we can realize the full market potential of this product, without fear of jeopardizing our trading relationships with partially approved traits."

Click here for the full statement from EPA.

Click here for more reaction from the NCGA.

Click here for more from ASA.  

US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Wednesday several steps that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking to address the increase of herbicide resistant weeds in U.S. agricultural systems.


"Weed control in major crops is almost entirely accomplished with herbicides today," said Vilsack. "USDA, working in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency, must continue to identify ways to encourage producers to adopt diverse tactics for weed management in addition to herbicide control. The actions we are taking today are part of this effort."


 USDA is announcing several of the steps it is taking to help farmers manage their herbicide resistant weed problems in a more holistic and sustainable way:

 -- USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) will offer financial assistance under its Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for herbicide resistant weed control practices that utilize Integrated Pest Management plans and practices.  

 -- Later this year NRCS will be soliciting proposals under the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Program for innovative conservation systems that address herbicide resistant weeds.  

 -- USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will actively promote use of best management practices (BMPs) in design protocols for regulated authorized releases of genetically engineered (GE) crops and will include recommendations for BMPs with the authorization of field trials of HR crops. 

Click here to read about more of USDA's efforts to combat herbicide resistance.   

Paraguay Becomes 8th Largest Beef Exporter

There are more than three or four countries selling beef into the global marketplace. Obvious the United States sells a lot of beef internationally along with Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Brazil. After that you have to think a little harder about other countries like Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, but also Paraguay. US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Economist Erin Borror was in Paraguay earlier this month to conduct research on the country's growing beef industry. She found this country has a lot of potential in selling beef internationally.


"Paraguay has been a rising star in beef export trade," Borror said.   "Their exports will be close to Uruguay's exports this year and will defiantly surpass Uruguay in the near future. Their exports have already surpassed Argentina, so kind of fascinating when you think of it historically when Argentina was a real export power house."  


Paraguay has some where between 12 and 14 million head of cattle. Borror said since Paraguay has been some what an under dog that they have had to do things that much better to gain their place on the world stage.  Click here to listen or to read more from our Beef Buzz feature on the Paraguay beef industry.   

2015 Wheat Crop Looking Good in Central Oklahoma- The Latest Pics  

Oklahoma wheat that has emerged as of Mid October is looking good- and with the rains of this past Thursday through Monday- the growth and development of the crop will continue quickly in the next few weeks. We spent time on Wednesday, October 15, taking a look at several wheat fields in Canadian and Kingfisher Counties in Central Oklahoma- and saw a wide range of development as you might expect at this time of year.


The picture below is of a field north of Kingfisher off US 81- likely planted in early September. It's an excellent stand- no weed problems- and while the soil was soft from recent rains- it was not "stick to your boots" muddy. It has good fencing and is a candidate for grazing cattle in the near future. The first picture below is also of that same field- giving a closer look at the growing field plants- bow about four inches tall.

We have more pictures- including a second field planted later and that was muddy- and that also had a really good stand.

We have several photos of both of these fields on our FLICKC page- and the links to the albums for these two fields is in our webstory linked here. (Plus we have several pictures right there in the story itself.

Alison Van Eenennaam Honored with 2014 Borlaug CAST Communication Award

The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) has presented the 2014 Borlaug CAST Communication Award to Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam in conjunction with the World Food Prize Symposium in Des Moines, Iowa. Recipients of this annual award are science/ag experts who demonstrate an ability to communicate by written material, public presentations, and various forms of media. Van Eenennaam was recognized for her communication skills and praised for her understanding of biotechnology, her enthusiasm for agricultural education, and her abilities to use novel ideas to get important messages to policymakers and the public alike. Here's a YouTube that she helped produce that illustrates her creative bent and desire to explain science to a Dumb and Dumber public:

What Do the Facts Say?

Van Eenennaam spoke about "The Livestock Revolution" and other issues of interest to the agriculture community. She has given more than 250 presentations around the world and made appearances on the Dr. Oz Show, Animal Planet, and NPR. 


A faculty member and Cooperative Extension Specialist at the University of California-Davis, Van Eenennaam has been involved with 60 peer-reviewed publications, including two important CAST papers--a commentary about genetically engineered animals and an issue paper examining the potential impacts of mandatory labeling for GMO food.  Click here to read more about Dr. Van Eenennaam and her role as a ag communicator.  

Growing Support for NRCS Soil Health Conservation Campaign

The following editorial was written by Ron Nichols, NRCS

Two years ago, at the farm of soil health pioneer Dave Brandt in Carroll, Ohio, USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service officially launched the "Unlock the Secrets in the Soil." The Brandt Farm was a fitting birthplace for a soil health education and awareness effort, since Brandt has been a leader, advocate and teacher of soil health principles for nearly three decades.


He continues to dedicate much of his time and energy to teaching farmers and others about the basics and benefits of soil health. And speaking of benefits, healthy soil is loaded with them.


We know that conservation systems that enhance soil health also help increase carbon sequestration and organic matter, enhance nutrient cycling, provide pollinator habitat, reduce energy use and produce the food, fiber and bioenergy needs of our rapidly growing population.


Farmers tell us that enhancing soil health also increases their profitability, thereby strengthening rural economies. That's a lot of bang for the conservation buck.  Click here to learn more about the soil health campaign that began two years ago.   

RFA Debunking Food vs. Fuel Debate

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) released an updated version of its popular publication "Fueling a Nation, Feeding the World". This 10-page booklet outlines ethanol's contribution to the global food and feed supply and contains information that disproves the fabricated food vs. fuel argument.


Bob Dinneen, president and CEO of the RFA, discussed the highly-detailed handbook, stating, "The U.S. ethanol industry has quietly evolved into one of the largest feed processing sectors in the world, generating nearly 40 million metric tons of high-protein, high-energy animal feed in the 2013/14 marketing year. The RFA publication is a resource intended to educate policymakers and consumers about the industry's role in producing feed, to counter the nonsensical food vs. fuel notion, and explain the benefits of ethanol production and co-products for both food and feed markets."


The booklet outlines the co-products of ethanol production, such as distillers grain, corn distillers oil, and corn gluten feed. For instance, a 56-pound bushel of corn will yield 2.8 gallons of ethanol and 17 pounds of distillers grain, which is commonly fed to beef cattle, dairy cows, swine, poultry, and even fish. The handbook explains that "the feed produced by ethanol plants in 2013/14 would be enough to produce nearly 50 billion quarter-pound hamburger patties - or seven patties for every person on the planet." 

Click here to read more about the "Fueling a Nation, Feeding the World" report.