Items of Interest to Midsouth Soybean Producers

Farmers are having a tough time making a profit. They must contend with high prices for inputs and equipment needed/used to grow a crop, the vagaries of weather, dwindling water supplies for irrigation, and erratic and usually low commodity prices. Now comes another hurdle they must contend with as they select materials to the use to grow their crops--EPA’s recently enacted herbicide strategy to protect endangered species.  In this strategy, EPA will identify measures that can be used to reduce the amount of exposure to herbicides of federally-identified endangered and threatened species when it registers a new herbicide or when it re-registers an already-in-use herbicide.

The strategy does not limit or prohibit the use of any herbicide, but rather identifies/includes mitigation options/measures that must be used to ensure that an applied herbicide does not reach or adversely affect the environment used by any one of the listed endangered species. EPA will thus use the strategy to inform growers and applicators of the mitigation measures that must be used for any new herbicide that comes to market, or for any current herbicide that is considered for re-registration. The required mitigation measures will appear on the herbicide label.

Midsouth soybean producers are encouraged to access this strategy so they will be in compliance when a particular herbicide is applied to their field(s).

MSU’s Drone Training Seminar

Miss. State Univ. is offering a seminar for those interested in using unmanned aerial systems [UAS], or drones, to apply materials to crops. The MSU Spray Drone/UAS Seminar will be held at the Bost Extension Center on Oct. 9 from 9 to 11AM, and will be presented both in-person and online. Topics will include regulatory updates, current FAA-approved spray drones, current and potential spray drone restrictions, and current MSU research with drones and drone applications.

The MSPB is one of the co-sponsors of the event. There is no cost to attend, but pre-registration is required for both the in-person and online presentations. To register and view the agenda, click here.

Composed by Larry G. Heatherly, Sep. 2024, larryh91746@gmail.com