Wednesday April 15 Ag News

EXTENSION WORKS TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES TO RURAL NEBRASKANS

For many farmers and ranchers across the state, the past few years have not been easy.

First, there was the drought in 2012. A few years later, commodity prices began to decline. Then, 2019 brought historic flooding in eastern and central parts of the state at the same time a blizzard ravaged the west. Now, COVID-19 is creating new challenges for producers while also physically separating rural Nebraskans from friends, neighbors and other support systems.

Challenging times can bring struggles with emotional and mental well-being, said Chuck Hibberd, dean and director of Nebraska Extension.

“You put all of that together, and you have a sector that is really at risk,” Hibberd said.

Nebraska Extension is working to provide resources for rural Nebraskans struggling with mental health issues and, at the same time, to remove the stigma of discussing mental health or receiving mental health services, such as counseling.

While most extension educators are not mental health practitioners, they are trusted resources in rural counties across the state, Hibberd said.

“We are the people who are trying to help people build awareness,” he said.

Extension educators from across Nebraska have compiled a variety of resources for rural Nebraskans at https://ruralwellness.unl.edu. These include information on managing COVID-19-related stress; University of Nebraska Medical Center COVID-19 resources and guidelines; online mental health screenings; and videos, podcasts and other resources to aid Nebraskans in helping their children complete their schoolwork and learning at home.

Additionally, the site includes the numbers for two important hotlines: the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), and the Nebraska Rural Response Hotline, 1-800-464-0258. The Rural Response Hotline can connect farmers and ranchers and their families with attorneys, financial counselors, mediators and other farmers, offering no-cost vouchers for counseling to eligible rural Nebraskans, among other services.

The site also includes resources and coping strategies for Nebraskans who experienced damage or loss as a result of the 2019 flood and bomb cyclone. The anniversary of those events was just last month, and anniversaries can trigger painful memories, grief and sadness.

“In many parts of the state, Nebraskans are dealing with a double impact,” said Susan Harris, an extension educator based in Minden.

Harris, part of a team of extension educators focused on rural well-being, said she and her colleagues were planning events to help build local support networks in areas hit hard by the flood. One such example is the Neighbor-to-Neighbor program, which Buffalo County Extension Educator Kerry Elsen helped launch in 2019. Last winter, the program held events in several Buffalo County communities that combined the food and social fun of a game-day tailgate with opportunities for area residents to connect with nearby mental health service providers, as well as with each other.

Another series of tailgates is planned for this fall, provided it is safe to gather by then, Elsen said. In the meantime, though, she is looking at how to restructure the program to align with social distancing recommendations. She and others are also working to broaden the scope of the program to reach Nebraskans affected by COVID-19, in addition to the flood and bomb cyclone. The Neighbor-to-Neighbor program has partnered with the Buffalo County Suicide Prevention Coalition to reach more rural Nebraskans who might be struggling.

Nebraska Extension will continue its work to connect rural Nebraskans to mental health resources, to plan events once it is safe for people to gather again, and to figure out how to reach people remotely until then. In the meantime, extension educators had a few suggestions for Nebraskans to maintain their mental well-being and connections with loved ones.

Holly Hatton-Bowers, an assistant professor and early childhood extension specialist at Nebraska, recommended sticking to a routine, getting enough sleep, and making a point to connect with friends, neighbors and extended family through texts, phone calls, letters and video chats. Hatton-Bowers suggested making a point to connect both with people who might be struggling as well as with people who tend to be positive and upbeat.

Harris added that random acts of kindness — sending a card, making a donation to a charity, picking up groceries for an elderly or immune-compromised neighbor — can also go a long way, and it’s not just the person on the receiving end who reaps the benefits.

“Random acts of kindness are good therapy just for ourselves,” she said.

For more information, visit https://ruralwellness.unl.edu. The Nebraska Children and Families Foundation website offers additional resources at https://www.nebraskachildren.org/covid-19-information-and-resources.html.



Nebraska Farm Bureau Urges Dept. of Justice to Initiate “Full Investigation” into Potential Manipulation of Cattle Markets 

The Nebraska Farm Bureau is encouraging the U.S. Department of Justice to utilize all its authorities and undertake a “full investigation” to monitor and address any potential price fixing or market manipulations in U.S. cattle markets to ensure the cattle meat packing industry is in compliance with the federal antitrust laws targeted to maintaining a competitive marketplace. In an April 14 letter to U.S. Attorney General William Barr, Nebraska Farm Bureau President Steve Nelson pointed to the alarming disparity between farm-level prices received by farmers and ranchers for cattle and wholesale prices for beef following the fire and subsequent closure of a beef processing plant in Kansas and the current COVID-19 outbreak, where cattle producers have experienced sharp declines in market prices while large margin increases occurred in the meat packing sector.  

“Both of these events have highlighted long-term concerns expressed by cattle producers and now is the time for the department to fully examine the situation and fully prosecute any wrongdoing,” said Nelson.  

Price disparity and volatility is critically frustrating for cattle producers who have seen the prices received for their commodities fall off a cliff at a time when meat counters and store shelves across the country have been less than fully stocked. 

“We cannot afford to lose confidence in the integrity of the futures market nor the price discovery efforts in cash markets, on top of the many other market disruptions and stresses farmers and ranchers are facing today,” said Nelson. “A full Department of Justice investigation in partnership with the recently expanded investigation already occurring at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) would help ensure laws are being followed and help restore confidence in marketing institutions.” 

Nebraska Farm Bureau’s letter to the Attorney General comes on the heels of a letter from Nebraska Farm Bureau to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, where the organization encouraged USDA to work with both the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice to ensure all anti-competition laws are being rigorously followed. 

“In these uncertain times, it’s important our nation’s food producers know that our laws are being properly followed and enforced. We thank the Attorney General for his consideration of this request and for all his efforts on behalf of Nebraska’s farm and ranch families,” said Nelson.  



NeCGA New Leaders Return from Washington, D.C.

Last month new leaders from across the state took part in the Nebraska Corn Growers Association (NeCGA) 32nd Annual Washington, D.C. Leadership Mission. From March 9th to March 13th, 12 producers, along with five grower leaders, got a firsthand experience of advocating in Washington, D.C. and the legislative process.

The leadership mission to Washington, D.C. is a great way for Nebraska corn farmers to engage with key individuals and help put a face on Nebraska agriculture. The participants had a full slate of meetings over three days. This included meeting with the Nebraska congressional delegation as well as important industry partners. The participants were able to discuss issues with a variety of people and organizations who have a great deal of influence over their farms back in Nebraska.

“The Washington, D.C. Leadership Mission is a great opportunity for growers of all backgrounds and ages. It gives our membership a federal look at current issues facing corn farmers, allows them to network face to face with our congressional representation and discuss how issues are impacting their farms back in Nebraska. We try to highlight the importance of membership in the Association, and hopefully we can spark interest in some of the attendees to become more involved in leadership opportunities at the state and national level,” said Andy Jobman, vice president of NeCGA.

This leadership mission trip would not be possible without support from our sponsors, the Nebraska Corn Board and Farm Credit Services of America.



Earth Team Volunteers Help NRCS Accomplish its Mission

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is honoring Nebraska’s Earth Team volunteers and celebrating their many contributions to natural resource protection during National Volunteer week, April 19-25.

Earth Team is a program that allows NRCS to stretch available resources by partnering volunteers with employees to provide a wide range of services to private landowners and the public. These activities can include conservation technical assistance, office support, and teaching and generating awareness about conservation through community projects.

“Whether Earth Team volunteers donate a year, a month or a lifetime to help producers improve their natural resources, the impacts of volunteer efforts are felt far and wide,” said State Conservationist Craig Derickson “Last year, Nebraskans donated more than 2,300 hours of service because they believe in our critical conservation work.

“NRCS appreciates the important work these volunteers do. Their efforts help NRCS bring more conservation services to farmers and ranchers throughout the state. Nebraska’s Earth Team provided about $58,000* of benefit to our customers and taxpayers in 2019.”

The Earth Team volunteer program helps its participants expand their skills and knowledge through community projects. The program also offers participants community service hours, earned academic credit and an unpaid internship in federal service. Visit www.ne.nrcs.usda.gov and click on “Volunteer” to sign up for Earth Team volunteer opportunities in your community.



Impact of COVID-19 on Iowa’s Corn, Soybean, Ethanol, Pork, and Beef Sectors
Chad E. Hart, Dermot J. Hayes, Keri L. Jacobs, Lee L. Schulz, John M. Crespi
Iowa State University

In this study, we estimate the COVID-19 outbreak’s revenue impacts on some of Iowa’s largest agricultural industries. We estimate overall annual damage of roughly $788 million for corn, $213 million for soybean, over $2.5 billion for ethanol, $658 million for fed cattle, $34 million for calves and feeder cattle, and $2.1 billion for hogs. As more data become available and as the pandemic evolves, these estimates will certainly change, but for now they represent our best assessment of the impact on these industries.

Read the full study here:  https://www.card.iastate.edu/products/policy-briefs/display/?n=1301.

Conclusion
While illness causing pathogens and threats to the economy and the food supply have occurred throughout history, in recent years, they have been mostly contained to specific regions or specific sectors of the food market. The COVID-19 pandemic is something the United States has never experienced in its history. The large scale destruction of farmland and processing facilities in the Southern United States during the Civil War and the dustbowl on the Great Plains in the 1930s may be the closest analogies. At the time of this writing, every state and municipality is mobilized to fight the coronavirus outbreak. Until a vaccine is developed, that mobilization is mostly in the form of social distancing and the curtailment of a majority of the economic sector in which U.S. consumers used to obtain roughly half their food. Both measures have led to marketing problems throughout food supply chains, with immediate and dramatic impacts across the country. Iowa is the United States’ second-largest agricultural state, and the impact on Iowa’s agricultural producers, especially of soybean, corn, ethanol, pork and beef is expected to be massive. In this study, we provide our best estimate of the revenue impacts on some of Iowa’s largest agricultural industries. We estimate overall annual damage of roughly $788 million for corn, $213 million for soybean, over $2.5 billion for ethanol, $658 million for fed cattle, $34 million for calves and feeder cattle, and $2.1 billion for hogs. As more data become available and as the pandemic evolves, these estimates will certainly change, but for now they represent our best assessment of the impact on these industries.



FACTS Modeling Provides Farmers with Real-Time Look at their Fields

With hundreds and oftentimes thousands of acres under their control, farmers need good management tools to know what is going on in each field, and to manage the many variables that affect crop production.

For the past five years, agronomists at Iowa State University have been perfecting a weekly, real-time forecast to evaluate soil dynamics across specific field-scale sites, and across broader regions.

Known as the Forecast and Assessment of Cropping sysTemS (FACTS), the program combines information on weather, soil and crop data, to provide timely quantitative answers to common questions farmers ask, like what will the yield be, how much nitrogen is still in the soil, how much soil moisture is available, and how these factors will impact yield.

Weekly updates
Beginning April 15, the FACTS assessment will be updated with new data every Wednesday, continuing through harvest. Field-scale data is collected from Iowa State research farms, and regional data is compiled through modeling.

“The FACTS tool gives farmers and others data they cannot measure on their own, said Sotirios Archontoulis, associate professor of agronomy at Iowa State. “We go after the dynamics of important soil and crop processes to inform producers.”

Those “dynamics” can result in a farmer making a growing season change, or at the end of the year, help evaluate “what-if” scenarios regarding yield and nutrient management. FACTS is unique because it accounts for interactions among soil-crop-weather factors, and is managed by a team of specialists within Iowa State University’s Department of Agronomy.

The project was started in 2015 and has grown substantially during the past few years, to also include regional data for Illinois and Indiana, while the plan is to cover 12 states in 2020.

The FACTS project also includes a corn drydown calculator, which offers predictions of corn drydown in the field, using algorithms developed for the northern Corn Belt.

By providing farmers a “real-time” look at their soil-crop system, farmers can make predictions for their own farm about where an adjustment may need to be made.

“The model will show if you have stress and where you have stress,” Archontoulis said.

Making decisions
But the decision of what to do with the information is still up to the farmer.

“We do not provide recommendations; we provide key data sets for farmers to make their own decisions,” Archontoulis said.

For example, in the April 15 release, the team shows how the 2020 soil nitrogen mineralization compares with the past 35 historical years. Areas with below- and above-normal soil supply of nitrogen are illustrated – important information for nitrogen fertilization decisions.

Archontoulis and his team have compared their predictions against specific sites at Iowa State’s research farms, verifying the model’s prediction and explanatory accuracy using 96-site-years of data.

“We compiled the best validation dataset ever, which included time-series measurements of soil nitrogen, root depth, depth to water table, crop nitrogen uptake and crop staging, in addition to yields,” he said. “It was very good to see that the model simultaneously simulated well all of these different processes, which gives us confidence we get the right answer for the right reason – a very important aspect in modeling.”



Search Begins for Iowa's Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin of 2020

Comfort foods are high on the list of what Iowans are looking for in this stressful time. In Iowa, one of the star comfort foods is the breaded pork tenderloin. Despite the fact that many of our local restaurants are closed, or maybe only running a take-out service, the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) restaurant and foodservice committee is looking ahead and hoping Iowans will join them as the search begins to find the best breaded tenderloin in Iowa. In October, the 2020 winner will be announced!

And, here is how you can help: Get online and nominate the restaurant that serves your favorite tenderloin. Yes, that restaurant may be even momentarily closed, but your taste buds remember it! Nominations can be made online at iowapork.org/best-breaded-pork-tenderloin-contest/.

Nominations for the 18th annual Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest will continue to be taken until June 5.

"We always look forward to this contest because we love how excited and passionate our Iowa tenderloin connoisseurs get," said Kelsey Sutter, IPPA marketing and programs director. "But this year has a couple of underlying issues we hope will bring more people in to make nominations. First, those nominations are going to spark morale at restaurants who just cannot bring their customers in and serve them right now. Second, you can remember the great times you've had with friends and families at those restaurants and look forward to returning to them."

The Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest recognizes Iowa dining establishments that have pork as a regular menu item. Nominated tenderloins must be from any Iowa restaurant or café that is typically open year-round with regular hours. The effects of our current situation on establishment hours of operation do not impact eligibility. However, food trucks, concession stands, seasonal establishments and catering businesses are not eligible.

It's the first round where you, the tenderloin-lover, will have the biggest impact. Only one nomination per person can be made, so consider carefully your favorites before making your selection! Also, your nomination could help you win some money. The people nominating the winning restaurant will be entered in a drawing for a $100 prize.

From the nomination round, 40 restaurants will be selected to move to the summer portion of the contest. Selected restaurants will be reviewed by IPPA's restaurant and foodservice committee. Their reviews will determine which restaurants are turned over to a secret panel of judges who will score the tenderloins on the quality of the pork, taste, physical characteristics and eating experience. The winner will be named during October Pork Month.

Sutter said the contest not only supports the state's restaurants, but also Iowa's nation-leading pork industry. "We're looking forward to discovering more of Iowa's great restaurants and finding Iowa's best breaded tenderloin for 2020!"

The winning restaurant will receive $500, a plaque to display in their business and statewide publicity that will bring in new business.



Smithfield Foods to Temporarily Close Two Additional Plants in US

Smithfield Foods Inc. on Wednesday said it will temporarily shutter two additional facilities later this week, one in Wisconsin and one in Missouri, due to circumstances arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The company said it would close its Martin City, Mo., plant indefinitely. That facility receives raw materials from Smithfield's Sioux Falls, S.D., facility, which is also closed indefinitely.

The company's dry sausage and bacon plant in Cudahy, Wis., will be closed for two weeks, it said.

A small number of employees at both plants have tested positive for Covid-19, the company said.

"Employees will be paid for the next two weeks during which time essential personnel will repeat the rigorous deep cleaning and sanitization that have been ongoing at the facilities," Smithfield said.

"The closure of our Martin City plant is part of the domino effect underway in our industry. It highlights the interdependence and interconnectivity of our food supply chain," said Kenneth M. Sullivan, Smithfield's president and chief executive.



Fertilizer Prices Still Mostly Higher

Average retail fertilizer prices continued to be mostly higher the first full week of April 2020, according to retailers surveyed by DTN. As was the case the previous week, the moves higher were fairly small.

Seven fertilizers were slightly higher in price compared to last month. DAP had an average price of $409/ton, MAP $434/ton, potash $370/ton, urea $382/ton, 10-34-0 $468/ton, anhydrous $492/ton and UAN28 $235/ton.

The one remaining fertilizer had a lower price looking back to a month earlier. Just like the higher-priced fertilizers, this lower-priced fertilizer did not have a large price movement. UAN32 had an average price of $278/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.42/lb.N, anhydrous $0.30/lb.N, UAN28 $0.42/lb.N and UAN32 $0.43/lb.N.

Retail fertilizers are now all lower in price from a year ago. DAP is 19% lower, MAP is 18% less expensive, anhydrous is 17% lower, UAN28 is 13% less expensive, UAN32 is 12% lower, urea is 5% less expensive, potash is 4% lower and 10-34-0 is 3% less expensive from last year at this time.



USDA Set to Unveil $15 Billion COVID Farm Aid Package

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will spend up to $15.5 billion in the initial phase of its plan to bolster the nation's food supply chain against the impacts of the coronavirus outbreak, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

The plan, which could be announced this week, marks the Trump administration's first big push to ensure the pandemic doesn't trigger consumer food shortages as meat packers shutter, dairy producers dump milk, and farmers struggle to find workers to harvest, plant and deliver crops, reports Reuters.

The initial plan will include direct payments to farmers and ranchers, along with other support measures, using a portion of the $23.5 billion approved by Congress to support agriculture in a coronavirus stimulus bill last month, along with some existing USDA funds, according to the sources.

The USDA will announce the initial plan as early as this week, and is expected to detail later phases of the support program once more money from the stimulus bill becomes available, potentially in July, they said.

The USDA declined to comment on the initial phase.

In the United States, several beef and pork packing plants have shut down as workers fall ill or die from the virus. Smithfield Foods, for example, the world's biggest pork processor, said on Sunday it will shut a U.S. plant indefinitely due to a rash of coronavirus cases among employees and warned the country was moving "perilously close to the edge" in supplies for grocers.

The CARES Act also added another $14 billion to the CCC, but those funds won't be available until after June 30, a USDA spokesperson said.



China's Buying More Pork After Swine Fever

China's pork imports almost tripled in March from last year, customs data showed on Tuesday, soaring to a record monthly volume as buyers sought to plug a huge supply gap after African swine fever decimated the country's pig herd.

Reuters reports that the the world's biggest consumer of pork brought in 391,000 tonnes last month, up from 127,218 tonnes in March 2019, according to Reuters calculations based on data from General Administration of Customs.

Shipments of pork in the first quarter came to 951,000 tonnes, nearly double the same period last year, the customs data showed.

The deadly African swine fever disease reduced China's pig herd by at least 40% last year, slashing pork output and sending prices of the country's favourite meat to record highs.

China said last month imports in the first two months of 2020 came to 560,000 tonnes, up 158% from a year earlier.



Weekly Ethanol Production for 4/10/2020

 This morning, the EIA released its Weekly Petroleum Status Report for the week ending April 10, which continued to reflect the impact on the ethanol industry from the social-distancing and stay-at-home restrictions associated with COVID-19.

According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association, ethanol production shrank 15.2%, or 101,000 barrels per day (b/d), to 570,000 b/d—the lowest level since the EIA began reporting ethanol production statistics in 2010. Production was 44% below the same week in 2019. The four-week average ethanol production rate dropped 13.1% to 772,000 b/d, equivalent to an annualized rate of 11.83 billion gallons.

Ethanol stocks climbed 1.4% to a record 27.5 million barrels, eclipsing last week’s previous peak. Inventories shifted higher across all regions except the Gulf Coast (PADD 3) and Rocky Mountains (PADD 4).

The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, ticked up 0.3% from last week’s record low to 5.081 million b/d (77.89 bg annualized), yet landed 46% lower than a year ago.

Refiner/blender net inputs of ethanol followed, rising 0.8% from last week’s record low to 506,000 b/d, equivalent to 7.76 bg annualized, which was 45% below the year-earlier level.

There were no imports of ethanol recorded for the fifth straight week. (Weekly export data for ethanol is not reported simultaneously; the latest export data is as of February 2020.)



Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall Named to Economic Revival Group

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall will join the Great American Economic Revival Industry Group focused on agriculture. President Donald Trump created 17 groups to help shape plans to reopen the economy following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Duvall says, “I’m honored to have been chosen by President Trump to join the Great Economic Revival Industry group focusing on agriculture. America’s farmers and ranchers are deeply committed to feeding the nation during this crisis, but there are mounting challenges threatening their ability to keep putting food on Americans’ tables.

“The lost food service and restaurant market due to the COVID-19 shutdown hit America’s farm families hard. The prices paid to farmers and ranchers have spiraled down, and in some cases, demand has disappeared, despite empty grocery shelves. No one is more eager than farmers to get the economy humming again. It’s imperative that we do this in a manner that keeps our families, neighbors, coworkers and communities safe.

“We look forward to working with fellow agricultural leaders and the Trump administration to ensure healthy, affordable food continues to be available to families across the country and farmers are able to hold on as we return to some sense of normalcy in America.”



2020 Childhood Agricultural Injuries Fact Sheet released

About every three days, a child dies in an agriculture-related incident, and each day, at least 33 children are seriously injured according to the 2020 Childhood Agricultural Injuries Fact Sheet compiled by the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety, part of Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, Marshfield, Wis.

The leading sources of fatalities involved transportation (47%), which includes tractors and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and contact with machinery (20 percent).

Other notable statistics on occupational injuries among youth:
-  From 2001 to 2015, 48 percent of all fatal occupational injuries to young workers occurred in agriculture.
-  Since 2009, youth worker fatalities in agriculture have exceeded all other industries combined.
-  Young workers are nearly 8 times more likely to be fatally injured in agriculture compared to all other industries combined.

“There is no central database on childhood agricultural injuries,” said Barbara Lee, Ph.D., director of the National Children’s Center. “In putting together this fact sheet we draw upon the best available data from a variety of sources.”

For information and resources to prevent child agricultural injuries, visit www.cultivatesafety.org.



DHS and USDA Move to Protect American Farmers and Ensure Continued Flow of America’s Food Supply

The Department of Homeland Security, with the support of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), has announced a temporary final rule to change certain H-2A requirements to help U.S. agricultural employers avoid disruptions in lawful agricultural-related employment, protect the nation’s food supply chain, and lessen impacts from the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency. These temporary flexibilities will not weaken or eliminate protections for U.S. workers.

Under this temporary final rule, an H-2A petitioner with a valid temporary labor certification who is concerned that workers will be unable to enter the country due to travel restrictions can start employing certain foreign workers who are currently in H-2A status in the United States immediately after United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) receives the H-2A petition, but no earlier than the start date of employment listed on the petition. To take advantage of this time-limited change in regulatory requirements, the H-2A worker seeking to change employers must already be in the United States and in valid H-2A status.

Additionally, USCIS is temporarily amending its regulations to protect the country’s food supply chain by allowing H-2A workers to stay beyond the three-year maximum allowable period of stay in the United States. These temporary changes will encourage and facilitate the continued lawful employment of foreign temporary and seasonal agricultural workers during the COVID-19 national emergency. Agricultural employers should utilize this streamlined process if they are concerned with their ability to bring in the temporary workers who were previously authorized to work for the employer in H-2A classification. At no point is it acceptable for employers to hire illegal aliens.

“This Administration has determined that continued agricultural employment, currently threatened by the COVID-19 pandemic, is vital to maintaining and securing the country’s critical food supply chain. The temporary changes announced by USCIS provide the needed stability during this unprecedented crisis,” said Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad F. Wolf.

“USDA welcomes these additional flexibilities provided by the Department of Homeland Security today,” said Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “Providing flexibility for H-2A employers to utilize H-2A workers that are currently in the United States is critically important as we continue to see travel and border restrictions as a result of COVID-19. USDA continues to work with the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Labor and the Department of State to minimize disruption and make sure farmers have access to these critical workers necessary to maintain the integrity in our food supply.”

The temporary final rule is effective immediately upon publication in the Federal Register. If the new petition is approved, the H-2A worker will be able to stay in the United States for a period of time not to exceed the validity period of the Temporary Labor Certification. DHS will issue a new temporary final rule in the Federal Register to amend the termination date of these new procedures in the event DHS determines that circumstances demonstrate a continued need for the temporary changes to the H-2A regulations.

The H-2A nonimmigrant classification applies to alien workers seeking to perform agricultural labor or services of a temporary or seasonal nature in the United States, usually lasting no longer than one year, for which able, willing, and qualified U.S. workers are not available.



UPL Expands INTERLINE® Herbicide to All Glufosinate-Resistant Crops

UPL has received approval from the Environmental Protection Agency to amend the label language of INTERLINE® Herbicide from use in the “LibertyLink® system” to all systems that contain “glufosinate-resistant traits.”

“The expansion enables INTERLINE to be used on all glufosinate-resistant production systems, in addition to the LibertyLink systems,” says Tom Mudd, UPL Marketing Manager, Corn and Soybean Herbicides. “Farmers today need flexibility to achieve their production goals, with products they can trust. INTERLINE offers best-in-class performance for business-minded growers.”

INTERLINE is now approved for use on Enlist E3 soybeans as well as LibertyLink-GT27 soybeans. The new label will give growers additional options to meet EPA herbicide requirements in these crops and help retailers manage inventories for their grower-customers.

“As the industry continues to evolve, UPL continues to provide unique product solutions for all U.S. growers. Through this expansion of the label registration, INTERLINE Herbicide can be used on a broader percentage of U.S. row crop acres for the convenience of growers,” he adds.

The updated label directs application of INTERLINE for over-the-top weed control across several crops, including soybeans, cotton, corn, canola and sugarbeets. This label revision is approved for key states — AL, AR, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, OH, Ok, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, WV and WI. Registration for New York is under review.