Patrick McGreevy reported recently at the Los Angeles Times Online that, “Nine years after California voters decided that egg-laying hens must be given more space, animal-rights activists on Tuesday filed papers for a new initiative requiring the birds to be kept cage-free.

“The initiative’s language, submitted to the state by the Humane Society of the United States, addresses the group’s concerns that 2008’s Proposition 2, which required hens to have more room in their habitats, did not achieve the right conditions for farm animals, including pigs and calves.

“An economic study commissioned last year by the egg industry for a similar ballot measure in Massachusetts estimated that switching to cage-free farming would add one or two cents to the price of each egg purchased by consumers.”

Mr. McGreevy indicated that, “The state attorney general’s office must now approve the initiative’s title and summary before supporters can begin circulating petitions. They need to collect 365,880 signatures within 180 days in order to have the measure placed on the statewide ballot in November 2018.

“Egg production is a $1-billion industry in California, with some 15.5 million egg-laying hens producing nearly 5 billion eggs annually, mostly on family-owned farms.”

The L.A. Times article added that, “Public attitudes have shifted even more in favor of animal rights since Proposition 2. Citing public demand, Subway, McDonald’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, Walmart, Target, Costco and other businesses have said they will make a transition to eggs from cage-free hens over 10 years.

“In addition, laws banning or restricting cages in egg production have been adopted by six additional states: Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington, Michigan, Rhode Island and Ohio.”

A recent update from the Organic Trade Association (OTA) included an outline of the organization’s priorities for the next Farm Bill.

Some of the items from the OTA outline included the following:

* “The next farm bill must include support and adequate funding for the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) to keep pace with industry growth, set uniform standards, and carry out compliance and enforcement actions in the U.S. and abroad.”

* “While all domestic and imported organic products must meet USDA’s strict standards, a greater emphasis on authority and capacity to conduct investigations will keep organic markets strong.”

* “U.S. organic exports are up 60%, creating jobs in the U.S. and driving demand overseas. Expansion of the Market Access Program (MAP) will create new opportunities for U.S. farmers, especially when targeted to emerging growth sectors.”

* “Accessing the opportunities provided in organic farming requires equal and comparable access to USDA programs that provide invaluable support to U.S. agriculture. Organic focused research, risk management tools, data collection and direct dialog between industry and USDA are critical to organic farmers’ success.”

* “Organic farmers need USDA to continue making improvements in the farm safety net in order to achieve appropriate risk management tools for organic farms. Congress should direct the Risk Management Agency (RMA) to prioritize development of additional organic price elections for crop insurance coverage, and review policies that cap Contract Price Addendums at two-times the conventional price election for any specific crop.”

Donnelle Eller reported earlier this week at The Des Moines Register Online that, “About three-fourths of Shane Susie’s 80-acre soybean field was damaged after getting hit with dicamba that drifted over his crops from neighboring fields.

“The herbicide also savaged his family’s trees, flowers and vegetable patch.

“‘We’re not eating anything out of it this year,’ said the 30-year-old who farms near Kingsley in northwest Iowa.”

Ms. Eller noted that, “He estimates his soybean damage losses at $15,000. With drought worries and low corn and soybean prices, “it will be a tough year.” he said. “It makes a challenging year more challenging.”

“Susie and other Midwest farmers have been drawn into a national debate swirling around whether new dicamba versions are safe for growers to use.

“Nationally, 2,242 farmers say dicamba has damaged an estimated 3.1 million acres, a University of Missouri report shows.”

The Register article explained that, “Iowa ag leaders are investigating a record 258 crop damage reports from pesticide misuse this year. About 100 complaints on 150,000 acres are tied to dicamba.”

Ms. Eller added that, “The Iowa Soybean Association said it’s working with farmers, researchers, manufacturers and others to find answers, so growers ‘can continue to have access to these important products and they can be assured that their own and their neighbors’ crops won’t be affected.’

“Susie, a Beck’s Hybrids seed dealer, worries that his losses won’t get covered, given the ongoing debate about whether the responsibility for the damage lies with dicamba makers or those applying their products.

“Insurance adjusters have determined their clients followed label instructions when spraying the dicamba that damaged his fields. His only other option is to file a lawsuit against the applicators or join a class action suit against dicamba makers.”

David Bennett reported earlier this month at the Delta Farm Press Online that, “As with field days in other Mid-South states, dicamba drift was a featured part of the late August University of Missouri’s Fisher Delta Research Center field day outside Portageville.

“‘Obviously, the drift complaints have slowed down in the last couple of weeks because there’s less and less to spray,’ says Kevin Bradley, University of Missouri weed scientist. ‘There are cases still trickling in, though. According to the Missouri Department of Agriculture, we’re just north of 300 complaints under investigation.’

“Bradley believes the drift situation for 2017 ‘is largely over for Missouri. Some of the states north of us are still having trouble, though.'”

Mr. Bennett indicated that, “Now, [Bradley] says, the question is: ‘What do we do now? What happens in 2018?

“‘There are also a lot of questions about yields from both sides. How much did the damage cost (non-dicamba tolerants) crops? How much yield did the dicamba tolerant crops produce? Odds are we won’t know until we run combines through.'”

The Delta Farm Press article also quoted Bradley as saying:

“I have no idea what the future holds in terms of regulations (regarding dicamba application) or if there will be nothing. However, there are many, many calls asking me what to do. You know, ‘I’m thinking about buying seed. What’s your advice?’

“Well, my advice is pretty simple. Everything I’ve seen in 2017 says we need to keep this in the pre-plant, burndown, pre-emergence use pattern. Leave the post-emergence alone. I’m sticking with that because the risk is too great for off-target movement to be spraying this for Palmer (amaranth) and waterhemp in soybeans.”

Colin Van Westen reported last week at The Daily Reporter (Spencer, Iowa) Online that, “The number of organic producers and processors in Iowa has increased by approximately 30 percent in the past five years in Iowa.

“‘I think people in this country are finally becoming aware of how important the food we eat is. The people in Europe are kind of ahead of us and here in the United States we are finally catching up,’ organic farmer and board member of the Iowa Organic Association Paul Mugge said.

“Mugge, who certified his first field in 2000, raises corn, beans, small grains, triturate, spring oats and alfa.”

The article noted that, “Iowa ranks sixth among the 50 states in the number of organic producers and processors according to Iowa Organic Association Executive Director Kate Mendenhall. There were 717 organic producers and processors in 2012 and today the number has increased to 939 this year.

“The price for organic food varies by commodity, but it traditionally ranges two to three times higher than prices for conventionally produced products, Mendenhall said.”

DTN writer Emily Unglesbee reported recently that, “Monsanto showed what it will tolerate, and what it won’t tolerate, when it comes to states’ reactions to the 2017 season’s unprecedented dicamba drift damage complaints.

“The St. Louis-based company on Thursday said it has filed an aggressive petition to the Arkansas State Plant Board, demanding it reject the state’s proposed in-season ban on dicamba herbicides within 30 days or risk legal action.

“That response contrasts with the company’s newly announced take on actions in Indiana. The state recently said it is completing the process to make dicamba a restricted use pesticide, keeping the herbicide available in 2018, albeit with restrictions on purchasing and use. Monsanto indicated it was now supportive of that restriction and similar actions in Missouri and Tennessee.”

The DTN article noted that, “In the meantime, the entire industry is awaiting an expected decision by EPA on new federal guidelines or regulations for dicamba herbicides next year, in light of more than 2,200 dicamba-related injury state investigations concerning more than 3.1 million acres of dicamba-injured soybeans.”

The DTN article pointed out that, “‘We’re anxious to take these crops to harvest throughout the U.S. and see what type of experience these growers really have,’ Scott Partridge, Monsanto’s vice president of global strategy, told DTN.

“The petition insists that volatility was not the primary cause of physical drift, citing Monsanto’s own studies, and points instead to herbicide contamination, illegal use of older dicamba formulations and applicator errors.”