A news release this week from University of Missouri Extension indicated that, “Openings remain for a free Sept. 18 workshop to help beginning farmers, ranchers and veterans learn about resources offered by state and federal agencies.

“University of Missouri Extension sponsors the workshop.

“‘Understanding the Alphabet Soup of USDA‘ workshop for beginning farmers and ranchers will be held 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 18, at Follis Hall, Fredericktown, said Richard Proffer, MU Extension business development specialist. A session designed for military veterans will be held 2:30-4 p.m.”

The update added that, “USDA representatives from the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Loan Programs and Rural Development, will provide information on how to access their agencies’ services, as will representatives from MU Extension and the Missouri AgrAbility Project.

“A free lunch is served. Register by contacting Richard Proffer at 573-243-3581 or profferrd@missouri.edu. You may also register at the MU Extension Center in Cape Girardeau County, 684 W. Jackson Trail, P.O. Box 408, Jackson, MO 63755.”

A news release last week from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) stated that, “[FSA] today announced that starting Sept. 1, 2017, dairy producers can enroll for 2018 coverage in the Margin Protection Program (MPP-Dairy).  Secretary Sonny Perdue has utilized additional flexibility this year by providing dairy producers the option of opting out of the program for 2018.

“‘Secretary Perdue is using his authority to allow producers to withdraw from the MPP Dairy Program and not pay the annual administrative fee for 2018,’ said Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Rob Johansson. ‘The decision is in response to requests by the dairy industry and a number of MPP-Dairy program participants.’

“To opt out, a producer should not sign up during the annual registration period. By opting out, a producer would not receive any MPP-Dairy benefits if payments are triggered for 2018. Full details will be included in a subsequent Federal Register Notice.  The decision would be for 2018 only and is not retroactive.”

The FSA update added that, “The voluntary program, established by the 2014 Farm Bill, provides financial assistance to participating dairy producers when the margin – the difference between the price of milk and feed costs – falls below the coverage level selected by the producer.”

Reuters writers Tom Polansek and Emily Flitter reported today that, “The U.S. environmental agency is considering banning sprayings of the agricultural herbicide dicamba after a set deadline next year, according to state officials advising the agency on its response to crop damage linked to the weed killer.

“Setting a cut-off date, possibly sometime in the first half of 2018, would aim to protect plants vulnerable to dicamba, after growers across the U.S. farm belt reported the chemical drifted from where it was sprayed this summer, damaging millions of acres of soybeans and other crops.

“A ban could hurt sales by Monsanto Co and DuPont which sell dicamba weed killers and soybean seeds with Monsanto’s dicamba-tolerant Xtend trait. BASF also sells a dicamba herbicide.”

The Reuters article noted that, “The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) discussed a deadline for next year’s sprayings on a call with state officials last month that addressed steps the agency could take to prevent a repeat of the damage, four participants on the call told Reuters.

“It was the latest of at least three conference calls the EPA has held with state regulators and experts since late July dedicated to dicamba-related crop damage and the first to focus on how to respond to the problem, participants said.

“A cut-off date for usage in spring or early summer could protect vulnerable plants by only allowing farmers to spray fields before soybeans emerge from the ground, according to weed and pesticide specialists.”

A news release yesterday from University of Missouri Extension indicated that, “University of Missouri Extension brought farm, agribusiness and agency leaders together Aug. 24 to address issues associated with the use of dicamba and discuss a path forward for dicamba in 2018.

“Chemical manufacturers, retailers and applicators, crop association representatives, Missouri Department of Agriculture, Missouri Farm Bureau, farmers and MU weed scientists were among the cross section of agriculture leaders attending.

“Robert Kallenbach, assistant dean at the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, said the group met to exchange perspectives on the use of dicamba going forward.”

Yesterday’s news item added that, “Widespread crop damage from dicamba grew in 2017 to more than 325,000 of Missouri’s 6 million acres of soybean. Damage to residential yards and smaller acreages of peaches, watermelons, tomatoes, grapes, pumpkins and certified organic vegetables were reported.

“Complaints in 2016 were limited primarily to Missouri’s Bootheel region, but in 2017 complaints came from more than 50 counties across the state. Complaints grew from 130 in 2016 to 303 to date in 2017.

“Kallenbach said attendees expressed a desire to identify a path forward that best serves the interests of Missouri farmers. ‘The group put several good ideas on the table that warrant serious consideration,’ Kallenbach said.

“Input from this meeting, along with feedback from other stakeholders and surrounding states, will be used to determine future direction.”

A news release yesterday from Purdue University Extension indicated that, “Purdue University’s Indiana Beginning Farmer program is sponsoring a two-day workshop for veterans who want to learn about beekeeping.

“The event will be held Sept. 29-30 in Wheatfield, Indiana.

“Military veterans who work with honey bees have found this hobby or niche business venture therapeutic and stress-reducing.”

The release pointed out that, “Designed to enable participants to start and manage a beehive on their own property, participants will go home with an 8-frame beehive.

“The workshop will be hands-on, and attendees are required to bring protective equipment. A veil, suit, gloves and boots or sturdy shoes are recommended.

“Each veteran can bring one family member, but they must be registered.

“Food and lodging will be provided.”

To register go to http://bit.ly/2puUV4I and look for the register tabs in the upper or lower right of the webpage.

Benjamin Parkin reported today at The Wall Street Journal Online that, “U.S. farm incomes will rise in 2017, halting three consecutive years of decline, as a slump in crop and animal prices eases.

“The U.S. Department of Agriculture said net farm income will rise to $63.4 billion, up 3% from a year earlier but still just about half of 2013’s record $124 billion.

“Rising profits are a relief to many farmers squeezed by the multiyear slump in the agricultural economy. Analysts nevertheless expect a continuing grain glut to pressure prices this year, with forecasts showing another year of bumper U.S. corn and soybean harvests after those crops appeared to recover from early weather troubles. Meanwhile, rising production in countries like Brazil and Russia is adding to global stockpiles.”

The Journal article noted that, “Livestock and animal product receipts are expected to be mostly higher. Receipts for broiler chickens and hogs will rise 15%, a reflection of higher prices and quantities sold. The agency said it expects cattle and calve receipts to rise 6%, as higher sales quantities offsets a slight drop in price.”

Martha Blum reported recently at AgriNews Online that, “Spraying pesticides has been a challenge for many applicators during this growing season.”

The article noted that, “Going into the 2017 growing season, [Russ Higgins, University of Illinois Extension commercial agricultural educator] said, a group of extension educators looked at the possible problems that could occur with the three new dicamba products that were approved for application on soybeans.”

Ms. Blum explained that: “Although the extension educators were concerned about the possible drift from the dicamba products, Higgins said, ‘we were pretty confident with the buffers that are required on the labels that we were going to be in pretty good shape.’

“Another concern was temperature inversions.

“‘Normally the warmest air is at the ground level, and it gets cooler as you go higher,’ Higgins said. ‘Occasionally we get a warm air mass sitting above a cold air mass.’

“The goal is for the vapor to go straight up and disperse.

“‘But if we have that mass of air trapped under the warm air above it, the vapors can move horizontally and carry particles with it,’ Higgins noted.

“He received his first call about a dicamba issue on June 20.”

The Agri-News article added that, “Towards the end of July, the dicamba issue got personal for the U of I.

“‘One of our variety testing plots got hit by dicamba damage,’ Higgins reported. ‘Although this is not a good thing, it does give us an opportunity because we have the same varieties planted at two other locations in northern Illinois.’

“The researchers will compare across a number of varieties how much impact there is on yield, if any, by the dicamba damage.”

Earlier this summer, USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) posted an update regarding dicamba drift in a “Q and A” format.

The update, which is available here, noted that, “Q: Is dicamba drift an insured cause for loss?

“A: No dicamba drift, as with other chemical damage caused by improper application by a producer or inadvertently through a third party, is not an insurable cause of loss. The Federal Crop Insurance Act only authorizes coverage for losses due to drought, flood or other natural disasters.”

The RMA update added that, “Q: Is the issue of loss treated differently for specialty crop, or organic/non-gmo crops than say, soybean v soybean drift?

“A: The issue of loss due to uninsured causes would be treated consistently, regardless of crop, type or growing practice.

“Q: What happens to a farmer’s Actual Production History (APH) when there is dicamba damage?

“A: Beginning with the 2018 crop year, producers can elect to exclude yields from their APH due to uninsurable unavoidable fire or third party damage. Therefore, provided the damage was not caused by the insured producer but rather by a third party, such losses occurring to 2017 crops may be excluded when determining APH yields for the 2018 and succeeding crop years. RMA released the 2018 Crop Insurance Handbook containing these new procedures in June 2017. The 2018 Crop Insurance Handbook can be found at the following link: https://www.rma.usda.gov/handbooks/18000/

“Q: Is an insured farmer at risk of a lower APH due to a yield shortfall caused by dicamba drift?

“A: No, a producer may elect to exclude 2017 crop year yield shortfalls caused by uninsurable, unavoidable fire or third party damage when reporting yields for the 2018 crop year. See previous response.”

The Associated Press reported last week that, “Gov. Terry McAuliffe is announcing another craft brewery expansion in Virginia thanks to state help.

“The governor’s office announced Thursday that Stable Craft Brewing plans to spend $500,000 to expand its brewery in Augusta County.

“The expansion is set to create 13 new jobs. McAuliffe approved a $15,000 state grant through the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund, which the county will match. Stable is also eligible for a state aide through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.”

The AP article added that, “McAuliffe has been an enthusiastic cheerleader for the state’s growing craft beer scene and approved several grants to help boost the industry.”