The Associated Press reported yesterday that, “Wisconsin officials have created new standards to limit animal waste on farms in the eastern part of the state.

A news release late last week from the University of Missouri Extension Service indicated that, “Beehives in the Lake of the Ozarks are buzzing, thanks in part to University of Missouri Extension and the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

“MU Extension specialists and beekeepers Travis and Joni Harper have coordinated beekeeping classes for more than 800 Missourians in the past three years. More than 300 people began beekeeping in more than 1,100 hives after attending beginning and advanced workshops. The Missouri Department of Agriculture awarded a three-year Specialty Crop Block Grant to the Missouri Vegetable Growers Association and MU Extension.”

The release noted that, “Honey production increased 8 percent over the amount reported by the USDA in 2007. Despite this, beekeepers report that they can’t keep up with the demand for local honey, Joni Harper says.”

The Extension item added that, “Go to extension.missouri.edu/masterbeekeeper for information on MU Extension’s Master Beekeeper courses.”

DTN writer Todd Neeley reported on Friday that, “Trial dates have been set in seven additional states on class-action lawsuits filed against Syngenta over the release of Viptera corn to China, according to an order issued by a judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas in Kansas City, Kansas.

“A Kansas jury on June 26 awarded farmers $217.7 million in compensatory damages in the first of several class-action lawsuits filed against Syngenta.

“On Thursday, U.S. District Judge John Lungstrom announced in an order the court’s rationale for scheduling the next set of trials two states at a time.”

Mr. Neeley noted that, “The court set a trial date of Jan. 22, 2018, for negligence and tortious interference claims made by farmers in Arkansas and Missouri. Motions in the case are due by Sept. 22, 2017.

“The trial of farmer negligence and statutory consumer protection claims made in Illinois and Nebraska is set for April 4, 2018, with motions due on Jan. 5, 2018.

“The Iowa and South Dakota negligence claims are scheduled for trial on May 14, 2018, with motions due by Feb. 26, 2018.

“Negligence claims made by farmers in the Ohio class are set for trial Oct. 8, 2018, with motions due May 28, 2018.”

The DTN article added that, “The Kansas lawsuit was filed by four farmers who represent more than 7,000 farmers in the state. It was the first of multiple lawsuits claiming Syngenta should have inspected and prevented harvested Viptera (MIR 162) corn from being shipped to China in 2013 and 2014.

“A second case scheduled for trial on July 10 in Minnesota state court has been settled, according to Paul Minehart, head of corporate communications-North America for Syngenta. According to Bloomberg, the company settled with Nebraska farmer Daniel Mensik, who brought the first lawsuit in the state court against Syngenta. The 300-acre farmer had claimed the Viptera release caused him about $125,000 in damages. The terms of the settlement were not made public.”

Mr. Neeley also pointed out that, “A second case involving about 60,000 farmers is slated to begin in Minnesota state court in August.

“Also, at the end of June, the Common Pleas Court in Seneca County, Ohio, dismissed a Viptera lawsuit filed against Syngenta on behalf of Poet’s Fostoria Ethanol plant in Fostoria, Ohio.”

DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton reported on Friday that, “Arkansas and Missouri both took action Friday to ban the use of dicamba-mix herbicide applications in their respective states after waves of complaints from farmers who were not using the technology.

“DTN reached out to both BASF and Monsanto for comment on the bans. The companies responded late in the afternoon.

“BASF’s statement focused on the Arkansas ban. A company representative had testified before the joint Agriculture committees early Friday.”

The DTN article noted that, “‘We disagree with the Arkansas statewide ban on dicamba applications. This decision was made despite hearing testimony from many of the state’s growers opposed to the ban and who are using the product with success,’ BASF stated.

“BASF defended its herbicide technology despite nearly 600 complaints about drift contamination, mainly in the eastern part of the state. BASF stated that banning Engenia ‘needlessly punishes growers who have successfully and lawfully used the product, while failing to provide an effective deterrent to growers who may be willing to ignore the ban. In addition, the ban fails to address the need for effective enforcement of label requirements for Engenia’s use.'”

In his article Friday, Mr. Clayton indicated that, “Monsanto also issued statements regarding the Arkansas and Missouri bans.

“Monsanto noted, ‘Farmers are the lifeblood of our company.’ Monsanto stated the company focused on helping farmers be successful and many of its employees have ties to the farming communities. Monsanto stated the company is concerned about reports of potential crop injury.

“However, Monsanto stated the company is opposed to banning dicamba. ‘We sympathize with any farmers experiencing crop injury, but the decision to ban dicamba in Arkansas was premature since the causes of any crop injury have not been fully investigated. While we do not sell dicamba products in Arkansas, we are concerned this abrupt decision in the middle of a growing season will negatively impact many farmers in Arkansas.'”

Bryce Gray reported on Friday at The St. Louis Post-Dispatch Online that, “As complaints of damage from dicamba spiral ever higher across multiple states, officials in both Missouri and Arkansas enacted bans Friday on the herbicide blamed for vaporizing and injuring crops without genetically engineered resistance.

“The more than 130 cases of suspected dicamba drift reported in Missouri this year already eclipse last year’s totals, when many farmers saw heavy losses for crop yields in the Bootheel region of southeast Missouri.

“Effective immediately, Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn announced Friday that sales and on-farm use of the volatile herbicide would be suspended. The move is being made ‘with an abundance of caution and is temporary until a more permanent solution is reached,’ according to an Agriculture Department news release.”

Mr. Gray noted that, “Affected crops in Missouri include about 45,000 acres of soybeans, as well as commercial tomatoes, watermelons, cantaloupes, grapes, pumpkins and residential gardens and trees, according to a Twitter post from the University of Missouri’s Weed Science program.”

The Post-Dispatch article added that, “Reported damage in Arkansas has been even more severe, with 596 complaints of alleged dicamba misuse pouring into the Arkansas Agriculture Department. Following through on a recent recommendation from the department, the state moved Friday to enact a 120-day ban on the sale and use of dicamba, starting July 11. Arkansas will also raise fines for dicamba misuse up to $25,000, beginning Aug. 1.

Author, Maureen Gilmer, in a recent column posted at the Atlanta Journal-Constition Online, provided five tips for “urban agriculture aficionados who are bringing chickens and other livestock into the city.”

Ms. Glimer noted that, “Problems arise when neighbors have different feelings about the subject. Other conflicts are driven by novices who inadvertently create big problems next door, unknown to the animal owner. Be responsible and aware of others on all sides of your home or lot. Practice these rules of urban agriculture to help the entire community get along.”

Her five tips included:

“- Use Fly Control-Your chicken coop can introduce fly populations to your neighbor’s yard as well as your own.”

“- Clean All Manure– Prompt removal of all manure each day and efforts to keep pens dry with sand or disposable absorbent bedding can significantly reduce both odor and flies.”

“- Give Away Roosters– Roosters crow day and night.”

“- Control Rodents– Where there are animal feeds, there are rodents.”

-” Beware Runoff– Whether it’s a hard rain or you’re washing out your animal enclosures, all the residues of animal life will become part of this runoff solution.”

A recent update from Iowa State University (ISU) Extension stated that, “In some Iowa counties, as much as seventy percent of the land is farmed by producers who do not own it. Throughout farm country, there is a steady and increasing number of farmland owner and producer relationships.

“There are two particularly common categories of farmland owners. First, there are owners who actively farmed the land in past years, have now retired and are leasing the acres to farm producers. In these relationships, a key consideration is the length of time since the owner was an active farmer. The more years that have lapsed since the owner was involved in active farm production, the more important it is to engage ongoing communication and education regarding the latest crop technology, production costs, and related trends.

“Second, there is a growing number of farmland owners who have never been personally involved in farm production. Such owners may have inherited the land (or purchased it as an investment) and now lease it to active farmers. Some of these owners may have never lived on or near the farmland that they now own; in fact, some may have never seen the farmland. These farmland owners have a high learning curve, with much information to absorb regarding farming practices and the economics of crop production. At the same time, tenants must take on increased responsibility for anticipating questions and providing information to the landlord.”

The ISU Extension item explained that, “Communication is a key challenge for all farmland owners and producers. Farmland owners commonly express frustration that they do not know how their land is being farmed and what it is producing. Tenants may not understand that farmland owners often have a deep desire to learn how the farmland is being cultivated and cared for by producers. It is to the benefit of both owners and tenants to build relationships and communicate with one another.”

The Iowa State article noted that, “Commonly, a farmland leasing agreement may include a provision requiring the operator to provide an annual report to the owner.  See for example paragraph 7(e) of the Iowa Farm Lease Form (AgDM File C2-12). See also paragraph 10 of the Iowa Cash Rent Farm Lease (Short Form) (AgDM File C2-16). The Iowa State University Extension & Outreach Farm Management Team has added an example form for this purpose in Farmland Lease Annual Report (AgDM File C2-06).

“The purpose of the annual report form is to enhance communication. This form is intended to provide farm tenants and landowners with a guide for sharing crop information for farmland rental agreements and to aid in communication. It is not intended to take the place of legal advice pertaining to contractual relationships between the parties.”

The Extension article added that, “If a form such as this has not been used in the past, the farmland owner and the producer should discuss the purpose of the reporting process. The parties should agree upon the confidential nature of the information shared on this form. A landlord must understand that the farm tenant does not want this proprietary business information shared with others who have no right to this data. Likewise, the tenant should understand that the landlord has a right to know how the farmland is being utilized for crop production. Conversations based on the reported information should help the owner and producer to grow in understanding their relationship, to the mutual benefit of both parties.”

Associated Press writer Todd Richmond reported recently that, “Wisconsin’s craft brewers and wineries are banding together to head off a plan they fear could force them out of business by prohibiting them from selling their beer and wine where it is made.

“No bill has yet been introduced, but a proposal in a memo obtained by a conservative group could force brewers and wineries to work with distributors to sell their products instead of selling directly with customers. Opponents say the Wisconsin Tavern League and alcohol distributors are pushing the plan and fear it could be slipped into the state budget at the last minute.

“Tavern league lobbyists say they’re not aware of any specific proposal, but bars need a level playing field to compete with craft breweries and wineries that are becoming tourism spots. Craft brewers counter that the regulations would hurt business, and bars shouldn’t turn to the government for help dealing with competition. They’ve joined state wineries in an attempt to kill the plan.”

The AP article noted that, “Wisconsin has always been known for its bars. But the picture has been shifting over the last decade as high-profile craft brewers such as New Glarus and Ale Asylum have gained fans. The number of craft breweries has grown from about 75 in 2011 to about 140 last year, according to the Brewers Association, a national craft brewing advocacy group.”