Regulatory Updates 2009

December 23, 2009
Northey Encourages Congress to pass Extension of Biodiesel Tax Credit; Limits on Land Applying Confinement Manure Kicked in December 21; Public Hearings set for Animal Feeding Operations Rules; Additional Massive Legislation with Numerous Tax Provisions.

December 11, 2009
EPA: Greenhouse Gases Threaten Public Health and the Environment; House Extends Biodiesel tax Incentive; EPA to Strengthen Oversight of Pesticide’s Impact on Children and Farmworkers; Insurance Deadline Should not be a Problem; Oversize Load Movements Restricted During Winter Weather.

November 25, 2009
Governor Culver Extends Assistance for Iowa Farmers; A Tough Harvest – Frequently Asked Questions, Update; Thank you to Dr. Hurburgh & ISU College of Agriculture.

November 13, 2009
Governor Culver Issues Proclamation to Assist with Corn and Soybean Harvest; EPA Proposes new Pesticide Labeling to Control Spray Drift; CropLife America Expresses Concern About EPA’s Evolving Review Policies; New “Equal Opportunity is the Law” Poster Required; Late Harvest and Crop Insurance Coverage.

October 30, 2009
Grain Grading Issues Arise from Challenges with Fall Harvest; Climate Changes Legislation Working Through Senate Committees; EPA Orders Chemical Testing for Hormone Effects; Iowa Weights and Measures Metrology Lab Moving to Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls; Chinese Officials say they will re-open their Markets to U.S. Pork Products.

October 17, 2009
Latest Budget cuts will Impact Iowa Department of Agriculture; EPA Begins new Scientific Evaluation of Atrazine; Animal Feeding Rules on October EPC Agenda; EPA Administrator Announces Plan to Retool and Reinvigorate Clean Water Enforcement Program; Olin Anhydrous Leak not an Accident.

October 02, 2009
Governor Culver Approves Harvest Weight Limit Exemption; Climate Change Legislation and EPA Regulation Continue to push Forward on Separate Tracks; Senate Climate Change Legislation Released; Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduces Legislation to Protect Biofuels Industry from Misguided Indirect Land use Rule; Final Call for Nominations to fill Open Seats on the AAI Board.

September 18, 2009
Harkin says Ag Interests will still be Represented; Iowa Transportation Commission to hold Public Input Meeting; 25 Iowa Counties Designated Disaster Areas by USDA.

September 4, 2009
Are your Nurse Tank Placards in Compliance?; EPA Likely to Declare CO2 a Dangerous Pollutant; Grassley Hosts EPA Officials at Iowa Family Farm; DHS Warning Issued: Reporting COI Based on Product Labels.

August 21, 2009
AAI Sends its Condolences to the Family of Roy Holland; Potential Problems with RFS2; CropLife America Petition for Rehearing Denied by Sixth Circuit; Permits will be Required for Vapor Recovery at Gasoline Bulk Plants; Governor Culver Requests Agricultural Disaster Declaration for 8 Additional Iowa Counties; Obama Administration Examines Ag Competition Concentration.

August 7, 2009
Northey Issues Crisis Exemption for the use of Herbicide to help Farmers Impacted by Hail in Northeast Iowa; Grassley Expresses Concern About Cap-and-Trade System’s Impact on Taxpayers; American Farm Bureau is Asking for Action on Climate Change Legislation; AAI Offering a Third Grain Grading Workshop; Your Chance to Talk to the IDNR; IDNR Offering Watershed Planning Grants.

July 24, 2009
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Releases Study Showing Economic Benefit to Farmers and Ranchers from Climate Change Legislation; TFI Expresses Concern with Government Analyses of Climate Legislation’s Economic Impact; AST Registrations in the Mail; FAQ’s for Registration Requirements for Stationary Internal Combustion Engines.

July 10, 2009
Senator Grassley Tours AAI Member Locations; Ammonia Tank Precautions to Take During the off-Season; DNR Seeks Public Comment on Changes to Three Water Quality Standards Criteria; EPA Extends Comment Period for Renewable Fuel Standard Program.

June 26, 2009
GOP Blasts Climate Bill Despite Peterson Gains; Mixed Reactions to Climate Change Bill; Hugoson, Northey call on USDA Secretary to help Struggling Pork Producers; House Committee Approves Major Food/Feed Safety Bill.

June 12, 2009
Pelosi: Agriculture will have a role in Shaping Climate Change Bill; Ag Industry Voices Concerns with Climate Change Bill, H.R. 2454; EPA Granted Two-Year Stay in Pesticide Ruling; Grassley Urges USDA to Employ Attorneys at GIPSA to Keep Anti-Competitive Behavior at Bay; Northey to Visit Delaware, Guthrie, Shelby and Audubon Counties; EPA Approves Water Quality Standards for 83 Iowa Waters.

May 29, 2009
Is your Risk Management Plan (RMP) Up-to-Date?; Iowa Gasoline Tax Rate – No Change Effective July 1, 2009; Grassley: Supreme Court Nominee will Slow Climate Bill; EPA Strengthens Safety Measures for Soil Fumigant Pesticides; USDA Urged to Avoid Disrupting New Commercial Storage when Implementing Farm Storage Subsidy Program; AAI is Moving to Summer Hours.

May 15, 2009
EPA Responds to AAI (download letter here ); EPA Revokes Carbofuran; Road Check 2009 Beginning First Week of June; Farmers Union Focuses on Climate Change; AAI Hosting a Regulatory Day; AAI Hosting a Grain Handling/Scale Maintenance Workshop.

April 17, 2009
DOT Shipping Paper Requirements; Iowa’s Ag Property Assessments Going Up; New Requirements Related to Commercial Pesticide Applications; AAI Hosting a Human Resources Workshop; EPA Refuses Rehearing Request (download here ), Pesticides to be Defined as Pollutants; Industry Consolidation of Crop Nutrient Producers.

April 3, 2009
Use Caution when Filling On-Farm Storage or Nurse Tanks; AAI Hosting a Human Resources Workshop; RMP’s to be Submitted Online; Voluntary Cancellation of Carbofuran Uses; Visit your Local NRCS Office for Help with Animal Mortality Composting Facilities; USDA Reforms Technical Service Provider Payments Rates.

March 20, 2009
Water use Permit Fee Rules Approved by the EPC at Their March 17th Meeting; Do your Drivers Know Where Their Hazmat Shipping Papers are?; AAI Offering an Aerial Application Workshop; Rules2 & Iowa Phosphorus Index Workshop; ISU Offers Technical Sessions on Nutrient Management

March 6, 2009
ISU Looking for Nurse Tanks for Research Project; DNR Addresses Confusion About Manure Application on Frozen Ground; Agricultural Chemicals Security Credit Tax Form; Reminder: Post your 300A; Oil Filters Recycling Required; Anhydrous Ammonia Applicators Have New Safety Issue.

February 20, 2009
DNR Seeks Input on Permit Rules for Livestock Operations; Aerial Applicator Consultant Requirements; Information on Proposed Rule for Surface Application of Manure on Frozen or Snow-Covered Ground; Livestock Master Matrix Passes in 87 Counties.

February 6, 2009
Iowa Agriculture Secretary Encourages Farmers to use Caution and Follow Regulations when Handling Bulk Fertilizers; New Rules Adopted for Aerial Application; Reporting Guidelines for EPA’s New CAFO Rule.

January 23, 2009
Clarification Regarding EPA’s New CAFO Rule; Northey on the Next Iowa Press; Northey Continues Visits to all 99 Counties; Iowa Winter Manure Rules; Grain PTE Software Updated; DNR, IDALS Offering Grants to Help Local Efforts to Improve Water Quality. Download EPC Notice Here.

January 9, 2009
Attention: Nurse Tank Owners and Operators; Large Fertilizer Tanks Scrutinized; Do your Drivers Know Where Their HAZMAT Shipping Papers Are?; 2008 Weather Summary; State and Federal Gas Tax Rates for 2009; Tax Reminders.