USDA grant program seeks to aid fertilizer production
methods andmoreprecise application.” The grant money will come from the CommodityCreditCorporation.Themon- ey was set aside in September for market disruptions.USDAsaiditwilluse the funds to set up a grant program that provides “gap” financing tobringnew, independent domestic production into operation. Details on the application process will be announced this summer, with the first awards expected before year’s end. A part of a Biden administration effort to enhance fair and competitivemarkets,
USDA seeks comments on the effects of concentration and market access for farmers and ranchers; new and growing market competitors, especially small and medium-sizeenterprises; andmoreabout the context of these markets for farmers. Comments and information concerning the effects of concentration and market power infertilizers, seedsandother inputs, and retail also are requested. Once the requests for information are published in the Federal Register, a 60-day commentperiodwillopen.Commentsmay besubmittedthroughwww.regulations.gov.
Positions open on federal wildland fire commission Applications are being accepted for the newly established federal Wildland Fire MitigationandManagementCommission. The commission was established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Department of the InteriorandtheFederal EmergencyManagement Administration. Its objective is to recommendpolicies and strategies tomoreeffectivelyprevent,miti- gate, suppress andmanagewildland fires, including rehabilitating affected lands. The commission seeks volunteermem- bers fromdiverse backgrounds, including people representing nonfederal interests such as state, local, tribal, territorial and nongovernmental interests.Applicantsfrom areas of highwildfire risk or a high level of wildland-urban interfacewill get priority. Members will serve for the life of the commission,whichisexpectedtobeayear andahalf. The firstmeeting is intended for late spring 2022. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. March 25 and must be submitted on- line; the link is available at www.usda. gov/topics/disaster-resource-center/ wildland-fire/commission.Formore infor- mation, visit the foregoingwebsiteoremail wildlandfirecommission@usda.gov. A program to support additional do- mestic fertilizer production to address rising costs to American farmers has been launched. TheU.S.Department of Agriculture said itwillmakeavailable$250million through a grant program this summer aimed at supporting independent, innovative and sustainable domestic fertilizer production to support U.S. farmers. A public inquiry intoincreasedconcernsabout lackof com- petitionintheagricultural supplychainwill also be launched, USDA announced in a statement. The inquiry will seek informa- tion about seeds and agricultural inputs, fertilizer and retailmarkets. Fertilizerpriceshavemorethandoubled since last year. Many factors are in play, according to USDA, among them a price hike attributed to the Russian invasion of Ukraine; a limitedsupplyofminerals; high energy costs; high global demand and ag- ricultural commodity prices; reliance on fertilizer imports; and lack of competition in the fertilizer business. The U.S. is a major importer of fertil- izer and is the second- or third-highest importer of each of the three major com- ponents of fertilizer. The top producers of these components includeChina, Russia, Canada and Morocco, with Belarus also supplying a significant share of potash. “Recent supply-chaindisruptions, from theglobalpandemic toPutin’sunprovoked war against Ukraine, have shown just how important it is toinvest inthiscrucial link in
theagricultural supplychainhereathome,” U.S.AgricultureSecretaryTomVilsacksaid in a statement. “In addition to the jobs, lower costs andmore reliable supply, in- creasedinvestment inthedomestic fertiliz- er industrywillhelpaddressclimatechange by reducing the greenhouse gas emissions associatedwith transportation, while also fostering more sustainable production
Weeds are planning their attack. Are you?
Weeds had all winter to prepare for this. And when the sun, water and nutrients appear, those weeds are off to the races with your rice. But on your side are the powerful herbicides from Corteva Agriscience to help you control weeds and achieve the rice stands needed for high yields.
Convenient premix with two modes of action. Post- emergence control of key early-season weeds like sprangletop, watergrass and ricefield bulrush. Post-emergence control of watergrass, ricefield bulrush and eight other weeds. Early and late-season applications. Tank mix with numerous other herbicides. Granular herbicide applied in the flood. Ten labeled weeds including early and late watergrass. No buffer zones.
Labeled for watergrass and sprangletop. Unparalleled crop safety. Perfect for pinpoint applications.
Nothing controls redstem better.
Visit us at corteva.us ® ™Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. Certain products are not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions. ©2022 Corteva
March 23, 2022 Ag Alert 9
Powered by FlippingBook