    In The NewsNorthern Crops Institute Announces Preventive Controls for Animal Food and Human Food TrainingNCI is excited to share that we have our first two Preventive Controls for Animal Food and Human Food scheduled for January 21-23, 2020 and February 25-27, 2020. For more information and to register, click here. SDABA Partners with CropstreamWe would like to invite you to join us on Cropstream, a free Ag messaging app! SDABA has chosen to use Cropstream as an additional tool to keep our members informed through text messages on your smartphone. While we use several other platforms for staying connected, we've found many of our members have smartphones and prefer receiving a quick text message update. Cropstream is a simple and powerful business messaging app designed just for agriculture. To get started, go to www.Cropstream.com to download the app and send us a message! DO YOU NEED HELP PASSING THE CCA EXAM? Register for our workshop!
Click here for the brochure and registration form, or register online by clicking here. SDSU Extension and SD Department of Agriculture Announce Commercial Recertification ScheduleThe annual commerical agriculture recertification schedule is out, and will run from January 14 through February 25, 2020 at various locations around the state. This applies to categories G, 1A, 1B, 1C, 2, 5, and 7. You must pre-register as registration will not be accepted on-site. You can pre-register here. In addition to the above schedule, SDSU and SDDA will conduct recertification training on January 16 in Sioux Falls, in conjunction with Ag Expo. That training excludes category 7, and the agenda can be found here. Pre-register by January 9, 2020 here. South Dakota Department of Ag's Role in Pesticide RegulationPIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) is the primary enforcement agency for state and federal pesticide laws in cooperation with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The SDDA registers pesticide products, licenses applicators and conducts compliance inspections and investigations. Read more about this here. Regulatory AlertsWorker Protection Standard (WPS)On November 2015 USEPA revised the worker protection standards to implement more protection for agricultural workers and pesticide handlers. Most of the revised WPS standards became effective on January 2018. The WPS requires commercial pesticide handler employers to provide specific information and protections to workers, handlers when WPS-labeled pesticide products are used on agricultural establishments in the production of agricultural plants. For more information on who is included, pesticide training requirements, respiratory protection requirements and training for pesticide handlers, click here. Training Required for Newly Labeled Paraquat ApplicationsApplicators are required to take the training if they are using a new label that was stamped by EPA in December 2019. It is anticipated the new label will be widely available by 2020. Retailers with bulk product may order new repack labels. For more information click here. Be on the Lookout for Combustible Dust HazardsIf you have a dust collection system for combustible dust you must have a Dust Hazard Assessment (DHA) completed by September of 2020 as required by NFPA 652-2019. NFPA 652 also requires that the DHA be reviewed and updated every 5 years. EPA Announces Changes to Dicamba Registration On October 31, 2018, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is extending the registration of dicamba for two years for “over-the-top” use (application to growing plants) to control weeds in fields for cotton and soybean plants genetically engineered to resist dicamba. This action was informed by input from and extensive collaboration between EPA, state regulators, farmers, academic researchers, pesticide manufacturers, and other stakeholders. Read more... South Dakota Launches New Sensitive Crop Registry The South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) announced a new partnership with FieldWatch, Inc. to introduce a new sensitive crop registry that will enhance communication between applicators and producers in South Dakota. FieldWatch is a not-for-profit company with existing registries in multiple states across the country. The new partnership will facilitate increased awareness and communication as part of ongoing stewardship activities. Read More...
Items of InterestMarch 11, 2019Pesticide-Production Report UpdateThe Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) Section 7 requires that production of pesticides, active ingredients or devices be conducted in a registered pesticide-producing or device-producing establishment. Read more... August 15, 2018Nutrient Research and Education Council Launches WebsiteThe South Dakota Nutrient Research and Education Council (NREC) invites visitors to explore their newly launched website, www.sdnrec.org, designed to share information about important nutrient research projects. NREC was created by state statute in 2016 and is funded by a 50-cent per ton assessment on bulk fertilizer sold in South Dakota. The funding is used by NREC for nutrient research and education to ensure the discovery and adoption of practices that address environmental concerns, optimize nutrient use efficiency, and ensure soil fertility. The 13-member council annually solicits, reviews and funds projects that fulfill the organization’s mission. The next Request for Proposals (RFP) will be opened soon and details will be provided on the NREC website at www.sdnrec.org. Anyone interested in submitting research projects or exploring current research results is encouraged to visit the website for more information. |
