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In The News

Pesticide Container Recycling Schedule Released

As the season progresses and crop protection products are applied, the handling and disposal of all those pesticide containers deserve some attention. Recycling these containers diverts thousands of pounds of plastic annually from South Dakota landfills.

The South Dakota Department of Agriculture has released it's collection schedule offering 39 sites around the state for your convenience.  For more information and to print out the schedule, click here.

SDDA Release -- Dicamba Cutoff Date

PIERRE, S.D. - The South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) reminds applicators that June 30 is the cutoff date for dicamba products. Read more about this here.

Rules Hearing Scheduled to Add Palmer Amaranth as a Prohibited Noxious Weed Seed

A public hearing will be held in Department of Environment and Natural Resources Conference Room, 1st floor, Foss Building, 523 E. Capitol, Pierre, South Dakota, on July 1, 2019, at 1:30 p.m. CT, to consider the proposed amendments to rules numbered 12:36:02:01, 12:36:03:01, 12:36:03:02, 12:36:03:03, and 12:36:04:05.  Read more about this here.

South Dakota Department of Ag's Role in Pesticide Regulation

PIERRE, 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. 

Governor Noem Signs Executive Order Allowing Over-width Planters, and Applicators to Move on State Highways During Nighttime Hours

Governor Noem responded to a request from SDABA to allow over-width applicator vehicles and planters to move on the state trunk highways in South Dakota until June 15, 2019.
The applicator equipment or planter must not exceed 12 feet, and must be equipped with flashing or rotating white or amber warning lights on each side of the vehicle and visible from 500 feet.

VERY IMPORTANT: An extended over-width permit MUST BE OBTAINED for the movement on any state trunk highway of a fleet of oversize vehicles operated OR a single carrier. The permit is assigned to the carrier. The carrier shall make a copy of the permit for each vehicle requiring a permit. The carrier shall fill in the blanks for make of truck, state, license number, and serial number for the vehicle covered by the copy of the permit. The carrier shall place that copy of the permit in the vehicle.

Permits may be obtained by telephone, fax, letter or in person at any the four Points of Entry or online at https://sdaps.sd.gov/sdaps/Account/SelfRegister#!

 

 

Northern Crops Institute Offers Preventive Controls for Animal Food Course

The Northern Crops Institute is offering another “Preventive Controls for Animal Food Course”, scheduled for June 19-21, 2019, which will be held in Brookings, South Dakota at the McCrory Gardens facility. The course is identical to the one held at NCI in January.  Click here for course information including who should attend.  

Regulatory Alerts

Worker 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 Applications

Applicators 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 Hazards

If 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 Interest

March 11, 2019

Pesticide-Production Report Update

The 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, 2018

Nutrient Research and Education Council Launches Website

The 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.