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Council of Producers & Distributors of Agrotechnology
Terry Kippley, CPDA
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In this Issue:
- A Thanksgiving Note
- President-Elect Trump Nominates Brooke Rollins as the Next Secretary of Agriculture
- Farm Bill
- Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee
- Drift Reduction Adjuvants a Mitigation Tool for ESA Compliance
- ESA Webinar Now On-Demand
- CPDA Capitol Connection
- EPA Quarterly PRIA Coalition Meeting
- Pesticide Policy Coalition
- Monarch Butterfly
- Dicamba Update
- CPDA/ARA Adjuvant Advantage Webinar Series
- Registration Now Open for 2025 CPDA DC Fly-In
- Industry Events
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A Thanksgiving Note
As we prepare for Thanksgiving and the gathering of friends and family, I’m reminded of the countless blessings we have as a nation and the privilege of being part of the industry that feeds people here and abroad. On behalf of the CPDA Board of Directors and staff, I would like to thank our CPDA member companies and volunteer leaders who have worked tirelessly on your behalf throughout 2024 to improve our great industry.
I am also thankful for the progress we made in 2024 to address the economic issues that matter most to our member companies while building out an organization focused on protecting your freedom to operate. For a full recap of 2024, please take time to review our 2024 Annual Report, which can be found here.
While plans are underway in preparation for an even more impactful and successful 2025, we will use December as a “sprint to the finish” to close out a consequential 2024.
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President-Elect Trump Nominates Brooke Rollins as the Next Secretary of Agriculture
CPDA congratulates Brooke Rollins on her nomination as the next U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. As the current president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, Rollins has been a strong advocate for the revitalization of rural America. She has consistently emphasized the significance of deregulation, innovation, and fair-trade policies to enhance the agricultural competitiveness of the nation. In his announcement, President-Elect Trump expressed confidence in Rollins' ability to lead the efforts in safeguarding American farmers, who are the backbone of our country.
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Farm Bill
On November 18, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) released the long-awaited text of her draft Farm Bill called the “Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024.”
Weighing in at almost 1,400 pages, Stabenow’s proposal includes the movement of climate-related agriculture funding from the Inflation Reduction Act into the Farm Bill, a 5% increase in reference prices for the Price Loss Coverage program, and additional funding for nutrition programs.
In a statement, Chairwoman Stabenow said:
"The bill builds on the proposal released in May (2024) by investing new resources and including innovative, new ideas to deliver the assistance farmers need faster. It provides farmers with the certainty of a 5-year Farm Bill – so they can plan for the future – and the immediate help they need to manage the urgent needs of the present. It doubles down on our commitment to rural communities, ensures that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) keeps up with the realities of American life, and brings the historic investments in climate-smart conservation practices into the Farm Bill.”
It appears unlikely that the Farm Bill will pass before the end of the year. With Republicans holding both Congressional chambers and the White House, it’s more likely to expect a new Farm Bill sometime in the 119th Congress.
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Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee
Last week, I attended the virtual two-day meeting of EPA’s Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee of which I am a member. While virtual meetings limit the amount of feedback and discussion, this was still an opportunity to get a few updates from EPA and other committee members on issues important to CPDA.
Of note, Jan Matuszko, Director of the Environmental Fate and Effects Division provided an update on Endangered Species Act activities and outreach. As you know, we are continuing our work with Jan’s team on providing data on Drift Reduction Adjuvants and their use as a tool for mitigating ESA no-spray buffers.
Other sessions focused on resource limitations for the Office of Pesticide Programs and their effect on PRIA implementation.
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Drift Reduction Adjuvants a Mitigation Tool for ESA Compliance | |
CPDA member Winfield United's Dr. Eric Spandl, Senior Manager of Product Development and a key member of CPDA’s ESA Committee provided his insight in a recent article by THE SCOOP. It highlights the importance of drift reduction adjuvants as a mitigation tool for ESA compliance. | |
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ESA Webinar Now On Demand
On November 15, CPDA, in collaboration with CropLife Magazine, hosted a webinar titled "The ABCs of ESA: Exploring the EPA’s Herbicide Strategy,” where we heard from an expert panel regarding the Herbicide Strategy and its impact on farmers, ag retailers, and suppliers. We also learned about mitigation measures to reduce pesticide movement from treated fields, compliance and enforcement of the Herbicide Strategy, and the roles ag retailers and suppliers are playing in supporting farmer-customers.
We received positive feedback from the EPA about the webinar. So, if you missed the original webinar, a recording of it can be found here.
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CPDA Capitol Connection
Our commitment to advocacy and member support is at the forefront of everything we do at CPDA. One of our new offerings is the “CPDA Capitol Connection” which is your go-to for key updates on policy and regulation impacting your business all done in two minutes or less. Each week, CPDA’s Vice President of Governmental Relations, Andrew Walmsley, will delve into pressing issues that affect our industry, providing insights into both state and federal issues.
The latest Capitol Connection can found on our website and LinkedIn page.
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EPA's Quarterly PRIA Coalition Meeting
On November 21, CPDA participated in EPA’s PRIA Coalition Quarterly Stakeholder meeting. A list of items discussed includes:
- Divisional Process Improvements;
- IT Update;
- FY’24 Fees Collected;
- PRIA 5 Implementation;
- Bilingual Labeling Update;
- FY24 Maintenance Fee Invoicing; and
- Data Evaluation Reports and their availability.
The slides from the meeting can be found here.
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Pesticide Policy Coalition
Last week, CPDA participated in the monthly Pesticide Policy Coalition (PPC) meeting. The coalition discussed the latest political appointees, plans for the 119th Congress, and preparation for joint ESA outreach. The coalition also had conversations with Matt Mulica, Farmers for Monarch, about the upcoming listing decision for Monarchs that is expected on December 4th. We also met with Dudley Hoskins from the Senate Agriculture Committee.
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Monarch Butterfly
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced that it plans to issue a decision on whether to list the monarch butterfly under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by no later than December 4.
The effort to list the monarch butterfly under the ESA was initiated in 2014 when environmental groups filed a petition asking FWS to list the species. In 2020, FWS concluded that listing the monarch was “warranted” but, at that time, precluded by other priorities. Four years later, a final listing decision is on the horizon. It is unclear whether the monarch could be listed as “threatened” or “endangered.” While either status would confer ESA protections to the monarch, a “threatened” designation would give FWS more authority to exempt certain actions, such as normal agricultural activities, from being considered a “take” of a species.
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Dicamba Update
Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, submitted a letter to EPA requesting that the agency halt all over-the-top uses of dicamba. Specifically, the letter requests that EPA deny three petitions that are currently pending before the agency to reapprove three dicamba-based pesticide products for use on soybeans and cotton.
At this point, EPA has not provided any insight on whether dicamba will be registered for use in 2025.
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CPDA/ARA Adjuvant Advantage Webinar Series | |
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Tuesday, December 10th
Drift Reduction Adjuvants
Why DRA’s should be included in every tank to save growers money and reduce complaints. Sponsored by GROWMARK.
Certified Crop Advisers attending the webinar will earn one Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) program IPM CEU.
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Registration Now Open for 2025 CPDA DC Fly-In
Registration is now open for the 2025 CPDA Washington DC Fly-In, which will be held in conjunction with the Agricultural Retailers Association’s Fly-In. (ARA).
The dates for the Fly-In are February 24-26, 2025, in Washington, DC at the Westin Hotel in Arlington, Virginia where we have secured a great rate of $199/night. Plan to arrive on the 24th for our opening reception with our ARA friends as well as for dinner with a special guest speaker. Plan for a full day on Capitol Hill on the 25th followed by an evening Congressional reception. On the 26th, we will hear from Agency staff, Agricultural leaders, and other allies. The Fly-In is the focal point of CPDA’s federal advocacy efforts in 2025. This is an important meeting for all CPDA member companies so please plan to attend.
Note: Your hotel stay must be booked separately from your fly-in registration.
Call for CPDA Fly-In Sponsorships
Sponsorship plays a pivotal role in making initiatives like the Fly-In possible. Your contributions not only enable us to gather and advocate effectively but also strengthen the collaborative spirit that defines our CPDA community. The Fly-In represents an invaluable opportunity for our members to engage directly with key policymakers, sharing insights and advocating for the interests of the agricultural and chemical sectors. Your involvement is crucial in enhancing our advocacy efforts and in shaping the policies that affect our industry.
Ready to sponsor? Please email Terry Kippley at tkippley@cpda.com.
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A Final Thought...
At Thanksgiving, we give thanks for the food on our tables, the clothes on our backs and the farmers who make it all possible. Have a safe and blessed Thanksgiving.
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CropLife Innovation Series Webinars
CropLife hosts dozens of webinars each year. Click on the link for a list of upcoming events, as well as archived presentations that can be viewed on demand. Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) can earn CEUs by attending these webinars.
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ARA Conference & Expo
December 3–5, 2024, Houston, TX
Join 600+ ag professionals in Houston at the premier event for ag retail industry leaders to expand their network and knowledge. Build connections and strengthen partnerships among executive decision makers, ag retail industry thought leaders and agronomists working directly with farmers in the field.
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