Rail negotiations drift off track; shutdown averted for now

While the September Straight Rows was in production, a national railway strike, lockout or slowdown seemed imminent. Just shortly before the Sept. 16 agreement deadline, the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC) and 13 railroad worker unions reached a tentative agreement that was still up for ratification, but effectively ended any threat of railway stoppage. That ratification was expected to be determined in full by mid-November.

As November rolled around, the situation had landed nearly right back where it began. Seven unions had ratified the tentative agreement laid out in September and two had rejected it while the other unions were set to vote by Nov. 19.

The potential shutdown has been held off until Dec. 4 as the NCCC and third largest union agreed to extend the current cooling off period – meaning no strike and no lockout – to continue negotiations until that date.

Congress is standing by for intervention, if warranted, as it has the power to step in and prevent service disruptions. The American Soybean Association invites growers to submit a comment in the Soy Action Center to encourage Congress to intervene should a mutual agreement fail between the carriers and unions.

The Association of American Railroads estimates that a railway shutdown would cost $2 billion in economic damage per day and severely harm the agriculture industry’s ability to operate.  

Tell Congress to intervene if railroads and labor unions fail to reach an agreement.

Letter says state pesticide labels should follow federal findings

“Growers and [pesticide] users need reaffirmation from Congress that states have every right to build on the federal government’s baseline regulations but cannot directly contradict the scientific conclusions of the EPA.”

That’s what a recent letter signed on by the Kansas Soybean Association and hundreds of other agricultural organizations asserts. It stems from a situation that unfolded in May when a plaintiff in California alleged that the glyphosate in Roundup caused cancer, though expert consensus contends it is not a carcinogen. Following a back-and-forth in the courts, the case was not ultimately heard. The court’s original opinion that Monsanto was liable in that case stood. The impact from the case was that the federal government had faltered from its position on uniform pesticide labeling, opening up the possibility for increased cases of this nature going forward.

Now, the discussion has come to the surface once more. The November Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act preemption letter outlines state-level actions which have contradicted EPA scientific findings on pesticide safety. It further explains the ways in which pesticides can be an asset in maintaining cover crop and reduced tillage conservation practices, protecting crops from yield-robbing pests and more.

FIFRA governs the registration, distribution, sale, and use of pesticides in the U.S. It accounts for the economic, social, and environmental costs and benefits of the use of any pesticide. Congress has the power to affirm EPA as the primary federal authority to ensure consistent management of pesticides nationwide and prevent contradictory labels from state to state.

“Congressional action on this important matter will ensure our nation’s farmers and other users have reliable access to these vital tools in the years to come,” the letter concludes.

Soybeans of Other Colors jump in frequency prompts possible changes to soybean grading standards

An increasing amount of “Soybeans of Other Colors” (SBOC) in recent years has prompted the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service to reevaluate the grading standards established under the U.S. Grain Standards Act. SBOC serves as a grade-determining factor for describing the quality of soybeans and has classifications such as U.S. No. 1 Yellow soybeans, U.S. No. 2 Yellow Soybeans and on.

The jump in SBOC can be attributed to new genetics varieties entering the marketplace or environmental factors in the field. Natural discoloration is all it is – a study conducted by the Federal Grain Inspection Service found no significant differences in protein or oil content. There is often a preference among international buyers, but quality does not differ.

USDA announced Nov. 8 that FGIS would publish a proposed rule seeking public comment on a proposal to make changes to the U.S. Standards for Soybeans.

More information on SBOC and the proposal:

ILSOY Advisor

USDA SBOC Resource Page and Guide

Progressive Farmer (DTN)