Update from Dr. Bob Kemerait, UGA Plant Pathologist

The following is a portion of today’s update from Dr. Bob Kemerait.  (By the way, southern corn rust is spreading across Georgia and moving northward.) “Greetings- Weather conditions (very warm and with some rain) are quite favorable for all fungal and bacterial diseases of our corn, cotton, soybean, and peanut crops. I am seeing more… Read More Update from Dr. Bob Kemerait, UGA Plant Pathologist

Congressional Update: COVID-19 & Agriculture

Georgia growers, in case you are interested, the following is today’s update on Congressional activity on ag related COVID-19 impact in Washington DC, from our NCGA DC office, authored by Brooke Appleton. Paycheck Protection Program The Department of Treasury and Small Business Administration (SBA) has struck a deal with a bipartisan group of Senators to… Read More Congressional Update: COVID-19 & Agriculture

Good News on Glyphosate

Yesterday, the Eastern District Court of California issued a permanent injunction preventing the labeling of glyphosate as a carcinogen in California. The judge acknowledged in his decision that many regulatory bodies around the world, including the EPA, have not found glyphosate to be a likely carcinogen. This in contrast to the often-refuted 2015 International Agency… Read More Good News on Glyphosate

Latest Update on Dicamba Court Rulings

Here is the latest report from the National Corn Growers Association regarding yesterday’s court action on the dicamba issue: Most important action:, the court denied the petitioners emergency motion to enforce the court’s vacatur and hold EPA in contempt.  The order was issued without any analysis.  For practical purposes, this means that EPA’s cancellation order… Read More Latest Update on Dicamba Court Rulings

Southern Rust: So Far So Good, But What IF?

Dr. Kemerait, UGA Plant Pathologist, as of last week, tells us that southern corn rust has been found in Decatur Co., Jeff Davis Co., Bacon Co., and Wayne Co.  That is good news (in a weird way).  I have talked to many growers, consultants, seed reps, and agents and, so far, no one else is… Read More Southern Rust: So Far So Good, But What IF?

An Update and Background on The Court’s Dicamba Decision-June 13th

Good morning everyone – Late Thursday night the original plaintiffs in the case filed an emergency motion with the Ninth Circuit calling for an immediate end to over-the-top dicamba use and for EPA to be held in contempt of court. The plaintiffs claim that the EPA lacks the authority to issue the order that allows… Read More An Update and Background on The Court’s Dicamba Decision-June 13th

EPA Offers Clarity to Farmers in Light of Recent Court Decision on Dicamba Registrations

WASHINGTON (June 8, 2020) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a key order providing farmers with needed clarity following the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ June 3, 2020 vacatur of three dicamba registrations. Today’s cancellation order outlines limited and specific circumstances under which existing stocks of the three affected dicamba products can be used… Read More EPA Offers Clarity to Farmers in Light of Recent Court Decision on Dicamba Registrations

Georgia Corn Growers Renew One-Cent Commodity Assessment

News release from the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Atlanta, GA: Georgia corn growers approved the continuation of a one-cent per bushel assessment on corn for the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Corn (Georgia Corn Commission). The April referendum received an 87.95% favorable vote. The market order for corn requires votes every three years for continuation.… Read More Georgia Corn Growers Renew One-Cent Commodity Assessment

EPA Responds to Ninth Circuit Vacatur of Dicamba Registrations

Georgia growers, here is the latest from EPA: WASHINGTON (June 5, 2020) — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler released the following statement on the Ninth Circuit Vacatur of dicamba registrations: “We are disappointed with the decision. The 2020 growing season is well underway and this creates undue burden for our first conservationists – farmers. EPA… Read More EPA Responds to Ninth Circuit Vacatur of Dicamba Registrations

Southern Corn Rust Identified in Georgia Counties

Dr. Bob Kemerait, UGA Plant Pathologist reported this morning on two incidences of southern corn rust in Georgia.  County Extension agents and crop consultants have verified infections in Jeff Davis and Decatur Counties.  The following are Dr. Bob’s quotes from two separate emails: First email: “Received photo from consultant scouting corn in Decatur County yesterday;… Read More Southern Corn Rust Identified in Georgia Counties