December 16, 2017
First round of Dicamba civil penalties issued and collected
 The Missouri Department of Agriculture has issued the first wave of civil penalties issued to applicators, all from Dunklin County, as a result of investigations of complaints during the 2016 growing season. Civil penalties, ranging from $1,500 to $62,250, were issued for pesticide misuse (off label use and drift).
“It is important for appropriate enforcement action to be issued in order to deter off-label use and protect the integrity of agriculture,” Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn said. “We are in the final stages of our case review of 2016 investigations and continuing our field investigations of 2017 complaints and will release information as cases close.”
In 2016, Department staff conducted and completed 121 complainant investigations. Those complainants named approximately 60 applicators, who were investigated as a result of complaints. In addition, the Department investigated nearly 100 non-Dicamba related incidents.
Click here to read the news release.
 Partner with Missouri Grown at the Tasty Expo
The Missouri Department of Agriculture is selecting ten AgriMissouri food and beverage members to attend the Tasty Expo next May!
The Tasty Expo, an event that attracts more than 20,000 attendees, kicks off in the heart of the Midwest before traveling to other major cities across the country. The Tasty Expo gives companies the chance to talk with distributors and wholesale buyers, as well as directly to the everyday consumer. Business-to-business interaction and exposure to the public creates a unique experience for Missouri companies to show what sets them apart.
The Department will award these ten companies with a partial booth sponsorship. Applicants who are selected must pay $500 by 4 p.m. on Jan. 19, 2018, to reserve their spot.
Click here to apply!
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 Special Local Need labels for FEXAPAN and XTENDIMAX issued
On Monday, the Missouri Department of Agriculture issued 24c Special Local Need labels for FEXAPAN, EPA Reg. No. 352-913 – SLN label MO-180003, and XTENDIMAX, EPA Reg. No.524-617 – SLN label MO-180002. The Department issued a Special Local Need label for ENGENIA, EPA Reg. No. 7969-345 – SLN label MO-180001, on Nov. 16, 2017. All three labels contain the same restrictions.
“These labels, like the one for ENGENIA, will allow producers to finalize their plans for the 2018 growing season,” Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn said. “Our goal is to show this technology can be used safely and successfully so that it remains in the market for future years.”
Click here to read the release in its entirety.
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This Week in Photos
  This week, we highlight a year's worth of speaking engagement requests for Director Chinn and Deputy Director Hawkins, EPA Regions 7 & 8 meeting with state departments of agriculture that focused on cooperative federalism and engagement, the Food Bank of Central & Northeast Missouri's One for One Food & Fund Drive, the fifth leg of the ReachMORE Tour at MO-Ag Winter Convention and the Missouri Propane Safety Commission meeting.
 
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