Pesticide Stewardship Awareness Week

The Missouri Department of Agriculture announced the beginning of Pesticide Stewardship Awareness Week, May 21-25, 2018, by reminding pesticide applicators of Missouri’s Special Local Need (24c) label restrictions for ENGENIA, XTENDIMAX and FEXAPAN for the 2018 growing season. During Pesticide Stewardship Awareness Week, pesticide applicators will see an increased promotional effort by the Department to encourage pesticide stewardship practices and awareness.

The Missouri 24c labels for ENGENIA, EXTENDIMAX and FEXAPAN outline directions, restrictions and limitations that apply during burndown, preplant, planting, preemergence and postemergence (in-crop). Pesticide applicators must have the current Missouri 24c labels in their possession at the time of application.

According to the Missouri 24c labels for the 2018 growing season, to apply ENGENIA, XTENDIMAX and FEXAPAN, applicators must abide by the following restrictions:

• Restricted use pesticide (RUP) – These products are for sale and use only by certified pesticide applicators.
• Training requirement – Prior to the purchase and/or use of these products, certified applicators must complete mandatory dicamba training provided by the University of Missouri. Training verification must be presented to the retail establishment, pesticide dealer or distributor upon taking possession of these products.
• Dicamba notice of application – Certified applicators must complete the online Notice of Application form daily for each application made after the crop has emerged.
• Application timing – These products cannot be applied before 7:30 a.m. or after 5:30 p.m. (to avoid the risk of temperature inversion).
• Cut-off dates: no use of ENGENIA, XTENDIMAX or FEXAPAN will be allowed after June 10, 2018, in the following Southeast Missouri counties: Bollinger, Butler, Dunklin, Cape Girardeau, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Ripley, Scott and Stoddard. No use of ENGENIA, XTENDIMAX or FEXAPAN will be allowed after July 15, 2018, in all remaining Missouri counties.

The Department of Agriculture created a collection of resources for pesticide applicators that includes links to the current EPA Section 3 labels, Missouri 24c labels, online Dicamba Notice of Application form, information on how to obtain a certified private or certified commercial applicator license and auxin-specific training provided by University of Missouri Extension. This information, and more, can be found online at Agriculture.Mo.Gov/dicamba.

Click here to read the full news release. 

Biodiesel incentive funds repaid to Missouri producers

Gov. Eric Greitens made good on a long-time promise to Missouri biodiesel producers last week by releasing a restriction on more than $4 million promised to them through the Missouri Qualified Biodiesel Producer Incentive fund. This program is credited by many as the impetus to Missouri's ranking as the second largest biodiesel producer in the United States. 

“Rural Missouri is coming back,” said Governor Grietens. “We are making investments in rural Missouri. We are keeping our promises to farmers and to biodiesel workers across the State of Missouri.” 

More than 3,400 farmers invested in eight biodiesel plants across the state. Those plants still support 2,500 jobs today - primarily in rural Missouri.

Plants that were at least 51 percent owned by Missouri agriculture producers, or originated at least 80 percent of feedstock from Missouri, qualified for the program.

Click here to read the full story from Brownfield Ag News.

Tasty Expo, featuring Missouri Grown products

The Missouri Department of Agriculture sponsored 10 food and beverage companies at the Tasty Expo this weekend. The Tasty Expo is the largest food and beverage experience in the Midwest, welcoming more than 20,000+ foodies. Visitors to the Tasty Expo sampled Missouri Grown products, heard each company’s unique story and watched their new favorite products be incorporated directly into recipes.   

The companies were among more than 200 vendors from across the country that had a chance to visit with many distributors and wholesale buyers. With a dual focus of business-to-business interaction and exposure to the public, the Tasty Expo created a unique experience for Missouri companies to share what sets them apart in the food and beverage industry.

Toby Freeland, L'École Culinaire program director, also created special recipes to feature Missouri Grown products during two cooking demonstrations on stage.

Companies in attendance included:

1. Baetje Farms
2. Circle B Ranch
3. Daniel’s Bar-B-Q Sauces
4. Edgewood Creamery
5. Ellbee’s Garlic Seasoning
6. Flavor Market
7. Freddie Lee's American Gourmet Sauces
8. Hemme Brothers Creamery
9. HomeGrown & Happy, LLC
10. Start Right Foods

Click here to find more Missouri Grown products or find out how to become a member.