A field hearing of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee was held in Wheatland, N.D., at Grand Farm’s Innovation Campus.

The hearing discussed North Dakota’s role in advancing the next generation of precision agriculture technology and the broader benefits of bringing new innovations to market to benefit producers, consumers and agribusiness.

Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., organized the hearing through his role as ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The discussion included U.S. senators, USDA leaders, and producers, industry representatives and researchers.

During the hearing, Hoeven highlighted efforts to further advance the agriculture research partnerships he has supported across the state. These efforts include priorities he secured in the Senate’s agriculture appropriations bill, which includes:

“We have gathered these distinguished guests and witnesses to offer their perspectives on the future of agriculture research and technology, and we greatly appreciate them for the time they are giving to share their expertise of this important issue, which affects every American, every single day,” Hoeven says.

“Innovations in agricultural research and technology empower our farmers and ranchers to produce more, with less,” he explains. Every dollar invested into ag research is an investment in the future of U.S. agriculture and rural America, ensuring our country can compete on the world stage while providing food security for a growing global population.”

ASA offers its disappointment
over EPA’s herbicide strategy

With the release of the EPA’s final herbicide strategy for the Endangered Species Act comes ongoing concerns from soybean growers about the feasibility of implementation and its impacts.

“While there are clear improvements to the final herbicide strategy over what was first proposed, we are disappointed EPA chose to leave so many opportunities on the table to make this strategy workable for U.S. agriculture,” says Josh Gackle, president of the American Soybean Association and a farmer from North Dakota. “We remain concerned with the complexity of this framework and whether growers and applicators will be able to clearly understand how to implement it. … As finalized, the herbicide Strategy is likely to cost U.S. farmers billions of dollars to implement and could result in significant new hurdles to farmers accessing and using herbicides in the future.”

PRESIDENT AND FARMER: Josh Gackle (center), North Dakota soybean farmer and American Soybean Association president, shares comments about the EPA’s final herbicide strategy as part of the Endangered Species Act. (Photo by Holly Spangler)

ASA and 300 other groups noted in a letter to EPA several weeks ago that the agency’s current process is unduly conservative, overestimates risk and demands farmers adopt far more restrictions that necessary to protect species.

“While we appreciate the herbicide strategy restrictions will not take effect immediately and that EPA plans to implement them in individual pesticides registration decisions moving forward, ASA will carefully observe how closely EPA adheres to its strategy in those proposed decisions,” Gackle says.

“While we support EPA becoming compliant with the Endangered Species Act, it is essential that the agency’s approach meets its legal obligations and is workable for agriculture. The final herbicide strategy does not satisfy these needs. We look forward to continuing to work with EPA to do better in the next phase of implementation,” he says.