Next week on The Show...

6/29 am  (6:40a & 1:07p on WHOW)
Monica Nyman – St. Louis Dairy Council On June Dairy Month

6/29 noon  (12:20p & 4:35p on WHOW)
William Graff – IL Ex. Dir. For USDA Farm Service Agency

6/30 am
Kevin Ross – President of NCGA & Iowa Farmer

6/30 noon
Nathan Wentworth – Macon County Farmer

7/1 am
Rick Eastham – Edgar County Farmer

7/1 noon
Lance Tarochione – Agronomist w/ Dekalb & Asgrow

7/2 am
Nathan Sasse – Sasse's Apiary in Logan County 

7/2 noon
Robert Klemm – DeWitt County Farmer & IL Farm Bureau Board 

7/3 am
Daniel Doyle – Lumpkin Family Foundation on Chicago Region Food System Fund 

7/3 noon
Mike Warner – Wyffels DSM in Christian & Shelby County 

On The Show next week...

6/22 am  (6:40a & 1:07p on WHOW)
Lauren Lurkins – Director of Environmental Policy @ IL Farm Bureau

6/22 noon  (12:20p & 4:35p on WHOW)
Andrew Meister – Chair of Market On The Hill in Mt Pulaski

6/23 am
David Brix – Macon County Farmer

6/23 noon
Joe Camp – Manager @ Agrivisior

6/24 am
Doug Schroeder – Champaign County Farmer & Chair of IL Soybean Association Board

6/24 noon
Mellisa McMillan – Manager @ Christian County Farm Bureau

6/25 am
Laura Gentry – Director Of Water Quality Research @ IL Corn Growers Association

6/25 noon
Matt Hughes – McLean County Farmer

6/26 am
Kris Ehlers – Champaign County Farmer & CCA

6/26 noon
Heath Houck – Montgomery County Farmer

Mt. Pulaski, IL -- After a successful year of planning and fundraising, the Market on the Hill, a new community-owned grocery store in Mt. Pulaski will open its doors for business on Monday, June 22nd on the corner of S. Layafette St. on the town square. A grand opening celebration will follow on Friday, June 26th. To better serve Logan County residents amidst the pandemic, all shoppers will receive 20% off fresh fruits and vegetables, guaranteed through September.

The Market on the Hill is a community-owned grocery store owned by 125 residents of Logan County. Store hours are 9am-7pm Monday- Saturday and 10-4pm on Sunday. The store is open to all, and shoppers need not be owners to take advantage of the store's many offerings. The store will feature a deli with high quality meats and cheeses and will carry a number of staple goods, including pantry items and fresh produce, with special efforts to source products directly from surrounding farms. Upon opening, shoppers can expect fresh greens and seasonal produce from Hilltop Community Gardens in Mt. Pulaski, honey from Sasse's apiaries in Chestnut, and beef from Tyson's Farm in Chestnut, with more local farm products to be added regularly.

"It was important to us to make sure the store not only helped feed our community, but serve as an economic driver as well. Every dollar that the store spends purchasing local products is a dollar that gets reinvested with area farmers who will reinvest it with other local businesses. There is an economic multiplier effect going on that will help our store do double the good—growing both the health and wealth of southern Logan county," says Andy Meister, Board President.

To further support the well-being of the community, the Market on the Hill will offer 20% off all locally-grown fresh produce, guaranteed through September.. The discount is made possible through a partnership with the Mt. Pulaski Economic Development Board and will make fresh fruits and vegetables more affordable for shoppers of all income levels at a time when it is needed most.

"The Covid 19 pandemic has exacerbated food insecurity across the state, and our community feels it too," says Kim Martin, head of the Health Initiative Committee for the Market on the Hill board. "Just getting the store open will provide southern Logan County with greater food access, but we wanted to go a step further and help people afford more of the fresh, wholesome food that is often perceived as too expensive. We're doing what we can to make local produce accessible to everyone who needs it."

Opening week will consist of a "soft open" from Monday, June 22nd through Friday, June 26th at which time customers can shop the store as normal following state health guidelines. The soft open will provide staff the opportunity to work through any initial hiccups in preparation for the grand opening on Friday, June 26th at 6:00pm. The grand opening will feature a ribbon cutting with dignitaries and legislators and free light refreshments provided by Mike Richner Catering in partnership with John Wyss of Primo Grills. Local ingredients will be provided by Hilltop Community Gardens and Tyson's Farm. Outdoor seating will be available and state guidelines for social-distancing will be observed.

For more information about the Market on the Hill and opening week activities visit www.facebook.com/marketonthehill

XXX

Nearly 8,000 Farm Credit Illinois borrowers receive their share of a $28 million cash patronage distribution this week.

This is FCI’s second consecutive patronage payment and represents 37.1% of the Association’s 2019 net earnings. In January, FCI’s Board of Directors declared a $28 million distribution after reviewing 2019 year-end financials and projecting capital and business needs for the coming year.

In true cooperative spirit and demonstrating Member Economic Participation – a guiding principle of all cooperative businesses – patronage is distributed equitably based on the business value each borrower contributed to the cooperative in 2019.

All checks arrive the week of June 15-19 by mail. Cash patronage is a tribute to generations of farm family cooperative members. Together, FCI and farm families celebrate the legacy of disciplined management from borrowers and cooperative managers alike, which allows FCI to deliver additional cooperative value.

“As a cooperative diligently managing its capital, FCI is well-positioned to provide $28 million of additional value to our farm family and agribusiness borrowers,” says Eric Mosbey, FCI Board Chair. “Cash patronage is a tangible and significant benefit of our cooperative structure.”

“Especially in these volatile economic times, unbudgeted revenue is welcomed by farm families,” says Aaron Johnson, FCI President and CEO. “The cooperative demonstrates its mission of Helping Farm Families Succeed through cash patronage.”

Next week on The Show...

6/15 am (6:40a & 1:07p on WHOW)
Lexi Mueller – New IL FFA President & USDA's Ag USA – Protect Pollinators

6/15 noon (12:20p & 4:35p on WHOW)
Doug Harlan – County Director @ U of I Extension Dewitt, Macon, & Piatt

6/16 am
Molly Schempp – New IL FFA Vice President & Emma Kuhns – IL FFA Treasurer

6/16 noon
Kris Ehlers – Champaign County Farmer & Certified Crop Advisor

6/17 am
Margaret Vaessen – New IL FFA Reporter & Jordi Oliver – New IL FFA Secretary

6/17 noon
Jennifer Fink – Director of Info & Ag Literacy Coordinator & Tim Stock – Ex. VP @ Macon CFB

6/18 am
Chase Brown – Macon County Farmer & IL Beef Board of Governors

6/18 noon
Grant Noland – Christian County Farmer

6/19 am
Emerson Nafziger – Professor Emeritus @ U of I

6/19 noon
Sara Marten – 4H Youth Educator @ U of I Ext Christian, Montgomery, Macoupin & Jersey

The Environmental Protection Agency responded to last week's Ninth Circuit ruling with this cancellation order....

https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-offers-clarity-farmers-light-recent-court-vacatur-dicamba-registrations

Illinois Farm Bureau President, Richard Guebert, Jr., issued the following statement...

“Illinois Farm Bureau has worked quickly to engage in discussions with stakeholders since the Ninth Circuit ruling vacating the registrations of three dicamba herbicides was announced last week.. On June 5, IFB submitted a letter to USEPA expressing concern and urging the agency to consider remedies to avoid sudden disruption during the 2020 growing season. 

“The USEPA cancellation order outlines limited circumstances under which existing stocks of the three affected dicamba products can be used for a limited time. We appreciate the guidance from USEPA to allow our members to use the product without further disruption for the 2020 soybean crop. As the largest soybean producing state in the nation, Illinois farmers have a considerable financial investment in the technology and are committed to its responsible use..

“This announcement is a result of a groundswell of activity and engagement within our organization and across the country. Illinois Farm Bureau looks forward to working with Illinois Department of Agriculture Acting Director Jerry Costello on the implementation aspects of this order for Illinois farmers.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Mike Bost (IL-12), John Shimkus (IL-15), Adam Kinzinger (IL-16), Rodney Davis (IL-13), and Darin LaHood (IL-18) authored a letter today to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler urging an appeal of the recent decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Court that vacated three registrations of dicamba and request a Section 18 Emergency Use Authorization to provide guidance for producers. This decision comes at a time when soybean farmers across Illinois have already begun applying dicamba to their crop in order to achieve maximum yield potential.

"This decision by the Ninth Circuit Court could not come at a worse possible time for soybean farmers in Illinois," said Republican members of the Illinois Congressional delegation. "Dicamba is a vital part of over-the-top (OTT) application plans for soybean farmers across the Midwest, and especially in Illinois. This ruling only causes more uncertainty for producers who are trying to rebound from a historically tough 2019 season while ensuring planting takes place despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We urge Administrator Wheeler to appeal this decision immediately and request a stay of the court order to ensure farmers can finish their soybean planting season without having to worry about whether or not their crop will make it to harvest."

Text of the letter sent to Administrator Wheeler:

The Honorable Andrew Wheeler
Administrator

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20460

Sent via electronic mail

Administrator Wheeler:

We write to you regarding the June 3, 2020 decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to immediately vacate the registration of three dicamba products (Xtendimax, Engenia, and FeXapan) during the height of the application season. Your prompt attention to this matter is appreciated.

Illinois is the largest soybean producing state in the nation, and thousands of farmers use dicamba to ensure their crop reaches its maximum yield potential. This ruling comes at the height of the dicamba application season and has created chaos amongst farmers and manufacturers. The Court has not considered the consequences of their decision to immediately prohibit the use of dicamba, including the millions of dollars spent by soybean farmers on this product.

Many producers across Illinois made specific plans to apply dicamba to protect their soybeans from post-emergent weeds, such as water hemp. Manufacturers produced dicamba to fit the needs of producers and passed the product down the supply chain to retailers that stocked their inventory for farmers to purchase. Retailers are facing overstocked warehouses of an unusable product and will likely not have sufficient supplies of alternative product to ensure farmers have the ability to protect their crop.

We urge you to immediately appeal this federal court ruling and request a stay of the court order. If a stay is placed on the decision, producers will be able to continue to apply their remaining stocks of dicamba and not have to alter their plans to protect their soybean crop. Additionally, we request that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issue an existing stocks order to provide appropriate guidance to farmers and applicators, including a Section 18 Emergency Use authority for Illinois farmers.

Soybean farmers in Illinois are counting on the EPA to stand with them and ensure that they will be able to continue to use dicamba during the 2020 planting season. The decision by the Court has caused undue chaos for producers already facing adversities due to market volatility and COVID-19. Thank you for your urgent consideration of our request to help assist soybean growers throughout Illinois. If you have any further questions regarding this, or any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

On June 3, 2020, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a ruling immediately vacating the registrations of Xtendimax, FeXapan and Engenia. The Ninth Circuit ruled that USEPA’s registrations of those products violated The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).  Pursuant to FIFRA, all pesticides sold, used, or distributed in the United States must be registered with the USEPA. Therefore, effective June 3, 2020, based on the Ninth Circuit’s ruling, Xtendimax, FeXapan, and Engenia cannot be sold, used, or distributed as their registrations have been vacated.

While the Department has the authority to regulate the sale and use of pesticides within the State, it cannot permit any sale or use without a valid FIFRA registration. The Department acknowledges and is sympathetic to the challenges that the Court’s decision will pose to the industry.

The Department has not yet received any guidance from the USEPA, but we will continue to monitor this situation closely. As new information becomes available, the Department will provide updates on its website.

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is disappointed by the 9th Circuit's decision to vacate the Environmental Protection Agency's federal registrations for three dicamba products, Xtendimax, FeXapan, and Engenia. Farmers rely on EPA's science-based process for developing appropriate and safe guidelines for the use of crop protection products.

NCGA urges the EPA to immediately appeal this ruling and obtain a stay of this overreaching court order. This decision to remove a weed control option, especially in the middle of the season, adds yet another challenge to an already difficult time and sets a concerning precedent.

Farmers have invested in previously allowed dicamba products, EPA should offer clarifying guidance and allow the use of existing stocks. NCGA is working closely with its partners and the EPA to understand the full ramifications of this decision and what options lie ahead for the future of the product.

Next week on The Show....

6/8 am  (6:40a & 1:07p on WHOW)
Wes Durbin – Shelby Co Farmer & Farm Credit Illinois Board Member 

6/8 noon  (12:20p & 4:35p on WHOW)
Rich Guebert – IL Farm Bureau President

6/9 am
Lisa Diaz – Director of Illinois 4-H

6/9 noon
Evan Marr – Morgan County Farmer & Farm Credit Illinois Directors Cup Winner

6/10 am
Mike Nelson – Ford County Farmer & Farm Credit Illinois Directors Cup Winner

6/10 noon
Allison Reinecke – Manager @ DeWitt County Farm Bureau

6/11 am
Kelly Estes – Illinois State Ag Pest Survey Coordinator

6/11 noon
Andy Schumacher – Cumberland County Farmer & Farm Credit Illinois Directors Cup

6/12 am
Alex Head – Macon County Farmer & Farm Credit Illinois Directors Cup Winner

6/12 noon
Rodney Weinzierl – Executive Director of IL Corn Growers Association

A U.S. appeals court this week vacated the registration of three dicamba herbicides, including Bayer’s XtendiMax. NAFB's Micheal Clements reports…

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the registrations of three dicamba-based herbicides, one each from BASF, Corteva, and Bayer. Allison Crittenden is director of Congressional Relations with the American Farm Bureau, who says these kinds of court decisions often hit farmers at the worst possible times…

The court says the Environmental Protection Agency substantially understated or failed to consider the “social and economic cost of approving the registration.” Bayer says they strongly disagree with the decision and are assessing their options.

Two Illinois agriculture organizations have issued statements in regards to this week's federal court ruling on the sale and use of Dicamba herbicide in soybeans....

The Illinois Farm Bureau released the following statement to Regional Radio Thursday afternoon...

"On June 3, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a decision that vacated the registrations of three dicamba herbicides – Bayer’s Xtendimax, BASF’s Engenia and Corteva’s FeXapan. The ruling does not appear to address Syngenta’s Tavium.

Illinois Farm Bureau remains in communication with the U.S. EPA, Illinois Department of Agriculture, American Farm Bureau Federation, and the registrants. We will work to minimize any potential sudden disruption to Illinois farmers’ planting and growing season."

In addition, the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association issued the following statement Thursday evening via their web platforms...

"IL Department of Agriculture legal counsel has looked at the US 9th Circuit Court ruling on dicamba, and believes it clearly calls for the stop of use, sale and distribution of all uses of the three products: Xtendimax, Engenia and FeXapan effective immediately.   The Tavium registration is not affected by this ruling.  We are expecting a statement from IDOA very soon but this is the situation in Illinois, and we ask for our members to abide by this determination and help communicate this serious message.  More information will be forthcoming and we will communicate as soon as we have more details from IDA or US EPA on the management of product already in the supply chain. "

USDA Director Sonny Perdue Thursday called for the courts to allow farmers to go ahead and use dicamba they have purchased for this growing season.

It's expected that Bayer, and others named in the suit, will attempt to appeal the ruling.