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With a potential rail strike still on the horizon, Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association signed a letter coordinated by GoRail to request congress take action averting a nationwide shutdown. On Nov. 9, two rail labor unions extended their "status quo" period to Dec. 4, pushing the potential for a strike back to Dec. 9 at the earliest. To date, seven labor unions have ratified agreements based on the recommendations of the Presidential Emergency Board appointed by President Biden, while three other ratification votes are pending....

Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA) filed comments to the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on the agency's proposed changes to Process Safety Management (PSM) regulations. The comment period closes on Nov. 14, 2022. PSM is a comprehensive set of performance-based standards that were established by OSHA in response to accidents and chemical releases at very large chemical manufacturing and processing facilities. The standard requires employers to implement safety programs that identify, evaluate, and control highly hazardous chemicals. OSHA is engaging stakeholders to provide comments on a list of...

Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA) joined its national affiliate organizations and sent a letter to congressional leaders Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-California) encouraging congressional action affirming EPA as the the primary, federal authority for making pesticide findings and decisions, and that states may build upon the agency’s findings should they choose. The letter points to states who have recently begun taking steps to risk limiting access to essential crop protection tools, contradicting...

Previously a co-signer of broad coalition letters, as agreements have continued to stall and the November 19 deadline for a rail strike/lockout quickly approaches, Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association joined a letter consisting of national and state agribusiness organizations requesting action from congress. "On behalf of our collective food and agricultural memberships, we write to urge swift action to avert a rail strike or lockout that would lead to shutdowns or slowdowns of rail-dependent facilities resulting in devastating consequences to our national and global food security," the letter said. The letter recommends congress...

Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA) submitted comments to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Oct. 27 concerning the agency's proposed changes to Risk Management Program regulations. The proposed revisions include several changes and amplifications to the accident prevention program requirements, enhancements to the emergency preparedness requirements, increased public availability of chemical hazard information, and several other changes to certain regulatory definitions or points of clarification. The comments point to KARA members remaining fully committed to chemical safety and security, however, In general, KARA opposes EPA’s newly proposed amendments to the...

Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA) and its national affiliate organization, CropLife America are requesting your assistance in contacting the Kansas congressional delegation to obtain full FY2023 funding for EPA. In order to do its job and curb the delay of new pesticide product registrations, the EPA needs adequate funding. Recently, falling just below CropLife America's initial request for $163 million in PRIA funding, the House-passed H.R. 8294 which included $158 million in funding under the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act. This is a 22 percent increase over the current fiscal year. The Interior...

Association has joined more than 100 state and national level organizations in signing a letter urging President Joe Biden's administration to continue working with the railroads and union officials to ensure an agreed-upon mid-September rail labor contract is ratified. To date, six of the 12 unions have ratified the agreement, however, there are concerns a strike could still take place which would have devastating consequences on the economy. Many major news organizations have published reports detailing the potential strike in November. Links to stories are below. Railroads reject sick time demands, raising...

Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA) members are being offered a special $200 discount on registration fees to the 2022 PACE Executive Forum on Oct. 27-28 in Kansas City, Mo. PACE Executive Forum is an exclusive 1-1/2-day conference for executive leaders to come together to get insights on strategic drivers that are reshaping the industry. The Forum’s agenda will explore the forces driving rapid, consequential changes so that you can adapt to the new market realities. By participating, you’ll be better equipped to position for your organization to capitalize on the opportunities in this new generation of...

Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA) submitted comments to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Thursday concerning the agency's re-evaluation of the current level of concern for atrazine herbicide. EPA's deadline to receive comments is Friday, Oct. 7. In summary, KARA requested EPA retain the current aquatic level of concern at 15 parts per billion for atrazine, and not adopt the additional proposed label mitigation measures. On June 30, 2022, EPA announced it has re-evaluated the current atrazine level of concern (LOC), which is 15 ppb, and “determined” in its proposed revised...

On July 12, 2022, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued, for public notice seeking comments on a November 18, 2021, petition requesting that EPA revoke all tolerances and cancel all associated registrations for food uses of certain organophosphate pesticides (OPs). On September 19, Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA) filed comments to EPA on the benefits of organophosphates in Kansas agricultural production. KARA noted removal of this crop protection tool would potentially cause great harm to, and loss of, Kansas crops such as corn, sorghum and cotton leading to significant economic...

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