Extension Update from Jenny Rees

UPCOMING EVENTS:  
Dec. 11:  Grain Marketing Seminar:  Intro to Futures and Options, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Extension Office Beatrice, RSVP (402) 873-3166
Dec. 11:  Beef Quality Assurance Training, 3-5 p.m., Saunders Co. Extension (former ARDC), RSVP 402-624-8030 or kristen.ulmer@unl.edu
Dec. 11:  Crop Science Investigation for Youth-Tour PTUSA in York, 5pm, RSVP jrees2@unl.edu
Dec. 12:  Grain Marketing Seminar: Intro to Futures and Options, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., 4-H Building York, RSVP (402) 362-5508
Dec. 12:  Beef Quality Assurance Training, 3-5 p.m., Jefferson Co. 4-H Building in Fairbury, RSVP 402-624-8030 or kristen.ulmer@unl.edu
Dec. 12:  Beef Quality Assurance Training, 7-9 p.m., Civic Center in Seward, RSVP 402-624-8030 or kristen.ulmer@unl.edu
Dec. 13:  LBNRD Operator Training, 9 a.m., Legion in Lawrence
Dec. 13:  Ag Liens, Loans, and Leases, 10am-2:30 p.m., Davenport Community Center, https://go.unl.edu/try4 RSVP 1-800-464-0258
Dec. 13:  Cow-Calf Management in Limited Perennial Pasture, 6:30 p.m., Blue Hill Community Center, Blue Hill, RSVPbrad.schick@unl.edu
Dec. 14:  Nebraska Soybean Day and Machinery Expo, 8:30 a.m.-2:15 p.m., Saunders Co. Fairgrounds pavilion-Wahoo.
Dec. 14:  UBBNRD Nitrogen Mgmt Training, 9:30 a.m., Fairgrounds Hastings
Dec. 14:  Ag Liens, Loans, and Leases 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Phelps Co. Ag Center Holdrege, https://go.unl.edu/try4 RSVP 1-800-464-0258
Jan. 9-11:  Nebraska Turfgrass Conference, LaVista Conference Center, http://www.nebraskaturfgrass.com
Jan. 10:  UBBNRD Nitrogen Mgmt Training, 9:30 a.m., Leadership Center Aurora
Jan. 10:  York Ag Expo, Holthus Convention Center, York (Chemigation Training 9-Noon steve.melvin@unl.edu)
Jan. 11:  York Ag Expo, Holthus Convention Center, York (Private Pesticide Training 9-Noon jrees2@unl.edu)
Jan. 11:  LBNRD Operator Training, 1:30 p.m., Fairbury 4-H Bldg
Jan. 11:  Crop Production Clinic, North Platte, https://agronomy.unl.edu/cpc
Jan. 16:  LBNRD Operator Training, 9 a.m., Fairgrounds in Hastings
Jan. 16:  Crop Production Clinic, Norfolk, https://agronomy.unl.edu/cpc
Jan. 18:  LBNRD Training, 1:30 p.m., Davenport Community Center
Jan. 18:  Crop Production Clinic, Lincoln, https://agronomy.unl.edu/cpc
Jan. 18-19:  Hops Grower, Brewer Conference, Embassy Suites Downtown Omaha, http://www.growbrewnebraska.com/registration/
Jan. 24:  UBBNRD Nitrogen Mgmt Training, 9:30 a.m., Faigrounds in Seward
Jan. 24-25:  Nebraska Crop Management Conference, Kearney, https://agronomy.unl.edu/NCMC
Jan. 30:  “Partners In Progress Beef Seminar” Cow/Calf College at U.S. MARC near Clay Center, NE from 10-3:30 a.m., Registration at 9:30.  RSVP to (402) 759-3712.
Jan. 30-31:  No-Till On the Plains Winter Conference, Wichita, KS http://notill.org/
Feb. 1:  LBNRD Operator Training, 9am, Hebron Community Center
Feb. 1:  Merrick County Ag Day, Fairgrounds Central City RSVP:  steve.melvin@unl.edu
Feb. 7-9:  Nebraska Ag Tech Assoc. (NeATA) Conference
Feb. 8:  LBNRD Operator Training, 1:30 p.m., Fairgrounds Clay Center
Feb. 15:  LBNRD Operator Training, 9 a.m., Shickley Community Center
Feb. 15:  Hamilton County Ag Day, Fairgrounds Aurora, RSVP:  steve.melvin@unl.edu
Feb. 19:  Nebraska On-Farm Research Network Update, former ARDC near Mead
Feb. 20:  Nebraska On-Farm Research Network Update, Lifelong Learning Center Northeast Com. College, Norfolk
Feb. 21:  Nebraska On-Farm Research Network Update, Hall Co. Extension Office, Grand Island
Feb. 22-23:  Women in Ag Conference, Kearney
Feb. 23: Farmers/Ranchers College: “Crop Insurance, Farm Bill Policy Update & More!”, Fillmore Co. Fairgrounds-Geneva, 10- 3:00 p.m., Registration at 9:30 a.m. RSVP to (402) 759-3712.
Feb. 28:  UBBNRD Nitrogen Mgmt Training, 9:30 a.m., Holthus Convention Center, York
Mar. 1:  LBNRD Operator Training, 1:30 p.m., Kenesaw Senior Center

Farm Finance Clinic Sites and Dates To sign up for a clinic or to get more information, call Michelle at the Nebraska Farm Hotline at 1-800-464-0258.

Dicamba Training:  At pesticide training last week (for Extension to train pesticide applicators), I learned some information that may be helpful to you as you make your plans for 2018 and pesticide purchases.

In October 2017, the Environmental Protection Agency required that soybean and cotton dicamba products (currently XtendiMax™, FeXapan™, and Engenia™) be classified as Restricted Use Pesticides (RUPs).  This change requires anyone purchasing and using these products to be a licensed certified applicator whether for private, commercial, or non-commercial application.  There was also a requirement by EPA for additional training on dicamba use.

We learned that this training is an additional training not currently covered in your pesticide training or by your current pesticide licenses.  The new training includes requirements stated by the EPA in addition to Nebraska specific requirements stated by the Nebraska Department of Ag (NDA).  It sounds as if training will be provided by each of the three companies in addition to Nebraska Extension.  Extension’s training will have an option of being online.  Anyone providing this training has to use an NDA approved training (as they haven’t all been approved yet).  I’m hoping to also add this onto my pesticide training sessions scheduled for 2018 and will share more on that at a future time.  Each dicamba training session will take 45 minutes to an hour.

All training sessions (including online) must have a way for attendee names to be added to an NDA website showing who attended the approved trainings.  Attendees may receive certificates at training sessions, but NDA is asking that retailers don’t honor them.  They are asking retailers to please check the NDA website before allowing soybean dicamba products to be purchased and leave their facilities.  The website is considered proof of training and certificates are not.

What if you have extra soybean dicamba products you purchased in 2017 and plan to use them in 2018?  Legally you must follow the label on the products you purchased in 2017 and would be exempt from this training if you didn’t purchase any soybean dicamba products since the EPA ruling. 

Worker Protection Standard:  During pesticide trainings the past two years, I shared changes that were coming as a result of the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) administered by EPA.  Some of these changes went into effect in 2017 so a large number of you learned about them as it’s our big certification year.  We weren’t sure what would happen regarding the proposed 2018 changes to WPS with the current administration.  So far, the changes will go into effect other than how pesticide applicators are trained as Extension is still allowed to provide pesticide training. 

WPS applies anytime the label says to follow the Worker Protection Standard.  Usually I see this under the “Agricultural Use Requirements” portion of the label.  WPS applies to employers (person who is owner or responsible for management or condition of a farm, forest operation, or nursery), commercial pesticide handler employer (one who commercially employs individuals to work with pesticides) and their handlers (anyone employed/self-employed receiving wages/money for mixing/loading/transferring/applying pesticides, etc.). 

One change I mentioned went into effect in January 2017 was the following:  if a respirator is required as personal protective equipment (PPE) on the label, the person must have a medical evaluation and fit test before using the product.  We learned at our pesticide training what’s required to perform a fit test and the fact that very few in Nebraska perform these so that you can be in compliance.  They were training us in the event we chose to do this as a service-and we’re still deciding.  The label will say what type of respirator is allowed for the product.  During the fit test the person wears the respirator and does a series of exercises after a substance (like sugar) is sprayed to determine how well the respirator has sealed and if it is a good fit for that person.  Men with beards or facial hair beyond a mustache can’t pass a fit test as there won’t be a good seal.  Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) don’t require fit tests as they are loose fitting.  Those may be an option if they are allowed on the pesticide label you’re looking at.

I mention this now as you’re looking at pesticide products for next year.  Some products require respirators and others don’t-and that may be the difference for some of you in what products you choose.  You may also choose to have a commercial applicator spray products requiring respirators instead.  You may also choose to have yourself and your employees fit tested.  I did ask if there was a list of pesticides that required respirators so it would be easier to look this up.  It sounds as if no one is aware of a list like this.   If you are aware of this type of list, please share with me so I can share it.

You can find updated WPS posters available for printing and ordering, guides on how to comply with WPS and a separate guide on respirators at the Pesticide Education Resource Center:  http://www.pesticideresources.org/.

Great Plains Grower Conference:  The Great Plains Growers Conference will be held on January 11-13, 2018 at the Fulkerson Conference Center on the Missouri Western State University Campus in St. Joseph, Missouri.  The conference and trade show is a collaborative effort by University of Missouri Extension, Lincoln University Cooperative Extension and Research, Iowa State University Extension, Kansas State University Research and Extension, and Nebraska Extension. Last year the conference drew over 500 producers and exhibitors from 22 states.

On Thursday January 11th, the conference kicks off with five daylong workshops, including “Cover Crops and Soil Health”; “Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Grower Training”; “Hops Potential”, “Reducing Food Losses” and “Honeybee Management”.  Concurrent sessions on Friday and Saturday January 12th and 13th provide a total of over 50 presentations on a wealth of subjects.  In addition to presentations on conventional and organic vegetable production, there will be tracks on tree & small fruit production, beginning & advance organic production, season extension, greenhouse and hydroponics, cut flowers and farm to school program.

A full program, registration information and conference details will soon be available at the conference website: www.greatplainsgrowersconference.org. For more information, contact Sarah Browning, Nebraska Extension at sarah.browning@unl.edu or phone (402) 441-6747.