Steve Davies

There is continued uncertainty this week surrounding the use of dicamba herbicide. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals wants to know by Tuesday why EPA decided to allow continued over-the-top use of dicamba on soybeans and cotton despite the court’s order vacating those registrations.

The Environmental Protection Agency must respond by Tuesday to an emergency motion filed by four groups seeking to enforce the Ninth Circuit’s court’s June 3 order vacating over-the-top dicamba registrations.

Chinese importers purchased enough U.S. soybeans this week to fill 11 Panamax-sized ships, signaling that the country is counting on the upcoming U.S. harvest to fulfill its needs in the final five months of the calendar year. The buyers are likely state-owned companies such as COFCO of Sinograin.

The American Farm Bureau Federation has given the Senate a 4 1/2-page list of priorities for the next coronavirus aid package, which the chamber is expected to consider in July.

Mexican officials plan to gradually phase out the use of glyphosate, but say the matter is still open to discussion.

Buckle up. A new farm economy forecast is projecting farm earnings will dive this year and again in 2021 without a big influx of additional government aid.

Much of the ag industry was still in a state of confusion Tuesday over applications of dicamba this growing season following EPA’s decision to cancel three registrations but allow use of existing stocks by growers and applicators.

The coronavirus pandemic has given a big boost to sales of plant-based meat as consumers search for protein amid the current health crisis.

Farmers who rely on dicamba herbicides are finally getting some clarity from EPA – but only short-term relief.