Dow Chemical agrees to pay $2.5M in settlement
MIDLAND, Mich. (AP) — Dow Chemical Co. said Friday that its operations in Michigan have agreed to pay $2.5 million as part of a settlement with the federal government over air, water and waste issues discovered during an inspection. The inspection was conducted over a 20-month period between August 2005-March 2007.

The chemical company said its Michigan unit in Midland has been working with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice since the since the inspection to review and resolve the issues from the audit.
Dow said it made immediate corrections in the cases where it was found to be in noncompliance with government regulations. It said many of the allegations involved missed inspections, incomplete paperwork and procedural issues.

Farmers have August to apply for value-added grants

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The USDA released a notice inviting farmers to apply for Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG). This combines two year’s worth of funding for the program, making $37 million available for new value-added projects. Project proposals are due by Aug. 29.

VAPG is a competitive program that awards grants to producers to help them develop farm-related businesses that add value to basic agricultural products through branding, processing, product differentiation, labeling and certification and marketing.

VAPG also funds regional food supply networks that benefit small and mid-sized farms by incorporating the producer into the larger farm-to-plate value chains.
VAPG was initiated by Congress as part of the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000 and extended and revised as part of the 2002 and 2008 farm bills. Grants may be used to develop business plans and feasibility studies (including marketing plans) needed to establish viable marketing opportunities for value-added products or for working capital to operate a value-added business venture or alliance.

The agency estimates it will make about 250 awards, expected to be announced by the end of November 2011. The complete application package will be available from the USDA Rural Development site at www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_VAPG_Grants.html

You may find out more about eligibility and the application process guidelines by contacting your local USDA Rural Development Office or the national program staff Lyn Millhiser at 202-720-1227 or Tracey Kennedy at 202-690-1428, or by emailing cpgrants@wdc.usda.gov

EPA improves access to chemical information online

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making it easier to find data about chemicals. EPA released two databases – the Toxicity Forecaster database (ToxCastDB) and a database of chemical exposure studies (ExpoCastDB) – that scientists and the public can use to access chemical toxicity and exposure data.

ToxCastDB users can search and download data from over 500 rapid chemical tests conducted on more than 300 environmental chemicals. According to EPA, ToxCast uses advanced scientific tools to predict the potential toxicity of chemicals and to provide a cost-effective approach to prioritizing which chemicals of the thousands in use require further testing.

ExpoCastDB consolidates human exposure data from studies that have collected chemical measurements from homes and child care centers. Data include the amounts of chemicals found in food, drinking water, air, dust, indoor surfaces and urine.

ExpoCastDB users can obtain summary statistics of exposure data and download datasets. EPA will continue to add internal and external chemical exposure data and advanced user interface features to ExpoCastDB.
The databases may be found at http://actor.epa.gov/actor/faces/ToxCastDB/Home.jsp and http://actor.epa.gov/actor/faces/ExpoCastDB/Home.jsp

ISA and ISU publish updated Soybean Aphid Field Guide

ANKENY, Iowa — The Iowa Soybean Assoc. (ISA) and Iowa State University have released a collaborative second edition of the Soybean Aphid Field Guide. The guide’s authors are ISU extension entomologist Erin Hodgson and ISU research entomologist Matt O’Neal.

One of the biggest additions to the toolbox of aphid management strategies is the resistant soybean. The guide includes a review of the research that led to aphid resistance becoming a common component of soybean genetics for many current and future commercial soybean varieties.

Funding for printing and distribution of the guide was provided by the Iowa soybean checkoff and ISU extension. Printed copies of the Soybean Aphid Field Guide can be obtained by contacting the ISA at 800-383-1423; they can also be ordered from the ISU Extension Online Store at www.extension.iastate.edu/store or by calling 515-294-5247. The guide can also be viewed online at www.iasoybeans.com/productionresearch

10x Connect Challenge selects first grant recipients

LEBANON, Ind. — In celebration of “A Decade of Difference,” Cause Matters Corp. recently launched 10X Connect as a challenge to food and agriculture organizations to leverage their community around the food plate.

Michele Payn-Knoper, principal of Cause Matters Corp. and certified speaking professional, challenges every person in agriculture to pick at least one activity to multiply their voice tenfold. Cause Matters Corp. will give at least 10 monetary or in-kind training grants to food and ag organizations that best demonstrate an ability to connect the farm and food.

Grants will be selected monthly through May 2012 based on an application completed at www.facebook.com/causematters and their community’s level of engagement.

Cause Matters Corp. decided to award two grants in the first month to the Farm Safety 4 Just Kids (FS4JK) and the Food For Thought nonprofit organizations. Tracy Schlater, marketing director for FS4JK, plans to use the grant for an “agvocacy” webinar presentation to the organization’s chapter coordinators, so they can learn how to do more farm safety outreach and teach agvocacy, as well.

Food For Thought recently launched a pilot program called Farm Tour Fridays, which it plans to supply to other state organizations to use to promote agriculture. Food For Thought will receive a $1,000 grant from Cause Matters Corp. to support its Upson Lecture Series.

Suppliers honored with Environmental Respect Awards

WILLOUGHBY, Ohio — Twenty top farm supply retail businesses have been selected as Environmental Respect Award state winners in the United States for 2011.

The winners in the Farm World area were: Illini FS, Champaign, Ill.; Ceres Solutions LLP, Rockville, Ind.; MaxYield Cooperative, West Bend, Iowa; Crop Production Services, Clarkson, Ky., Lake Odessa, Mich., and Washington Court House, Ohio; and Helena Chemical Co., Sharon, Tenn.

For 21 years, the Environmental Respect Awards have been the ag industry’s highest recognition for environmental stewardship among U.S. agricultural retailers, those who serve farmers and ranchers with the nutrients, pest control and agronomic information critical to effective crop production.