he U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by natural disaster events in 2020 and 2021 will soon begin receiving emergency relief payments totaling approximately $6 billion through the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) new Emergency Relief Program (ERP) to offset crop yield and value losses.

“For over two years, farmers and ranchers across the country have been hard hit by an ongoing pandemic coupled with more frequent and catastrophic natural disasters,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “As the agriculture industry deals with new challenges and stressors, we at USDA look for opportunities to inject financial support back into the rural economy through direct payments to producers who bear the brunt of circumstances beyond their control. These emergency relief payments will help offset the significant crop losses due to major weather events in 2020 and 2021 and help ensure farming operations are viable this crop year, into the next growing season and beyond.”

Click Read More below to learn more about this and other USDA programs.

On April 28^th, 2022 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its Interim Review Decision on several pesticides as part of its periodic review of pesticide registrations. One active ingredient that is of key interest to sod producers is oxadiazon, a pre-emergence herbicide labeled for use on many weed species of annual grasses, primarily crabgrass and goosegrass.

TPI has been working with EPA on this registration review since at least August of 2021 when the Proposed Interim Registration Review Decision was posted to the EPA’s public document in the U.S. Federal Register. As a result, TPI and nine individual sod producers from the states of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas submitted comments for EPA’s consideration on oxadiazon’s importance in sod farms and the potential impacts of this registration review decision on those who use it.

Most of the proposed changes to the oxadiazon label revolve around rate reductions, limitations on liquid applications, post-application irrigation, and others. A summary of the EPA’s recommendations from the Interim Registration Review are as follows:

For Sod Farms

• Oxadiazon will be classified as a Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP)
• A yearly maximum application rate of 6.0 lbs ai/acre/year for all use sites, reduced from a previous maximum of 8.0 lbs ai/acre.
• A single maximum application rate of 3.0 lbs ai/acre, reduced from a previous maximum of 4.0 lbs ai/acre.
• Up to two liquid applications per year of oxadiazon
• A 60-day re-treatment interval is required between applications
• A 10-foot vegetative buffer is required between treated areas and surface water
• Thorough post-application irrigation is required as soon as possible on the same day of application

For other Turf Sites (golf courses, parks, athletic fields)

• Oxadiazon will be classified as a Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP)
• A yearly maximum application rate of 6.0 lbs ai/acre/year for all use sites
• A single maximum application rate of 3.0 lbs ai/acre, reduced from a previous maximum of 4.0 lbs ai/acre.
• Limit of one liquid application per year at a max rate of 3 lbs ai/acre
• Golf courses only – Restrict treatment of up to 30% of golf course managed turf with a required 10-ft vegetative surface water buffer
• Golf courses only – Allow up to two granular applications at 4lbs ai/A in areas of heavy weed pressure only
• Prohibit Mechanically Pressurized Handgun (MPHG) on all sites except golf course turf
• Restrict liquid backpack applications in turf to spot treatments only (1,000 sq ft or less)

One particular comment worth noting is that continued registration on non-agricultural, non-golf turf sites (athletic fields, parks, institutional turf, etc.) will currently be allowed until a pending review of new required studies are complete regarding the transfer of residue under these new labeling requirements.

TPI will continue to work with EPA to provide public comment on these recommended changes in the Interim Review Decision for oxadiazon. A Federal Register Notice has announced the availability of the oxadiazon Interim Decision, and a final registration review decision for oxadiazon will only be made after EPA completes additional requirements.

As always, we seek and welcome input from sod producers on these and other regulatory affairs. Last but certainly not least, thanks to those sod producersand representatives of other industries who logged onto provide public comment on this important product. Thanks also to EPA staff for working with our industry on this and addressing many of our needs in this decision.

EPA Proposes changes to Oxadiazon label in Sod Farms and other sites

The EPA has posted a Proposed Interim Decision for oxadiazon and TPI is working on behalf of sod farms to provide much needed feedback on the impacts to our industry. With significant changes to the oxadiazon label proposed, EPA needs to hear your expert opinions on the proposed mitigations in order to maintain the utility of this tool for weed control in sod farms. We would greatly appreciate your feedback to our questions below and your willingness to submit comments to EPA by November 3rd. The industry is currently seeking an extension but have yet to confirm whether or not it will be granted.

Summary of EPA Identified Issues with Oxadiazon and Proposed Mitigations 

Proposed pattern and rate reductions for all liquid and granular formulations

• Use on turfgrass will be limited to golf course fairways and sod farms only
• Yearly maximum use rate to be reduced from 8 lb ail/A to 6 lb ai/A
• The single maximum application rate reduced from 4 lb ai/A to 3 lb ai/A
• Applications are limited to 2 per year – spring and fall
• Liquid applications will be limited to 1 per year
• There must be a 120-day retreatment interval between applications
• Applications to sports fields is prohibited, included at planting/new construction

Key Impacts on Sod Farmers

“Flexibility in use and timing is one of the key items we need to address with EPA”, says Dr. Casey Reynolds of TPI. Sod farms don’t always follow the typical timing of golf courses, athletic fields, and other sites. Many of those sites will apply oxadiazon at the same time each spring to prevent summer annual weeds, but in sod farms it is often applied after harvest and at new plantings throughout the year. Another item that needs to be addressed is new construction and sprigging of athletic fields. If sod farmers who also install natural grass sprigs or sod on newly constructed athletic fields lose oxadiazon in these scenarios, then it will almost certainly have a significant impact on those projects.

“We have not lost sight of the fact that we will retain oxadiazon as a key tool for weed control in sod production and need to share that with the EPA as well”, says Dr. Reynolds. “We have been working with other key industry partners and the EPA on this important topic and will continue to work on this on behalf of all sod farmers.”

Instructions for Providing Comments to EPA 

We would greatly appreciate direct submission of comments by sod farmers to EPA on refining the use patterns and rates for sod farms. The public comment docket is located at Oxadiazon Public Comment Docket or at the “Comment Here” link below. Once you have entered into the portal, click the blue box in the top left corner titled “Comment”

All comments must include Docket# EPA-HQ-OPP-2014-0782.

Please reach out to Dr. Casey Reynolds at CReynolds@TurfgrassSod.org or 847-737-1846 for more information or for assistance with providing public comment.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is updating the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) for contract producers of eligible livestock and poultry and producers of specialty crops and other sales-based commodities. CFAP 2, which assists producers who faced market disruptions in 2020 due to COVID-19, is part of USDA’s broader Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has set an Oct. 12 deadline for all eligible producers to apply for or modify applications for CFAP 2.

Reps. Cuellar (S-TX), Joyce (R-OH) and a bipartisan group of lawmakers just introduced the “H-2B Returning Worker Exception Act,” which would create a permanent H-2B returning worker cap exemption and include some program efficiency and integrity measures. AmericanHort and the H-2B Workforce Coalition have been working with the bill sponsors to create a common sense permanent solution to the H-2B cap issue.

Click Read More below to learn more.

The USDA announced on March 24th that they will be re-opening and expanding pandemic assistance programs to provide Covid-19 relief to producers. This announcement included 4 parts with the following focus:

1. Investing $6 billion to expand help and assistance to more producers
2. Adding $500 million of new funds to existing programs
3. Carrying out payments under CFAP 1, CFAP 2, and CFAP AA
4. Re-opening the CFAP 2 sign-up period to improve access and outreach to underserved producers

This announcement also provides further clarity on when farmers who applied for CFAP 2 assistance by the February 26th deadline will begin to receive payments. The USDA will be finalizing routine decisions and minor formula adjustments on current and past applications and begin processing payments for certain applications that were filed as part of CFAP assistance, including those filed by turfgrass sod farmers. They will also re-open CFAP 2 for a new sign-up period for at least 60 days beginning April 5th, 2021.

As always, TPI will work with the Farm Service Agency to provide and updates and clarity to turfgrass sod farmers and we are always here to help if you have questions. You can also contact your local FSA office, visit www.farmers.gov, or click Read More below for additional information.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide additional assistance through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), expanding eligibility for some agricultural producers and commodities, including sod, as well as updating payments to accurately compensate some producers who already applied for the program. Producers who are now eligible and those who need to modify existing applications due to these updates can contact USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) between Jan. 19 and Feb. 26. Some of these changes are being made to align with the recently enacted Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 while others are discretionary changes being made in response to ongoing evaluation of CFAP.

TPI has been working with the US Farm Service Agency on CFAP2 relief since the fall of 2020. “We always enjoy working with FSA officials and thank them for their cooperation”, says TPI Executive Director Dr. Casey Reynolds.

Newly eligible producers can submit a new CFAP 2 application or producers who need to modify an existing one can do so between Jan. 19 and Feb. 26, 2021 by contacting their local USDA Service Center. New applicants can also obtain one-on-one support with applications by calling 877-508-8364.

Please contact your local Farm Service Agency office for more information.

The United States Farm Service Agency encourages farmers to apply for CFAP2 funds at their local FSA office prior to the December 11th, 2020 deadline. Producers interested in CFAP2 are encouraged to submit an application to the program before December 11^th. TPI has been in close communication with FSA throughout the pandemic sharing the impacts COVID-19 has had on our members. Although there are not specific details, we do anticipate future changes to program eligibility and we will let members know if there are any updates to COVID response programs from USDA.

Click the link below to learn more or begin the application process.