CropLife Retail Week: DC Trip, Mexico Corn, and Commodity Classic Preview

Eric Sfiligoj and Lara Sowinski discuss the recent fly-in event in the nation’s capital, a move against biotech corn by Mexico, and next week’s Commodity Classic show in Denver.

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*Below is a partial and edited transcript:

Eric Sfiligoj: Hello. Welcome to another edition of CropLife Retail Week. I’m Eric Sfiligoj, editor, CropLife. Here again with Lara Sowinski. Lara, how are you doing?

Lara Sowinski: I’m doing great. How are you?

ES: I am good.  And it looks like, you know, with your background that’s your normal background we’re used to seeing, when you’re not in the cornfield like I am. But, I guess this, as we record this, you’ve just actually returned home from a trip. So if you want to talk about your trip to our nation’s capital with our viewers, I’m sure they would appreciate, finding out what’s going on there, because been a lot of news coming out of that particular zip code recently.

LS: So for sure. Yeah, this this past week was an absolute thrill. Honestly. I, participated in the DC Fly-In. CPDA was gracious enough to ask me to join join them. And it was the CPDA , along with, ARA, CropLife America , and The Fertilizer Institute joining forces to, take a trip to visit with lawmakers on Capitol Hill and, as well as, the EPA.

So, I really just, you know, I have to kind of go through everything that I, I have a lot of notes and stuff, but I do want to absolutely, give some highlights and some takeaways. Just a high level. And then kind of unpacked the stuff in the, coming weeks. But, I will say this is, the first fly in that I’ve been able to participate in.

And there were some other first timers there as well. It was really a fantastic way. Again, I think the importance of these for industry partners in particular, coming together to advance the farm bill, talking to lawmakers about the Endangered Species Act and, what resources the EPA needs in order to, comply with that. And again, we’re not even just talking about human resources.

In other words, you know, staffing and stuff, just even, equipment and things that, you know, kind of support the business of, you know, taking a look at active ingredients, renewing them. There is a backlog, of course, that, a sizable one that, you know, everyone is, is, concerned about. In fact, I will say, again, the CPDA, I was tagging along with them and their group, but there was a, a whole group of us, 3 or 4 busloads, amongst the four industry partners that visited with lawmakers this past week.

CPDA did a great job of, prepping us and what to expect. Staying on message, making the best use of our time when we got in front of, our representatives and senators as well. So over half billion dollars of CPDA member products and important crop protection tools currently sit in regulatory limbo at EPA.

Unfortunately, EPA has experienced declining resources for many years and has lost seasoned and experienced staff over the past 15 years. With this workload on the rise and with fewer resources to meet the demand, regulatory submissions are delayed, causing uncertainty. So that was a key key message. Again, the farm bill, USDA resources, EPA resources, the innovation backlog, those were kind of the main, topics that we were prepped on and which we presented to our lawmakers and I will say, not only was there was it, you know, a powerful way to get in front of people.

And I felt like they really were listening. They took notes. They, it was helpful that CPDA was able to kind of distill everything into bullet points so that they understood. I mean, obviously, these folks, one representative that we met with, he had ten different meetings, just, you know, in one day. So there’s a lot that they’re listening to and people are visiting with them.

So, I will say was for those, you know, in our audience, I know our industry associations, whether these four that we’re talking about, in Washington DC or, other statewide, it’s cetera. If you’re not involved, with an industry association like CPDA, CropLife America and The fertilizer Institute, I can tell you firsthand. And this isn’t, you know, no one’s paying me to say the work that they do on behalf of their members is powerful, and it really results in and changes, we had a listening session with EPA’s Ed Messina.

He’s the director of office of his pesticide programs. And it was just to first and foremost, thank Ed and the staff at EPA for the work that they’ve done. In particular, approving, helping to get approval for the, use of drift reduction adjuvants. As you know, they were included in the final herbicide strategy that came out last year.

And likewise as, it set aside in fungicide strategies. The final versions of those, are, come, come forth, this year and next as well, that will be important. So it was first and foremost to thank them. And it was just to kind of bring the EPA, up to speed. What’s going on right now?

Where, you know, where things stand and, and kind of just it was great, actually, that, Adam was able to, take a couple hours out of his day to get the updates and, it just again, it was really good to see first hand. Like, this is how things work, you know, this is how, you know, getting in front of the people that make the decisions that, you know, put regulations together and why it matters.

And the work that’s done. It really I will say, just on a side note, Eric Spaniel from, Winfield United, Eric, was on our November 15th webinar on the ABCs of ESA. He shared, with the EPA yesterday, a decision tree that he had put put together. And it’s, he’s kind of just it’s kind of in a draft form, if you will, now.

But it was just a brilliant way to take all the complexities of the herbicide strategy. For instance, right now, the things that that we know thus far to put it in, you know, if this, then this, if this, it was fantastic. So again, it was helpful for the EPA to see what members are working on and likewise to hear from the EPA where their challenges are right now.

And and obviously, there’s a lot still in flux, you know, with the change of administration and so forth. But, just overall, just a great way of how things work and how important it is, I will say that, you know, as a private citizen, I’m sure sometimes all of us feel like, gosh, you know, you know, just like, do I matter if I, you know, send a letter to my congressman or do it?

You know, things do matter. I feel like being able to witness that in person and to participate, with these efforts on the Hill was, was great. So I do have, that thankfully, the weather cooperated as well. I’m going to share a photo that I took with, Terry Kippley there by the capital.

But, really just really want to say thank you to CP, CPD. So, Terry Kippley president and CEO, Andrew Walmsley, VP of Government Relations. Andrew, just you can tell he spends a lot of time there. He spends a lot of time, he does a lot of work. And, he he was awesome. Scott Rawlins, director of government Relations.

Scott, kind of same thing. Just had a lot of insight. Knew how to, prep us. You know, this is how to kind of get the the message across. It’s not going to be helpful right now to go in there kind of we’re all groaning and complaining. Let’s, you know, kind of shape this message, this message this way.

Very helpful. And Kirsten also, director of communications and operations, CPD again, just, a really good if again, if you’re not participating in one of these four groups or, you know, just get involved. It’s money well spent. So just wanted to thank those folks will have, additional, footage, some nice video clips, etc. and the weeks ahead, see CPDA hired a professional videographer and photographer who accompanied us on all the meetings, so that was helpful to have some stuff, as we go along.

But just a great, important time to get together. The networking amongst, the members again, just all of that stuff. A couple three days well spent for sure. So just thrilled. Thrilled to be back. But yeah. How exciting. Yeah, I know it sounds like a really good trip. And again, that that whole message of getting involved, I know, for this video will drop in the beginning of March and we’ll start to post the articles that will be in the March edition of CropLife.

And I know in my column in that issue, I talked about that whole get involved with your association. You know, you know, to, to, to encourage, our viewers and readers that if they’re not involved, they should be, because, you know, given everything going on in the government, the new rules with ESA, there’s a lot going on folks will have to be keeping up with.

And probably the best way to keep up with, even if they’re not directly involved, is to have somebody in Washington, DC, the nation’s capital, speaking on their behalf. Yeah, it does and it will spur and people doing a great, great work there. So no. All right.

ES: This is kind of a, I guess a sort of a roundabout update. Perhaps we’ll let the viewers decide for themselves. Yeah. Viewers may remember, of course, for about a year, year and a half, there was an ongoing trade dispute revolving around corn, GM corn importation, particularly into Mexico from the U.S., Mexico banned it. The U.S. protested under the terms of the trade agreement between the two countries.

Ultimately, arbitration panel ruled in favor of the U.S. so that opened the door for biotech corn to go back into the Mexican market, but found out on February 25th that Mexico’s lower house of Congress approved the catch a constitutional reform that bans the use of GM corn in the country. And I know that observers are a little worried that since the wording on this talks about the use and not just the planting of GM corn in the country, that it could be used as perhaps away from Mexico to, to fight back against the, the arbitration ruling against them regarding, letting biotech corn come into the country.

So we’ll have to keep an eye on that. Yeah, yeah, I saw that that news item as well. Yeah. Important development for sure.

So hey Lara I know is this video drops you and I will actually along with about 12 or 14,000 other folks, be in Denver, Colorado for the annual Commodity Classic.

That’s one of the biggest agricultural trade shows on the calendar for those of us in the marketplace. And as I said, this year’s events taking place in Denver, March 2nd through fourth officially. But there’s lots going on on Saturday, March 1st, which is, I think, when this video will be airing and you and I will be in Denver at that point, running around, attending events and seeing people I know myself.

I’ve gotten my calendar booked. So, folks, I’m sorry if you’ve gotten messages to me in the last couple of days, not only was I probably on a plane getting to Denver, but I literally I think I have a 15 minute block of time on Monday, the 3rd of March where I’d that don’t have anything going on, which I probably will use as my one bathroom break over the three days.

And that ought to be real interesting. And I know of anybody who saw the Austin Powers movies, but when they, froze him, you know, and he he had to go to the bathroom, it took like about 3 or 4 minutes because he’d been frozen for 30 years. But anyhow, I know that’s way too much information.

Sorry, but, yeah, I’m looking forward to this event. I have not seen, then checking their agenda. I know usually the Secretary of Agriculture speaks at this event, but I haven’t noticed if they’ve added Brooke Rawlins to the event yet. Maybe because she just got confirmed, but, it would be if she’s there. It’ll be great to find out what the thinking is at, the USDA and EPA and all the government agencies that have something to do with our friends in agriculture.

LS: Yeah, I you know, it’s funny, thus far, I haven’t seen, whether or not she’s going to be there, but I agree, if if she has, that would be great. Sorry. I just had a funny thought when you said a 15 minute break. Something is going to take you 7.5 minutes to get. Another 7.5 minutes to walk back to the booth.

ES: Well, anyhow, so we have folks again, if I did not get back to you, would set up a formal time to interview I in between other meetings, I will try to squeeze in some time to at least swing by and say hi, even if I can’t, hang around for too long. And if I can’t make it, I’m.

I’m betting Lara’s schedule’s a little more freed up than mine, but, But. Yes, please. We have a booth on the show floor. Conveyance. You know, if you can’t find us directly running around the show floor, leave us a note at the booth. We’ll swing by there once in a while to make sure that if anybody wants to reach us, they certainly can find us.

Yep. Absolutely. Will coordinate our schedules accordingly. And and visit with as many people as we can. Very good.