US Department of Agriculture Announces Crop Progress Report Delayed Due to Hurricane Sandy

Oct 29, 2012

USDA’s Weekly Crop Progress Report Monday Release Postponed Due to “Frankinstorm”

The US agriculture community is going to have to wait to get their weekly US Department of Agriculture (USDA) crop progress report that is released at the beginning of every week, normally on Monday afternoon. The USDA has said that the report will be delayed as the federal government shuts down its operations to brace for Hurricane Sandy.

The USDA said that the report will be released once offices reopen following the storm. The US government told all non-emergency related workers to stay home on Monday. Despite the delay of the crop report, some other non-related data will be released on schedule including personal income and spending figures that will be released Monday morning.

Hurricane Sandy is expected to be one of the biggest storms to reach US mainland in history. Weather forecasters predict that Sandy could merge with several other weather systems - creating a “Frankenstorm” that will hit the Eastern US and Eastern Canada.

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.