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18 May

Posted at 05:00h in Advocacy
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The Kansas legislature will return for one final day of business on Thursday, May 21st. Multiple committee met this week to consider various bills – all of which will all compete for limited action next Thursday. Large items, such as Medicaid expansion, might still be open for discussion, as will certain tax bills and COVID-related items. The Legislature was initially scheduled to return a few weeks ago in April for a full veto session. That date was postponed, however, in response to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to adjourning...

15 May

Posted at 14:22h in Industry News
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Recently, the USDA has announced their new Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive (HBIIP) program to increase higher ethanol blend availability. Projects may include costs related to upgrading fuel dispensers, retrofitting equipment, underground storage tank system components, and other installation costs required to offer ethanol blends greater than 10 percent or fuel containing biodiesel blends greater than 5 percent. HBIIP covers up to 50% of the eligible project costs, for a maximum of $5 million per applicant each. Along with USDA dollars, the Kansas Corn Commission will be contributing additional matching funds for up to $50,000 per station location with the applicant’s cost...

15 May

Posted at 14:18h in Regulatory
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The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) today published a final rule modernizing hours of service (HOS) rules to improve safety and flexibility for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers and the American public. The final rule brings a key reform to the short-haul exemption by extending it to 150 air miles and increasing the maximum on-duty period from 12 to 14 hours. ARA sent comments to FMCSA on Oct. 21, 2019, requesting regulatory reform to HOS rules including an expansion of the short-haul exception and maximum on-duty period. Read more about these modernized regulations in this news...

14 May

Posted at 15:18h in Advocacy, Industry News, Regulatory
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This afternoon, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed Executive Order 20-31, which establishes a new phase to the “Ad Astra: Plan to Reopen Kansas.” The new “1.5” Phase, effective May 18, 2020, continues reopening efforts while preserving some data-driven restrictions necessary to prevent community transmission of COVID-19. “The good news is that hospitalizations and COVID-related deaths continue to decline, enabling us to move forward with our efforts to safely reopen Kansas,” said Kelly. “Unfortunately, the daily rate of disease spread has not shown the downward trajectory necessary to move fully into Phase 2. I said from the beginning that public safety...

12 May

Posted at 12:17h in Industry News
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Featuring Eric J. Conn, OSHA Practice Group Chair at Conn Maciel Carey, this webinar will break down the workplace safety implications of OSHA’s recently issued “Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19,” which defines risk categories and provides recommendations on how to protect employees. Topics include: OSHA, CDC, and other guidance for managing infection control in the workplace generallyRegulatory issues and best practices associated with voluntary and mandatory use of respirators or other face coveringsIllness recording/reporting issuesHow to respond to employee or OSHA complaints.  OSHA’s definition of “workplace” covers everything from office buildings to country elevators; if you are operating in either a grain handling...

11 May

Posted at 04:00h in Industry News
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Kansas Grain and Feed Association’s (KGFA) scholarship committee met over conference call at the association’s 124th Annual Meeting in early April and awarded more than $25,000 in scholarships to Kansas high school graduating seniors for the 2020-21 academic year.  The scholarship committee, comprised of KGFA’s membership, received more than 180 applications and awarded 19 students scholarships to assist in advancing their academic endeavors. “We are very proud of the KGFA scholarship program that has helped so many people throughout the state for so many years,” KGFA’s president and CEO Ron Seeber said. “The association, its board and members take tremendous pride each spring...

07 May

Posted at 21:24h in Industry News
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Kansas Grain and Feed Association goes in-depth explaining the thought process behind the creation of the refreshed logo in the video below. [embed width="880" height="440"]https://youtu.be/0wiixvFlRks[/embed] Following more than a year of conceptualizing, planning, sketching and revisions Kansas Grain and Feed Association (KGFA) has raised the curtain on its newly redesigned logo. KGFA began evolving its external facing presence nearly three years ago by rebuilding its database and accompanying website, launching a mobile app and now, refreshing its logo. “In today’s business world our digital platforms, including our logo, act as our association’s...

07 May

Posted at 06:46h in Advocacy
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On May 6, the Legislative Coordinating Council voted to reconvene the Kansas Legislature on Thursday, May 21st at a time to be determined. May 21st was the pre-scheduled date for sine die adjournment – the final day of the 2020 legislative session. While the full legislature will not meet until May 21st, House and Senate leadership may yet approve meetings by certain committees (budget, tax, etc.) for consideration of bills. A motion by Senate leadership to return a few days before the 21st to conduct additional business fell by a vote of...

04 May

Posted at 15:07h in Industry News
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U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Jovita Carranza announced today that agricultural businesses are now eligible for SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance programs. SBA’s EIDL portal will reopen today as a result of funding authorized by Congress through the Paycheck Protection Program and Healthcare Enhancement Act. The legislation, signed into law by the President one week ago, provided additional funding for farmers and ranchers and certain other agricultural businesses affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. “For more than 30 years, SBA has been prohibited by law from providing disaster assistance to agricultural businesses; however, as a...

04 May

Posted at 06:25h in Industry News
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Gary Bothwell, Oct. 3, 1931 - May 1, 2020 Gary Mitchell Bothwell, 88, Topeka, Kansas, died peacefully on May 1, 2020. Gary was born on October 3, 1931, in Marysville, Kansas. He was the youngest child and only son of James and Gladys Mitchell Bothwell. He was nicknamed “Angel” by his two, doting older sisters. He grew up in Marysville during the Great Depression. Bothwell was a recipient of the Sunflower Award, the highest honor KGFA bestows upon a member, in 2000. Gary Mitchell Bothwell, 88, Topeka, Kansas, died peacefully on May 1,...

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