PIERRE, S.D. – Today, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) announced that the Board of Water and Natural Resources has approved $139,791,400 in loans and grants for drinking water, wastewater, and solid waste projects in South Dakota.
The $139,791,400 total consists of $121,686,200 in low-interest loans and $18,105,200 in grants to be administered by the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
“Safe and reliable water, wastewater, and solid waste infrastructure is essential for protecting our natural resources and building stronger communities for future generations, said DANR Secretary Hunter Roberts. “I want to thank the Board of Water and Natural Resources for approving the funding recommendations.”

**OMAHA (DTN) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture has warned its 100,000-plus employees that major staff cuts are coming, offices will be closed, and people will be forced to relocate if they want to keep their jobs.
USDA employees have been given the option to quit with up to six months in pay if they choose to take it.
The USDA Office of the Secretary provided employees this week with new details on another Deferred Resignation Program (DRP 2.0) and offered some broad details about the larger shakeup in USDA staff.
Citing the president's executive order in February implementing the "Department of Government Efficiency Workforce Optimization Initiative," the memo warned of more cuts to come. "While final plans are still under development, USDA aims to be transparent about what employees can expect."
USDA plans to further reduce the size of the workforce and consolidate offices. That includes moving more people out of Washington, D.C., or the "National Capital Region," so staff can be "closer to the farmers, ranchers, foresters, and consumers we serve."

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has announced that state-specific use restrictions for three dicamba herbicide products will be in place for the 2024 growing season in Minnesota. The restrictions are aimed at curbing off-site movement of the products. The affected dicamba formulations are Engenia by BASF, Tavium by Syngenta, and XtendiMax by Bayer. These are the only dicamba products labeled for use on dicamba-tolerant soybeans. The three products will have the following restrictions in Minnesota in 2024: DATE CUTOFF: No application shall be made south of Interstate 94 after June 12, 2024. North of Interstate 94, use is prohibited after June 30, 2024.
TEMPERATURE CUTOFF: No application shall be made if the air temperature of the field at the time of application is over 85 degrees Fahrenheit or if the National Weather Service’s forecasted high temperature for the nearest available location for the day exceeds 85 degrees Fahrenheit. “These restrictions have been effective over the past two growing season at decreasing complaints of off-target movement,” said Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “These products must be used without impacts on neighboring homes, farms, and gardens. The Minnesota-specific restrictions are based on scientific evidence and have proven to be effective.” During the 2023 growing season, the MDA received 11 formal complaints and four responses to an informal survey, all alleging off-target movement. This is a major decrease from a peak in 2021 which saw a total of 304 formal complaints and survey responses. The MDA implemented the date and temperature restrictions in 2022, which resulted in 32 reports of alleged off-target movement. There are also other federal requirements for the products that appear on the product labels. They include: Requiring an approved pH-buffering agent, also known as a volatility reducing agent, be tank mixed with dicamba products prior to all applications;
Requiring a downwind buffer of 240 feet and 310 feet in areas where listed endangered species are located (visit the EPA website to determine whether a 310-foot buffer is required); and,
Additional recordkeeping items. In addition to the cutoff dates, Xtendimax and Tavium have crop growth stage cutoffs. Since dicamba was first registered for use on dicamba-tolerant soybeans in the 2017 growing season, the MDA has fielded complaints each year of alleged off-site movement onto neighboring property. The chemical is highly volatile and can damage non-target plant species through spray drift and/or volatilization. Volatility is influenced by several factors including temperature, relative humidity, rate of application, and crop stage. The annual totals of complaints were:
2023: 15 reports
2022: 32
2021: 304
2020: 128
2019: 20
2018: 51
2017: 249

Engenia, Tavium, and XtendiMax formulations of dicamba are approved for use on dicamba-tolerant soybeans only and are “Restricted Use Pesticides.” The dicamba products are only for retail sale to and use by certified applicators.

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