Plant Board opens
dicamba comments
A public-comment period opens today and runs through April 22 on the state Plant Board's proposed rule on the in-crop use of the weedkiller dicamba this season.
The board on March 3 approved a draft rule to allow dicamba's use through June 30 on soybeans and July 30 on cotton. The board previously had set a May 25 cutoff date. The proposed rule also will require a pH buffering agent in any tank mix. A 240-foot downwind buffer also is required.
Comments may be submitted online at agriculture.arkansas.gov or mailed to the Plant Industries Division, P.O. Box 1069, Little Rock, AR 72203.
If more than a dozen public comments are received, the Plant Board is required to hold a public hearing. Previous public hearings on the issue have been held by the board in the late fall or early winter preceding a crop season.
The proposed rule applies to the in-crop Engenia, Xtendimax and Tavium dicamba formulations. The May 25 cutoff remains in effect until or unless a new rule is formally adopted. Any rules change by the Plant Board also will require legislative review and approval.
-- Stephen Steed
Loan program move
gets House backing
The U.S. House has voted to extend the federal Paycheck Protection Program for two months and it is now scheduled to expire May 31. Senate approval also is required and is expected.
Financial groups say the extension is much needed because thousands of loans are backlogged in the application process and would expire without approval at the end of March.
The extension would give the U.S. Small Business administration to the end of June to approve the applications.
"My office supports an extension to help maximize the reach of this essential funding to those borrowers who have not been able to attain a first or second draw loan," said Edward Haddock, director of the federal agency's operations in Arkansas. "Until an extension is approved, we are doing everything we can to help borrowers access funding across the state before the deadline expires."
-- Andrew Moreau
Only Murphy USA up
as index loses 11.74
The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, closed Tuesday at 578.55, down 11.74.
"U.S. stocks suffered an afternoon slide during Tuesday's session led by shares of travel and retail stocks amid fresh covid restrictions globally," said Chris Harkins, managing director at Raymond James & Associates.
Shares of USA Truck fell 12.2% and Home Banshares fell 4.7%.
Murphy USA shares rose 1.6%. It was the only index stock to post a gain Tuesday.
The index was developed by Bloomberg News and the Democrat-Gazette with a base value of 100 as of Dec. 30, 1997.