The coronavirus pandemic was top of mind for nearly every aspect of the global economy in 2020, and farm policy stakeholders were keeping a close eye on Agri-Pulse’s coverage of the virus and legislative efforts to lessen its blow throughout the year.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to register dicamba for use on soybeans and cotton is facing another lawsuit from the same groups that succeeded in convincing an appeals court to vacate registrations earlier this year.

The Environmental Protection Agency is facing more lawsuits over herbicides, including a challenge from grower groups over new dicamba restrictions and a lawsuit from environmental groups over atrazine.

President-elect Joe Biden is moving forward with his transition with promises to move on his climate proposals that involve farmers in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Over the weekend, the president-elect went live with a transition website - BuildBackBetter.com - that includes a summary of Biden’s top policy priorities, starting with getting COVID-19 under control.

Dicamba applications on soybean and cotton will come with a cutoff date next year and require larger buffer zones to avoid off-target drift, the Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday in approving new five-year registrations for the herbicides.

The Environmental Protection Agency is working to complete registration decisions on dicamba by the middle of next month.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has denied requests to rehear its decision vacating registrations for Xtendimax, FeXapan and Engenia, leaving the Supreme Court as the last stop for dicamba manufacturers seeking to overturn the ruling.

The American Farm Bureau Federation and grower groups, as well as CropLife America, have filed amicus briefs in the 9th Circuit supporting a rehearing of the court’s decision vacating the registration of three dicamba herbicides.