Hold onto Your Twinkies! Hostess Can’t Go out of Business Yet

Nov 20, 2012

Bankruptcy Judge Tells Hostess to Mediate with the Union

Hostess Brands Inc. was ordered by a bankruptcy judge to go through the mediation process with one of its biggest unions. The judge noted that the parties hadn’t gone through the private mediation process and needed to do so in order to move forward.

Hostess, the maker of Twinkies and Wonder Bread is in mediation talks today to try and save 18,500 jobs. If the two sides don’t come to an agreement, Hostess will likely sell its brands, resulting in thousands of workers being without jobs. The liquidation hearing is scheduled to resume on Wednesday if an agreement isn’t reached.

The company’s announcement on Friday prompted many consumers to stock up on their favourite Hostess brands, with many stores reporting they sold out of Twinkies.

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.