Farm Bureau Releases WOTUS Analysis

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) today released its analysis of the EPA’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) final rule and concluded that it is worse than the proposed rule, according to AFBF president Bob Stallman. “Our analysis shows yet again how unwise, extreme and unlawful this rule is,” American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman said. “Our public …

AFBF, Audio, Water

House Passes COOL Repeal for Meat

Cindy Zimmerman

By a vote of 300 to 131, the House of Representatives passed legislation late Wednesday to repeal Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for beef, pork and chicken. “I am thankful for the support of my colleagues today in passing this common-sense, bipartisan bill that is a necessary targeted response to avoid retaliation from Canada and Mexico,” said House Agriculture Committee …

Beef, Livestock, Pork

GROWMARK Staffers Score Communications Awards

Cindy Zimmerman

GROWMARK Corporate and Government Relations and Marketing Communications team members took home several awards from the Cooperative Communicators Association (CCA) during a ceremony held last week in Indianapolis, Indiana. Professional communicators representing cooperatives from across the United States and Canada submitted 703 entries in the (CCA) Excellence in Communications Awards recognizing the best in writing, photography, programs and projects, and …

GROWMARK

N-Watch Update from GROMARK’s Dr. Brown

Cindy Zimmerman

The N-Watch program was developed by GROWMARK director of nutrient management and environmental stewardship Dr. Howard Brown as a tool to estimate the concentration of plant-available N throughout the year. The program started with 45 sites in Illinois and continues to grow. “Currently we are looking at over 900 sites from Nebraska to southern Ontario,” said Brown. “The purpose is …

Audio, Fertilizer, GROWMARK

Toledo Food Dialogues Tackles Water Issues

Cindy Zimmerman

All things water were discussed this morning during the Food Dialogues: Toledo event. On August 2, 2014 a toxic algal bloom caused nearly 500,000 people to be without water. The event led to discussions around how to balance the need for clean water with the need for food. The conversation was continued through two panel discussions with the first panel, …

Agribusiness, Environment, Food, USFRA, Water

Toledo Food Dialogues Focused on Water

Cindy Zimmerman

Are you watching Food Dialogues: Toledo? EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy mentioned the Toledo water crisis last year in her announcement yesterday on the final Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule to point out the importance of clean water to industry. The question being addressed during today’s U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance Food Dialogues is “How do we balance our …

USFRA, Water

Agriculture Reacts to WOTUS Final Rule

Cindy Zimmerman

Agricultural organizations are analyzing the final Clean Water Act Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule released today to determine whether it answers the concerns they have raised about the impact the regulation would have on farmers and ranchers, but most express reservations. “We are undertaking a thorough analysis of the final WOTUS rule to determine whether the Environmental Protection Agency …

AFBF, EPA, NCBA, NCGA, Water

Lights! Camera! YouFarm!

Cindy Zimmerman

YouFarm International wants to make you and your farm a star! You’re already wearing many hats – why not become a movie director, too? You can show the world how you and your family live and work on your farm. Be creative – there are no rules about what or how you film true to this year’s motto of YouFarm: …

Farming, International

Administration Finalizes WOTUS with Few Changes

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army finalized the Clean Water Rule that has become known as the Waters of the United States or WOTUS. According to EPA, the rule “ensures that waters protected under the Clean Water Act are more precisely defined and predictably determined, making permitting less costly, easier, and faster for businesses and industry.” The …

Audio, EPA, Water

Water is Focus of USFRA Toledo Food Dialogues

Cindy Zimmerman

Last year’s toxic algae bloom in Lake Erie at Toledo, Ohio, that left half a million people without clean water, underscored the delicate balance that exists between farming and drinking supplies. So it’s no wonder the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) chose Toldeo as the site for the next Food Dialogues on Thursday, May 28, starting at 9 a.m. …

Ag Groups, Audio, USFRA, Water