The Missouri Farm Bureau has put together interactive maps to give a feel of how the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule that goes into effect this weekend will impact the state. Well over 95% of the state of Missouri will qualify as a water of the U.S. under this rule. I spoke with Blake Hurst, president of the …
#Ag Not on Republican Soapbox Agenda
Apparently agriculture is not a main agenda item during the Iowa State Fair for many Republicans. During the Des Moines Register’s Soapbox series speeches, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and Senator from South Carolina Lindsey Graham failed to discuss any ag issues in detail and only Walker and Fiorina made comments but only when answering crowd questions. I …
Prez Candidate Rand Paul: Stop EPA Farmland Grab
Republican Presidential Candidate and Kentucky Senator Rand Paul is kicking off his first Iowa radio campaign ad “decrying the Obama Administration’s land grab of Iowa farmland”. The radio ad will be heard on farm radio stations. The ad is focused on the Waters of the US legislation and highlights the devastating consequences of the new regulation. “In Washington, DC, President …
Agri-Pulse Open Mic with Gov. Martin O’Malley
Agri-Pulse Open Mic this week features Gov. Martin O’Malley. [The former governor of Maryland is a] Democratic candidate for President in 2016. In this interview you’ll hear his views on renewable fuel policy, environmental stewardship, global trade and why he believes leading a state like Maryland uniquely qualifies his bid for the Oval Office. Click here to listen to Agri-Pulse …
AFBF: Secrecy, Misconduct at EPA on WOTUS
A series of memos the Obama Administration intended to keep private shows a culture of secrecy, falsehood and dysfunction that permeated the Waters of the U.S. rulemaking process. The American Farm Bureau charges the Army Corps of Engineers memos show the Corps “repeatedly rebuked EPA officials for their abuse of the rulemaking process in producing the deeply controversial Waters of …
Pope Francis Calls for Better Care of Our Home
Pope Francis is calling on humankind to take better care of our home. The Pope, like those before him, has been vocal about climate change and the role humans have played. In LAUDATO SI’ On Care of Our Common Home, Pope Francis writes that our lifestyle of a “throw-away” society – consumption and waste – must change or humans will …
Toledo Food Dialogues Tackles Water Issues
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, …
Industry Pleased with White House Pollinator Plan
Last June, President Obama called for an interagency Task Force to create a Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators. Tuesday, the Task Force released its strategy, under the joint leadership of EPA and USDA. Industry reaction to the plan, which outlines actions to be taken by more than a dozen other federal agencies and departments, …
Sustainability Education at Animal Ag Summit
A panel of industry leaders shared their thoughts and research concerning sustainability during the recent Animal Ag Alliance Stakeholders Summit. Dr. Roger Cady, Sustainability Lead, Elanco Animal Health, said he liked to divide sustainability into the three pillars of environment, economic and social. “Farmers are the natural environmentalists of the land. Key to this is preserving our land, preserving our …
High School Students Win Environmental Video Contest
The Population Connection has announced the winners from their “World of 7 Billion” video contest. The competition encouraged high school students around the world to create and enter videos on population growth relating to one of three topics: universal education; diminishing farmland; and the sixth mass extinction. Over 1,600 high school students participated in the contest and submitted a total …