USDA Pledges $9M Towards Wetlands

Taylor Truckey

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the establishment of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Wetland Mitigation Banking Program, made possible by the 2014 Farm Bill. The program will provide $9 million to help states, local governments or other qualified partners develop wetland mitigation banks that restore, create, or enhance wetland ecosystems, broadening the conservation options available to farmers and …

Environment, politics, Sustainability, USDA, Water

What Now for WOTUS?

Cindy Zimmerman

As expected, President Obama yesterday vetoed a disapproval resolution passed by Congress that would have nullified the controversial clean water rule by EPA, better known as Waters of the U.S. or WOTUS. “Because this resolution seeks to block the progress represented by this rule and deny businesses and communities the regulatory certainty and clarity needed to invest in projects that …

Environment, EPA, NCGA, Water

A Thirsty Land Update

Chuck Zimmerman

Early in 2015 documentary film maker Conrad Weaver got into the field to start his latest project, Thirsty Land. He has been in states from Kansas to California filming the drought situation and meeting with many farmers to learn about the effect the drought has been having on rural communities. This morning I spoke with Conrad to find out how …

Audio, Sustainability, Water, ZimmCast

Farm Bureau Video Highlights Problems with WOTUS

John Davis

A new video from Farm Bureau shows just how problematic the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule is. This news release from the group says the story revolves around a farmer who is being cited by the government on the basis of the Environmental Protection Agency’s controversial water regulation and how more farmers could be in trouble for doing a …

AFBF, Ag Groups, EPA, Video, Water

AFBF and NCGA Comment on Year End Legislation

John Davis

Farm groups are reacting to the omnibus spending bill that avoided a government shutdown. Just as it’s being touted as giving some to both Republicans and Democrats, the compromise deal has its ups and downs for agriculture, and Farm Bureau and the National Corn Growers Association have both weighed in on those ag ups and downs. Farm Bureau officials are …

AFBF, Ag Groups, NCGA, politics, Water

GAO Says EPA Violated Law with WOTUS

Cindy Zimmerman

In a legal opinion released on Monday, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) “violated publicity or propaganda and anti-lobbying provisions contained in appropriations acts with its use of certain social media platforms in association with its Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rulemaking.” According to the GAO: Specifically, EPA violated the publicity or propaganda …

AFBF, EPA, Water

Supreme Court Urged to Review EPA Clean Water Overreach

John Davis

A group including members of Congress, state government members, businesses, and ag interests, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review what they see as an overreach by the federal government. This news release from Farm Bureau says the issue is the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) plan to micromanage state land-use and development decisions …

AFBF, EPA, Water

Panel On Taking Cover Crops Mainstream at #ASTACSS

Taylor Truckey

During a session on Taking Cover Crops Mainstream at the ASTA CSS/Seed Expo this week, a panel of representatives from across the industry spoke about their experiences with cover crops, the work they’ve done on either their farm or in their business, and the impact cover crops can have on soil health. Two growers who integrate cover crops on their …

Agronomy, ASTA, Soil, Sustainability, Water

Agri-Pulse Open Mic with Sen. Joe Donnelly

John Davis

Agri-Pulse Open Mic this week features Sen. Joe Donnelly. The Hoosier Democrat is an outspoken critic of the Environmental Protection Agency’s WOTUS rule. In this week’s interview, Donnelly suggests legislative action may still be possible to thwart the agency’s new regulations. Senator Donnelly shares support for the Export Import Bank, has hopes for child nutrition reform and feels an urgency …

Agri-Pulse, Audio, Water

Senate Disapproves of #WOTUS

Cindy Zimmerman

By a vote of 53-44, the U.S. Senate passed a joint “resolution of disapproval” of the EPA Clean Water rule known as ‘Waters of the United States’ (WOTUS). Resolution sponsor Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) says the action would “put an end to” the expanded EPA rule. “Our resolution stops the EPA from continuing to act as an unchecked federal agency …

Corn, NCGA, Water