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

Sustainable Ag Expo Educates Growers

Kelly Marshall

The 11th Annual Sustainable Ag Expo will be held November 16-17, 2015, at the Madonna Inn Expo Center in San Luis Obispo, California. The expo, hosted by the Vineyard Team, promises educational information for growers of many crops. “The Expo started as a way to explore various issues affecting different types of ag professionals,” said Kris Beal, Executive Director for The …

Ag Groups, Education, Energy, Events, pesticides, Soil, Sustainability, Water

Senate to Vote on Second WOTUS Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

After failing to invoke cloture on a bill that would require EPA to re-work the Clean Water rule known as WOTUS, the Senate did vote to allow debate on a resolution of disapproval, sponsored by Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, that would scrap the WOTUS rule entirely. “My legislation is the necessary next step in pushing back against this blatant power …

Audio, EPA, Water

Senate Fails to Take WOTUS Rework to Vote

Cindy Zimmerman

Forty-one senators voted against moving forward with debate on a bill that would require EPA to rework the controversial Clean Water rule known as Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS), which was enough to keep the bill from a vote on the floor. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Barrasso (R-WY), would instruct EPA to craft a WOTUS rule that “takes into …

Audio, EPA, Water

Senator Roberts Happy About WOTUS Decision

John Davis

A federal judge has put the brakes on the controversial “Waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule in several states, and that has gained praise from the chairman of the Senate Ag Committee. Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) welcomed the preliminary injunction to stop the WOTUS rule in North Dakota, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota, Wyoming …

Agribusiness, EPA, politics, Water

Judge Blocks WOTUS

Cindy Zimmerman

The day before the controversial rule formally known as the Waters of the US (WOTUS) was to be implemented, a federal judge in North Dakota has blocked it from taking effect. U.S. District Judge Ralph Erickson of North Dakota on Thursday issued a preliminary injunction against implementation of the Clean Water regulation, saying a group of 13 states was likely …

EPA, Water