A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators today introduced a bill that would repeal EPA’s “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) proposal. The senators, including John Barrasso (R-WY), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Joe Manchin (D-WV), jointly introduced the Federal Water Quality Protection Act, directing EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers …
Celebrate National Groundwater Awareness Week
National Groundwater Awareness Week, March 8-14, is a good time to learn how to become a good steward of our very important natural resource. Ninety-nine percent of all available freshwater in the world is groundwater, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. That means all the world’s rivers, lakes, and streams make up only one percent. “Life as we know it …
Iowa Ag Secretary Honored for Water Quality Initiative
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey received a National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) National Environmental Achievement Award for excellence in Public Service. Northey is the first state Secretary of Agriculture to receive the award. NACWA’s Public Service Award is presented to current or former elected or appointed public officials at the local, state and federal level of government …
Daugherty Water for Food Institute Moving Forward
As the Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute at the University of Nebraska (DWFI) enters its second five-year phase of development, 2016 will bring a planned leadership transition. Founding executive director Roberto Lenton will be transitioning out of that position by the end of this year. “I was — and remain — very excited about the opportunity to position …
WOTUS Interpretive Rule Withdrawn
The Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have at least ditched part of the WOTUS rule. The Interpretive Rule Regarding the Applicability of Clean Water Act Section related to the proposed Waters of the United States (WOTUS) was officially withdrawn by EPA and the Corps in a memo last Thursday, January 29. Congress requested asked for …
New Propane Irrigation Engine Introduced
The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) and Origin Engines have released a new, emissions-certified, 9.1-liter propane irrigation engine as an alternative for producers to Tier 4 diesel models. PERC invested in the development and commercialization of the engine and provided industry expertise to Origin, which has over three decades of experience designing and manufacturing engines for industrial, on-road, and …
Water Availability is Growing Concern
A growing population, increasing environmental demands and climate change are combining to pose long-term questions for water availability, especially in the western part of the United States, and California in particular. “I’m not an engineer, I don’t have a PhD, I’m just a farmer,” said California Farm Bureau president Paul Wenger during a workshop on water availability at the American …
Florida State Rep on CTIC Tour
A member of the Florida legislature joined us on CTIC Conservation in Action tour of the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) last week to learn more herself about the various conservation efforts in the region. Representative Katie Edwards of Broward County says there is a lot of legislative interest in water quality projects and with her agricultural background it’s important for …
Global Yield Gap Unveiled at Water for Food Conference
Finding of the Global Yield Gap and Water Productivity Atlas were unveiled this week at the sixth annual Water for Food Global Conference. The outcome of a six-year international collaborative research effort led by the Daugherty Water for Food Institute at the University of Nebraska and Wageningen University in the Netherlands, the Atlas is the first transparent, interactive and map-based …
Water in the Sunshine State
Florida is the third largest state in terms of population and the 14th in agricultural production, so competition for water resources is fierce in the Sunshine State. “Population growth is a big factor in driving water use demand and that will continue in Florida,” said Richard Budell, who is director of water policy for the Florida Department of Agriculture and …