Representatives of the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) met with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials last week to express concerns on behalf of member conservation districts regarding the proposed “Waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule. “We thought is was a very good meeting and we appreciated the opportunity to express some concerns,” said NACD President Earl Garber, a licensed …
Crop Yield Analysis to Be Unveiled During Global Water Event
The sixth annual Water for Food Conference is around the corner taking place in Seattle, Washington October 19-22, 2014. One focus will be how to produce enough food for more than the estimated 9 billion people living on the planet by 2050. On October, 20, 2014 at 7:30 am PT, a new crop analysis will be unveiled. The results of …
Farm Foundation to Discuss WOTUS
As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers takes public comment on their proposed “Waters of the United States” or WOTUS regulations, Farm Foundation is offering a forum on the issue. Next Wednesday, Sept. 17th from 9 am-11 am at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., Farm Foundation hosts a free forum on how …
House Says Whoa to WOTUS
While everyone else in the world was watching the new Apple products roll out Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives was rolling over a proposed rule that would greatly expand regulation of waters in the United States. A parade of Congressional representatives from both parties spoke up for the bill that would stop the controversial rule proposed by the Environmental …
Water, Food Security Explored in Water for Food Event
The role of data in water and food security will be explored in the upcoming Water for Food Global Conference taking place in Seattle, Washington October 19-22, 2014. Global food demand is growing. With a changing climate and increased competition for scarce water resources, people are now faced with the complex challenge of needing to double agricultural production by 2050 …
Bill Northey Talk Corn Crops, Water Quality
During the Farm Progress Show this week, I caught up with Iowa Ag Secretary Bill Northey. I asked him what the corn crop was looking like in Iowa in particular, as Boone, Iowa is the host of this year’s Farm Progress. Northey said that for the most part, Iowa is going to have a great corn crop as well as …
Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy
This is the first of a four part series on Nutrient Management sponsored by FS/GROWMARK In March of 2013, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency hosted a meeting of stakeholders to announce the beginning of a statewide Nutrient Reduction Strategy. Marcia Willhite, chief of the Illinois EPA Bureau of Water, says the first step in implementing this strategy was to get …
Ag Leader Focuses on Seed, Water, and Nutrient Management
The first Ag Leader Technology Tech Meets Dirt Road Tour around Illinois is now history now and it seems like it was a big success. I attended the event near Peoria and was able to chat with presenters in each of the main focus areas – seed, water, and nutrient management. Matt Cannon, a farmer from central Iowa, talked about …
McCarthy’s Comments on WOTUS in Missouri
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy addressed the Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City yesterday. Her goal was to defend and explain the Administration’s proposed rules defining Waters of the United States (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act (CWA). In a media call on Wednesday before her trip concerns were expressed from those in attendance. During her speech yesterday, she …
NCGA Thanks President for Signing WRRDA
The National Corn Growers Association thanked President Obama for signing the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014. This final reauthorization bill, which will improve the reliability and efficiency of the U.S. inland waterways system, was passed by the House on May 20 and the Senate on May 22. “This legislation provides an important step toward the infrastructure improvements …