NCBA Files Legal Motion to Strike Down Biden WOTUS Rule
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and litigation partners filed a motion this week in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas asking the court to strike down the Biden administration’s Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule in light of the Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett v. EPA.
“In Sackett v. EPA, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the EPA had overstepped its authority under the Clean Water Act,” said NCBA Chief Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart. “A full rewrite of the Biden administration’s WOTUS definition is the only path to comply with the Sackett decision. NCBA is seeking summary judgement in our lawsuit against the Biden WOTUS rule and urging the Southern District of Texas to strike the rule from the books.”
The Sackett case was not directly about agriculture, but the plaintiffs in the case were harmed by the EPA’s overregulation on WOTUS. NCBA filed an amicus brief before the Supreme Court siding with the Sackett family in their lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers. Ultimately, points raised in NCBA’s brief were incorporated in the justice’s final opinion, demonstrating the importance of NCBA joining the fight on this issue.
Separate from the Sackett case, NCBA and a coalition of litigation partners also filed their own lawsuit against the Biden administration’s WOTUS rule to block it from taking effect. NCBA secured injunctions in 27 states to temporarily halt the rule. Now, NCBA is filing a motion for summary judgement to ask the court to rule on vacating the full Biden administration WOTUS rule based on the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Sackett case.
NCBA Director of Policy Communications Hunter Ihrman provided this interview with Thomas-Hart about the case.
NCBA interview with Mary Thomas-Hart 5:37
Former AgGateway Director Reflects on Progress
Marilyn Hunter has seen AgGateway grow and develop since even before it was formed in 2005 and she reflected on how the organization has changed over the years at the recent Mid-Year meeting.
“I came from a previous organization called Rapid, which morphed into AgGateway,” said Hunter. “At that time we were focused primarily on XML connectivity…Once AgGateway was formed we started crop nutrition and seed connectivity.”
From there, the organization quickly grew into additional segments as precision agriculture grew and the ADAPT tool was developed. “ADAPT changed a lot of things for precision ag,” she said. “That was major and now it’s used for a lot of different technologies.”
It had been over three years since Hunter had been at an AgGateway meeting so she was very happy to see a lot of familiar faces, as well as many new faces within the industry.
Listen to Chuck’s interview with Marilyn at the AgGateway Mid-Year meeting.
2023 AgGateway Mid-Year - Marilyn Hunter, AgGateway retired staff 17:19
Margy Eckelkamp Promoted at Farm Journal
Eckelkamp moderates panel at 2019 ARA Convention
“I look forward to stewarding these outstanding brands as they serve key audiences in agriculture — owners and managers of leading agricultural operations and the trusted advisers who guide them,” Eckelkamp said. “Top Producer is the leader in profiling the most creative, ingenious and successful farmers, ranchers and growers. As technology transforms what’s possible, consumer demands change and the global ag markets are ever more dynamic, we will elevate the service Top Producer provides to the business side of farming while remaining committed to the strong foundation of the magazine, events and brand.”
Margy at 2006 Commodity Classic
She was Margy Fischer and a senior at the University of Missouri when she and Mary Irelan were chosen by Monsanto to be the student bloggers for the Classic – the first time it had ever been done and this new media thing was just getting started. Margy immediately showed how capable she was as a multi-media journalist by writing on the spot reports, doing interviews, attending press conferences and taking photos. Farm Journal hired her and she’s been there ever since.
Eckelkamp spent the first seven years of her career reporting on agronomy, machinery and technology, which included leading the Farm Journal series of Corn College events and coordinating the Farm Journal Test Plots. She also helped relaunch and expand the Machinery Pete business to become the leading marketplace for farm equipment. Since 2016 her reporting has focused on the business side of agriculture since joining Farm Journal’s brand serving ag retailers, now The Scoop, which includes a multimedia portfolio across digital, print and the only podcast specifically serving the space.
Now she will be running a brand that was launched as Top Operator in 1984 on the heels of the farm crisis, and then transitioned to a standalone magazine carrying the Top Producer brand the year after. The annual Top Producer Summit has become the top-tier event, including specific content for women in agriculture and the next generation of farm leaders.
Precision Ag News 6/28
- Syngenta leaders from around the globe joined with state, local and agricultural organization representatives for the recent Grand Opening of the Syngenta Seeds R&D Innovation Center in Malta, Illinois, a facility designed to bring farmers and researchers together to accelerate advancements in agricultural seed products and services.
- The Universal Food Forum (UFF) will be hosted by Michigan State University on July 12 in Washington, D.C. UFF seeks to engage media through stimulating debate and conversations across all perspectives on agriculture and food systems topics for a balanced view of food systems from multiple viewpoints.
- AgriThority will be featured in the award-winning documentary series Viewpoint with Dennis Quaid. This innovative series highlights companies striving for significance and impact in the world. The documentary, “Effective Agriculture Technologies and Solutions” will be distributed to Public Television stations on July 17 and can be aired for one full year.
- Western Growers and S2G Ventures are now accepting applications for the 2023 AgSharks Competition, a unique event where startup companies pitch their innovations in front of a live audience of the world’s largest specialty crop producers to win a $250,000 minimum investment. Impact-driven entrepreneurs and startups developing technologies that promote a more healthy and sustainable food and agriculture system can apply for the AgSharks Competition by clicking here. Applications close on July 28, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
- North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University will lead a major project to build and sustain students’ interest and participation in agriculture as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s new initiative, “From Learning to Leading: Cultivating the Next Generation of Diverse Food and Agriculture Professionals.” N.C. A&T’s project – SAPLINGS (System Approach to Promote Learning and Innovation for the Next GenerationS) – is designed to grow the number of underrepresented minority students in the food, agriculture, natural resources and human sciences.
- Arable announced a joint initiative with Shell International Exploration and Production Inc., supported by HabiTerre and Quanterra Systems, to deliver a high-trust, low-cost carbon measurement and verification system that would advance sustainable farming practices. The groundbreaking project, which will launch in Brazil, is designed to both reduce complexity and increase reliability of carbon monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) in agriculture.
- Crop advisors are an important source of information for growers who face the persistent threat of herbicide resistance. Scientists with the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) say these frontline experts can help growers manage weeds that escape treatment, threaten crop yields, and disrupt natural ecosystems and wildlife habitats. A recent survey of certified crop advisors in all 50 U.S. states shows they are concerned about the escalation of herbicide resistance and the impediments to effective weed management.
- SVG Ventures|THRIVE and NEC X, NEC Corporation’s Silicon Valley innovation hub and venture studio, announced that they have partnered to build bridges between agtech entrepreneurial ecosystems and NEC X venture-building capabilities. They will collaboratively identify opportunities for new ventures in agriculture and fast-track acceleration of resulting ventures from NEC X. The organizations will join forces in venture and ecosystem development with an initial focus on North America.
- Lamberti and AgBiome, two leaders in the development of biological crop protection products, announced an expansion of their ongoing collaboration. The companies will work together to develop new biological liquid formulations.
Yara North America Partners with Dairy Management Inc
Yara North America and Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) have launched a unique soil health collaboration to explore the use of organic fertilizers derived from manure for the benefit of soil health and regenerative nutrient management practices.
The partnership will complement the Dairy Soil & Water Regeneration (DSWR) project and trials are currently underway at Yara’s Incubator Farm in Auburn, Alabama, to determine benefits of manure-derived fertilizers in combination with mineral fertilizers on water use efficiency, nutrient use efficiency, and crop yield and quality. Insights and findings from these trials will be shared across the dairy industry and others involved in the U.S. Dairy Net Zero Initiative, focused on the industry’s environmental stewardship goals of achieving GHG neutrality and improvements in water quality and quantity by 2050.
“Supporting innovations and explorations centered around soil health, nutrient management and water regeneration are key as we work toward our ambition of growing a nature-positive food future,” said Debbie Watts, VP, innovation and market development, Yara North America. “This cooperation with Dairy Management Inc. is a terrific example of Yara’s commitment to participate in the transformation of the food system through actions that reduce emissions, protect nature and improve livelihoods. The dairy industry can look to Yara as a partner and valued contributing resource in agronomy and soil health expertise.”
Progress on 2023 Farm Bill
Some are saying Congress may need to pass a short-term extension of the current farm bill if they are unable to get a new one across the finish line before September 30, but House Agriculture Committee chair Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) is still optimistic.
“With the farm bill, we’re rounding first base,” said Thompson during a recent interview in Washington D.C. by farm broadcaster Tony St. James, All Ag All Day. “We hit second base we’re going to be starting to write this thing. We get to third it means we’ve done a mark up in committee and that will probably be early September, is my hope.”
Thompson says he realizes there is a race against the clock right now, but using the baseball analogy, he thinks they are in about the fifth inning at this point – and there will not be any seventh inning stretch. “My one goal is we’re going to do this farm bill on a bipartisan, bicameral way – on time – and highly effective,” he said.
Listen to Tony’s interview here:
All Ag All Day interview with Rep. GT Thompson 11:54
Alltech Releases 2022 Sustainability Report
Alltech has released its 2022 Sustainability Report, supporting its commitment of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™.
Through data and stories from Alltech team members around the world, the 2022 Alltech Sustainability Report emphasizes the role of agriculture in combatting climate change and creating healthy, sustainable food systems. It also includes information about Alltech’s emissions reduction goals, efforts to promote sustainability and the ways in which Alltech is advancing environmental actions in the industry.
Additionally, the report outlines the steps Alltech has taken to promote an inclusive work environment and highlights its team members’ efforts to make a difference in the communities in which they live and work.
Among the report’s highlights are that Alltech invested $4.5 million in efficiency projects in 2022, resulting in a reduction of 7,600 metric tons of CO2e, and Alltech’s climate advisory service, Alltech E-CO2, supports 30 countries and has conducted over 20,000 on-farm environmental assessments.
9th Annual Kansas City Ag Outlook Forum Announced
The Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City and Agri-Pulse Communications announce the 9th annual Ag Outlook Forum will be held on September 25 at the Downtown Marriott in Kansas City.
The session will feature three keynote presentations:
• Denver Caldwell, director of sales for the U.S. and Canada, John Deere
• Hans Kabat, president, Cargill Protein North America
• Ken Seitz, president, and CEO, Nutrien
USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer will lead-off a panel discussion looking at the ag economy. Panelists include:
• Arlan Suderman, chief commodities economist, StoneX
• Krista Swanson, lead economist, National Corn Growers Association
• Roland Fumasi, EVP & North American regional head, RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness
• Sara Wyant, Agri-Pulse will serve as the panel moderator
The program will also feature a discussion of the 2023 farm bill prospects led by Missouri farmer Blake Hurst. Additional program speakers will be announced as they are confirmed.
Registration is available for both in-person and virtual participation.
Animal Ag News 6/26
