Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Water”
Ag Community Praises Newly Proposed WOTUS Rule The agricultural community is reacting strongly to the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers’ recent release of the newly proposed Waters of the U.S. Rule (WOTUS). After years of regulatory back-and-forth and ongoing legal disputes, many leaders in agriculture say the new proposal provides long-awaited clarity and relief for farmers, ranchers, and landowners. …
EPA and Army Corps Propose New WOTUS Rule: Clarity for Landowners and Economic Growth The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers have officially released a new Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule that aims to provide clarity and predictability under the Clean Water Act. This action is a significant development for American farmers, landowners, and …
USDA Leads Largest Agribusiness Trade Mission to Mexico Under Secretary Brooke Rollins U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that she led the largest USDA agribusiness trade mission to Mexico last week, marking a significant milestone in U.S.–Mexico agricultural cooperation. The mission brought together an impressive delegation of 41 U.S. businesses, 33 cooperators and agricultural advocacy groups, six state departments …
Low Water Levels Disrupt Midwest Barge Traffic Again During Harvest 2025 Low water levels on major rivers back in the Midwest will disrupt barge traffic during harvest time for the fourth year in a row. The Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, and Mississippi rivers, among others, have all dropped below the low gauge level again, making grain transport by barge more difficult …
Applications Open for $25 Million Florida Agricultural Regional Projects Program Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson has announced the opening of the application process for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Agricultural Regional Projects Program. This initiative provides $25 million in grant funding to support regional, collaborative agricultural water resource projects that improve both water quality and …
EPA Awards $48 Million for Water System Recovery in Hurricane Helene-Affected States The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced $48 million in disaster relief funding to support water systems in southeastern states devastated by Hurricane Helene. This critical funding will aid in restoring and strengthening drinking water and wastewater infrastructure that was damaged or destroyed by the storm. The …
Mississippi River Hits Historic Low for Fourth Year, Disrupting Grain Transport The Mississippi River south of St. Louis is once again experiencing dangerously low water levels as the region enters the fall harvest season. For the fourth consecutive year, water levels have dropped to critical lows, significantly impacting grain transportation, barge traffic, and cash basis prices at river terminals. “Lower …
Trump Administration Set to Propose New Clean Water Act Rule, Rolling Back Wetlands Protections The Trump administration is preparing to propose a new Clean Water Act rule that may eliminate federal protections for many wetlands across the United States, according to an internal EPA presentation obtained by POLITICO’s E&E News. “Under the proposed rule, the federal government would regulate wetlands …
The Roots of Irrigation In today’s American Agriculture History Minute, Mark Oppold sheds light on the long and fascinating history of irrigating cropland. While modern systems are sophisticated and efficient, the practice of irrigation dates back thousands of years. Ancient farmers in Asia and Africa were among the first to manipulate water for agriculture, devising rudimentary yet effective techniques to …
Windmills have long played a vital role in agriculture—grinding grain, pumping water, and powering essential equipment. But in 1854, a breakthrough in windmill design changed everything. That year, American inventor Daniel Halladay patented the first commercially successful windmill. What set his design apart? Unlike previous stationary windmills, Halladay’s model automatically turned to face the prevailing wind direction—dramatically increasing efficiency. Even …
