The Environmental Working Group says rural water systems have high levels of nitrates. A new report and database released by EWG this week found that the 30 utilities with the distinction of the highest nitrate contamination in tests between 2010 and 2015 all exceeded the legal limit. And all 30 served small populations in rural, farm-based economies, according to Politico. …
Clovis Nomination Sent to the Senate
The White House has sent the U.S. Senate the presidents nomination of Sam Clovis to a top Department of Agriculture post. The Senate confirmed this week it received President Trump’s nomination of Clovis as the USDA undersecretary for research, education, and economics, according to the Hagstrom Report. The nomination is coming under some scrutiny, as Senate Agriculture top Democrat Debbie …
Antitrust Institute, NFU, Say Monsanto-Bayer Merger Puts Farmers at Risk
The American Antitrust Institute (AAI), Food & Water Watch (FWW), and National Farmers Union (NFU) sent a joint letter to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) on the proposed merger between agricultural input giants Bayer AG and Monsanto Co. The three groups offered their in-depth analysis of how the proposed deal would likely harm competition, farmers, and consumers. The letter notes that …
Delay of Decision to Impose U.S. Ethanol Import Tariff
The Executive Management Committee of CAMEX, Brazil’s Chamber of Foreign Trade, announced Tuesday a 30-day delay of a decision on a pending proposal to impose a 20 percent tariff on U.S. ethanol imports. The proposal would allow 500 million liters (132.1 million gallons) annually of U.S. ethanol imports before triggering the tariff. The following is a joint statement on this …
NCBA CEO Testifies on Capitol Hill: “Please Do No Harm!”
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) CEO Kendal Frazier testified on Capitol Hill in support of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and warned Congress against using the treaty’s renegotiation to resurrect failed policies like mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL). “Quite frankly, it is difficult to improve upon duty-free, unlimited access to Canada and Mexico, and we are pleased to see …
Secretary Perdue Partners with FFA to Support Next Generation of Leaders in Agriculture
Taking action to encourage and inspire American youth, and build a strong foundation for the agriculture industry of tomorrow U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will partner with National FFA to support youth, and prepare the workforce of tomorrow for unique careers in agriculture. Following their remarks, Secretary Perdue and CEO of …
Army Corps Needs More Time on Negron Reservoir
by Jim Turner, News Service of Florida Federal assistance may be on the way for the state’s latest Everglades restoration effort. But the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says it will need another month to figure out how to join in Senate President Joe Negron’s plan for a reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee. Col. Jason Kirk, the Florida commander for …
Florida Conservation Partners Announce Request for Proposals
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida has announced that grant funding will be used to conserve wetlands and agricultural lands through the NRCS Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP).
Alabama Drought Funding Application Deadline is Friday
Friday, July 28 is the application deadline for Alabama landowners impacted by last year’s extreme drought to apply for funding. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama will be providing dollars to eligible landowners through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
Chlorpyrifos Ban Introduced in U.S. Senate
Connecticut Democrat Richard Blumenthal and New Mexico Democrat Tom Udall Tuesday introduced a bill in the U.S. Senate to ban chlorpyrifos, a widely used agricultural insecticide. Udall explained that The American Academy of Pediatrics says chlorpyrifos use “puts all children at risk,” adding that “we need to listen to the experts” and ban the pesticide.” The Obama-era Environmental Protection Agency …