The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is facing renewed pressure to deny applications re-registering the controversial weed killer Dicamba from three of the biggest crop protection companies. Three Senate Democrats are urging the EPA to deny applications to re-register the herbicide, saying the weed killer cannot be used without causing unreasonable adverse effects. The herbicide, which was pulled from the market …
House Agriculture Meets to Examine Consequences of EPA Actions
The House Agriculture Committee met this week for a hearing to examine the consequences of Environmental Protection Agency’s actions on American agriculture. In his opening statement, Committee chair Glenn “G.T.” Thompson (R-PA) pointed out the environmental stewardship of farmers. “American farmers and ranchers are the original conservationists. No one cares more for the environment than those whose livelihoods depend on …
GCC Cautions Growers About EPA’s Decision Regarding Acephate
The Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) cautions growers that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed to cancel all but one use of the pesticide acephate in an effort to protect human health. While this is a proposed decision and not yet a final rule, it concerns the GCC and executive director Taylor Sills. He details the decision and outlines the …
Agriculture Greenhouse Gas Emissions Lower
Agriculture again reduces its greenhouse gas emissions. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. New data released this month from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows agriculture decreased its greenhouse gas emissions in 2022. The EPA recently released the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2022. American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Economist Danny Munch explains the results. …
EPA Announces New Ag and Rural Affairs Office
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is establishing a new office to expand engagement opportunities with agricultural and rural communities. EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan announced the first-ever EPA Office of Agriculture and Rural Affairs during his remarks at Commodity Classic in Houston, Texas, on Friday. Commodity Classic is the largest farmer-led annual convention in the country and Regan is …
USDA Releases 2022 Pesticide Data Program Annual Summary
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published the 2022 Pesticide Data Program (PDP) Annual Summary, which shows that over 99% of the samples tested had pesticide residues below benchmark levels established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The tests were conducted on 10,665 samples from 23 commodities including fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, dairy, nuts and grains. The PDP …
Nominations Open for Animal Agriculture Water Quality Committee
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a Federal Register Notice on November 16 establishing the Animal Agriculture Water Quality Subcommittee. It’s under the umbrella of the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee. Nominations are open for members who want to serve on the subcommittee. The primary subcommittee goal will be to develop recommendations that will inform the Agency’s …
Concerns Raised Over EPA’s Proposed Wastewater Regulation
Many in the livestock industry are very concerned about a proposed wastewater regulation from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concerning wastewater from meat and poultry processing facilities. It is expected to require meatpackers and processors to install millions of dollars of upgrades to their wastewater management systems. So, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) Chief Legal Strategist, Michael Formica, along with representatives from the U.S. Poultry …
New EPA Regulations on Gene Editing in Specialty Crops
by Sabrina Halvorson Fruit and vegetable plant breeders who use gene editing are now facing more regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA recently increased oversight of some gene-edited crops and added to the workload and waiting time for those in the produce industry. Dr. Margaret Worthington is an Associate Professor of Horticulture at the University of Arkansas …
Learn About GMOs with the FDA
There’s a new resource to help consumers learn more about GMOs. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Feed Your Mind is an Agricultural Biotechnology Education and Outreach Initiative that was first launched in March 2020 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency …