The leadership of the Senate Agriculture Committee Wednesday announced a set of farm bill hearings. Senators Debbie Stabenow and John Boozman will hold the first hearing on February 1, titled. “Farm Bill 2023: Trade and Horticulture.” The hearings will focus on the trade and horticulture titles of the farm bill. The first hearing will include testimony from USDA’s Alexis Taylor, …
Georgia Legislative Session Week Two
Week two of the 2023 Georgia State Legislative Session saw the Governor’s budget as the major issue of discussion. Georgia Agribusiness Council (GAC) President Will Bentley told Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman, committee chair announcements were also made, and they discussed a big event GAC has coming up at the end of the month. To keep track of activities during the …
NCBA Announces Lawsuit Against Biden Administration WOTUS Rule
(NCBA/WASHINGTON D. C./January 19, 2022) — The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) challenging the Biden administration’s final “Waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule. “The Biden administration’s WOTUS definition is an attack on farmers and ranchers and NCBA will be fighting back in court,” said NCBA Chief Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart. “The rule removes longstanding, …
EPA Posts Revised WOTUS to Federal Register
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers published the revised Waters of the U.S. rule (WOTUS) in the Federal Register Wednesday. The publication means the revised rule will go into effect on March 20, 2023. EPA and the Army Corps announced the rule at the end of 2022, which will replace the Navigable Waters Protection Rule. At …
Gregory as Director of the Office of Florida Agricultural Water Policy
(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Jan. 18, 2022) — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the appointment of West Gregory as the Director of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) Office of Agricultural Water Policy. “I’m honored to appoint West Gregory to lead our Office of Agricultural Water Policy. West Gregory has the unique experience and skillset – having worked …
Republican House Agriculture Committee Members Announced
We now know the Republican members of the House Agriculture Committee. Chair GT Thompson made the announcement this week. Fifteen Republicans are returning from last year, and there are 12 who are new to the committee this year. Notables from the Southeast who are returning are Austin Scott of Georgia, Kat Cammock of Florida, and Barry Moore of Alabama. There …
Georgia Legislative Session Underway
The 2023 Georgia State Legislative Session kicked off January 9th and the 40-day session will involve various issues of interest to those in agriculture. Georgia Agribusiness Council (GAC) President Will Bentley told Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman, one major issue the General Assembly will deal with again this year is the budget. To keep track of activities during the 2023 legislative session, …
DeSantis, Cabinet Eye Land Conservation Deals
(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Jan. 11,2023) — Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet next week will consider a series of proposed land deals that include preserving more than 12,000 acres in Northwest Florida and keeping three ranches from future development. During a meeting Tuesday, DeSantis and the Cabinet will decide whether to spend $18.09 million to buy 12,439 acres in Liberty County. …
AFBF: More Uncertainty for WOTUS
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) says more uncertainty is ahead when it comes to the new Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. The new rule comes as the Supreme Court will soon release a decision on a lawsuit against a previous version of WOTUS. AFBF Deputy General Counsel Travis Cushman says the new rule goes beyond the previous rule …
DeSantis Outlines Second-Term Environmental Plans
(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Jan. 10, 2023) — Gov. Ron DeSantis announced plans Tuesday to spend $3.5 billion in his second term on environmental projects such as restoring the Everglades and addressing water-quality problems. “This may be a bigger, more comprehensive executive order than we did four years ago. But I think that’s the right thing to do,” DeSantis, who was re-elected in …