(NSF/Tallahassee/April 25, 2022) — A political committee has filed a proposed constitutional amendment that would create a “fundamental right to clean and healthy waters” and allow lawsuits against state agencies for harm or threatened harm to lakes, rivers, wetlands and other types of water bodies. The committee FloridaRighttoCleanWater.org has proposed the initiative for the 2024 ballot, according to newly posted information …
Phase 1 NEPA Revisions Met with Criticism from Farm Groups
Last week, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) announced their final adjustments to portions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Several ag groups have raised concern about the Phase 1 NEPA revisions and the negative impact it will have on agriculture. The latest revisions would effectively reverse the amendments made in 2020, which was the first comprehensive update in …
Veterinarians Heading to Capitol Hill
On April 27th, a group of veterinarians will head to Capitol Hill to meet with senators and representatives to talk about legislation that will increase access to veterinary services in rural areas. They also want to talk about legislation to help in reducing the spread of diseases that pose a threat to animal and public health. The American Veterinary Medical …
Senator Previews Support, Opposition to Cattle Market Reforms
The chief sponsor of cattle market reform legislation, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, recently spoke with farm reporters about his expectations for upcoming hearings on his bill later this month. Grassley says he knows what the top four beef packing company executives think of his Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act. “What they think about it is, everything’s alright, nothing needs to …
Farm Groups Oppose Final NEPA Changes
Key farm groups are opposing the Biden Administration’s final phase 1 revisions to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) affecting major infrastructure projects. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) say the revised NEPA rules are a step backwards and jeopardize the very projects the Biden Administration is promoting. Here is AFBF’s Shelby Hagenauer. …
AFBF: NEPA Changes Signal Return to Outdated, Cumbersome Regulations
American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall commented Wednesday on the final phase 1 revisions to the National Environmental Policy Act, known as NEPA. Duvall says, “AFBF is disappointed that the Biden administration has decided to reverse commonsense reforms to the National Environmental Policy Act.” AFBF says farmers and ranchers share the goal of caring for the natural resources …
Four Meatpacker CEOs to Testify at Congressional Hearing
The four CEOs of Cargill, Tyson Foods, JBS, and National Beef Packing have agreed to testify before Congress. Reuters says the meatpacker bosses will discuss cattle markets and price increases for consumers. House Ag Committee Chair David Scott says it’s important to find out why prices have dropped for ranchers and risen for consumers. “In addition to the CEO panel, …
Revised Cattle Market Reform Bill is Out
Revised cattle market reform legislation is out and awaiting a Senate hearing, but one of its authors concedes White House backing is still uncertain. Chief sponsor of the bipartisan Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act, Iowa U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, says both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue have been involved with his bill. “We’ve worked for months with Secretary Vilsack and …
Florida Governor Vetoes Redistricting Plan
(NSF/Tallahassee/March 29, 2022) — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Tuesday vetoed a congressional redistricting plan passed by the Legislature and said he was calling lawmakers back to Tallahassee in April to draw lines without what he calls a “racially gerrymandered” district in North Florida. DeSantis, who had previously announced he would veto the redistricting plan, called a special session from …
Supreme Court to Hear NPPC Case Against Prop. 12
(NPPC/WASHINGTON, D.C., Mar. 28, 2022) — The U.S. Supreme Court at its Mar. 25 conference agreed to hear a case brought by the National Pork Producers Council and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) against California’s Proposition 12, which bans the sale of pork from hogs born to sows that weren’t raised according to the state’s “arbitrary” production standards. “We are …