Agricultural groups across the country continue to applaud the U.S. Supreme Court for their ruling in the Sackett v. EPA case, including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). The Court stated that the wetland under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act must have ‘a continuous surface connection with that water,’ making it difficult to determine where the water ends and the wetland begins. NCBA Chief Counsel …
Many Agricultural Groups Commend SCOTUS Ruling on WOTUS
Many agricultural groups are applauding the U.S. Supreme Court for their ruling in the Sackett v. EPA case. The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) President and CEO Daren Coppock issued the following statement: “All of agriculture has been waiting for this ruling on defining Waters of the United States (WOTUS). The Court stated that the wetland under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act (CWA) must have ‘a continuous …
Bill Incentivizes Use of Cover Crops
A new bill would give farmers more incentive to use cover crops. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and several state representatives introduced bipartisan legislation to incentivize farmers to plant cover crops to help boost environmental conservation. The Conservation Opportunity and Voluntary Environment Resilience Program (COVER) Act would provide farmers who plant cover crops …
NCBA Endorses Legislation Protecting Animal Health
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced its support of the Foreign Animal Disease Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act of 2023. The bipartisan legislation would continue making critical investments in foreign animal disease response programs currently overseen by USDA. “The threat of a foreign animal disease outbreak in the U.S. represents an existential threat to every cattle producer,” says …
Livestock Producers Give Opinions on EPA Regulations
Representatives from livestock industries gave passionate responses when asked about Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations during a House Agriculture subcommittee hearing, Wednesday. “Can you speak to the detrimental effects these types of onerous rules have on livestock producers and how uncertainty in compliance costs trickle down to the American consumer,” asked Congressman Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04). The first response was from …
Florida House, Senate Nail Down Spending Plan
(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/May 1, 2023) — After what they called the “smoothest” budget negotiations in years, House and Senate leaders on Monday finished working out details of a spending plan that is expected to top $116 billion. The plan for the fiscal year that will start July 1 would be more than $6 billion larger than the budget for the current …
Commissioner Wilton Simpson Applauds Federal Legislation Introduced to Conserve Florida Agricultural Lands
(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/April 27, 2023) — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson issued the following statement regarding the Conservation Reserve Program Amendments Act introduced by Senator Marco Rubio, Representative Scott Franklin, and Representative Darren Soto to conserve citrus groves that are at risk of development: “Food security is national security, and we’re working here in Florida to preserve for future generations as much …
Florida Lawmakers Working to Finalize the Budget
Florida lawmakers will be working this week to finalize the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The 60-day legislative session is scheduled to end next week. Florida Cattlemen’s Association (FCA) Director of Governmental Affairs, Sam Ard, explains what should happen this week, and also provides an update on what is known as the Tax Exempt Ag Materials, or TEAM card. The new fiscal …
Alabama Peanut Referendum Continues with Strong Approval
Alabama peanut farmers voted to continue the current assessment on peanuts that is collected by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) and administered by the Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA). In a referendum conducted on April 20, 2023, ninety-one percent of those who voted said “yes” to continuing APPA’s programs in education, promotion, and research. For the continuance referendum to …
ACA Tracking Livestock Bills in Alabama Legislature
The 2023 Alabama Legislative Session continues this week, and a bill to protect livestock owners from overly restrictive municipal ordinances and a bill to exempt livestock fencing materials from Alabama’s sales and use tax are closely being tracked by the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA). Erin Beasley, ACA executive vice president, explains where things stand with these bills.