(NSF/TALLAHASSEE/Feb. 17, 2022) — With a key lawmaker saying he wanted to clarify and counter “purposeful misinformation,” the Senate on Thursday changed a controversial measure that critics said could affect Everglades restoration projects. The measure (SB 2508) had drawn opposition from Gov. Ron DeSantis and critics such as fishing guides who raced to the Capitol to appear in the Senate …
National Peanut Board Allocates Funding for Water Research
The National Peanut Board (NPB) allocated funds for water research, and according to a story from Tyron Spearman, some interesting numbers came out of that report. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2024Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024
ACEP Working to Protect Wetlands in Florida
While wetlands are some of Florida’s treasures, over the years we’ve seen an acreage decrease of nearly half. According to a U.S Fish and Wildlife Service report, over 20 million wetland acres have been lost since settlers began draining and diking them back in the 19th century. And of course now, population growth continues to threaten what remains. USDA’s Natural Resources …
NASDA Asks EPA to Suspend Action on WOTUS Rulemaking
As many farm and agriculture groups submitted comments on the EPA’s proposed changes to the Waters of the U.S. rule, The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) asked the EPA to suspend the rule-making process. The comment period on the proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency closed Monday. In NASDA’s comments sent to EPA, CEO Ted McKinney urged …
Alabama Irrigation Questionnaire Due Monday
The Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries (ADAI) reminds producers who performed agriculture irrigation upgrades in 2021 to complete an irrigation questionnaire. But, those questionnaires are due January 31st. ADAI’s Hassey Brooks says any producer who made improvements to irrigation on their farm in 2021 should fill one out. Ultimately, the Alabama Department of Revenue will issue the irrigation tax credit, but …
EPA Advisory Panel Recommends Limited WOTUS Definition, Protection for Ag Features
An EPA advisory panel recommends the agency continue to protect water rule exemptions for farm features, as it rewrites the Navigable Waters Protection Rule that replaced WOTUS. EPA’s Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities advisory panel calls for a clear and limited WOTUS definition with exemptions for ditches, stock ponds, prairie potholes and prior converted cropland, though it’s no guarantee EPA …
Environmental Groups Wary of Senate ‘Heartland’ Plan
(TALLAHASSEE/January 18, 2022) — Florida lawmakers could further carve up the use of voter-approved conservation money, after a Leon County circuit judge this month rejected a challenge by environmental groups to how money has been spent. The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday approved a measure (SB 1400) that would provide $20 million a year to help protect …
NCBA Backs WOTUS Recommendations from Advisory Committee
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Advisory Committee (FRRCC) has issued their report on the Waters of the U.S (WOTUS) rule. The FRRCC’s recommendations include: Ensuring EPA compliance with the Clean Water Act and Supreme Court precedent limiting federal jurisdiction over bodies of water. Developing a clear definition of WOTUS that is easily interpreted by farmers and ranchers. Protecting WOTUS exemptions …
Alabama SWCC on Installation of Irrigation Pivots
Back in 2019, the Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee (SWCC) worked with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) to identify watersheds that would have funding priority for new irrigation systems. To update that progress, Alabama SWCC Executive Director Dr. William Puckett, told Southeast AgNet this week about the four areas of the state they are working with. Learn more …
Changes to Clean Water Rule Will Hurt Family Farms
(WASHINGTON, January 5, 2022) — Farming members of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) will participate in a roundtable on Thursday, Jan. 6, to discuss the impact of the proposal to repeal and replace the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR). The event is hosted by the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Advocacy. The Biden administration recently proposed a “step …