wotus rule

Reactions to Latest EPA Announcement on WOTUS

Dan Irrigation, Legislative, Water, Wetland, WOTUS Act

Thursday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Army released a proposed rule to re-establish the pre-2015 definition of “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS). The proposed rule would remove the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR), which was finalized in 2020 and provided long-overdue certainty and clarity for farmers affected by the scope of WOTUS jurisdiction. Various commodity …

wotus rule

EPA, Army Announce Regional Roundtables on WOTUS

Dan Irrigation, Legislative, Water, WOTUS Act

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army are calling on communities to propose roundtables to provide input on the implications of the new “WOTUS” rule. The regional roundtables will engage stakeholders representing many perspectives in important conversations designed to help the agency work to develop an enduring definition of the “Waters of the U.S. Rule” that …

irrigation

Irrigation and Nutrient Management BMPs

Dan Citrus, Irrigation

A Citrus Expo presentation about best management practices (BMPs) focused on what growers should be doing now in their irrigation and nutrient management programs. The presentation noted that current BMPs were developed prior to HLB’s discovery in Florida in 2005, and that studies are underway to revise the citrus BMPs for nitrogen and phosphorus. The presentation was created by University …

afbf

AFBF: EPA Should Keep “Navigable” in New WOTUS Rule

Dan Irrigation, Water, Wetland

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) submitted recommendations last week on the definition of “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS). The comments were filed with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers. In June 2021, the EPA announced its intent to revise the definition of WOTUS and solicited pre-proposal recommendations. In the recommendations, AFBF expresses disappointment …

Emergency Watershed Protection

Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program Helps after Hurricanes

Dan Irrigation, USDA-NRCS, Water, Wetland

While Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana this past weekend, its effects have been felt this week in many other states, including parts of Alabama, Florida and Georgia. And this is a good time to remind landowners that USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) may be able to help afterwards through their Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP). If your area suffered damage from Ida, or …

ncga

NCGA to EPA: Don’t Saddle Farmers with Unnecessary Water Regulations

Dan Corn, Environment, Irrigation, Water

A National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) leader says federal regulations on remote bodies of water will hurt farmers without providing any significant improvement to water quality. This is what Andy Jobman, chair of NCGA’s Stewardship Action Team, told the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday. Jobman said, “The EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must not assume that achieving desired water …

Almanac

2022 Farmers’ Almanac Released This Week

Dan Aquaculture, Beef, Cattle, Citrus, Crop Forecasts, Dairy, Drought, Environment, Field Crops, Irrigation, Livestock, Nursery Crops, Organic, Pollinators, Specialty Crops, Technology, Water, Weather

The 2022 Farmers’ Almanac hits store shelves this week and contains 184 pages of helpful tips, calendars, and guides to help you plan your year ahead. It also features weather forecasts for the next 16 months, plus useful advice on ways to take cues from nature to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Editor Pete Geiger states, “we encourage readers to …

family farms

AFBF, Senators Concerned with Possible Water Rule Roll Back

Dan Irrigation, Legislative, Water, WOTUS Act

The fight over the Biden EPA’s move to roll back the Trump EPA’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule that reversed WOTUS is heating up. At least 30 GOP farm-state senators are behind a bill to make permanent last year’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule that reversed Obama WOTUS and its wetlands permit requirements. The issue is a major concern for the American …

fried

Fried Looks to Update Water Rules

Dan Florida, Irrigation, Water

(NSF/August 2, 2021) — Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, who is running to be the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, began a series of appearances Monday to highlight water-related problems including algae blooms and a spike in manatee deaths. Fried said the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Office of Agricultural Water Policy is moving forward with updating “best management practice” rules …

plants

Keep Plants Hydrated this Summer and Saving Some Money

Dan Field Crops, Irrigation, Nursery Crops, Specialty Crops, This Land of Ours, Water

Some ways to keep your plants well hydrated this summer while saving yourself some money. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. All plants need water, especially during summer. When you add up how much watering your garden can cost you over a whole growing season, it can come to hundreds, even thousands of dollars. One of the best …