A new bill would help rural Americans get clean drinking water. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Senators Tammy Baldwin and Susan Collins introduced the bipartisan Healthy Drinking Water Affordability Act, or The Healthy H2O Act. Baldwin, a Wisconsin Democrat and Collins, a Maine Republican, say the bill will provide water testing and treatment technology grants directly to …
NCBA Hails House Passage of Resolution to Stop WOTUS Rule
Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.J. Res 27, a Waters of the United States (WOTUS) resolution of disapproval. The legislation was sponsored by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves from Missouri and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer of North Carolina. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) hailed the passage of the joint resolution that basically would invalidate …
Conservation Easement Program Signup Deadline is Feb. 28 in Florida
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida wants to remind agricultural landowners in the state who are interested in protecting their land uses with conservation values the fiscal year 2023 application deadline through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) is Tuesday, February 28. NRCS in Florida is accepting applications for the Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) component of ACEP. The program protects grazing uses and …
Florida Ag Landowners Reminded of Conservation Easement Program Signup Deadline
Florida agricultural landowners interested in protecting their land uses with conservation values are being reminded about a fiscal year 2023 application deadline through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida is accepting applications for the Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) component. That sign-up deadline is February 28, 2023. NRCS accepts these applications year-round, but any received after that date …
Groups File Lawsuit vs EPA over Final WOTUS Rule
The Cattle Industry Convention kicks off this week in New Orleans, and one major topic that will be discussed is the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), and 16 other farm and builders’ groups are not waiting around for the Supreme Court to clarify the definition of WOTUS, as they filed a lawsuit in …
Cattle Industry Will Be Discussing WOTUS
The Cattle Industry Convention kicks off next week in New Orleans. And an announcement from the EPA last week will be a major topic of discussion for those attending the annual event. Mark Oppold has more.
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 …
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 …