The following may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “The American Farm Bureau Federation applauds today’s action by the U.S. EPA and Army Corps of Engineers to delay implementation of the hopelessly vague 2015 rule that expansively defined ‘waters of the United States (WOTUS).’ That rule would have put a stranglehold on ordinary farming and ranching …
UF to Tackle Water Issues, Challenges at Annual Symposium
Water—how much we have, its quality and how we use it – is the one issue that touches every Florida resident and community. Scientists from North America will gather at the University of Florida to tackle water issues such as quantity, quality and conservation. UF hosts its sixth annual Water Institute Symposium on Feb. 6 and 7 at the Reitz …
EPA Sends WOTUS Delay Rule to White House
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has sent a final rule to the White House that would prevent the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) Rule from taking effect. The EPA rushed the rule to the White House because of the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling placing the legal jurisdiction of the rule in federal district courts, not federal appeals courts, where …
Partnership Formed to Improve U.S. Water Quality
A new partnership seeks to assess agricultural practices and strategies to further improve water quality in the United States. The Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, along with the Sand County Foundation, the Noble Research Institute and Farm Foundation, launched the National Agricultural Water Quality Practice Assessment this week. The groups say the assessment seeks to better understand how …
Agri View: Aquifers Water Dwindling
Everett Griner talks about the dwindling water levels of our underground aquifers in today’s Agri View. Aquifers Water Dwindling As long as I can remember all a farmer had to to irrigate his crops was drill a well and install well pumps, as well as conduct well water testing. There has always been an adequate supply of water in those …
Farm Bureau Statement on WOTUS Jurisdiction Decision
The following may be attributed to Ellen Steen, General Counsel of the American Farm Bureau Federation: “The U.S. Supreme Court ruled correctly that federal district courts—not federal courts of appeals—have jurisdiction to review the 2015 Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. This Supreme Court decision brings greater clarity to an important issue that has bogged down the litigation over this …
Major Reservoir Project Could Take Years
After receiving legislative approval last spring, a massive reservoir intended to help shift water south from Lake Okeechobee remains years away from reality, the head of the South Florida Water Management District said Wednesday. A big factor in the timeline for design and construction of the reservoir is waiting for federal-government approval of its half of the roughly $1.6 billion …
USDA Investing Millions in Wildfire Mitigation and Water Quality Projects Through Joint Chiefs’ Partnership
Projects will restore healthy forests on private and public lands in 24 states The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest nearly $32 million this year to mitigate wildfire risk, improve water quality and restore healthy forest ecosystems in 24 states and Puerto Rico. Since 2014, USDA has invested $176 million in 56 Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership Projects, which …
Supreme Court Weighs Arguments in Water War
Lawyers for Florida asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday to reject a special master’s report denying the state relief in its long-running dispute with Georgia over water flow into the Apalachicola River. “This court has never had a situation where it’s recognized a state as being injured. It’s recognized that the upstream state is wasting a resource and it’s …
Supreme Court Ready to Wade Into Water War
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Monday in a decades-old legal fight between Florida and Georgia over water flow into the Apalachicola River. A court-appointed special master ruled in February that Florida had not proved its case that a water-usage cap should be imposed on Georgia to help the river and Apalachicola Bay, one of the most productive …