(NSF/Tallahassee/April 25, 2022) — A political committee has filed a proposed constitutional amendment that would create a “fundamental right to clean and healthy waters” and allow lawsuits against state agencies for harm or threatened harm to lakes, rivers, wetlands and other types of water bodies. The committee FloridaRighttoCleanWater.org has proposed the initiative for the 2024 ballot, according to newly posted information …
Investments in Watershed Improvement Projects
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an investment in projects designed to improve rural watersheds and the infrastructure necessary in their management. Rod Bain has more details. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2024Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024
DeSantis Says Water Bill ‘Much Different’
(NSF) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said a controversial environmental bill is “dramatically” improved from when he severely criticized the measure during the middle of the legislative session. The Senate voted 33-0 and the House voted 99-8 on Monday to approve the budget-related bill (SB 2508) as they finished the session. While DeSantis wouldn’t say whether he will sign the bill, …
Environmental Changes Teed Up for Florida Budget Talks
(NSF/TALLAHASSEE/Feb. 22, 2022) — A controversial environmental bill the Senate massaged last week after outcries from Everglades activists, fishing guides and Gov. Ron DeSantis is ready to become part of budget talks with the House. With little comment, the House on Tuesday, took up the bill (SB 2508) and nine other Senate measures and positioned them for negotiations that will …
Sea-Level May Rise One Foot by 2050 along U.S. Coasts
The United States is expected to experience as much sea-level rise by the year 2050 as it witnessed in the previous hundred years. That’s according to a NOAA-led report updating sea level increases for the U.S. The Sea Level Rise Technical Report provides the most up-to-date projections for all U.S. states and territories by decade for the next 100 years …
WOTUS Discussed During Georgia Cattlemen’s Convention
Cattle producers in Georgia were able to get a Washington legislative update this week as National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Vice President of Government Affairs, Ethan Lane, was in the Southeast speaking at the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association Convention in Savannah. He talked about various issues of importance to those in the cattle industry, including the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) …
Florida Senate Passes Revamped Water Bill
(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 …
Organizations Ask EPA to Withdraw Proposed New WOTUS Rule
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) was one of the organizations asking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to withdraw their proposed new WOTUS rule. Last week, NPPC signed onto two sets of comments asking the EPA to withdraw it. Submitted by the Waters Action Coalition (WAC), of which NPPC is a member, and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), the comments detail …
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
Alabama NWQI Application Deadline is Next Week
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind those interested that the deadline to submit applications for the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) is February 25, 2022. Alabama is offering an opportunity for agricultural producers in priority watersheds within the state to apply for financial assistance to install conservation practices that protect water quality through …