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 …
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 …
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 …
Efforts to Address Rural Mental Health Issues
Concerns about increased stress and mental health problems in rural America have prompted various farm organizations to develop resources and programs to address this issue. Rod Bain has more details. Those interested are encouraged to learn more about the campaigns from the American Farm Bureau Federation and from the National Farmers Union. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2024Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober …
American Farm Bureau Convention Coming to Atlanta
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) wants to remind folks their 2022 Convention will be held January 7-12 in Atlanta, Georgia. Keynote speakers for the annual event include inspirational speaker Jim “Murph” Murphy, founder and chairman of Afterburner. He will speak during the afternoon general session at the convention on Sunday, January 9th. Comedian Jeff Allen will perform that Monday …
Food, Fuel Inflation Fuels Fight over Biden Agenda Bill
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) says inflation and tax hikes are key to its opposing the Biden “Build Back Better” Act, despite the bill’s new funding for conservation, forestry, and Ag research. AFBF President Zippy Duval wrote to House lawmakers on the eve of expected floor action on the president’s now roughly two-trillion dollar “Build Back Better” social and …
Fish and Wildlife Service Seeks to Reverse Trump Era Rules
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service seek to rescind two critical habitat regulations finalized in the last days of the Trump administration. In December 2020, FWS issued a final rule that revised the process for considering critical habitat exclusions under the Endangered Species Act. FWS re-evaluated the rule and concluded the conservation purposes of the …
Ag Groups Formally Object to EPA Chlorpyrifos Rule
This week, more than 80 agricultural groups filed formal objections to the Environmental Protection Agency’s August 30 rule to revoke all tolerances of chlorpyrifos. Stakeholders can object to pesticide tolerance changes or cancellations, and the EPA Administrator must then respond. In the coalition letter, the agriculture sector cited numerous concerns with EPA’s revocation decision, including the processes EPA used and …
AFBF: No Methane Tax on Animals in Reconciliation Bill
The American Farm Bureau Federation, addressing a social media myth, says “the current language of the reconciliation bill does not impose a methane tax on agriculture.” Those words from AFBF’s Public Affairs Vice President Sam Kieffer, who says the statement seeks to clear up any confusion. Kieffer says that over the summer, Farm Bureau economists conducted an analysis, at the …
AFBF, NPPC File Prop. 12 Appeal to Supreme Court
Monday, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to take their case against California’s Proposition 12, which would ban the sale of pork from hogs that don’t meet the state’s “arbitrary” production standards. The appeal to the high court comes after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in July upheld …