Agricultural Associations Seek to Block Chlorpyrifos Ban

Dan Citrus, Environment

Several agricultural associations filed suit in federal court Feb. 10 seeking to block the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from prohibiting the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos on food crops beginning Feb. 28. The Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association is among those seeking the action. According to the American Soybean Association, which is one of those suing, the agricultural associations …

Organizations Ask EPA to Withdraw Proposed New WOTUS Rule

Dan Legislative, Pork, Water, WOTUS Act

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 …

Ag Groups Sue EPA Over Chlorpyrifos

Dan Environment

A group of U.S. agricultural organizations had filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency over chlorpyrifos. DTN says the 21 groups want the agency’s pending ban on the product to be halted and eventually revoked. The lawsuit was filed as the EPA will finalize its rule revoking the food tolerances for the insecticide on February 28. That will effectively …

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 …

Disappointed with EPA Chlorpyrifos Rule Announcement

Dan Environment

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced this week it is revoking all “tolerances” for chlorpyrifos, which establish an amount of a pesticide that is allowed on food. The agency will issue a Notice of Intent to Cancel under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to cancel registered food uses of chlorpyrifos. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is disappointed …

EPA Takes Action to Address Risk from Chlorpyrifos and Protect Children’s Health

Dan Environment

EPA measures will stop the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos on food (WASHINGTON/August 18, 2021) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will stop the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos on all food to better protect human health, particularly that of children and farmworkers. In a final rule released today, EPA is revoking all “tolerances” for chlorpyrifos, which establish …

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 …

EPA and Army Corps Announce Next Steps on Writing WOTUS

Dan Legislative, Water, WOTUS Act

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps announced plans for community engagements to let people know about their efforts to revise the definition of “WOTUS,” or the Waters of the U.S rule. The goal of the rewrite is to better ensure clean and safe water for everyone. The EPA and the Army Corps say they are committed to …

NCBA Concerned with EPA Revising Navigable Waters Rule

Dan Cattle, Legislative, Water, WOTUS Act

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced two weeks ago their intent to repeal and rewrite the definition of the Trump-era Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR), which of course replaced the Obama-era Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. A review of the rule, requested by President Joe Biden, claims stakeholders are seeing destructive impacts to critical water bodies. Various farm groups …

Senators Want Reasons for Replacing the Navigable Waters Protection Rule

Dan Irrigation, Legislative, Water

West Virginia Republican Senator Shelly Moore Capito and several Republican colleagues want to know why the Biden EPA decided to replace the Navigable Waters Protection Rule. Capito, the Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, says, “After the administration’s continued commitments to transparency, engagement, and communication with stakeholders and Congress on this issue, the lack of transparency …