The controversial Clean Water rule known as Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) was the subject of two bills in the Senate on Tuesday and hours of debate on both sides, despite one bill failing to invoke cloture. The bill that failed was sponsored by Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) and would have instructed EPA to craft a WOTUS rule that “takes … Read More
AgriLife Extension Tests Sprinkler System
In an effort to conserve water, manufacturers have been making smart irrigation for landscapes. These sprinkler systems sense the water in the ground and apply just the right amount of moisture to lawns. Now Charles Swanson of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Services is testing those irrigation systems to see if they are as accurate as they say. Originally, Swanson and Dr. … Read More
NCGA Asks for WOTUS Guidance
On September 17th a closed webinar was held between the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to address questions regarding the final WOTUS ruling. NCGA and 15 other ag groups are now requesting that the answers to the questions be made available to the public. “It’s unfair to communicate to regulators on how to identify a WOTUS under the … Read More
New Anchor Package Means More Irrigation
Valley Irrigation, leader in Precision Irrigation, is offering a product for growers utilizing land that can’t be irrigated with traditional center pivots. The new anchor package extends the reach of an irrigation machine, allowing the center pivot to bend and wrap. The Bender Anchor has a reach of up to 2,000 feet after the Bender. In addition, the Bender Anchor … Read More
AFBF Releases More EPA Overreach Maps
The American Farm Bureau Federation has released even more maps to help visualize the EPA’s overreach in the new WOTUS rule. The maps show how the government intends to radically expand its jurisdiction over land, highlighting the fact that nearly all of the total acreage for the four states illustrated would full under EPA jurisdiction. The maps prepared by Geosyntec Consulting show … Read More
Corn Growers Comment on Blocking of WOTUS
Thursday afternoon, the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota issued a preliminary injunction against the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, postponing implementation of the “Waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule. Chip Bowling, president of the National Corn Growers Association and a farmer from Newburg, Maryland, issued the following statement: “We support the … Read More
UF/IFAS Help Unravel Complicated Water Policy
The University of Florida/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education has a new program to help those who need information about water policies. The mobile-friendly website provides people with access to the policies and aids them in deciphering complicated information. In addition to several tools that help residents understand Florida policies, the website also contains ideas for thoughtful conversations about water … Read More
Senate Yet to Deal with WOTUS & GMO Labeling
Two hot button issues Senate has yet to tackle include GMO labeling bill and the final ruling on Water of the United States (WOTUS). At the Missouri State Fair’s legislator day policy makers spoke on these issues that have a huge impact on agriculture across the country. Missouri Senator Roy Blunt says we really need to look at science enhancement … Read More
MO Farm Bureau Speaks Out Against WOTUS
The Missouri Farm Bureau has put together interactive maps to give a feel of how the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule that goes into effect this weekend will impact the state. Well over 95% of the state of Missouri will qualify as a water of the U.S. under this rule. I spoke with Blake Hurst, president of the … Read More
USDA Invests in Western Lake Erie Basin Water Quality
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will invest an additional $5 million to help Ohio, Michigan and Indiana improve water quality in the western Lake Erie basin. These investments will enable the region’s farmers to reduce the amount of nutrients entering the watershed, one of the sources of disruptive algae blooms. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the targeted funding will … Read More