News Update
July 8, 2014
NRCS: The Water Police
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Public Lands Council (PLC) filed comments on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ “interpretive” rule. The rule will make the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) a regulatory compliance agency, resulting in cattle producers putting less conservation on the ground.
The interpretive rule was published in the Federal Register the same day as the agencies’ proposed rule to redefine “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act. The rule’s intent is to interpret what Congress meant when it included a statutory exemption for “normal farming, silviculture and ranching activities” under the 404 Dredge and Fill Program.
“The EPA claims they have made right with the agricultural community by interpreting their exemption to only include the ‘normal’ 56 NRCS practice standards, excluding all other NRCS practice standards and all voluntary conservation activities,” said Ashley McDonald, NCBA environmental council. “By defining these very specific 56 practices, the interpretive rule only narrows the scope of what is considered normal farming and ranching practices. These practices, such as building a fence or grazing cattle, never needed a permit before, but now require oversight by NRCS and mandatory compliance with its standards.”
With farmers and ranchers facing up to $37,000 per day in fines, the interpretive rule increases liability for participation in conservation practices, voluntary or not. According to the EPA, the 56 exempted practices, including prescribed grazing, were chosen because they have the potential to discharge if they are done in a “water of the U.S.” This effectively makes grazing a discharge activity, and cattle producers will now be required to obtain a permit to graze unless they have an NRCS-approved grazing plan.
“The chilling effect on participation in conservation activities will be compounded when NRCS is seen as wielding the final say on whether a producer is in violation of the Clean Water Act or not,” said Victoria, Texas, cattleman and NCBA President Bob McCan. “Historically, NRCS and its field personnel have been seen as a friend to agriculture; helping producers achieve goals in production and conservation through technical and financial assistance. Now, they will simply be an extended arm of the EPA, spending their time checking compliance of voluntary conservation activities.”
NCBA and PLC strongly encourage the agencies to withdraw the interpretive rule immediately and ask that a dialogue be undertaken with the agricultural community prior to any future “interpretive" rules being promulgated that may alter the exemptions Congress included in the Clean Water Act for agriculture.
NMSU Corona Research Center to Host Field Day July 19
Ranchers will have an opportunity to learn about the research being conducted at the New Mexico State University (NMSU) Corona Range and Livestock Research Center during a field day Saturday, July 19.
“The primary mission of the Corona center is to enhance the understanding of woody brush invasion, hydrology, cow-calf production and big game management, and to develop innovative solutions to improve economic development in rangeland-bound communities,” said Shad Cox, superintendent of the 27,886-acre working ranch laboratory that is located near the geographic center of the state, just east of the village of Corona.
“During the year, we host Ranchers’ Roundtable events where experts on a specific topic answer questions of the ranchers,” Cox said. “The field day will give them a chance to learn about the research being conducted here at the research center and interact with faculty and graduate students.” During the field day, attendees will learn about research in:
Registration begins at 9 a.m. with the program starting at 10 a.m. Lunch will be served following research poster presentations. For directions to the research center, visit www.corona.nmsu.edu.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
Local Ranching Event Scheduled July 22 in Rosenberg
The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) will host a ranch gathering Tuesday, July 22, at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds (building C) in Rosenberg. The event is free and open to the public.
Jason Cleere, Texas A&M University associate professor and Extension beef cattle specialist, will give a live cattle demonstration at 4 p.m. Registration will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by a complimentary beef dinner.
Please RSVP to 1-800-242-7820, ext. 192, or rsvp@tscra.org.
To get to the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds from the intersection of Hwy. 59 and Hwy. 36 in Rosenberg, head south on Hwy 36 for 0.8 of a mile and the fairground will be on the right.
The gathering is sponsored by Novartis Animal Health and Capital Farm Credit. Anyone who joins TSCRA at the gathering will receive a free metal gate sign courtesy of Bayer Animal Health and New Holland Agriculture.
All members of the press are invited to attend.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
Austin Program July 23 Will Help
Small-Scale Producers Get ‘MarketReady’
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will present its MarketReady training program, part of its Forward Farming program for area farmers, ranchers and food producers from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. July 23 at the AgriLife Extension office for Travis County, 1600-B Smith Rd., Austin.
“The MarketReady program addresses the market development risks and relationships small-scale farmers and ranchers must manage as they seek to develop supplier relationships with restaurants, grocery, wholesale and food-service buyers,” said Daphne Richards, AgriLife Extension agent for Travis County and a program coordinator.
Richards said the training will address communications and relationship building, packaging, labeling, pricing, supply, delivery, quality assurance, storage, invoicing, insurance, marketing and more.
“The morning portion will focus on selling to restaurants,” said presenter Marco Palma, AgriLife Extension agricultural economist, College Station.
This will be followed by lunch, then afternoon sessions will focus on grocery and wholesale sales.
Palma said the training would help small-scale food producers learn effective practices for approaching and selling to businesses such as restaurants, caterers and grocery stores, or chains.
Regular registration is $50, and $65 for late and on-site registration. To register, call 979-845-2604 or go to http://agriliferegister.tamu.edu and enter “urban” or “farming” in the search field.
For more information, contact Palma at 979-845-5284, mapalma@ag.tamu.edu.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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