News Update
September 10, 2014
President of American Farm Bureau Statement on Passage of WOTUS Regulatory Overreach Protection Act
“The House of Representatives today (Sept. 9) stood with farmers and ranchers and against the regulatory overreach of the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Passage of H.R. 5078 isn’t just a clear rejection of the overreach that lies in the EPA’s proposed Waters of the U.S. rule. Today’s action is an unmistakable signal that the tide is turning against those who ignore the constitutional separation of powers in the United States. We will ditch this rule.”
Farm Bureau Urges Congress to Bring Common Sense to Endangered Species Act
The Arkansas Farm Bureau and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Sept. 9 called for clear, cost-benefit analyses from regulatory agencies that enforce the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Since current rules account only for government expenditures, Arkansas Farm Bureau President Randy Veach said the often oppressive cost of ESA enforcement on the private sector gets ignored.
“If over-zealous enforcement of federal laws, such as the ESA, were to hinder, disrupt or further burden our farmers and ranchers, we will not be able to sustainably raise the crops and livestock necessary to feed the 7 billion people currently on our planet, much less the 9 billion projected by 2050,” Veach said.
Veach spoke before the House Committee on Natural Resources in support of H.R. 4319, the Common Sense in Species Protection Act of 2014. The bill would require federal agencies to show full economic justification before placing any land under the protection of a critical habitat designation, which often severely restricts farming and ranching in the affected area.
In Arkansas, the proposed critical habitat for Neosho Mucket and Rabbitsfoot mussels would cover nearly 42% of the state’s watershed and approximately 770 waterway miles. Ninety percent of those waterways pass through private land. Veach called this “irresponsible.”
Veach is not alone in calling for more accurate accounting in ESA enforcement. The University of Arkansas at Little Rock, for instance, recently estimated the cost of the habitat designation in Arkansas alone was five times that calculated by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services for the 12 states included in the designation of these two aquatic species. Many Arkansas farmers already operate under some of the most significant regulatory constraints in the country. All are proud, committed stewards of the land, Veach said.
Farm Foundation Forum: Water Quality, Agriculture & WOTUS
How to maintain and enhance the quality of the nation’s water resources has been at the top of the news for several months.
The EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced proposed regulations — “Waters of the United States” — to clarify Clean Water Act protection for water resources. The proposal, which is open for public comment through Oct. 20, focuses on streams and wetlands that feed into navigable lakes, rivers and estuaries.
Critics contend that as proposed, the regulation would expand EPA and Corps authority and impede land-use decisions and farming practices near the waters in question.
How the nation should approach water-quality policies will be the subject of the Farm Foundation Forum Wednesday, Sept. 17, at the National Press Club, Washington, D.C. A live audiocast will be available for those unable to attend in person.
The perspective of the regulator will be presented by Tracy Mehan, with Gene Schmidt providing perspectives of farmers/landowners.
Farm Foundation Trustee J.B. Penn of Deere and Co. will moderate the discussion.
Mehan is currently the National Source Water Protection Coordinator for the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities. He is also an adjunct professor at George Mason University School of Law, a member of the Environmental Law Institute and a former assistant administrator for water at the EPA.
Schmidt is an Indiana grain farmer and past president of the National Association of Conservation Districts. In addition to his work at the national level, Schmidt is a member of the Board of the LaPorte County Soil and Water Conservation District and has served in numerous leadership positions in the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
Mehan and Schmidt will each have 10-15 minutes to present their perspectives, after which the floor will be open for discussion.
The Forum will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. EST at the National Press Club, 529 14th St. NW, Washington D.C. There is no charge to participate but registration is requested.
To attend the event, register online here or at the Farm Foundation website.
For those people unable to attend the event in person, a live audiocast of this Forum is being provided. It will include speaker PowerPoints as available and the opportunity for the audiocast audience to submit questions. Participate by audio cast here.
Audiocasting is made possible by a grant from Farm Credit. After the event, an audio file is posted to the website for those unable to be part of the live event.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
For Better Bovine: Thompson Research Center Field Day
Beef is a big industry in the Show-Me State. According to the Missouri Department of Agriculture, Missouri ranks second in the nation in beef production with 4.25 million head of cattle on 59,000 operations.
Since its inception in 1870, the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) at the University of Missouri (MU) has been there to provide research for the state’s livestock producers. A valuable asset to the college for nearly a half-century has been the Thompson Research Center, where countless studies to help improve production and test management systems have been conducted.
Each year, the latest findings to benefit farmers and ranchers have been showcased at the annual Field Day, which this year will be Sept. 16 at Thompson Research Center. The free educational event will feature informational presentations and opportunities to connect with agricultural industry professionals, vendors and experts.
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with talks beginning at 9 a.m. A wide variety of topics covered will include hay saving storage and feeding options, recent findings in animal health, estrous synchronization, nutrition impacts on calves during pregnancy, and use of genomics to build better cow herds.
Scott Brown, assistant professor of agricultural and applied economics, also will share economic strategies to consider in rebuilding a beef cow herd.
Several area artificial insemination (AI) companies will be on hand to chat with ranchers about their latest products and services.
A complimentary lunch will be served at noon and demonstrations will run till 2 p.m.
For more information about the Thompson Research Center Field Day call 660-485-6576 or visit the center’s new website at http://thompson.cafnr.org.
Thompson Research Center is located west of Spickard. From Trenton, head north on Highway 65 for 12 miles and turn left onto Highway C. Continue through Spickard on Highway C for 7 miles until a bend in the road merges to the right with Highway A. Continue north for less than a half mile and turn left onto Highway C. The center will be on the left in 4 miles.
Thompson is one of CAFNR’s Agricultural Research Centers located throughout Missouri that host educational workshops. Visit http://cafnr.org/events/ for more events located across the Show-Me State.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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