News Update
September 23, 2014
NFU Submits Comments
to Proposed Rule on WOTUS
National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson submitted comments Sept. 22 to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on its proposed rule addressing the “Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Definitions Under the Clean Water Act (CWA).” The comments are intended to provide the agencies with advice for drafting a final rule that does not increase CWA jurisdiction and promotes consistent application of EPA policies, which aligns with the agencies’ stated intent.
“These comments should help the agencies avoid using language that could be taken out of context and used to stretch CWA jurisdiction in the future,” said Johnson. “The agencies’ stated intent is to replace inconsistent practices with clear, bright-line tests through this proposed rule. If NFU’s comments are given proper consideration, the final rule will allow the regulated community the certainty it needs to conduct its business free from fear of undue regulatory interference and without sacrificing the [EPA agency’s] ability to protect the United States’ water resources,” he said. “The importance of clean water today and for future generations is critical to the well-being of the nation.”
Johnson pointed out that if NFU’s comments are incorporated into the final rule, a number of important and much-needed clarifications will be achieved. Those include:
- • A definition of “tributary” that clarifies without increasing CWA jurisdiction.
- A bright-line rule for “adjacent waters,” reducing the need for case-by-case determinations.
- Codification of agency practice in light of Supreme Court rulings, increasing the predictability of jurisdictional determinations by the agencies.
- An exclusion of ditches that do not connect with wetlands, riparian areas, floodplains or other waters.
- An exclusion of ditches without perennial flow from CWA jurisdiction.
- Affirmation of exemptions for normal agricultural activities.
Johnson urged other groups submitting comments to be constructive in critiquing the rule, and to remember that EPA has been ordered by the courts to write a rule and that it was up to vested interests, like farmers and ranchers, to provide expertise and insight as to how this rule will operate in the real world. “If NFU’s comments are incorporated into the final rule, it will remove a lot of uncertainty and protect family farmers from litigation,” he said.
Foundation Releases New My American Farm App
The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has released a new version of its popular My American Farm app for iPads, Android tablets and Kindle Fire. The app is available for download on iTunes, Google Play and Amazon.
The new version of the app, My American Farm 2.0, contains six My American Farm games, including the newly added Power Up game. This game allows young learners to dive into the world of energy and agriculture and embark on problem-solving missions for the virtual community of Energyville. The new app also builds on the math-focused game, In My Barn, with a Pre-K level to draw in new users. New badges also will be incorporated into the latest version of the app for everything from completing a game to engaging in virtual tasks like meeting a farmer or planting seeds.
My American Farm is an educational game platform launched in 2011 to engage pre-K through fifth-grade learners in the discovery of relevant agricultural issues. Today, the free site offers 19 agriculturally themed games and more than 100 free educator resources such as lesson plans, activity sheets and comics.
The My American Farm educational resource is a special project of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. The site and resources are made possible through the generous support of title sponsor, DuPont Pioneer. To take advantage of the free My American Farm resources, games and activities, visit www.myamericanfarm.org.
Might be a Good Year for Creep Feeding Calves
With record-high cattle prices, many Kentucky beef producers might look to creep feeding to put additional weight on calves before weaning. University of Kentucky (UK) College of Agriculture, Food and Environment beef specialist Jeff Lehmkuhler isn’t usually a fan of the feeding method; however, he believes it may provide an opportunity this year. If producers are careful, they could cash in.
Creep feeding is when producers provide supplemental feed to animals that are still nursing as a way to efficiently help them grow and attain a higher weaning weight.
Lehmkuhler was quick to point out a few issues of concern about creep feeding, including excessively conditioning replacement heifers, inducing acidosis and getting feeders too fleshy. However, with proper management, creep feeding can be an efficient way of putting on pounds preweaning.
“As we think about creep feeding, increased pounds at weaning do not necessarily result in a direct increase in profitability,” he said. “We need to more accurately account for feed costs, price slide, equipment investment and labor inputs to look at the potential increase in profit.”
Generally, creep feeding is profitable when feeder-cattle prices are high and feed costs are low. To take advantage of that, producers need to creep feed beginning the 60 days prior to weaning. Producers who plan to wean calves in November should start now.
“Creep feeds are generally higher in crude protein to overcome any protein limitations in the forage being offered,” Lehmkuhler said. “Young calves are in a lean phase of growth and supplementing marginal forage can improve calf performance. With ample forage regrowth this fall in the upper Southeast, energy supplementation is needed more than protein for many operations. Therefore, a 14% to 18% crude protein range would be acceptable in creep feeds to complement available pasture forages.”
Lehmkuhler offered a few tips to help put together a creep supplement and to manage the feeder.
- Keep the fines and dust to a minimum.
- Consider if feedstuffs will have sorting/settling issues that may lead to inconsistent intakes and nutrient balance.
- Avoid adding excessive moisture (i.e. liquid molasses or ear corn that is not dry) as it can lead to caking in feeders.
- Avoid non-protein nitrogen sources.
- Avoid excessive roughage products such as cottonseed hulls that could cause bridging and separation.
- When starting to creep, limit the amount placed in feeder and frequently monitor it.
- During humid weather, consider more frequent filling to avoid caking.
- Keep feeders on a high-traffic use pad or concrete to avoid muddy conditions around feeder.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Virginia Tech Selected for Student Professional Development Opportunity
The Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has been selected for Agriculture Future of America’s (AFA) University Growth Initiative.
“We are pleased to begin a relationship with Virginia Tech,” said Russ Weathers, AFA president and CEO. “Welcoming Virginia Tech students into our professional development program will add to the depth of discussion and engagement in our environment.”
Since 1997, AFA has provided scholarships and leader training to collegiate students pursuing careers in agriculture. AFA’s anchor personal and professional development event is AFA Leaders Conference. Hosted each year in Kansas City, Mo., this program draws more than 550 top agriculture students from across the nation. The University Growth Initiative, supported by Monsanto Company, allows AFA to expand its collegiate relationship base each year by allowing new schools to enter their top student leaders into AFA leader development programs.
Susan Sumner, associate dean and director of academic programs, believes this will be a good opportunity to expose Virginia Tech students to agriculture in different sectors of the United States.
“As a first-year partner of AFA, we are excited about building a long-term relationship for student interaction,” she said. “Our goal of providing our students with the opportunity to build their professional skill sets is a perfect match with the objectives of the AFA Leaders Conference.”
As a 2014 University Growth Initiative school, Virginia Tech has received funding to send three students and a member of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences administration to the 2014 AFA Leaders Conference, Nov. 6-9, in Kansas City, Mo.
Delegates gain valuable experiences and relationships through networking with each other and industry professionals. The conference boasts a 3:1 student-to-industry-professional ratio. The AFA Opportunity Fair, held in conjunction with the conference, connects students to internships, jobs, and study-abroad and graduate-school opportunities. For more information, please visit www.agfuture.org/2014conference.
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