Policy

WOTUS is Back for 26 States

By: Jason Herath, Farm Journal Media News Director. Published by AgWeb Daily

U.S. farmers thought they had seen the last of the beleaguered Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule in January when the Trump administration moved formally to rescind the regulation and start over with a new version. That broadening of federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act, however, became the law of the land in 26 states as the U.S. District Court for South Carolina ruled that the administration did not follow the proper rulemaking process in rescinding WOTUS. The court ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) did not meet requirements for public notice nor a sufficient comment period. Continue reading WOTUS is Back for 26 States →

Amendment Banning Dairy Label Enforcement Fails; Processor Aid Passes

By: Wyatt Bechtel, for Farm Journal’s Milk online

Legislation that would have changed how the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates non-dairy “milk” failed to make its way into a Senate bill, while another amendment aimed at sparking innovation in dairy processing passed. Continue reading Amendment Banning Dairy Label Enforcement Fails; Processor Aid Passes →

Trade War Hurting U.S. Pork

From: Ohio’s County Journal and Ohio Ag Net

According to Iowa State University Economist Dermot Hayes, U.S. pork producers have lost $2.2 billion on an annualized basis due to events leading up to and following China’s 25% punitive tariffs in retaliation for U.S. tariffs on aluminum and steel.

“U.S. pork has invested significantly to ramp production to capitalize on growth opportunities around the world, including China and other markets throughout the Asia-Pacific region,” said Jim Heimerl, a Johnstown, Ohio pig farmer and president of the National Pork Producers Council.  Continue reading Trade War Hurting U.S. Pork →

Legislators Propose “Clean Lake 2020 Plan” Funding to Reduce Lake Erie Phosphorus

By: Peggy Hall, Asst. Professor, Agricultural & Resource Law, Ohio State University

A pair of companion bi-partisan bills just introduced in the Ohio Senate and Ohio House of Representatives would provide significant funding to help meet Ohio’s goal of reducing phosphorus loading by 20% in Lake Erie by 2020. Continue reading Legislators Propose “Clean Lake 2020 Plan” Funding to Reduce Lake Erie Phosphorus →

Farm Bill Expected to Meet Resistance

From Ohio Ag Net

The first comprehensive proposal for a new federal farm bill calls for changes to payments to farmers when commodity prices dip or when they adopt environmentally friendly measures on their farms.

The proposed legislation, which was drafted and endorsed in a partisan vote by the House of Representatives’ Agriculture Committee, also calls for controversial changes to the work requirements for those receiving food stamps.

The federal farm bill pays for a range of programs associated with food, agriculture and rural America, including crop subsidies and insurance for farmers along with federal food programs for the poor. The current farm bill is scheduled to expire Oct. 1. Continue reading Farm Bill Expected to Meet Resistance →

Seven Farm Bill Hurdles

By Sara Schafer, Top Producer Editor
From AgWeb Online

The current farm bill expires in September 2018. So that’s the hard line in the sand to pass a new farm bill or extend the current one.

“The 2018 farm bill could look mostly like 2014 farm bill,” says Pat Westhoff, director of the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) at the University of Missouri. “A lot of people are reasonably happy with what they have, and it is hard to agree on alternatives.” Continue reading Seven Farm Bill Hurdles →

How Bad Could A Trade War Be For U.S. Agriculture?

President Trump’s proposed steel and aluminum tariffs is drawing criticism from those in the agricultural industry, but also from his own political party.

Although House Speaker Paul Ryan opposes the plan, Trump says the U.S. won’t be “backing down” on the 25 percent tariffs on steel imports and 10 percent on aluminum. Continue reading How Bad Could A Trade War Be For U.S. Agriculture? →