Two groups that represent the interests of a large portion of rural land owners and users has a message for the federal government: Don’t drown land owners in a regulatory flood! The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council filed comments calling for the immediate withdrawal of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers’ … Read More
Dairy Operations Finding Success with CAFOweb
Dairy farmers in New Mexico are using a great new tool called CAFOweb. The online data management tool allows dairy farmers to better manage nitrogen. As Tara Vander Dussen and Jay Lazarus explained, nitrogen from manure solids and/or effluent can leach into the ground water is not applied at agronomic rates. In other words, said Lazarus, most dairies were not … Read More
Sustainability Is a Continuous Improvement, Not an Endpoint
“Sustainability is a continuous improvement, not an endpoint,” said Dr. Marty Matlock, executive director, Office for Sustainability, University of Arkansas, during his presentation on Science Based Metrics for Sustainable Outcomes in Poultry and Egg Production at USPOULTRY’s 2014 Environmental Management Seminar in Destin, Fla. The annual conference is sponsored by U.S. Poultry & Egg Association and was held in collaboration … Read More
USPOULTRY Recognizes Company's with Clean Water Awards
Koch Foods of Gadsden, Ala., and Tyson Foods of Wilkesboro, N.C., have been awarded the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) 2014 Clean Water Award. Presented annually, the award recognizes exemplary performance at water reclamation facilities serving the poultry industry. The presentations were made during USPOULTRY’s Environmental Management Seminar in Destin, Fla., and the winners were selected by a committee … Read More
WOTUS Topic of Next Farm Foundation Forum
As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers takes public comment on their proposed “Waters of the United States” or WOTUS regulations, Farm Foundation is offering a forum on the issue. Next Wednesday, Sept. 17th from 9 am-11 am at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., Farm Foundation hosts a free forum on how … Read More
NMPF and NACWA Sign Landmark Memorandum of Understanding
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote increased cooperation and communication between the two organizations in their efforts to make watershed-level water quality improvements. This MOU marks an important milestone in efforts to strengthen ties between urban and rural sectors on conservation activities to … Read More
NPPC Releases "Waters of the U.S." Mapping Tool
The National Pork Producers Council, together with other agricultural groups, has unveiled an interactive website that shows land likely to be regulated under the Waters of the United States rule proposed be EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers. The maps were developed for 17 states – as diverse as Alaska and Florida and including major hog producing states such … Read More
EPA Finally Hands Over Maps of their WOTUS Proposal
The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology released maps of waters and wetlands the Environmental Protection Agency has to-date refrained from making public. After multiple requests, the Agency finally handed over the maps to the committee, which appear to detail the extent of the “Waters of the United States” proposal. “Given the astonishing picture they paint, I understand the … Read More
Water Quality Important to Michigan Livestock Producers
Michigan agricultural leaders held a conference call Thursday morning to discuss algae bloom issues and proactive water quality efforts being undertaken by producers in the state. “Michigan agriculture is proactive and part of the solution when it comes to water quality issues in the Western Basin of Lake Erie and surrounding areas,” said Jim Byrum, president of the Michigan Agri-Business … Read More
NCBA's Environmental Committee Brings Packed House
Ashley McDonald, Environmental Council for NCBA, talked about what is on everybody’s minds here at the 2014 Cattle Industry Summer Conference. Waters of the United States (WOTUS) has become a household phrase over the last couple of months and she highlighted NCBA’s efforts to eliminate the EPA’s term ‘navigable’ from the Clean Water Act. “We are in the midst of … Read More