Agricultural News
NCBA's Kevin Kester Urges Producers to Take a Stand For WOTUS, Submit Comments to EPA
Fri, 01 Mar 2019 07:05:42 CST
During the Bayer AgVocacy Forum in Orlando this week, Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays caught up with fifth-generation California rancher and Immediate Past President of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association Kevin Kester who shared his thoughts on the new Waters of the US rule proposed by the Trump Administration's Environmental Protection Agency, currently up for public comment. If approved, the proposed language would replace the existing rule created during the Obama Administration. Compared side-by-side, Kester says the differences are dramatic and significantly better in the eyes of farmers and ranchers. For that reason, ag industry organizations, especially the NCBA and Farm Bureau, are urging stakeholders to add their two cents and submit their positive comments during this period to advocate for its passage.
"You can't overstate how important it is for cattle producers across this country to get engaged on the public comment period. It's very important for everybody to give their thoughts to the EPA so we can have thorough input from the industry," Kester said, alluding to the incredible difference it could have for producers just like him facing similar hardships under the current rule. "Under the Obama rule, literally 100 percent of my ranch falls under the jurisdiction of the EPA. Under the new proposal, I will have zero acres under EPA jurisdiction."
According to Kester, the new proposed rule is good for farmers and ranchers because it was written by farmers and ranchers at least in part. Kester says the EPA, since the Trump Administration transitioned to power, has been willing to work with the industry. NCBA has cooperated and provided nomenclature and verbiage that has been included in the actual language of the proposed rule. With relief from this rule within grasp, Kester says it is imperative not to let activist groups snatch the opportunity away.
"If you believe all the propaganda, we're destroying the planet earth because of this regulation which is nothing farther from the truth," he said. "We're just applying common sense. Nothing more, nothing less."
Listen to Kester and Hays discuss the status of the process to replace the WOTUS rule, on today's Beef Buzz.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
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