US Senator Jim Inhofe, chairman of the US Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee; Rep. Bill Shuster, chairman of the house Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; Rep. Fred Upton, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee; and Rep. Rob Bishop, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, announced Monday an agreement on comprehensive water resources infrastructure legislation.


The legislation, the Water Infrastructure Improvements Act for the Nation (WIIN) Act, includes the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which authorizes port, waterway, and flood protection improvements for the country. The WIIN Act also includes the Water and Waste Act of 2016 to help communities meet the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act and authorize state regulation of coal ash. In addition, the legislation addresses significant tribal and natural resources issues.


The House and Senate both overwhelmingly passed WRDA bills earlier this year, and the WIIN Act is the product of the resulting bicameral negotiations.


Click here to read a joint statement about the legislation and to find a link to more highlights of the WIIN Act.

State Question 777 - Right to Farm has been talked about a lot here in Oklahoma as the ag initiative that failed. One ag initiative that passed though, was Massachusetts' State Question 3, which dealt with confinement and housing systems used in animal production, namely for laying hens, hogs and veal. This measure was heavily supported and funded by the Humane Society of the United States. I recently spoke with Hannah Thompson of the Animal Agriculture Alliance about the implications this measure will have nationwide.


"It was by no means a grassroots effort - it was HSUS pushing this and funding it and getting their staff on the ground to promote it," Thompson said, explaining that Massachusetts was chosen specifically because the state has no large ag-based community to fight the group's agenda.


The measure itself only impacts exactly one farm in Massachusetts, says Thompson. The message of this measure was essentially geared in fact to farmers outside the state, saying that they must conform to their standards if they want to sell to consumers in their state. HSUS seems to be leaning on this tactic more and more over the years and Thompson says they will continue to seek this type of legislation in other states and continue to apply pressure to restaurants and retail food suppliers.


"They've realized if the can get them on board, that's going to be a nationwide policy a lot faster than a ballot initiative," Thompson said. "I think in animal agriculture we have to all be united. We will all be on the plate eventually, so we all need to work together to combat this messaging."


Listen to Thompson talk more about the threat posed by HSUS to animal agriculture during the latest Beef Buzz.

Smithfield Food's Stewart Leeth, vice president of regulatory affairs and chief sustainability officer, released the following statement Monday announcing the company's commitment to reduce GHG emissions 25 percent by 2025.


"At Smithfield Foods, we are committed to continuously evaluating how we can optimize our operations while taking the lead in addressing environmental concerns. I am pleased to announce a new commitment that tackles greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.


"Today, we became the first protein company to announce a commitment to reduce GHG emissions throughout our entire supply chain 25 percent by 2025. The total reduction is equivalent to 4 million metric tons or removing 900,000 cars from the road.


"To accomplish this far-reaching goal, Smithfield has partnered with Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), and will implement new projects and practices across its supply chain, on company-owned farms, in facilities and throughout its transportation network. 


Click or tap here to read more about how Smithfield plans to achieve its goal to reduce GHG emissions.

 

Tis the Season- and between now and December 25th- we will be sharing some of our favorite blogs and websites and other goodies that relate to the holiday- at least sorta relate to the holiday.

This first "share" comes from the blog of TheFarmersDaughterUSA.  This young lady is a strong ag advocate by the name of Amanda Zaluckyj, who lives in Michigan.

She has several of these Naught Lists that she has complied over the last few years- and I thought you would enjoy her take on those who have done modern production agriculture wrong. 

At the top of her list is our soon to be gone but not forgotten Administrator of the EPA, Gina McCarthy. 

For her explanation as to why the EPA deserves to be at the top of the Naughty List for Santa- and getting coal in their stocking(how appropriate for the EPA to get coal- hopefully really dirty)- Amanda writes "The EPA has been on quite a power grab lately, and they just don't want to stop. In 2015, they passed the power-expanding WOTUS rule, which was later halted by a federal court until further judicial review could be completed. This year, EPA implemented its Chesapeake Bay project, which was authorized under executive order. The plan would essentially allow the EPA to control private land use on a local level.

"But as if that wasn't enough, the Agency also gave taxpayer money to organizations that used the money to put up anti-agriculture billboards in the State of Washington. The EPA admitted the funds were improperly used, but the damage had already been done."

If you would like to read who she tabs as the other nine offenders against farmers and ranchers, click here.