NCFC Launches Toolkit to Aid in Waters of U.S. Comments
NCFC has prepared a toolkit to assist your cooperative, state council or member-owners in responding to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) rulemaking that redefines “waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS).
The toolkit is available on our website by clicking here. Also on this webpage, you will find links to other letters and resources related to the rulemaking as well as legislation NCFC is supporting calling for EPA to withdraw and rework the rule.
This toolkit includes:
- PowerPoint presentation that explains in general terms what the rulemaking would mean for production agriculture;
- Template comment letter that can be customized for producers, co-ops or state councils;
- Summary of the rulemaking and critical concerns;
- NCFC’s Issue Brief on WOTUS;
- Comment letter available on the NCFC Legislative Action Center;
- Link to detailed maps of water features subject to the rulemaking.
The comments on the WOTUS rulemaking are due to the EPA on October 20. As you may recall
from previous NCFC Updates, earlier this year the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a proposed rule to revise the definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) for all Clean Water Act (CWA) programs. If left unchanged, the rule would greatly expand federal regulatory jurisdiction over farms and ranches across the country.
NCFC continues to prepare its own comments on the proposed rule and urges co-ops and their members to make their voices heard as well.
USDA Announces Sign Up for New Farm Bill Programs
- President Issues Executive Order on Antibiotics: This week, President Barack Obama issued an Executive Order designed to address the issue of the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria. The order creates the Task Force for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, which will consist of the Secretaries of Agriculture, Defense and Health and Human Services. The task force is directed to develop new regulations to address antibiotic resistance and to outline a 5-year plan to implement the proposed regulations.
- Rail Bill Passes Senate Commerce Committee: With Congress heading for recess and the prospect of a short lame duck on the horizon, the Senate Commerce Committee took a mostly symbolic vote this week to approve legislation (S. 2777) to reauthorize the Surface Transportation Board. The bill, introduced by Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.) and Ranking Member John Thune (R-S.D.), would increase the STB from three members to five; would institute a voluntary arbitration process to settle disputes between railroads and shippers; and would give the board power to initiate its own investigations. Rail issues have come into renewed focus in Washington with the ongoing difficulties farmers, co-ops and other agribusinesses have experienced in moving grain and oilseeds out of the Midwest. Expect to see similar legislation introduced shortly after the start of the 114th Congress in January.
- House Agriculture Committee Holds SNAP Hearing: This week, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) held a hearing to review the implementation of state pilot projects under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) of the recently passed farm bill. One of the reforms in the 2014 Farm Bill included new Employment and Training pilot projects, which allow for up to ten states to develop and test methods to help adults secure employment and job training and reduce their dependency on SNAP. For a transcript or archived video of the hearing, visit the ag committee web site at http://agriculture.house.gov.
NCFC Announces Call for Entries for 2014 Cooperative Information Fair
NCFC is pleased to announce a call for entries for our 69th Cooperative Information Fair. The Fair recognizes excellence in communications and marketing projects of farmer cooperatives that effectively promote business, inform members and disseminate information to the public.
Professors from the journalism and mass communications school of a major university will judge entries in 34 categories, ranging from best press releases and best magazines to best marketing plans and best advertising campaigns and multi-media campaigns. Winning entries will be showcased to CEOs and co-op directors at the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives Annual Meeting, held February 11-13, 2015 at Paradise Point in San Diego, California.
The deadline to enter is Friday, October 17, 2014. For a rulebook and entry forms, please visit the NCFC web site at http://www.ncfc.org/information/ncfc-cooperative-information-fair.
Upcoming Events:
- Fall NCFC Executive Council Meeting—September 25 & 26, 2014—NCFC offices, Washington, D.C.
- LTA Subcommittee Chairs/Vice Chairs Meeting—October 2 & 3, 2014—Four Seasons Hotel, Austin, Texas
- NCFC Human Resources Conference—October 23-24, 2014—Hyatt Regency O’Hare, Chicago, Ill.
- Government Affairs Committee Meeting—November 12-14, 2014—Benson Hotel, Portland, Ore.
- 86th NCFC Annual Meeting—February 11-13, 2015—Paradise Point Hotel, San Diego, Calif.