1-10 Agribusiness Update

1-10 Agribusiness Update

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
This is the Agribusiness Update...For Greg Martin...I'm David Sparks

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson just co-sponsored legislation to limit the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers from expanding their regulatory authority over state waters.  H.R. 3377, the Defense of Environment and Property Act of 2013, would curb the EPA's efforts to expand its authority under the Clean Water Act by clearly defining "navigable waters."   Simpson stated "Water is life, and to let the EPA begin to regulate all waters of the United States would have a devastating impact on rural towns, farmers, and local governments." The term "navigable waters" has long been the term which limits federal intrusion with regards to the Clean Water Act's authority.  However, recent disputes over the definition of "navigable waters" have resulted in efforts by the Obama Administration to amend the current version of the Clean Water Act by replacing the term "navigable waters" with the term "waters of the United States."  Non-navigable waters are currently regulated by the states.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has appointed 38 members to the National Potato Promotion Board. Each representative will serve a three-year term of office beginning March 1, 2014 Since 1966, Congress has authorized the establishment of 20 research and promotion boards that empower agricultural industries by establishing a framework for them to pool resources and combine efforts to develop new markets.

Two-spotted spider mite populations have increased significantly in NW sugar beet fields since 2012. The cause of the increase isn't known and it's also unknown whether the insects will become an annual problem for beet growers.

That's today's Agribusiness Update from the Ag Information Network.

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