EPA Regulations Response to Legal Action by Activist Groups

In her talk at last week’s Joint Commodity Conference, National Association of Wheat Growers CEO Dana Peterson says that as much as we hate to defend the EPA, it’s really not their fault that further regulation and rulemaking is coming out of the agency:
 

“They aren’t. They’re coming from our courts system. They stem from legislation that was passed in the 70’s and we need to go back and revisit those things.”
 

Over regulation by the EPA is just one of many issues concerning agriculture that are evolving in Washington today, along with the farm bill, and tax reform.
 

2011 Cooler than 2010

Last year, the world wasn't quite as warm as it was for most of the last decade. Still, official U.S. weather records say the average global temperature in 2011 was the 11th hottest on record.
 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration calculated the average temperature as 57.9 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 0.9 degrees warmer than the 20th century average. In fact, it was hotter than every year in the 20th century except 1998.
 

NC in Line for More Disaster Aid
 

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says that this newly announced 308 million dollars for some disaster programs is part of a comprehensive farm safety net that has already helped thousands of farmers after last year's disasters.
 

“This is part of an important and critical component of the safety net that is provided to producers and communities that are affected by natural disasters. And it highlights the importance o f having that safety net, whether it’s crop insurance, it supplements the disaster assistance programs under the 2008 farm bill. This is another way of us trying to provide help and assistance during a very difficult time.”
 

Much of North Carolina qualifies for these new disaster funds due to tornados, drought and Hurricane Irene.