Policy Articles
Wetland Mitigation Funds Awarded in North Dakota
Published December 22, 2021
USDA has awarded nearly $5 million in grant funds for the Wetland Mitigation Banking Program. With this program, farmers fulfills wetland conservation regulations by allowing for off-site mitigation with the purchase of credits from wetland banks. The biggest award, which…More Regulatory Pressure Expected
Published December 22, 2021
Agriculture is playing defense, with more regulations on the way. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Chief Environmental Counsel Scott Yager says the Environmental Protection Agency is one example. "Everything we saw happen at the EPA during the Trump Administration is now…30×30 Progress Report Issued
Published December 22, 2021
The White House has released a progress report on the Biden Administration’s 30x30 conservation proposal, conserving 30 percent of U.S. land and water by the year 2030. The report cites the expansion of corn and soybean production in the Upper…Heitkamp: Incentives Needed to Adopt Climate-Smart Ag
Published December 22, 2021
Progressive Farmer/DTN has published a letter to the editor written by former North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp. Heitkamp said the Biden Administration is investing in climate-smart agriculture, but more financial incentives are needed to offset the rising cost of technology.…New GAO Report Flags 2019 Market Facilitation Program Calculations
Published December 21, 2021
A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office takes a closer look at the USDA’s 2018 and 2019 Market Facilitation Programs. Combined, the programs provided $23 billion to farmers and ranchers. The way USDA estimated the value of lost…Lawmakers File Amicus Brief With Supreme Court
Published December 21, 2021
Forty-seven Senators and 44 House members have filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the Supreme Court over the EPA’s action under the Clean Air Act. The lawmakers claim the agency acted outside of its authority by trying to change the power…ASA Board Works on Policy
Published December 20, 2021
Minnesota Soybean Growers Association Past President Jamie Beyer is one of ten newly elected board members to the American Soybean Association. "It is an interesting time to be working on national ag policy. There's an unlimited list of topics to…SD Farmers Union Adopts Three Special Orders at Convention
Published December 20, 2021
There were three special orders of business adopted during the South Dakota Farmers Union annual meeting. These include addressing the cattle and beef industry crisis, Medicaid expansion and a resolution for a co-op bylaw change. "Co-ops need to make sure…‘Not Ready for Prime Time’
Published December 20, 2021
That's how South Dakota Senator John Thune describes the Build Back Better Act. The Congressional Budget Office scored the cost of the proposal this past week. "It's a $5 trillion bill and it wasn't ready for prime time." Thune said…