AFBF Disappointed in Failure of Murkowski Resolution
American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman expressed disappointment with the Senate’s refusal Thursday to halt the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulation of greenhouse gases by failing to approve S.J. Res. 26, known as the Murkowski resolution. “This was one of the most important votes in the Senate this year affecting U.S. agriculture,” Stallman said.

“Additional EPA regulation for farmers will likely mean higher food costs for consumers because of higher input and energy costs to grow our food and result in negative economic impacts on the agriculture sector,” Stallman said.

“Importantly, this vote also brought into question who should decide our nation’s energy policy—elected lawmakers or a regulatory agency. It is regrettable the Senate answered this question as it did. The vote against S.J. Res. 26 allows EPA to embark on the ambitious and unprecedented regulation of the American economy without congressional input,” the AFBF president emphasized.

The final vote was 47 in favor and 53 against. All Republican senators voted yes, while Democratic Sens. Evan Bayh of Indiana, Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Mark Pryor of Arkansas and Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia joined the Republicans in voting yes.

EPA Clean Water Act Permit Costly to Farmers and Ranchers
EPA is proposing a new Clean Water Act permit for pesticide use near waterways that could lead to problems for farmers and ranchers.

“There are four categories that it’s going to apply to,” said Tyler Wegmeyer, AFBF regulatory specialist. “Mosquito and other flying insect pest control, aquatic weed and algae control, aquatic nuisance animal control and forest canopy pest control. You don’t hear farmers mentioned in that. However, we believe that farmers will be impacted.”

Wegmeyer said the new regulation is expected to add to the cost of production and isn’t even needed. “Is it going to make the environment safer and protect human health better? No, it’s not going to. Laws are already on the books that do a good job of protecting the environment and human health. Farmers abide by it, and it’s working,” he said.

USDA Crop Insurance Plan Will Save $6 Billion Over 10 Years
The Agriculture Department released the final draft of a new crop insurance plan on Thursday that is expected to save the federal government $6 billion over 10 years.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said $4 billion of the savings would go toward deficit reduction, while $2 billion would be used to expand farm risk management programs and the Conservation Reserve Program.

“There is a growing consensus in the country and certainly in rural areas that we need to be paying attention to the deficit, and this is our effort at agriculture and USDA to do our part in deficit reduction,” Vilsack said.