Protecting Farmers: Laws Against Deceptive Employment by Activists

Farmers and ranchers work tirelessly to provide safe, sustainable food for Americans. Unfortunately, radical animal rights activists have increasingly targeted livestock operations by gaining employment under false pretenses. These activists infiltrate farms, stage or manipulate footage, and then release misleading videos to falsely discredit hardworking agricultural producers. In response, several states have enacted laws that make it illegal to gain employment in livestock production with the intent to harm or defame farmers. These laws are essential in protecting property rights, biosecurity, and the integrity of American agriculture.

States That Have Taken Action to Protect Farmers

Several states have passed legislation preventing deceptive employment practices by anti-animal agriculture activists to ensure that livestock producers are shielded from harmful misinformation campaigns. Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Utah, Wyoming, and more have passed laws to protect farmers and ranchers.

Anti-Animal Agriculture Groups and Their Many Lawsuits

“Many dairy producers across the U.S. are starting 2025 in a more optimistic state than a year ago. While attitudes ranged from upbeat and positive to cautious and uncertain, the majority were fairly hopeful for what is to come this year.

Much of this optimism stems from higher milk prices and stronger on-farm financial margins, which is providing many with some much-needed breathing room. It also has some dairy producers thinking about expansion and/or improving efficiencies on their operation in a variety of areas.

Dairy processing continues to be a bright spot for many regions as more new processing facilities come online across the nation

Several major cheese projects, mainly in the Great Plains states, will come online in 2025 or have started in the past two years.

“These locations offer lower costs due to local feed production and fewer environmental and water regulations than states like California,” says Betty Berning, contributing dairy economist for HighGround Dairy. “The new plants will require 20 to 25 million pounds of milk daily, equating to an additional 750 to 900 million pounds of cheese annually. It is expected that some older assets will shutter, which will offset some of the new capacity.”

LAST UPDATE: March 23, 2025 -8:20 AM CST

HPAI (Avian Influenza) in Dairy Cows – RESOURCES and NEWS UPDATING AS INFORMATION IS RELEASED

Since March of 2024, we have been carefully monitoring news stories and information regarding the initial outbreak and spread of HPAI in dairies for our clients. Since this is a developing situation, we felt it would be helpful for producers to have easy access to information in one place.

Therefore, we have put together a list of articles and resources and will update this list as needed.

Information:

• APHIS Report: HPAI Confirmed Cases in Livestock HERE

• APHIS announces new indemnity policy to combat HPAI HERE

• Oregon Department of Agriculture:Oregon is one of six states to begin testing milk for H5N1 Avian Influenza HERE

  more

Study Shows Feed Product Reduces Methane

From an article in Progressive Farmer by Russ Quinn

The first published scientific paper on a Rumin8 animal trial conducted by a major university found that Rumin8's investigational veterinary product reduced total methane emissions in cattle by 95.2%, with no significant impact on animal production parameters or the rumen environment.

According to a Rumin8 press release, the trial was conducted by the Department of Animal Science at the University of California-Davis (UC Davis) and evaluated the effects of the Rumin8 Investigational Veterinary Products (IVP) on various cattle production factors.

"Compared to other studies on synthetic halogenated methane analogues, the CH4 (methane) reduction observed with Rumin8 oil IVP in this study are among the most substantial reported," the study's authors concluded. "Neither treatment significantly affected animal production parameters or rumen environment parameters."

Link: HERE

Article excerpts:

“The veterinary industry is facing a crisis, particularly in rural America, where farmers and ranchers struggle to find large-animal veterinarians. Since the end of World War II, the United States has lost 90 percent of its large-animal and livestock veterinarians, according to a 2023 Johns Hopkins study. As the shortage worsens, some areas are left with little to no veterinary coverage for miles, putting the health and welfare of livestock at risk.

According to 2023 data from the American Veterinary Medical Association, the number of mixed and food animal veterinarians fell by 15 percent. While 68,000 veterinarians were working in small animal practices, just over 8,000 were working in large animal or mixed practices.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture keeps track of shortages on their Veterinarian Shortage Situation map, which contains all shortages in a fiscal year. All of the states in blue have at least one designated shortage area. In 2024, the biggest number of shortages were in the Midwest, West, and Georgia. Of the states with shortages, the AVMA says that beef cattle are consistently the species with the greatest need.”

Article excerpts:

“Non-navigable water on private land? No problem for public access. At least in the eyes of government of New Mexico

Lucia Sanchez’s 80-acre ranch is crossed by a knee-high, non-navigable stream, and for decades, her family could preclude trespass up and down the flow. No more. The public has a right to Lucia Sanchez’s private property—so decrees the state.

“Property rights were once sacred here,” she says. “You always had to ask permission before you went on someone’s land. Now, the government has given people open-ended access to non-navigable streams. I have cattle all around the water and now I deal with the public coming at will and not knowing who they are. If I stop them, I could be the one prosecuted.”

Sanchez, along with other landowners, is fighting back with a lawsuit: “When property rights go,” she warns, “all your other rights eventually go with them.”

Link: HERE s

Legislative Updates Impacting Colorado's Agricultural Community

As part of our commitment to supporting our agricultural clients, we believe that keeping you informed about legislative developments that may affect your operations is important. Listed are summaries of recent Colorado bills pertinent to agriculture, property rights, and related sectors.

1. HB25-1285: Veterinary Workforce Requirements

In November 2024, Colorado voters approved Proposition 129, establishing the role of Veterinary Professional Associates (VPAs). Effective January 1, 2026, VPAs are permitted to practice veterinary medicine under specific conditions. HB25-1285 outlines the framework for VPA practice, including registration processes and supervision requirements. Notably, VPAs must operate under the immediate or direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian, with telesupervision explicitly prohibited. The bill also mandates a written agreement between the supervising veterinarian and the VPA, filed with the State Board of Veterinary Medicine, to ensure accountability. Additionally, the bill clarifies that only licensed veterinarians can establish and maintain veterinarian-client-patient relationships and imposes specific restrictions on prescribing certain controlled substances.

Legislative Updates Impacting Idaho's Agricultural Community

In our ongoing commitment to keep Idaho's agricultural producers informed, we present summaries of recent legislative developments that may affect your operations.​ Listed are summaries of recent Idaho bills pertinent to agriculture, property rights, and related sectors.

1. Idaho Brand Department Statutory Fee Adjustment

• The Idaho Brand Department, responsible for livestock brand inspections, is facing increased operational costs and anticipates a significant budget deficit by the end of the fiscal year. To address this, a pending rule proposes increasing the statutory cap on fees for services such as brand inspections, recordings, renewals, and livestock dealer licensing. This adjustment aims to ensure the department remains self-funded without burdening the general public or taxpayers.

2. S1033: Enhancing Right to Farm Protections

The Idaho Right to Farm Act safeguards agricultural operations from nuisance lawsuits. However, with increasing complaints from new residents unfamiliar with agricultural practices, S1033 proposes additional protections. If an agricultural operation faces a nuisance lawsuit and prevails, the operator would be entitled to recover attorney’s fees. The bill also introduces fines for individuals who file multiple meritless complaints against farming operations.

EPA Secretary Zeldin Announces EPA to Revise WOTUS

In a significant move affecting farming and ranching communities, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced plans to revise the definition of "Waters of the United States" (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act. A press release from EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin states that the initiative aims to provide clearer guidelines for farmers and ranchers, ensuring both environmental protection and regulatory clarity.​

Background on WOTUS

The term "Waters of the United States" determines which water bodies fall under federal jurisdiction for environmental regulations. Over the years, its definition has been a subject of debate, leading to varying interpretations and numerous legal challenges. This ambiguity has often left landowners uncertain about which waters on their property are federally regulated.​

Recent Supreme Court Decision

The impetus for the EPAs current action stems from the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency (2023). In this landmark ruling, the Court clarified that only wetlands and permanent bodies of water with a "continuous surface connection" to traditional interstate navigable waters are covered by the Clean Water Act. This decision necessitated reevaluating the existing WOTUS definition to align with the Court's interpretation. ​

Celebrating National Agriculture Day

Today, on National Agriculture Day, we come together to honor the indispensable role of agriculture in our daily lives. This day serves as a reminder of the dedication and resilience of farmers, ranchers, and agricultural professionals who ensure the availability of food, fiber, and renewable resources that sustain our communities and economy.​

The Backbone of Our Nation

Agriculture remains a cornerstone of the U.S. economy. According to the USDA's Economic Research Service, as of 2023, there were approximately 2 million farms operating across the United States, covering about 900 million acres of land. These farms provide a vast array of products, support rural communities, and contribute significantly to national and global economies.​

AGPROfessionals: Advocating for Agricultural Excellence

At AGPROfessionals, our mission is deeply rooted in supporting and advancing the agricultural community. For nearly 25 years, we have been dedicated developers and advocates for various agricultural businesses across Colorado, Idaho, and the United States. Our team’s passion for agriculture drives us to deliver solutions that not only meet the current needs of our clients but also anticipate future challenges and opportunities.

What Do Elephants Have to Do with Agriculture?

On Tuesday, January 21, 2025, the Colorado Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s dismissal of the Nonhuman Rights Project’s [NhRP] writ of habeas corpus claim on five elephants residing in the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. NhRP claimed the elephants were “unlawfully confined” and, therefore, fell within the bounds of the writ of habeas corpus.

What Would It Mean if Elephants or Other Animals Were Awarded Habeas Corpus?

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines Habeas Corpus as “the right of a citizen to obtain a writ of habeas corpus as a protection against illegal imprisonment.” In other words, habeas corpus allows legal people to challenge their confinement status.

If the court's decision awarded habeas corpus to elephants, they would no longer be seen as property, and it would set a dangerous precedent that animal rights activists would use to further their ideological agenda of total animal liberation.

The transition to animals having civil rights would make animal ownership nearly impossible. Farmers, ranchers and American families will feel the biggest impacts if the NhRP is successful in their quest. Farmers and ranchers would most likely no longer be able to raise livestock for meat, milk, eggs, clothing, medicines, or any other of the thousands of byproducts derived from livestock production. This could also harm the ownership of pets and the ownership and use of horses.

Treasury Scraps Deadline and Penalties for Beneficial Ownership Information Rule

The Trump administration has announced businesses such as farm operations will not face any penalties or fines for not filing Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) with the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

Treasury officials released details on Sunday stating they will waive enforcement penalties and will not enforce the beneficial ownership information rule against U.S. citizens or domestic companies going forward. A new rule will be forthcoming. Treasury will further be issuing a proposed rulemaking that will narrow the scope of the rule to foreign reporting companies only, the department stated.

"This is a victory for common sense," said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. "Today's action is part of President Trump's bold agenda to unleash American prosperity by reining in burdensome regulations, in particular for small businesses that are the backbone of the American economy."

The BOI rule was expected to impact more than 32 million businesses and roughly 230,000 farm operations. The deadlines for filing business ownership information had been delayed multiple times in recent months because of court decisions.

NPPC President Lori Stevermer highlighted Proposition 12, the top pork industry issue in her “Perspectives from the Field” hearing testimonyFrom an article in PORK by Jennifer Shike

Lori Stevermer, National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) president, brought the industry’s point of view to the U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee on Feb. 26 through her “Perspectives from the Field” hearing testimony.

A pork producer from Easton, Minn., Stevermer highlighted the top pork industry issue – California Proposition 12, a state regulation posing an existential threat to all of U.S. agriculture.

“We must fix the problems caused by Prop 12, which has increased farmers’ operating costs, created business uncertainty, and raised pork prices at the grocery store,” Stevermer said. “We stand with farmers and consumers across the country, grateful to have the support of both President Trump and former President Biden in clearly and decisively opposing Prop 12.”

Prop 12 prohibits the sale of uncooked whole pork meat not produced under the law’s arbitrary and costly housing dimensions. These regulations were created without input from pork producers, veterinarians, or experts in animal welfare, NPPC said in a release.

Learning more about target audiences, investing in product development to expand product lines, developing a branding strategy to differentiate products in the marketplace and entering new markets are some ways to expand direct-to-consumer marketing strategies.

As the dairy industry evolves to meet the diverse needs of consumers, product innovation has become essential. Recently, Cal Poly hosted a short course titled “Farm-to-shelf: Sales and marketing essentials for dairy brands” at the Dairy Products Technology Center, where Dr. Carmen Licon leads the way as director. I co-taught this short course with Meg Faibisch Kühn, and we had the pleasure of educating both established and aspiring cheese and dairy brands with practical strategies to thrive in today’s dairy industry.

For dairies considering diversification, here are 10 important suggestions, inspired by the workshop’s insights, to help ensure a smooth and successful roadmap into innovation and diversification.

1. Market research and customer insights. Before exploring diversification, it’s great to conduct in-depth market research to discover promising niche markets. By gaining a solid understanding of your target customers – like their preferences and buying habits – you can tailor your product to truly meet their needs. Are they fans of organic dairy, unique specialty cheeses or functional items such as high-protein or lactose-free products?
2. Operational capabilities. Review your current operations and evaluate whether they support new product lines. Some diversification options might require minor adjustments, while others demand significant upgrades or new equipment. Will your expansion disrupt current operations?
3. Investing in product development. Niche markets thrive on innovation, so invest in recipe development to create new products. Artisanal cheeses and premium butter use specialized techniques that set them apart from mass-market options. Consider testing in small batches to gauge customer reactions before a full launch.
4. Brand storytelling and marketing strategy. Diversifying typically involves creating a distinctive brand identity that appeals to a specific consumer. By developing a consistent narrative that emphasizes your dairy’s heritage, sustainable practices or unique production methods, you can differentiate your product in the marketplace. Are you showing “behind the scenes” on your social media? This can enhance your storytelling.
5. Distribution channels and partnerships. Entering new markets often means finding new ways to reach customers. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) models, like farmers' markets, direct partnerships with local grocers or food festivals, may be ideal for innovative products.
6. Sustainability and certifications. For niche products, especially organic, non-GMO or grass-fed, certifications and claims are helpful. These not only build consumer trust but also open doors to retailers that prioritize specifically sourced products. Ask your store buyer what claims are most important to their shoppers before you invest in the time and expense of anything new.
7. Financial planning and risk assessment. Entering a new market can be financially scary. Create a financial plan that outlines projections and potential risks. Risk assessment helps identify potential challenges and establish contingency plans to navigate the inevitable new hurdles.
8. Pricing strategy and profit margins. New products often command higher prices, but analyze costs carefully and set margins that allow for growth without undercutting the value of your premium product. Cost of goods sold (COGS) can change monthly.
9. Brand collaborations. Brand collaborations amplify reach, tap into new audiences and enhance visibility. By combining strengths, brands create unique offerings that generate buzz and drive loyalty, opening doors to a wider audience than your own.
10. Artificial intelligence (AI) automation. AI tools can drive product innovation by streamlining administrative tasks, allowing teams to focus on creative work, like product innovation. Automating routine duties like scheduling and data management frees up time for developing new ideas.

AGPROfessionals Exposed Problems with Colorado HB 21-1286, and Now We Have a Proposed Bill

Since the establishment of HB 21-1286, the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) has not adhered to the agricultural exemption. Shortly after the passage of HB 21-1286, some of our clients — farmers with free-stall barns and other local producers — began receiving notices from the State Energy Board regarding the status of their buildings. These notices required them to navigate complicated processes and pay fees to prove that their agricultural buildings were exempt. Upon discovering this issue, we decided to take action. Our first step was to publish an article titled “Colorado Energy Office Shakedown is a Hidden Tax.”

Next, we worked with Senator Byron Pelton to ensure that it was crystal clear to the Colorado Energy Office that the buildings owned by our agricultural clients and other producers in the state are, in fact, exempt.

An Exemption That Wasn’t an Exemption

In 2021 the Energy Performance for Buildings Statute (Colorado House Bill 21-1286), was passed to help building owners lower energy costs, increase energy efficiency, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. The bill requires all buildings over 50,000 square feet to comply with the new regulations by 2030, with the exemption of agricultural buildings.

Morgan County is currently working on updates to its Comprehensive Plan.

This is called the “Vision Workshop,” and they are looking for community input.

Information from the county relating to these updates can be found at their website: HERE

February 27th, 2025

Morgan County Administration Building, Assembly Room (Basement Level)

231 Ensign St, Fort Morgan, CO 80701

from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm

We will provide updates and information about upcoming meetings if they are scheduled.

Major meat industry organizations are blasting the latest 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s Scientific Report over what they contend are unscientific and confusing recommendations for the diets of U.S. citizens.

The National Chicken Council (NCC) is urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reject the committee’s proposals that “emphasize plant-based proteins over lean meats like chicken.” The latest report released last fall focused on eating beans, peas and lentils as an optimal protein source above chicken and failed to mention that lean meat can be part of a healthy dietary protocol, implying falsely that plant proteins are “nutritionally superior to chicken,” the NCC said in a news release.

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) accused the committee of ignoring “real science” by proposing a reduction and replacement of red meat with plant-based proteins. The industry organization contends that such proposals place infants, young children, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women and older adults at risk because those groups require higher levels of the protein and nutrients provided by animal-based proteins, NPPC said in a release. “The health of our nation is at risk as these guidelines inform all federal nutrition programs, including those affecting our schoolchildren and the military (in addition to) health professionals,” said Rod Brenneman, NPPC vice president and a pork producer in Washington, Iowa.

“The Iowa Pork Producers Association, joined by 23 states, has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, challenging California’s Proposition 12, which regulates pig farming practices nationwide.

The appeal, filed Jan. 3, follows the Ninth Circuit Court’s dismissal of a lawsuit alleging Prop 12 discriminates against pork producers across the country. The states supporting the challenge include Iowa, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.

While the Supreme Court previously upheld Prop 12 in 2023, five justices acknowledged it could impose a burden on interstate commerce under the Pike balancing test. Unlike the earlier case, the Iowa Pork Producers Association argues the law is discriminatory, asserting the Ninth Circuit erred in its ruling. The Supreme Court will now decide whether to take up the case.”

Article excerpts:

“Finding a comprehensive, cost-competitive and sustainable waste management solution can be a significant challenge. For food and beverage manufacturers, distributors and retailers, food waste is inevitable and with regulations frequently changing, it can be hard to keep up. While edible organic waste should be prioritized for donation to people and animals, inedible waste, such as manufacturing waste or product recalls, poses a dilemma: where should it go and how can we dispose of it more sustainably?

Food and beverage waste has long been thrown away alongside non-organic waste streams, typically ending up in incinerators and landfills and losing any of its nutrient reclamation potential. In fact, according to the EPA, food is the most landfilled material, comprising roughly 58% of methane emissions from municipal solid waste landfills.

Recognizing this environmental impact, state and local governments across the country are enacting organic waste bans and recycling laws that require landfill diversion.”

Link to article: HERE

If you've ever bought real estate, you probably know that getting a property survey is a common step. However, not all surveys are created equal. You might get a Boundary Survey, Topographic Survey, or Construction Survey depending on the property type. If you're purchasing commercial property, a farm, or ranch land, one survey stands above the rest: the ALTA Survey, often called 'the Cadillac of Land Title Surveys.' Here's what makes it unique and why it's worth considering.

I sat down with AGPROfessionals Senior Professional Land Surveyor, Jason Allee to learn more about this "Cadillac of All Surveys," what makes it the gold standard, and why getting an ALTA Survey is often a wise decision.

What Is ALTA?

Me: Hi, Jason. Thanks for being here. Mention "Cadillac" in just about any context; you've got my attention! But it sounds like we're talking about a survey this time, which makes sense since you are a Professional Surveyor.

Maybe we should start off with some background. What is an ALTA?

JA: I'm glad to help. ALTA stands for American Land Title Association. ALTA, along with the NSPS (National Society of Professional Surveyors), set standards for land title surveys. ALTA was formed in 1907, so it's over 100 years old.

Humane Society of the United States is Changing its Name But Not its Agenda

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), a prominent animal rights organization, has long been a subject of controversy due to its legal entanglements, leadership scandals, and contentious stance against animal agriculture and ownership. Recently, HSUS announced plans to rebrand itself as "Humane World for Animals," a move that has raised questions about the organization's motives and transparency.

Legal and Ethical Controversies

In 2014, HSUS agreed to a $15.75 million settlement in a racketeering lawsuit filed under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. The lawsuit accused HSUS of bribery, obstruction of justice, and fraud related to litigation against Feld Entertainment, the parent company of Ringling Bros. Circus. Other radical animal rights organizations were also party to the lawsuit, including the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and the Fund for Animals, which had merged with HSUS. As part of this lawsuit, the ASPCA was forced to pay more than $9 million on racketeering and bribery charges.

Trump’s USDA, HHS picks advance

From an article in MeatingPlace by Tom Johnston

U.S. Senate committees have sent President Trump’s nominees to head the departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services (HHS) to the full chamber for confirmation.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose confirmation hearing last week was one of the most closely watched so for for Trump cabinet hopefuls, cleared the Finance Committee on Tuesday by a 14-13 party line vote. The environmental lawyer’s past positions on food, commercial-scale farming and health policy have raised concerns among agricultural groups, given an HHS’ purview that includes the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) praised Kennedy’s “commitment to ending the chronic disease epidemic and improving the transparency of our health care systems.”

With a bipartisan 23-0 approval on Monday, the nomination of Brooke Rollins for Secretary of Agriculture now moves to the full Senate. In a statement, Senate Ag Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-Ark.) urged the Senate to confirm Rollins.

“Brooke Rollins is a dedicated public servant who will bring her lifelong commitment advocating for rural America to USDA,” he said. “She has proven her understanding of the unique circumstances farm families face, the current challenges in rural communities and how she can improve policies to protect agriculture producers. I appreciate her willingness to serve and encourage my colleagues to quickly confirm her so USDA will be guided by her dependable leadership.”

Article excerpts:

“The electricity demands of new data centers are so great that electricity supply and demand "is one of the biggest issues" facing agriculture and rural America, Thomas Halverson, the president and CEO of Colorado-based CoBank, said here last week.

In a speech to the International Dairy Food Association's Dairy Forum, Halverson told dairy processors they should "pay attention" to the electricity issue.

Showing a map, Halverson said one area with the largest mismatch between electricity supply and demand is the Midwest. The map is part of CoBank and North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reports on the subject.

"A large section of the Midwest will start to see capacity shortfalls as early as 2025. Other regions have a longer runway, but are still at risk through 2034," Halverson pointed out in a LinkedIn post.

Until recently, electricity has operated on flat demand for decades, Halverson said. "2024 wasn't much different than 2010, even though population and economy have grown."

Link to article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“Feeding supplemental forage to cattle can be quite expensive. While the cost of hay has been down significantly from a year ago, hay costs still make up a large portion of cattle producers' input costs.

Reducing hay waste is one method cattle producers can use to limit their cost associated with feeding forages. There are many different hay feeder designs to select from and choosing the right one can help reduce hay waste.

FEEDER DESIGNS MEANT TO SAVE HAY

Kansas State University Beef Production Systems Scientist Emma Briggs wrote in a recent news release that finding the right hay feeder will save hay and improve an operation's efficiency and profitability.

"Everyone has different needs," she wrote. "But how you feed your hay can significantly impact how much forage you feed during the winter, as well as how much can get wasted due to trampling or other environmental factors."

Link to article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“It’s no secret that Hollywood has a problem with agriculture. Whether it’s pushing fake meat, demonizing livestock, or spreading nonsense about soil management and GMOs, plenty of celebrities love to run their mouths about farming —…While some focus on attacking meat and dairy, others go after modern agriculture as a whole, blaming “big ag” for climate change, soil destruction, and food system collapse. (With their bellies full, of course.)

Let’s take a look at some of the biggest offenders — the celebrities who do the most damage to public perception of agriculture

1. Neil Young

2. Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Dave Mathews

3. Leonardo DiCaprio

4. Joaquin Phoenix

5. Natalie Portman

6. Arnold Schwarzenegger

7. Ellen DeGeneres

8. Mark Ruffalo

Celebrities have massive platforms, and when they spread misinformation about farming, it influences public opinion and policy. From bans on GMOs to restrictions on livestock farming, their activism has real consequences for farmers and consumers alike.

The truth is that modern agriculture is more efficient, sustainable, and necessary than ever.”

Article excerpts:

“Today, Republican U.S. Reps. Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin and Lauren Boebert of Colorado reintroduced the Pet and Livestock Protection Act, aiming to remove the gray wolf from the Endangered Species List.

The bill, backed by 30 members of Congress, seeks to prevent judicial review from overturning this decision and return control over wolf population management to state officials. The legislation previously passed the House on a bipartisan basis but was stalled in the Senate.

Tiffany emphasized the necessity of the bill, stating, “Scientific data, coupled with the rise in wolf attacks in Wisconsin, confirms that the gray wolf population has exceeded recovery goals. Yet, activist judges continue to disregard these facts, leaving livestock, pets, wildlife, and communities vulnerable to further harm. The Pet and Livestock Protection Act will restore management to those who understand local needs best – state wildlife officials — and ensure that out-of-state judges can no longer dictate how Wisconsin manages its wolf population.”

“Beef products and livestock producers take a lopsided amount of criticism from the public and from misguided lawmakers — usually in the form of climate concerns or nutritional health. However, new research from the Indiana University School of Public Health could help to mitigate some of the heart-health concerns that opponents have lobbied about beef.

The peer-reviewed comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis has affirmed that beef can be enjoyed in a heart-healthy diet. Specifically, research consistently demonstrated that eating two (3-ounce) servings of unprocessed beef, on average, in a daily dietary pattern had no significant impact on most cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors.

The study titled, Beef Consumption and Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials, was published in Current Developments in Nutrition. This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed randomized human clinical trials, which are well-established as being the gold-standard nutrition research that should inform public health recommendations, such as the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

“The South Dakota House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday unanimously advanced a bill (HB1022) that aims to regulate nomenclature used on the label of cultivated protein products in the state.

The bill defines cultivated meat as "a product that is produced for use as human food, made wholly or in part from any cell culture or the DNA of a host animal, and grown or cultivated outside a live animal."

Under the bill, any cultivated meat product that is sold without being clearly labeled as "cell-cultured" or "lab-grown" will be considered mislabeled and subject to fines and other punishments to be determined by the state's Animal Industry Board.

Erin Rees Clayton, a senior scientific adviser for the Good Food Institute, asked the legislators to amend their bill to add the terms "cell-cultivated" and "cultivated" to their acceptable nomenclature, but the legislators did not make the amendment.

The USDA, which regulates cultivated protein labeling at the national level, has sanctioned "cell-cultivated" and "cultivated" as the appropriate names for the product when approving cultivated protein products for commercialization.

The South Dakota bill now moves to the full House for consideration.”

Article excerpts:

“President-elect Donald Trump has announced a slate of undersecretary nominees for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Trump announced through his Transition Team and Truth Social that he will nominate Richard Fordyce as Agriculture undersecretary for farm production and conservation, Dudley Hoskins as undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs, Luke Lindberg as undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs, and Michael Boren as undersecretary for natural resources and environment.

Richard Fordyce will be the next United States undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation at the Department of Agriculture…”

“…Luke Lindberg will serve as the next undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agriculture Affairs at the Department of Agriculture…”

“…Michael Boren will serve as the United States Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment at the Department of Agriculture….”

“…Dudley Hoskins will be the undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs at the Department of Agriculture”

Link to article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“On Wednesday, 427 national and state agricultural groups and agribusinesses sent a letter to leaders of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee supporting Brooke Rollins' nomination as Agriculture secretary and calling on the committee and entire Senate to "promptly confirm" her for the Cabinet post.

The Senate Agriculture Committee has set Rollins confirmation hearing for Jan. 23.

The groups noted they represent "farmers, ranchers, growers, hunters, forest owners, conservationists, cooperatives, state departments of agriculture, renewable fuel producers and agribusinesses nationwide -- encompassing all aspects of American agriculture, food nutrition and rural America."

A native of Glen Rose, Texas, Rollins is the founder and CEO of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) and America First Works (AFW), a pair of organizations that have championed Trump's agenda.

Link to article: HERE

17th Annual Marshall Frasier Beef Symposium Presented by Colorado Livestock Association

Tuesday, February 11, 2025 (8:00 AM - 12:00 PM) (MST)

Join the Colorado Livestock Association in Hugo for the upcoming producer education symposium featuring experts on cattle markets, nutrition, long-range weather forecasts and an update from the State Veterinarian's office!

Attendance is free. Please register for lunch.

Link to register: HERE

“Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen and State Sen. Barry DeKay introduced a bill to the state legislature that would prevent “lab-grown meat” from being manufactured, distributed or sold in Nebraska, according to a news release from the governor’s office.

“I know how important it is that we take steps to preserve our way of life, for the benefit of those who consume our products,” Gov. Pillen said in the release. “We feed the world and save the planet. To ensure that we can do that for generations to come, we need to take steps that … keep extremists from introducing unproven meat products from being sold to consumers.”

As proposed, the bill defines “cultivated food protein” and requires those products to be labeled “adulterated food products” under the Pure Food Act.

"There are clear, recognized benefits of meat as a source of protein. It is uncertain whether manufactured meat protein is a substitute for natural meat sources as essential dietary needs. I question elevating lab meat to a level of equivalency with real meat,“ Sen. DeKay said in the release.

“Until or unless there are clear labeling rules that adequately disclose that cultured meat is not real meat, its sale allows lab meats to unfairly benefit from industry investments in marketing and production. What’s more, this industry is supported by organizations that want to do away with animal production in Nebraska and the United States. This is part of the process that we’re going to go through to make sure our way of life, our livestock, and our product that we can put on the dinner table stays intact going forward."

"As a new year begins, resolutions tend to be top-of-mind for many people. Social media is full of examples of people resolving to hit the gym, eat healthier, and stay on top of deadlines.

We can be sure that animal rights extremists have a few (less positive) resolutions of their own in mind to do even more to target animal agriculture this year. Looking back can help us anticipate what is up ahead, so I’d like to review some of the biggest trends in activism from 2024 and what they might tell us about the future.

The Alliance released reports from seven animal rights-related conferences in 2024, including the Humane Society of the United States’ Taking Action for Animals (TAFA) Conference, Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Animal Law Conference, and the Animal and Vegan Advocacy (AVA) Summit. Major themes from the conferences included:

• Positioning large companies (processors, integrators, restaurant/retail) as “villains” that benefit from the current food system at the expense of farmers and ranchers
• Legislative “wins” and pathways to get more “animal protection” legislation passed, beginning at the local level
• Calls for collaboration and creative ways to gain funding by aligning with other movements — especially climate
• Animal ag and meat’s alleged negative impacts on public health and nutrition

Legal Battle Over Beneficial Ownership Rule Intensifies as GOP States Defend Injunction

Article excerpts:

“The attorneys general for 25 Republican-led states have filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court defending a court injunction against enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act and the law's requirements that businesses, including farms, file Beneficial Ownership Information reports with the Department of Treasury.

The states' filing comes after the Biden administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the injunction and allow reporting requirements to go into effect.

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), passed by Congress in 2021, would require businesses nationally to provide their Business Ownership Information (BOI) to the U.S. Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network ("FinCEN") by Jan. 1, 2025. The law was created to curb financial crimes such as money laundering.”

Link to article: HERE

A “truth in advertising" proposal requiring descriptive labels on all alt-meat product packaging has been introduced in the Missouri House of Representatives.

Representative Dean Van Schoiack, a Savannah Republican, prefiled HB 211, which would require labels to be included on plant-based meat products, fungus-based meat products and cultivated meat products sold in the state.

If enacted, the bill would revise Section 265.492 of the state’s Title XVII statutes. The current text reads: “No person shall advertise for sale, solicit, offer to sell or sell foods by newspapers, handbills, placards, radio, television or other media unless the advertising is truthful and accurate. Such advertising shall not be misleading or deceiving in respect to grade, quality, quantity or price per pound or piece or in any other manner.”

Van Schoiack’s bill would add the following language: “Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, all plant-based meat alternative products or fungus-based meat alternative products shall be conspicuously labeled as such. All laboratory-grown meat and meat products shall be labeled as such. Meat and meat products made of meat harvested directly from livestock or poultry shall not require any specific labeling.”

Banning the use of chicken litter as fertilizer is the only way to significantly reduce phosphorus pollution in Oklahoma’s eastern waterways, a soil scientist testified in a decades-long lawsuit against Tyson Foods and other poultry companies.

Gregory Scott, with the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, presented his findings during a December hearing, stating that halting the land application of poultry waste is necessary to address water quality issues in the Illinois River Watershed. Rain runoff from chicken litter used as fertilizer has elevated phosphorus levels, depleting oxygen, clouding water, and straining utility systems dependent on the watershed.

The lawsuit, filed in 2005 by then-Attorney General Drew Edmondson, resulted in a 2023 ruling by U.S. District Judge Gregory Frizzell, who found the poultry companies responsible for the pollution. The court is now considering pollution-control measures, as the companies argue the case should be dismissed due to the time elapsed since the 2009 trial.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond’s office presented multiple expert witnesses, including Scott, who also suggested vegetative buffer strips and planting hay in phosphorus-rich areas to mitigate the problem. Removing hay from the watershed could significantly reduce phosphorus levels, Scott testified, according to reporting from Investigate Midwest.

The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced its latest policy to stop the further spread of HPAI through American farms.

In a statement, APHIS explained that on farms where HPAI is detected, farmers must undergo a biosecurity audit before restocking their poultry and before receiving future indemnity payments. The new policy, APHIS stated, is "based on evidence that strong biosecurity measures remain the most effective strategy to combat HPAI."

“During the outbreak of HPAI in 2014 and 2015, U.S. poultry owners made great improvements to biosecurity to protect their flocks, which greatly reduced the presence of HPAI among the country’s poultry flock,” said Dr. Rosemary Sifford, USDA chief veterinary officer. “Biosecurity is proven to be our best weapon in fighting this virus, and this update will ensure that poultry producers who received indemnity for HPAI are taking measures to stop future introductions of the disease and avoiding actions that contribute to its spread.”

Details about the new policy include:

• APHIS itself will conduct the biosecurity audit.
• To qualify for future indemnity, APHIS must also audit all commercial poultry premises within the “buffer zone” (minimal 7 kilometer radius around the infected zone) prior to restocking.
• If flocks become infected with HPAI within 14 days of a control area's dissolution, APHIS will not pay indemnity.
• A producer who does not make corrections recommended in APHIS’s biosecurity audit will not be eligible for indemnity payments if the premises experiences future infections within the same outbreak.

Article excerpts:

“Colorado ranchers and producers are looking to recover losses they say have been caused by the wolf reintroduction program, submitting nearly $600,000 in claims. Meeting the year-end deadline, three producers submitted six claims, totaling $582,000. That would more than bankrupt the state's wolf depredation compensation fund, which received $350,000 in the 2024-25 budget…”

“…Wolf reintroduction has been very challenging for our ranchers," not just on depredation but the emotional toll it's taken on producers, as well, said House Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. "The loss of livestock is not just dollars and cents. This is their livelihood, their family tradition. They have an attachment to these animals I've grown to appreciate…"

“…the biggest claim is from Conway Farrell… who has reported dozens of livestock lost to or killed by wolves in 2024. Farrell told Colorado Politics that his cattle do not spread out in the pastures and are constantly stressed because they fear the wolves.”

Link: HERE

Court Ordered Whiplash: Farmers Granted Reprieve – Again – From Legal Filing

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the ping pong of court orders that ended with a court-ordered reprieve from Treasury Department reporting requirements for many small businesses.

Earlier this month, a federal court halted the (BOI) reporting requirement from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. On Monday, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reinstated the Jan. 1, 2025, deadline. In a third about-face, late last night, the court reversed that order until arguments can be heard, delaying the reporting requirement indefinitely.

“Farm Bureau appreciates the court’s recognition that a last-minute reinstatement of reporting requirements caused an unwelcome scramble for small businesses, including more than 230,000 farmers. The latest court decision to postpone the filing requirement is the right thing to do, but the legal back and forth created a stressful holiday season for many farm families. Lack of guidance and poor public outreach from the government have left many farmers in the dark about whether they’re expected to file.”

The Colorado Beef Council has published its 2023-2024 annual report.

The report covers:

• Audience reach
• Information about campaigns promoting beef
• STEM programs – teaching the next generation about beef and other school programs
• BQA programs
• Consumer survey results

Link to printable report HERE

Article excerpts:

“President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday announced that he will nominate Stephen Alexander Vaden to be deputy secretary of USDA under Secretary nominee Brooke Rollins.

Vaden, 42, was general counsel at USDA during Trump's first term in office. As Trump noted in his post on Truth Social, "where he won two cases before the United States Supreme Court, relocated and reorganized the Agencies that comprise the Department to better serve Rural America, and engaged in substantial regulatory reform. Stephen joined the USDA on Day One of my First Term, and left in December 2020 after I nominated him, and the U.S. Senate confirmed him, to continue to serve the American People as an Article III Judge on the Court of International Trade…"

"…But more important than any accomplishment on his extensive resume is his deep understanding that American greatness is a direct function of American agriculture -- and, as Lincoln said, USDA is "The People's Department" and ought to be run as such.”

Link to article: HERE

We Can Help Producers Develop Strategies for Applying Manure for the Best Economic Return

Manure from dairies and feedlots is a great source of fertilizer and can provide nitrogen and phosphorous to a crop while increasing soil organic matter content. Manure can be applied to a field via broadcast methods where manure is simply spread on top of the soil surface, or it can be “injected” below the soil surface. Regardless of whether manure is broadcast or injected, draglines have been shown to be the most efficient method of applying large volumes of manure.

Draglines

Draglines are systems that pump manure from their storage location through a series of hoses that feed into an applicator on a tractor that then broadcasts or injects manure to a field. Draglines are commonly used by dairies to apply slurry since the liquid nature of the slurry allows it to be pumped through hoses. This method is more cost efficient for larger dairies with crop ground near manure storage locations as draglines allow the rapid transport of millions of gallons of manure slurry to a field but are typically limited to a 3-mile range. While the efficiency of the dragline system is difficult to beat, farmers must take care not to overapply manure to their fields and develop proper manure nutrient management plans.

Training is a Key Part of Our Culture at AGPROfessionals

Training is an integral part of our culture at AGPROfessionals. We believe a well-informed team is critical to our clients' success in achieving their project goals. Training and learning about our different departments' work also helps build a cohesive team.

Training at AGPROfessionals takes numerous forms, from our one-on-one meetings with team leaders to developing online courses available via our learning management system to our regular Monday morning All-Staff meetings.

Monday Morning All-Staff Meetings

Throughout the year, every department at AGPROfessionals has an opportunity to present information to the rest of the team. The topics are varied, ranging from client experience to planning and permitting processes to real estate and water issues, project design considerations, project management, and much more. These sessions include different types of learning opportunities, from in-house presentations and videos to hands-on learning and bringing in outside speakers. As an example, earlier this last year, our survey team demonstrated their equipment and held an outdoor hands-on experience for the rest of the team.

Idaho Farmers Reach Agreement Over Water

In November, the Governor’s office in Idaho published a press release stating that Idaho’s agricultural community, including ground and surface water rights holders, had agreed on a mitigation plan for water use.

The release from the Governor's office outlined the plan set forth by Lt. Governor Scott Bedke.

They had the following goals outlined:

• Maintain Idaho’s strong agricultural economy
• Ensure water is available for future generations
• Protect the shared Easter Snake River Plain Aquifer
• Maintain Eastern Idaho farmland
• Protect private property rights
• Maintain control of Idaho’s water destiny, keeping it out of the control of other states, the federal government, or court systems

The release also noted that “The updated stipulated mitigation plan includes provisions that will protect the health and supply of the ESPA, avoid future injury to our constitutional senior water rights, and keep Idaho's agricultural industry thriving.”

Farmers and water users in Idaho spent several days discussing their needs, priorities, and potential solutions. The stakeholders led the conversation to ensure the best possible outcome was achieved.

AGPROfessionals’ Regional Manager Valene Cauhorn, P.E. Appointed to Idaho Cattle Association Board of Directors

Twin Falls, Idaho – December 9th, 2024

The Idaho Cattle Association announced the appointment of Valene Cauhorn, AGPROfessionals’ Regional Manager, to its Board of Directors representing District 3. Cauhorn is based in Jerome, Idaho.

According to its website, “The Idaho Cattle Association (ICA) is the official voice for all segments of the beef industry in Idaho, from seed stock breeders to commercial operators to cattle feeders. ICA is the grassroots policy development organization for Idaho's second-leading agricultural industry--cattle. Through ICA, cattlemen and women work to create a positive business environment while providing consumers with a safe and wholesome product.”

“Growing up, I was inspired by watching my parents actively contribute to the cattle industry, and I’m honored to now have the opportunity to serve on the Idaho Cattle Association Board of Directors. I’m excited to contribute to an industry that my husband and I are deeply rooted in and hope to pass down to our future children. With my background in civil engineering and ranching, I aim to bring a unique perspective to the table while working alongside other dedicated cattle producers to support Idaho’s ranching community and ensure a strong future for the cattle industry” said Cauhorn.

Article excerpts:

“Since 1984, an agricultural research center in Northeast Arkansas has been at the center of developing seeds and other farm products for agribusiness giant Syngenta. From looking into climate-resilient crops to testing soil health, the site has supported company efforts to expand the business and help Southern farmers grow yields.

But in late October, Syngenta received a surprising ultimatum from Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders: sell the site, or face legal action…”

“Chinese ownership of U.S. farmland has emerged as a flash point in ongoing tensions between the two countries, and a flurry of states this year have moved to pass laws to restrict land access. Sanders’ order marks a significant escalation in the debate, representing the first time a state enforced foreign ownership laws…”

“…China owns less than 1% of the total amount of land owned by foreign interests, though its share has been on the rise…”

Link to article: HERE

(The views and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly those of the author.)

Part of the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s mission to safeguarding the future of animal agriculture is protecting farmers, ranchers, and the broader animal agriculture and meat communities by monitoring animal rights extremist organizations and countering damaging misinformation. We believe that understanding the mindset of activists is critical to anticipating what strategies and tactics they might employ next to target producers (and consumers) of meat, poultry, dairy, eggs, and seafood. Issuing reports from major animal rights conferences each year is one important way we keep tabs on the activist community and help farmers and ranchers, processors, restaurant/retail/foodservice brands, and others involved in food production stay ahead.

In 2024, we have published reports from six major conferences, as well as several webinars and livestreamed events. Conferences covered include the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Animal Law Symposium and Animal Law Conference; the Humane Society of the United States’ Taking Action for Animals Conference; the Industrial Farm Animal Production, the Environment, and Public Health Conference; and the Reducetarian Summit. While the speaker lineup and topics of focus can vary, these conferences all have one major thing in common: negative viewpoints on animal agriculture and calling for drastic reduction, if not outright elimination, of meat, poultry, dairy, eggs, and seafood from our diet.

Article excerpts:

“Farmer sentiment jumped again in November, with the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer climbing 30 points to a reading of 145. This marked the highest level of farmer optimism since May 2021.”

“The November sentiment boost reflects growing optimism about a more favorable regulatory and tax environment for agriculture following the U.S. election.”

“The percentage of producers expecting their farm’s financial performance to improve over the next year climbed to 33%, up from 19% in October. Optimism about the U.S. agricultural sector also surged, with 34% of farmers anticipating good times financially in the next 12 months, more than double October’s 15%.”

“Farmers’ improved sentiment also carried over to their investment outlook, as the Farm Capital Investment Index rose 13 points in November to a reading of 55 — the highest level since May 2021.”

Link to article: HERE

Advocating for Agriculture in Lincoln County, Idaho

Local governments use county land use codes to help manage growth, protect local resources, and ensure sustainable development. These codes provide a framework for balancing the competing needs of economic development and community well-being. In rural communities like Lincoln County, Idaho, where large portions of the county are federally managed public lands, and there is limited area to create tax revenue centers to support its infrastructure, land use codes can be particularly important. In addition, as communities evolve over time, it is important to update these codes to remain both effective and meet the current community needs. Lincoln County is actively working to update some of its land use codes to better serve its community and provide a clearer framework for local livestock producers.

In 2023, our planners and engineers at AGPROfessionals worked on a project for a client in Lincoln County. As a part of advocating on our client’s behalf, we contacted the county Planning and Zoning Department and spoke to Norma Anaya, the Planning and Zoning Administrator, to explore ways to address the challenges they were facing. During our conversation with her, we learned that the county was considering revising its codes for livestock production (Confined Animal Feeding Operation – CAFO Code), which had not been updated in over 20 years. There were some initial discussions last year and an open meeting to discuss possible changes to the CAFO Code, as well as discussions around their comprehensive plan. At that time, we offered our assistance, and when the time came over a year later, Norma reached out to us asking if we would be a part of the county work sessions to discuss the revisions to the code.

“President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday named Brooke L. Rollins as the country's next Secretary of Agriculture.

A native of Texas, Rollins, 52, is the founder and CEO of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) and America First Works (AFW), a pair of organizations that have championed Trump's agenda…”

“…Rollins has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Texas A&M University and a law degree from there as well…”

“…The transition team statement on Rollins added, "From her upbringing in the small and Agriculture-centered town of Glen Rose, Texas, to her years of leadership involvement with Future Farmers of America and 4H, to her generational family farming background, to guiding her four kids in their show cattle careers, Brooke has a practitioner's experience, along with deep policy credentials in both nonprofit and government leadership at the state and national levels."

Link to article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“The activist playbook is predictable: file a frivolous lawsuit, challenge an effective agricultural rule or regulation, flood the case with money and cast farmers as villains. This strategy, designed to stifle American ag, threatens not only farmers but also our entire food supply. It’s up to those of us in the industry to push back. Producers know what’s best for their animals, their farms and the communities they serve.

Recently, pork producers won a crucial battle when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit rejected an activist lawsuit that could have upended livestock regulations nationwide. The lawsuit, led by extremists at Food & Water Watch, the Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, and the North Carolina Environmental Justice Network, sought to force the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to require all concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to obtain federal Clean Water Act (CWA) permits or prove they weren’t discharging pollutants into waterways...”

Link to article: HERE

Press Release - Greeley, Colorado

On November 18th, the USDA announced the appointment of Tom Haren, CEO and Founder of AGPROfessionals as one of the 27 new members of the Task Force on Agricultural Air Quality Research. Haren is based in Greeley, Colorado, and is one of two members from the state.

According to the USDA announcement, some of the topics the task force may focus on include:

• Discussing state and local air quality regulations related to agriculture and the potential impact on agricultural operations in those areas.
• Providing guidance and recommendations to the secretary regarding the impact on agriculture from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules and research.
• Discussing agricultural greenhouse gas and carbon sequestration topics and sustainable solutions.

The task force is chaired by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief and was created by the 1996 Farm Bill to address agricultural air quality issues. The new task force members will “examine the intersection of agricultural production and air quality and advise the secretary on supporting agricultural solutions to help improve air quality.”

Members of the 2024-2026 task force are:

Article excerpts:

“As drone service providers spring up across rural America, offering aerial application for a per-acre fee, many farmers are taking it upon themselves to purchase drones and complete the application work themselves.

And while busting farmers who apply products without the proper certifications and documentation might not be high on FAA’s enforcement radar, that doesn’t mean field inspectors aren’t going to make sure you’re operating legally.

In April, an FAA inspector visited a farmer training event and canceled a service provider’s license for a handful of paperwork and operational violations. The foremost violation cited by the inspector was flying the drone closer than 100' from a non-participating farmer. The pilot-in-charge also was unable to provide proof of FAA registration (the drone wasn’t properly marked). That service provider is now grounded, pending legal appeal…”

“…Luckily, the FAA recently streamlined its processes to make obtaining proper certification and the exemptions to apply product via drone easier.”

Link to article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“People have been using virtual dog fencing for years, but now virtual fencing for livestock is becoming a management tool for producers across the country.

At the R.A. Brown Ranch near Throckmorton, Texas, virtual fencing was implemented in 2023 after a wildfire destroyed fencing on the range where the ranch run cows.

"Like many management changing plans, we needed to add this out of necessity," said Tucker Brown. "We had a fire come through our ranch that left parts of our main pastures and its fences destroyed, and we needed to figure out how to keep cows off those areas so the grass could recover."

The Browns looked at several options, including building new permanent fences or hot wire fencing in the areas where it was needed to allow for rest and recovery of the range. They had seen virtual fencing at a cattle trade show, and when they researched this option, they decided it would be the best monetarily and management-wise.

Now, nearly a year and a half later, they have been so pleased with how the virtual fencing works, they plan to continue using it.”

Link to article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“Stabenow unveiled 1,397-page details of her long-awaited farm bill Monday morning. This comes as early Sunday evening Pro Farmer broke the news that Senate Ag Chairwoman (D-Mich.) had briefed Democrats but not Republicans on her coming farm bill text, which was expected to be released Monday.

Stabenow said in a news release and summary of the bill, “The foundation of every successful farm bill is built on holding together the broad, bipartisan farm bill coalition. This is a strong bill that invests in all of agriculture, helps families put food on the table, supports rural prosperity, and holds that coalition together…”

“… “Though America’s pork producers appreciate Chairwoman Stabenow’s efforts to publish Farm Bill text, this is simply not a viable bill, as it fails to provide a solution to California Prop. 12,” said NPPC President Lori Stevermer, … “Pork producers have continually spoken up about the negative impacts of this issue, and it is a shame these conversations were disregarded.”

Link to article: HERE

A Ban on Large Modern Farms Was Stopped in Sonoma County, California

In November 2024, Sonoma County residents voted against a proposed ban on large modern farms. Created by Direct Action Everywhere (DxE), an anti-animal agriculture group known for trespassing on private agribusinesses and stealing livestock and poultry, Measure J threatened to permanently ban most modern farms and animal husbandry practices in Sonoma County.

Local farmers came together with early voting on the ban, showing an 85% “no” vote on Measure J, according to Dayna Ghirardelli, executive director of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau, in a KQED press release. Support also came from outside the local farming community, with campaign spending on Measure J reaching $2 million.

At AGPROfessionals, we also stepped up to advocate for our animal agriculture clients in response to the Measure J ban as well as the proposed bans in Denver, Colorado. Our communications team produced original articles and boosted them on our social media outlets. We also shared articles and notices produced by livestock association groups and other partners. Over the last number of months, our efforts reached tens of thousands of voters in each demographic area.

Article excerpts:

“One of the biggest anticipated changes that could impact farms across the U.S. is the possible change to the tax policy under a second Trump administration.”

“While anticipated changes continued to be weighed by political analysts, one agricultural tax expert thinks farmers can count on one major thing.

“I think we’re definitely going to see no tax increases. That’s for sure,” says Paul Neiffer, Farm CPA and contributor to AgWeb.”

“According to Neiffer, 100% bonus depreciation could also make a comeback under Trump.

“We think, perhaps, 100% bonus depreciation might be coming back for farmers,” says Neiffer. “When they buy equipment or buildings, farm buildings, etc., they’ll be able to deduct 100% of that in the year of purchase.”

Neiffer points out farmers need to be careful and make sure they optimize their depreciation related to their debt, but the idea of 100% bonus depreciation would be a welcome change for farmers.”

Link to article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“Lee Zeldin has been selected as the next administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, President-elect Donald Trump announced on Monday.

Zeldin is a former Republican congressman from New York's 1st Congressional District, who served from 2015 to 2023. In 2022, Zeldin announced his candidacy for governor of New York and became the Republican nominee, eventually losing the election to Gov. Kathy Hochul.

"It is an honor to join President Trump's Cabinet as EPA Administrator," Zeldin said in a post on social platform X.

"We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI. We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water."

“Zeldin served four years on active duty in the U.S. Army, where he held roles as a military intelligence officer, prosecutor and military magistrate.

In 2006, he deployed to Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Today, he continues his service as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.”

Link to article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“Integrating livestock into crop production is a must on the Taylor Farm in central Iowa near Bouton. By adding cover crops, they have increased cow numbers and seen multiple benefits, including nearly year-round grazing and soil health enhancements.

"We are using livestock to add income to our crop ground, and when Noah wanted to return to the farm, we knew the cover crops was a big part of why we could have another family here," pointed out Dan Taylor, Noah's father. He said cover crops boosted income -- without much added expense -- because they were able to add more cattle thanks to a longer grazing period.

A CAUTIOUS START

The Taylors began using cover crops in 2016. They started cautiously, aerial seeding rye into corn and hoping it would grow and provide some feed for cows. Through the years, they have learned better practices -- such as switching to a drill for planting cover crops -- to ensure greater success.

Link to full article: HERE

The 2022 Census of Agriculture showed that Idaho lost 144,000 acres of working agricultural lands between the years of 2017 and 2022. The Idaho Agricultural Protection Area Act is intended to protect Idaho working farms, ranches, and forest areas that provide important benefits to all Idahoans by sustaining the economy in the state, the habitat, clean water, and opportunities for enjoyment of the outdoors. The language of the Act states that it is a voluntary program seeking to protect farms, ranches, and forests from being lost to development by rapid population growth. Additionally, the bill language emphasizes that the state of Idaho deeply respects the property rights of individual landowners.

Idaho House Bill 608 (HB 608) provides:

• An Agricultural Protection Area within the county zoning districts

• An Agricultural Protection Area Commission will be appointed in each county by the board of county commissioners. The Commission will consist of a minimum of 3 and no more than 5 members actively involved in production agriculture. Commission members will serve a minimum term of 3 years and no more than 6 years

• Guidance for language in the county code that involves:

It’s time to question the role of the U.S. government in shaping our food choices and health. The recently released recommendations from the USDA’s 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) continue to push Americans away from animal proteins, favoring plant-based options like beans, peas, and lentils. The DGAC emphasizes “nutrient-dense” and “low-fat” foods, urging Americans to choose plant proteins over animal sources to meet nutrient needs while avoiding saturated fats. But the science behind this shift, heavily influenced by food industry funding, is selective at best and overlooks key nutritional realities, particularly the benefits of meat.

Critics, including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), argue that such advice is not only out of touch with American eating habits but may also be doing more harm than good. Despite decades of USDA and FDA guidelines promoting reduced red meat consumption, the nation is experiencing a concerning rise in obesity and nutrient deficiencies. This trend is particularly troubling among children and young adults, who are increasingly affected by poor dietary quality and sedentary lifestyles.

Consider the current health crisis facing our nation’s youth: Nearly 1 in 5 U.S. children and adolescents are affected by obesity, leading to increased risks of Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and other chronic diseases. This is not just an individual health crisis but a national security issue. As of recent reports, approximately 35% of young adults are disqualified from military service due to obesity or related health conditions. The Department of Defense has even initiated a “Future Soldier Preparatory Course” to help underqualified recruits meet fitness standards, highlighting just how significant this health crisis has become.

Article excerpts:

“Charles and Heather Maude, indicted separately with felony criminal charges of theft of federal property will attend their first court hearing Nov. 19, 2024, in federal court in Rapid City, S.D.

Criminal proceedings are public unless otherwise ordered by the court.

The official wording on the grand jury indictment against the Caputa, S.D., farm and ranch couple, said that the couple both “did knowingly steal, purloin and convert to their own use, National Grasslands managed by the United States Department of Agriculture… approximately 25 acres of National Grasslands for cultivation and approximately 25 acres of National Grasslands for grazing cattle, having a value in excess of $1,000, and did aid and abet each other, all in violation of U.S.C. §§ 641 and 2.”

Cheyenne, Wyo., attorney and former Department of the Interior Deputy Solicitor for Parks and Wildlife Karen Budd-Falen said the Maude situation could have easily been handled as a civil matter rather than in criminal court.

“They could have handled this under the Color of Title Act or the Small Tracts Act,” Budd-Falen said.”

Link to article: HERE

How did a farmer’s half-acre puddle become the government’s wetland? By science or decree?

In the annals of private property ownership versus government regulation, Arlen Foster’s case is standout. His entire agriculture operation hinges on an isolated dot within his South Dakota property—a .8-acre depression seasonally holding up to 8.5” of water. USDA claims the .8-acre spot is a wetland, but Foster counters it is manmade and attributable to snowmelt from an adjacent shelterbelt planted by his father.

If Foster dares drain the eight-tenths of an acre, he faces ruin—the total loss of USDA loans, payment programs, and crop insurance subsidies, as well as a potential requirement to repay benefits previously received.

“I’ve proven the .8-acre is artificial, and not a wetland, but in the bureaucracy’s looped, in-house system, the courts only rely on what the government reps claim,” Foster says. “Whatever USDA says about wetlands is the only science allowed in the room.”

Link to article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“Total acreage enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is now the highest level in a decade as the program evolves and focuses more on grazing acres than at any time in its history.

Checks for CRP should have been issued over the first two weeks of October at roughly $1.8 billion total in payments.

CRP acreage under the Biden administration has grown 5.36 million acres since early 2021 to hit 25.86 million acres, a 26% increase in enrollment. The Farm Service Agency is getting close to its 27-million-acre cap from the 2018 farm bill.

This year's enrollment programs added 199,214 acres in the general signup -- the traditional program -- while the Grasslands CRP contracts added another 1.44 million acres.

Rolling back the number just a bit, landowners had 481,092 acres of contracts expire Sept. 30, 2024, and leave the program.”

Link to full article: HERE

AFBF: 230,000 Farms Affected by Beneficial Ownership Reporting Rules

Article excerpts:

“The American Farm Bureau Federation is warning farmers and other rural businesses about the approaching Jan. 1, 2025, deadline to provide business ownership information to the U.S. Treasury Department.

AFBF estimates more than 230,000 farmers are affected by the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) provisions of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA).

Passed in 2021, the CTA requires business ownership interests to file a report with Treasury. The law was created through a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act to reduce financial crimes such as tax fraud and money laundering. It was also passed coming out of the pandemic when there was a great deal of fraud -- more than $200 billion -- tied to problems such as Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans.”

Link to article: HERE

Agriculture is Disproportionately Blamed for Fertilizer Runoff

The Importance of Management

Mismanagement and overapplication of nutrients can occur in any scenario where fertilizer is applied to soils to increase plant growth. In the southeast US region, for example, nutrient loading through runoff due to fertilizer application has led to algal blooms and eutrophication in the Gulf of Mexico. Nutrient runoff is commonly associated to operations in rural settings, but in urban settings the application of fertilizer to lawns and golf courses has also been identified as a significant source of nutrient loading to US waters.

Misplaced Blame – Homeowners Contribute Ten Times More

The application of synthetic fertilizers in row-crop agriculture has been commonly associated with the increased levels of nutrients in US water bodies which can lead to impaired waters. However, the EPA estimates that homeowners use 10 times as much fertilizer per acre than farmers do on crops. This is caused by the impractical desire for homeowners to maintain lush, green lawns that provide little to no food or fiber to their communities.

Article excerpts:

“The Oregon Department of Agriculture has rewritten its regulations on dairies, following pushback from some small farmers.

Previously, the ODA had warned some dairy farms that they could face fines if they failed to register as Confined Animal Feeding Operations, or CAFOs.

In a memo from last year, the agency said several raw milk producers were ignoring the registration requirement, creating environmental concerns and generating complaints from other dairies.

However, critics argued the state’s criteria was too broad, and would have saddled small businesses with regulatory requirements meant for large-scale farms. This included a plan for wastewater management…”

“…State officials ultimately didn’t move forward with their plan to fine the dairies, and have instead developed new criteria for the CAFO program.

On Sept. 25, the state adopted the final version of these rules, which includes a more narrow definition of confined feeding, with more exemptions for small farmers”.

Link to article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ real estate arm is acquiring more than 41,000 acres of land with the intention of leasing it to farmers.

Farmland Reserve, a nonprofit arm of the Mormon Church, is buying 46 farms from real estate investor Farmland Partners. The farms encompass 41,500 acres of land and include sites in Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma and the Carolinas.

The Mormon Church has for decades gobbled up farmland across the United States, quickly becoming a major landowner in areas like Florida and Nebraska.

The LDS Church owns approximately 1.7 million acres of land primarily used for agriculture, according to Landgate, a commercial real estate advisory service, making it one of the largest institutional landholders in the U.S.”

Link to full article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“As a fifth-generation rancher, and current president of the Middle Park Stockgrowers Association, I endorse the Gazette’s recent editorial, “Don’t jeopardize Canadian wolves.” Coloradans should know what is really going on. The citizens of British Columbia should also know this.

Only through an open records request to the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife (CPW) have we learned why many state and tribal governments have refused to send wolves to Colorado. For example, the Wind River Inter-Tribal Council cited growing public opposition in Colorado and the extremely close vote that started the program. The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation rescinded their agreement to provide wolves after learning that CPW failed to consult with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe about the proposed wolf introduction project.”

Link to article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“How much private land can the federal government access without probable cause, search warrant, or consent? Almost all of it, as in 1.2 billion acres, or at least 96% of all private holdings in the United States.

The staggering numbers, tabulated in research by Institute for Justice (IJ), highlight the scope of the Open Fields doctrine—the power of federal officials to enter and surveil private land with no limitations on frequency or duration.

Additionally, the report, ‘Good Fences, Good Luck’, puts a spotlight on an alarming acreage correlation for property owners: the more rural the land, the more accessible to government’s reach.”

Link to full article: HERE

Industrial Agriculture Conversion Act (IACA) Would Harm Producers and American Families

On September 25, 2024, the Industrial Agriculture Conversion Act (IACA) was introduced to the United States Congress by Rep. Alma Adams (D-N.C.), Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) in the House, and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) in the Senate.

The bill is specifically designed to eliminate large modern farms, often known as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).

Incentives for Following Animal & Environmental Extremist Agendas

IACA would create federal funding opportunities for agricultural operations to transition to what the bill’s supporters erroneously refer to as “more sustainable and humane production systems.” The money would be made available via the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). IACA is designed to encourage producers to change their existing “industrial” infrastructure entirely to pasture-based livestock operations or specialty crop production. The bill would also provide what supporters refer to as “critical protections” from “potential retaliation from meatpackers and the factory farming industry.”

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit elected to toss a lawsuit filed by several activist groups aiming to force changes to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) regulations.

The court sided with the EPA’s current approach to regulating livestock production, which includes studying water quality through its Animal Agriculture Water Quality Subcommittee, with pork industry involvement.

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), which presented oral arguments before the court last month, praised the decision. The court emphasized that the EPA’s decision to gather information before enacting new regulations was “reasonable” and aligned with the Clean Water Act, refuting claims by the group Food & Water Watch.

NPPC noted that the pork industry has long cooperated with regulators to ensure environmental sustainability on farms, arguing that major legal changes should come from Congress, not the courts. The rejected lawsuit, NPPC said, could have severely disrupted livestock production across the country by misinterpreting regulations and threatening due process.

Link to article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“Denver voters will decide on Nov. 5 if current and future slaughterhouses should be banned in the city.

Currently, there is only one slaughterhouse in Denver, employee-owned Superior Farms, which has slaughtered, processed and packaged lambs and lamb meat at its location near the Platte River and Western Stock Show complex since the 1950s. About 300,000 lambs are slaughtered each year at the site, which would be forced to close if the ordinance passes.

Here’s what you need to know about Ordinance 309…

“…Who is spending money to support and oppose Ordinance 309?

Pro-Animal Future Denver had raised almost $244,276 through Sept. 30. The largest donors are listed on Pro-Animal Future’s website and include the Craigslist Charitable Fund, Animal Charity Evaluators, and the Phauna Foundation founded by animal rights activist Owen Gunden, according to his bio on woodstockfruitfestival.com.

Stop the Ban, Protect Jobs — a group opposing the measure — had raised nearly $957,592 through the Sept. 30, much of it from contributions from Superior Farms. The group has also received money from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Colorado Livestock Association and the United Food & Commercial Workers International.”

Article excerpts:

“A private landowner, CTM LCC, which owns just over 1,075 acres in northeast Iowa, sued USDA officials last April. With the help of the Pacific Legal Foundation and the Liberty Justice Legal, CTM LLC's case in the U.S. District Court of Northern Iowa argues that a 9-acre USDA wetland determination on a 71.85-acre tract amounts to an unconstitutional taking of land.

The 1985 farm bill created the swampbuster and sodbuster provisions that combine to create "conservation compliance" for farm bill programs. The swampbuster provision requires farmers to not drain identified wetlands for agricultural production. The sodbuster requires farmers to agree not to farm highly-erodible land…”

“…MOTION FILED TO INTERVENE

The Iowa Farmers Union, Dakota Rural Action, Food & Water Watch and Iowa Environmental Council, collectively calling themselves "Sustainable Agriculture Groups," filed a motion Oct. 2 in court asking a judge to grant them status in the case to intervene…

"…The loss of these long-standing conservation programs would cause significant environmental damage including increased flooding, degraded water quality, and widespread habitat loss," the groups stated in their motion.”

What is a National NGO doing influencing legislation in Oregon?

We have been tracking the rulemaking for the recent Oregon legislation SB85 for our Oregon clients. Along the way, an additional group targeting animal agriculture in the state has emerged and has since begun pushing legislation harmful to rural property owners and farmers. We want to ensure our clients and followers know who they are and be aware of their activities. The group is called State Innovation Exchange, or SiX for short, and they are involved in a number of social initiatives; most concerning to the AG community is their Agriculture & Food Systems branch.

The SiX Agriculture and Food Systems –

From the outside, the SiX seems to have values that align with agriculture, however, looking a little closer reveals a different truth. From the start of their information page, they make no effort to hide the view with which they see agriculture. Pulled directly from their biography, they share that “agricultural institutions evolved from systems of exploitation and continue to be fraught with injustice.” This statement is clearly not coming from the position of advocating for agriculture. A review of their website shows strong ties to several anti-agriculture groups. With the SIX’s strong ties to anti-agriculture groups, it is easy to surmise the true intentions of their agriculture division and its advisory board.

Denver – IO 309 – Will Ban Meat Processing

During the 2024 election cycle, Denver citizens will find Initiated Ordinance 309 on their ballots. If voted into law, IO 309 will ban slaughterhouses in the city and county of Denver. The proposed ordinance will require slaughterhouses in these areas to close or relocate and will prohibit the opening of any new slaughterhouses. The animal rights group Pro Animal Futures, a known anti-animal agriculture organization, wrote and pushed forward this ordinance.

The ban has a special focus on sheep and lamb processing, which is much of the slaughter activity in Denver, according to a study conducted by Colorado State University (CSU). If passed, the ordinance will be implemented on January 1, 2026.

Animal Rights Has Nothing to Do with the Welfare of Animals

For those unfamiliar with animal rights, knowing it has nothing to do with animal welfare is important. Animal welfare focuses on the health and well-being of animals in human care. Conversely, animal rights activists believe in the ideology that there is no distinction between animals and humans. They view animal ownership as exploitation and slavery. Because of this viewpoint, animal rights groups are not concerned about animal welfare, their goal is to eliminate animals from human care. This is an important distinction when considering legislation and ordinances pushed by these groups. They are not concerned with improving the welfare of animals, they simply want humans to stop utilizing animals. The true goal of animal rights groups is to work for legislation and humane care only until all animals are no longer owned or utilized by human beings. According to the North Carolina Responsible Animal Owners Alliance, “The animal rights movement is about control, not animal welfare. Supporting legislation based on emotional and philosophical interpretation provides a platform for incremental increases toward animal status changes in our legal system.” When you are at the polls this November, we urge you to keep this in mind and consider the long-term consequences and the dangerous precedent this ban would set.

Article excerpts:

“The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed the Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act introduced by Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash.”

The vote was 269 to 149 on HR 9456 with 214 Republicans and 55 Democrats backing the bill.

The bill adds the Agriculture secretary to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for transactions, including land, biotechnology, transportation, storage, and processing. It also requires the secretary to report any transaction that can be considered a threat to national security.

"Today, the United States took a stand against one of our greatest foreign adversaries, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)," Newhouse said in a news release. "The CCP has been quietly purchasing American agricultural land at an alarming rate, and this bill is a crucial step towards reversing that trend. We know that USDA's foreign purchase tracking is wildly flawed, and by adding the secretary of Agriculture to CFIUS, we can begin to correct course. Food security is national security, and it is incumbent upon us to keep our adversaries far away from the lands that feed our country and the world.”

Article excerpts:

“The state Water Resources Control Board exceeded its authority, operated under a web of “underground regulations” and made unlawful demands of Kings County water managers, according to a preliminary injunction that is a near total repudiation of state actions in its attempt to reign in excessive groundwater pumping.

“Clearly, the actions of this state agency have not been transparent, are only known to SWB, and there has been no review, analysis or ability to challenge their conduct,” Kings County Superior Court Judge Kathy Ciuffini wrote in the injunction issued Friday.

The ruling is part of a lawsuit brought by the Kings County Farm Bureau against the Water Board after the board placed the region, known as the Tulare Lake subbasin, on probation at an April 16 hearing.

“Today’s ruling highlights the validity of our claims and showcases our likelihood to win in court in the future,” Dusty Ference, executive director of the Farm Bureau, said in a statement.”

Link to article: HERE

Congressional Hearing Exposes Lack of Clarity on WOTUS Rules

Demonstrating to members of Congress how hard it is to get to know the new federal rules for enforcing Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS), a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation's government affairs team on Wednesday showed lawmakers 1,128 pages of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request that was largely blacked out.

Courtney Briggs, a senior director of government affairs with AFBF and chair of the Waters Advocacy Coalition -- a collection of industry groups -- said agencies such as the Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are largely trying to ignore the 2023 Supreme Court case, Sackett v. EPA. The Sackett case curtailed federal agencies from regulating wetlands as waters of the U.S. unless the wetland is adjacent to a continuous body of water.

Farm Bureau and other business groups have been trying to get clear guidance from EPA and the Corps about how those agencies are implementing the new WOTUS standards set by the Supreme Court.

Link to full article: HERE

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has called out several fellow activist groups for being too quick to support the Global Animal Partnership (GAP), a certification program linked to Whole Foods, PETA said in a release posted on its website.

PETA sent a letter to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), and Compassion in World Farming, pushing those organizations to step down from GAP’s board of directors, calling the certification program “a humane-washing program that enables animal-exploiting companies to slap misleading ‘animal welfare certified’ labels on their products.”

Leaning on the results of its own investigations, PETA contended the certification is ineffective, and that its target activist groups “may have hoped being on the Global Animal Partnership board would provide an opportunity to improve animal welfare on factory farms.”

However, “the initiative has been a complete failure — as others have been in the past.

“In fact,” PETA pointed out, PETA “was on the board when the organization was founded but left when it became clear that the initiative was never going to reduce animal suffering.”

Michigan rep. introduces cultivated meat ban

From an article in MeatingPlace by Joanne Cleaver

A Michigan state representative, who also is a cattle farmer, has introduced a bill intended to ban cultivated meat from being sold in the state. Republican Rep. Jim DeSana’s House Bill 5879 is being considered by the agricultural committee.

In a statement, DeSana derided the “follow-the-science” crowd, whom he grouped with covid-related public health directives. “I don’t want lab-grown meat as a substitute for the real thing and I don’t want to get my protein by eating bugs. Let the chickens eat the bugs the way nature intended; we’ll eat the chickens,” he said in the statement.

The legislation defines “cultivated meat” as “a meat or meat product that was produced from cultured animal tissue produced from in vitro animal cell cultures outside of the animal from which the cells were derived.”

“This is about protecting our ranchers and about protecting the integrity of our food supply,” DeSana said. He and his spouse raise sheep, cattle and chickens in a semi-rural district south of Detroit.

Link to Rep DeSana’s Bill: HERE

Article excerpts:

“A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plan to protect endangered species from the effects of weedkillers could require farms near vulnerable habitats to take additional conservational steps.

The EPA last week revealed its finalized strategy to safeguard over 900 federally endangered and threatened species from herbicides, a result of nearly two dozen lawsuits against the agency over its failure to meet Endangered Species Act obligations when approving pesticides. The new framework will be used to help determine which on-the-ground conservation measures farmers should take — and when — in order to offset any herbicide impacts…”

“…Farm groups have remained wary of the plan, saying it creates a confusing patchwork of rules that will likely raise costs for producers. Josh Gackle, president of the American Soybean Association, said the EPA’s plan “is likely to cost U.S. farmers billions of dollars to implement and could result in significant new hurdles to farmers accessing and using herbicides in the future.”

Link to article: https://www.agriculturedive.com/news/epa-herbicide-strategy-endangered-species/725258/

Nebraska Becomes Latest State to Block Purchases, Require Labels on Lab-Grown Meat

From an article in Progressive Farmer by Chris Clayton

“Nebraska on Thursday, August 29, 2024, became the latest state to implement rules against lab-grown or cell-cultured meat products with Gov. Jim Pillen signing an executive order to restrict state agencies from buying such products…

“…Standing at local beef shop in Nebraska's largest county for beef production, Pillen announced the state Department of Agriculture would initiate a rule to ensure any lab-grown meat sold in the stores "are properly labeled and are not marketed next to natural meat on the same shelves." Pillen, one of Nebraska's largest pork producers, also said he would ask state senators next year to pass a law banning lab-grown meat in the state.”

Link to article: HERE

tte by Kevin Flynn

Article excerpts:

“That Colorado way of life is under attack in a particularly repugnant initiative on Denver’s November ballot. An outside organization that doesn’t like the fact that you eat meat has parachuted into Denver. Their members don’t eat meat, and they believe that you shouldn’t, either. The stated goal of the organization funding this ban is to “reverse the cultural norm of eating animals.”

Of course, they couldn’t put that on Denver ballots. A measure like that would be soundly rejected. Instead, the measure makes a simple and seemingly innocuous request: Ban slaughterhouses in Denver. Many voters may look at that and think “Do we even have any slaughterhouses in Denver?”

Link to article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced recently that they will be rounding up the mating pair and three pups that make up the Copper Creek Pack. CPW said the capture and relocation is underway with technical support from federal partners, and as provided for in the 10(j) rule for depredating packs…

“…The Middle Park Stockgrowers have asked Davis repeatedly to manage this pack. Tim Rischard, the group’s president told the Denver Gazette the news is a step in the right direction. Grand and Summit county ranchers learned last week the next wolf release is planned for their counties and CPW will not release information about where the Copper Creek pack will be re-released, adding, they said, to the many unknowns. CPW said they will provide more information and details at the conclusion of the operation.”

Link to article: HERE

Landowners Win in SD Supreme Court in Summit Carbon Pipeline Challenge

Article excerpts:

“Lower courts in South Dakota erred in ruling Summit Carbon Solutions is a common carrier able to exercise eminent domain to acquire and inspect land for a planned 2,000-mile carbon pipeline, the South Dakota Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

In a 42-page ruling handed down in an ongoing legal fight mounted by more than 50 landowners in the state, the state's highest court said the company had not presented enough evidence to show it was a common carrier.

Under state law, a common carrier holds itself out to the general public as transporting a commodity for hire.”

Link to full article: HERE

“Upside Foods filed a lawsuit Monday over a Florida law that bans the sale of cultivated meat in the state.

Berkeley, Calif.-based Upside, one of two companies approved to sell cultivated meat in the United States, contends the Florida law that took effect July 1 is unconstitutional, according to court documents.

Specifically, the lawsuit argues that the ban violates the Supremacy Clause because it is preempted by federal laws regulating meat and poultry products, and that it violates the dormant aspect of the Commerce Clause by purposely “insulating” Florida ag businesses from out-of-state competition.

Upside, joined in the lawsuit by nonprofit public law firm Institute for Justice, wants a judge to declare the law (SB 1084) unconstitutional and block enforcement.

2. Florida was the first state to ban cultivated meat, with Gov. Ron DeSantis saying Florida was “fighting back” against the “global elite” who were allegedly forcing consumers to eat cultivated meat. He said his administration was protecting Florida farmers and ranchers in an effort to “save our beef.” Alabama was the second state to ban cultivated meat.

1.“UPSIDE doesn’t want to force anyone to eat cultivated meat,” the company’s lawsuit states. “But it does want the opportunity to distribute its product to willing consumers, so that those consumers can decide for themselves whether UPSIDE’s product is worth eating. And UPSIDE has a right to do so, because SB 1084 is unconstitutional.”

Dairy Plus Program – Opportunities for California Dairy Producers

Grants are available for California Dairy Farms for the implementation of advanced manure management practices that reduce both methane emissions and nutrient surplus.

Five Year Project

In 2022, the California Dairy Research Foundation, in collaboration with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and various other organizations, received $85 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program. This five-year project aims to encourage producers to adopt advanced climate-smart manure management practices, offer outreach and technical support, assess the greenhouse gas and nitrogen benefits of these practices, and establish markets for climate-smart commodities.

Grant Program Overview

In 2024, the Dairy Plus Program will offer around $58 million to support the adoption of advanced manure management practices. The 2024 Dairy Plus Program will offer additional funding opportunities for projects in the 2024 Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP), the 2024 Dairy Digester Research and Development Program (DDRDP), as well as ongoing and completed AMMP or DDRDP projects. Projects proposing advanced manure management practices must exceed the standard greenhouse gas emission reductions and benefits already provided by the AMMP and DDRDP programs:

The CAFO Improvement Fund, a collaborative initiative by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) and the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), continues to support transformative environmental projects in the agricultural sector. With a generous $2 million appropriation for the fiscal year 2025, this fund aims to enhance air, water, and soil quality while reducing greenhouse gas emissions at confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs).

As the grant application period for 2025 closes and the review process begins, the success stories from previous years serve as inspiring examples of what can be achieved with the right resources and innovative thinking. Among the notable projects funded in the past are the water recycling efforts by Boise Valley Feeders and the roller compacted concrete (RCC) project by Intermountain Beef. These projects exemplify the positive impact that the CAFO Improvement Fund can have on both the environment and agricultural operations.

Boise Valley Feeders: Clean Water Reclamation & Well Displacement Project

The Boise Valley Feeders project is aimed at cleaning and capturing all water, including overflow from water tanks and stormwater runoff from the southern portion of the feedyard. This innovative approach allows the feedlot to offset its use of well water, promoting sustainability and efficient water management.

“The dairy industry has entered one of the most unique market moments in a generation, according to Corey Geiger, lead dairy economist for CoBank.

“Feed prices are shifting to a five-year low, and beef-on-dairy calves are fetching top-of-the-market prices,” Geiger explains. “Those record values on calves are placing a lid on dairy replacement numbers, and that, in turn, has capped milk production.”

Link to article: HERE

“Superior Farms is the last packing plant standing in the city limits of Denver.

Decades ago, several livestock production facilities operated just across the river from the Denver Stockyards where cattle and lamb were fed and then walked over the bridges into the packing plant.

The city of Denver changed dramatically during that time as its population surged. It continues to try to attract people from around the United States into the existing agriculture community.

In November, the processing plant’s fate will be decided by voters as an initiative that would prohibit slaughtering inside the city limits by 2026 will be on the ballot. Pro-Animal Future, an animal rights activist group, introduced the measure. The group’s proposed ordinance would eliminate slaughtering operations in Denver and “promote community awareness of animal welfare, bolster the city’s stance against animal cruelty, and in turn, foster a more humane environment in Denver.”

Currently, that initiative would affect one business: Superior Farms’ lamb processing plant, which has been owned by the company for more than 40 years.”

Link to full article: HERE https://www.meatpoultry.com/articles/30653-superior-farms-takes-a-stand

Utah officials filed the lawsuit on Tuesday, asking the U.S. Supreme Court whether the federal government can indefinitely control public lands within the state’s borders.

Article excerpts:

Utah officials filed a lawsuit Tuesday asking the U.S. Supreme Court to answer a question: Can the federal government control public lands within the state indefinitely?

“It is obvious to all of us that the federal government has increasingly failed to keep our lands accessible and properly managed,” Gov. Spencer Cox said at a Tuesday morning news conference.

“Utah deserves priority when it comes to managing this land,” he continued. “Utah is in the best position to understand and respond to the unique needs of our environment and communities.”

Link: HERE

4 Management Practices to Help Your Pasture Recover From Drought Damage

Article excerpts:

“Decent rainfall across the Midwest this growing season has helped improve pasture conditions. But one season of good rains will not be enough to undo the damage to drought-stressed pastures after multiple years of dry conditions, according to forage experts.

University of Missouri Extension state forage specialist Carson Roberts and forage agronomist Valerie Tate said in a recent news release that mismanaged pastures may continue to see a drag in production despite the return of ample moisture.

Weakened plants and poor infiltration are two key factors in the continued decline in grass production. Weakened plants are a product of both overgrazing and drought, according to Roberts and Tate.”

Link to full article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“After notifying a northwest Wisconsin town in October 2023 of their intent to challenge a local ordinance that regulates livestock farming, two residents made good on their promise last week.

Ben and Jenny Binversie, represented by the legal arm of the state’s largest business and manufacturing lobby, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, are asking a circuit court judge to strike down the rules in the Polk County town of Eureka.

A ruling in their favor could set a precedent for all Wisconsin municipalities seeking to regulate agriculture, a $105 billion state industry.

“This ordinance is quite simply another case of government overreach,” the Binversies’ attorney Scott Rosenow, executive director of WMC Litigation Center, said in a news release.”

Link to full article: HERE

Article excerpts:

“Charles and Heather Maude, a farming couple from western South Dakota, have been indicted on theft of federal property, with charges brought against them in June 2024. But their case has sparked outrage from agricultural organizations nationwide and has earned the support of a U.S. senator.

The indictment accuses the Maudes of unlawfully taking and converting approximately 50 acres of national grasslands managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for their own use. The land in question was used for cultivation and grazing, and the property’s value exceeds $1,000. If convicted, they each face up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000, under a federal statute that addresses use of government land without permission.

The legal dispute centers around a longstanding boundary between Maude’s property and land managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The contested fence line, which the USFS claims represents theft, has existed for generations.

A neighbor, Scott Edoff, told Tri-State Livestock News that the Maudes have been ranching adjacent to the disputed land since 1910, with a grazing allotment in good standing since the U.S. Forest Service’s establishment.”

August 15, 2024

For Immediate Release

Austin Kerbs, PE Receives Promotion at AGPROfessionals

AGPROfessionals is pleased to announce that Austin Kerbs has been promoted to Professional Engineer, Level II, after successfully completing the Professional Engineer’s exam.

We are proud to support the professional growth and development of our employees and are excited to see the continued impact that Austin will make in his new role. Austin interned for AGPROfessionals and then rejoined our consulting group in July of 2022. “Austin is an exceptional engineer and an even better guy. It has been a pleasure to watch Austin develop and grow in his career. At AGPROfessionals, we are proud to offer his professional services to our clients because we know they will be in great hands”, shared AGPROfessionals Founder and CEO, Tom Haren.

Please join us in congratulating Austin Kerbs on his achievement and this well-deserved promotion.

Austin holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He has experience in civil land development, building design, and a background in agriculture.

Austin grew up helping on his family farm outside of Fort Collins, Colorado. He re-joined AGPROfessionals in July of 2022, where he previously interned for two summers while earning his degree.

The contraction in the U.S. beef herd has opened opportunities for dairy producers to capitalize by delivering beef-on-dairy crossbred calves, according to a report from Purina Animal Health.

The firm’s recently released Beef-on-Dairy Industry Report cites Purina survey data showing that most dairy farmers are realizing a premium approaching $200 a head, with some netting double or triple that advantage.

The current market has about 3 million beef-on-dairy cattle according to the report, which includes chapters written by Purina staff as well as beef industry experts from academia and extension programs.

Kansas State University Professor Robert Weaber, department head for the Eastern Kansas Research and Extension Center, writes that adding beef genetics to breeding programs can help dairy producers “enhance their operations and maximize the value of their surplus calf stream.” Raising cattle with a different genetic profile requires focus attention on “other factors like nutrition and management” to achieve the “full genetic potential and value,” he said in the report’s section on selecting sires.

For example, Olivia Genther-Schroeder, senior technical innovation manager for Purina Animal Nutrition emphasizes nutrition management in the first two to three months after beef-on-dairy calves are born. “By feeding them right starting at birth, we’re helping them pack on muscle and develop the desired marbling producers strive for and consumers seek when they are making their beef purchasing decisions,” she writes.

The Young Cattlemen’s Conference (YCC) 2024 with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) was a trip of a lifetime, and I am truly blessed to have been selected to represent the Idaho Cattle Association (ICA) this year. The conference consisted of a national tour of industry offices and producer facilities, with the last stop in Washington, D.C. The Washington D.C. portion of the trip provided participants with the opportunity to visit their elected leaders to discuss issues critical to America’s cattle and beef producers and advocate for their industry during a day on Capitol Hill.

YCC, established in 1980, has become an instrumental organization in identifying and developing potential leaders for the beef industry. With over 1,000 graduates, many YCC alumni continue to participate in industry committees, councils, and boards, with some even becoming national officers. YCC is a cornerstone of leadership training for the beef industry, providing young leaders with a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of the industry, from cattle and beef production to the consumer, including exposure to the national grassroots process.

Denver, Colorado

Cropland Values Average $5,570 Per Acre, USDA Land Summary Report Says

Article Excerpts:

“USDA said the value of all farm real estate increased 5% from 2023, averaging $4,170 per acre. This estimate includes buildings and other facilities.

Cropland values increased to $5,570 per acre from the previous year. That's $250 per acre more, up 4.7%.

The average pasture value was $1,830 per acre, a $90 per acre increase from 2023. That's a 5.2% change.

Farmers paid an average of $160 per acre to rent cropland, but rents on irrigated ground averaged $245 per acre while dryland rents averaged $146 per acre.

To compile its annual Land Values Summary, USDA uses a sample of 9,000 segments of land, each about a square mile in size. The agency's enumerators contact all producers in that segment to record cropland and pastureland values. They also collect an estimate of all land and buildings in the farmer's entire operation as well as percentage change from the prior year.

Data is summarized by Regional Field Offices and those estimates and supporting data are sent to the Agricultural Statistics Board (ASB). The ASB reviews the material and compiles the national estimate.”

Comments Regarding Proposed Oregon SB85 Rule Updates

At AGPROfessionals, our mission is to advocate for our clients. To this end, we follow the regulatory landscape and participate when necessary. Most recently, we stepped in on the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s request to comment on Oregon SB85 and proposed rule updates.

All too often, laws and regulations are passed without thought to the bigger picture and their ripple effect. In the case of Oregon SB85, we commented on:

• The practical application of definitions
• The Water Supply Plan
• Permit application procedures
• Facilities in the groundwater management area
• Concerns about limiting large modern farms and the increase in regulations, including practical and economic impacts

See our comment verbiage below, submitted on July 22nd.

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Our experienced industry engineers at AGPROfessionals are writing in response to the SB 85 rulemaking process. We want to express our concerns and to provide feedback on the proposed rules updates impacting large modern farms (Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO)). While we acknowledge the necessity of regulatory updates to ensure environmental protection and sustainable agricultural practices, there are several points regarding the proposed changes, particularly around the development, expansion, and increased regulation of large modem farms, that we feel are important to bring to your attention.

Denmark’s New Cow Tax

Denmark passed a tax on livestock farmers in June 2024, that will take effect in 2030. Described as a “historic compromise” by the Danish Society for Nature Conservation, this “cow tax” in Denmark will see farmers pay hefty bills for owning livestock. Farmers with cows, sheep, and pigs are all targeted.

Denmark is the first country to tax their livestock farmers for the simple act of producing food. An article in the Associated Press (AP) reported that with this new tax, farmers will pay 300 kroner ($43) per ton of carbon dioxide as of 2030. By 2035 the tax will increase to 750 kroner ($108). The AP article also notes that the actual cost will start at 120 kroner ($17.3) in 2030 and increase to 300 kroner ($43) by 2035 due to an income tax deduction of 60%

Ideological Groups Celebrate

Animal and environmental extremist groups are using this new tax as a platform to continue to push their campaign against animal agriculture. Unfortunately, they have been successful at propagating disinformation that has created a negative narrative around animal agriculture. In this case, they are celebrating the new tax and claiming that legislation like the Denmark Cow Tax is necessary to solve a climate crisis. For a number of years, animal rights groups like PETA and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), as well as vegan investment firms and media outlets like CNBC, the BBC, and more, have been pushing for a meat tax in the United States. Some media outlets like Vox and Bloomberg are even referring to a tax on meat as a “sin tax”. On its website, the Center for Biological Diversity is calling for a 90% reduction in beef consumption and a 50% reduction in consumption of all other animal products.

WASHINGTON (July 12, 2024) – Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) filed a lawsuit against the misguided Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) “Conservation and Landscape Health” rule. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming and seeks to overturn the rule which threatens generations of family ranching operations in the U.S. by undermining the long-held balance of multiple-use management.

“NCBA is suing the BLM to stand up for America’s western ranchers and push back on this harmful rule that only serves as a steppingstone to removing livestock grazing from our nation’s public lands,” said NCBA President Mark Eisele, a Wyoming rancher. “Under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, the BLM is supposed to balance the multiple uses of public lands, including livestock grazing, energy, mining, timber, and recreation. The BLM’s rule upends this multiple use system by creating a brand-new use for federal lands without Congressional approval and in conflict with existing federal law. NCBA will continue working to hold the BLM accountable in federal court.”

Link to full article HERE

Article Excerpts:

“Colorado Parks and Wildlife has updated its rules to allow ranchers to kill wolves that are actively attacking “working dogs.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service late last year finalized a document, known as the 10(j) rule, that outlined when wolves could be killed in Colorado, and paved the way for the species to be reintroduced in the state.

Months after the release of 10 wolves in the state, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission voted unanimously Friday, July 19, to update state regulations to reflect the 10(j) rule’s language regarding “working dogs.””

Link to Denver Post article: HERE

Link to full article in Summit Daily: HERE

Nineteenth Century German chancellor Otto von Bismarck famously compared the making of laws to the making of sausages. Today, the vegan lobby has been hard at work trying to influence how the legislative sausage is made on Capitol Hill.

On Capitol Hill, money talks. And lobbying records show that radical animal rights groups have spent millions of dollars in recent years building their influence in Congress.

Since the 2020 cycle, animal rights groups have spent $3.6 million dollars on lobbying and federal candidates. And the trend is going in the wrong direction for supporters of animal agriculture.

In 2020, the two major animal rights lobby groups spent about $1.2 million on federal campaigns. In 2022, they spent about $2 million. And 2022 was not even a presidential election year, when spending is typically higher.

So far this year, these groups show no sign of slowing down. And it’s only July; political spending typically intensifies in the fall, when primaries are over and it’s general election season.

Their lobbying on legislation has also been significant over the past few years. Lobbying records show animal rights groups spent $2.3 million on lobbying in 2021; $3.8 million in 2022; and $1.7 million in 2023.

Notice from Colorado Department of Agriculture

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

"In an effort to curb further spread of the HPAI virus and implement additional control measures to protect the dairy and poultry industries and public health in Colorado, the Colorado Department of Agriculture is implementing mandatory statewide surveillance for all Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) licensed commercial cow dairies. This action will help identify any additional infected dairies with the virus with the goal of preventing further spread of the disease. The order for statewide mandatory bulk-tank HPAI testing by the Commissioner of Agriculture was issued July 22, 2024.

“We have been navigating this challenging, novel outbreak of HPAI in dairy operations for nearly three months in Colorado and have not been able to curb the spread of disease at this point,” said Dr. Maggie Baldwin, State Veterinarian. “We have seen devastating impacts of this disease not only to our dairy industry, but our poultry industry as well. With the strong support of the dairy and poultry industries, we feel that this is the best next step in order to protect these vital industries in our state.”

Representative John Curtis (R-UT) has introduced the Operational Flexibility Grazing Management Program Act, aimed at providing ranchers with greater flexibility to respond to environmental and market conditions affecting federal lands. Following a successful 2018 pilot program, this legislation seeks to alleviate bureaucratic roadblocks and enhance adaptive management for grazing permittees - including those who aren't participants in the BLM's Outcome Based Grazing program, but still need flexibility in grazing permit administration.

The bill expands and codifies the 2018 BLM Pilot Program, increasing flexibility for approved grazing permittees to respond to shifting environmental conditions and emergencies like drought and wildfire. For example, the bill allows BLM and permittees to work together to create a more flexible permit administration that allows permittees universal access to a 14-day variance on on/off dates, flexibility in range improvement work, and other necessary changes. Like so many of the efforts PLC supports, the bill also emphasizes the need for robust cooperative monitoring. For bill text, click here.

EPA Climate Pollution Grants Fund Some Ag, Rural Energy Projects

From an article in Progressive Farmer by Chris Clayton , DTN Ag Policy Editor

OMAHA (DTN) -- The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday announced more than $4.3 billion in grants to reduce climate pollution in projects across 30 states, looking to reduce nearly 1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide with the funds.

At least some of the projects also would help develop climate-smart agricultural practices or reduce livestock pollution.

EPA's Climate Pollution Reduction Grants will fund 25 projects -- some involve multiple states -- that lower greenhouse-gas emissions from a particular industry or sequester carbon. Nearly all the projects also have some component of developing renewable energy or saving energy through efficiency.

Link HERE

Idaho’s Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) in partnership with the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) is offering grant opportunities for the 2025 state fiscal year. The goal of the grant program is to support environmental improvement programs on confined animal feeding operations. The grant funds are dedicated for environmental improvements to soil, water, and air quality with an emphasis on manure and nutrient management. This year, Idaho’s legislature has appropriated $ 2 million from the state general fund to support this program in the 2025 fiscal year.

Grant Program Progress

Over the past two years, the state of Idaho’s CAFO Improvement Fund has granted nearly $10 million dollars towards 25 projects. Eight of these projects are 100% complete and operational. Because of these successes, the state of Idaho has extended the CAFO Improvement grant program.

According to the IDEQ website, the types of projects funded by the CAFO Improvement grant program have included:

• DariTech Biolynk water recycling system
• Screw presses
• Centrifuge
• DariTech DT 360 presses
• Sloped screens
• Separation building
• New lagoon construction
• Reverse osmosis system
• Pump for lagoon to add acreage for lagoon water application
• Advanced distillation
• Pipeline to additional acreage for lagoon water application

Comments Submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency

At AGPROfessionals, our mission is to advocate for our clients. As a part of this, we follow the regulatory landscape and step in to participate when needed. Most recently, we stepped in on the EPA Region 10's request to provide comments regarding their modified National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations located in the State of Idaho. For this comment period the EPA is accepting comments exclusively on changes made to the General Permit since the previous comment period.

All too often, agencies pass regulations without thought to the bigger picture and their ripple effect. Below is a high-level overview of the comments/recommendations made by our AGPROfessionals team:

• Updating language regarding seepage rates from impoundments to align with industry standards and practical considerations.
• Evaluation methods should not look to other states for guidelines, instead they should follow NRCS standards tailored to Idaho, utilizing existing testing parameters that are widely accepted and used across the United States.
• Discard the proposed requirement for subsurface discharge monitoring plan (SDMP) since it adds unnecessary complexity and cost. We propose that the requirements for a SDMP be based on evidence of risk rather than a one-size fits all blanket requirement.
• Liner specifications should not look to other states for guidelines. Requirements for liner specifications should adhere to industry-accepted NRCS standards.

Idaho Agriculture and Water in the News

In the week of June 10th, 2024, the agricultural industry and water supply in the state of Idaho were prominent in the news. The Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR) placed red tags on many ground water wells in Eastern Idaho, instructing farmers to stop pumping groundwater. According to the Idaho Department of Water Resources, red tags were issued due to the risk that junior water rights users in Bonneville, Bingham, Jefferson, and Clark counties usage would impact the water rights of senior water rights users by creating a water shortage of 74,100 acre-feet in the Twin Falls Canal Company.

This decision led to concerns among certain farmers about having enough water to irrigate their crops. The order to curtail pumping was issued because water rights users in several Idaho counties had not complied with the state's groundwater mitigation plans. The last agreement was drafted in 2016.

Report by East Idaho News

East Idaho News covered the story and reported the following concerns about the water curtailment:

• The Governor’s Office changed the formula on which the previous agreements were based
• The state is having one of the best water years in the last decade, despite this, the new formula called for the stoppage of pumping
• If pumping is stopped in this wet year, they have further concerns over what will happen in drier years
• The water would be shut off for most of the farm ground in Bonneville County
• The timing for shutting down pumping was ill-advised, with farmers needing to utilize water for recently planted crops
• The Idaho counties that complied with preparing a water mitigation plan based off new formulations did so under duress
• The Department of Water Resources plans to reduce the use of 6,000 to 12,000 acre-feet every year going forward, and the agreements proposed will take more than that

Last summer, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signed into law Senate Bill 85. This new law requires farmers looking to apply for a new permit for a dairy, poultry, or pork farm, egg farm, beef cattle feed yard – essentially any facility feeding and housing a specific number of animals - to submit a water use plan to the Oregon Department of Water Resources. Additionally, according to an article by Progressive Farmer, SB 85 placed a cap on stock water usage to 12,000 gallons per day. A farm, ranch, or other animal operation “needing more water above the cap have to prove they have legal access to it.” SB85 also allows for counties to stipulate undetermined setbacks. This language was recently used in Linn County, requiring a poultry farm to have a one-mile setback from its buildings to the property line of a neighboring property.

According to an article on the website Waging NonViolence, “SB 85 is the product of a years-long organized effort, whose ultimate goal is to pass a full moratorium on new (large modern) farms in Oregon.” In addition to focusing on Oregon the article also discussed the importance of this perceived “win” by stating, “More work remains to be done – but the win could provide a template for pushing back against the powerful (large modern) farm industry in the Pacific Northwest and beyond…it is possible to envision an effort to end (large modern) farming through a combination of regulatory actions and outright bans.”

Public Notice: Proposed Modification to NPDES General Permit for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations in Idaho

The Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10, is initiating a second public comment period for the modified National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) located in the State of Idaho (Permit No. IDG010000).

For this comment period, EPA is accepting comments exclusively on changes made to the General Permit since the previous comment period.

***Comments will be accepted through July 8, 2024.***

The draft NPDES general permit (with new/changed conditions highlighted in yellow) and the supporting fact sheet addendum, which explains the basis for the new/changed conditions, are available for review HERE

EPA will consider all comments received during the previous public comment period from July 18 to September 1, 2023, and during this comment period before issuing the General Permit modification.

Please pass this announcement to others who may be interested.

Notice from the Oregon Department of Agriculture

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) invites the public to provide comments on proposed rule changes regarding Senate Bill (SB) 85 and making significant modifications to existing rules, including the definition of a Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO). Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek signed SB 85 into law in August 2023. The bill created new provisions for Oregon’s CAFOs, amending ORS 468B.050, 468B.215, and 537.545. The rules subject to change in SB8 5 are enforced by ODA.

Proposed rule highlights include:

• Water Supply Plan: As required by SB 85, this establishes an additional ODA permit application/renewal requirement documenting all legal sources of water so the Oregon Water Resource Department (OWRD) can review whether water sources are authorized and sufficient for the operation.
• Permit Designations: Incorporates an existing ODA table with changes to clarify animal numbers for CAFO size designations. The table also addresses CAFO designations for multi-species animal operations.
• Definitions
• As per SB 85, creates definitions for New CAFO and New Large CAFO.
• Redefines a CAFO to clarify who qualifies for a permit. This includes establishing a 100gal/day liquid wastewater generation minimum compared to the old definition, which stated having wastewater treatment works constituted a CAFO.
• “Compliance” was also updated to clarify that those not meeting the CAFO definition are still subject to regulation.
more

From an article in MeatingPlace By Peter Thomas Ricci on 6/20/2024

A lack of state funds from the Missouri state government is holding back local meat processors.

According to statements that Missouri Agriculture Director Chris Chinn made to Brownfield, seven processors are currently seeking state inspection, while “at least” eight have filed requests for Cooperative Interstate Shipping approval; however, four new state inspectors are needed for the additional workflow, and state lawmakers denied the funding for the inspectors.

USDA reimbursements also play a role. Chinn explained that USDA has historically reimbursed state inspection costs by 50%, but since fiscal year 2022, that reimbursement has fallen, and the state has needed to cover an additional $500,000 in expenses.

Currently, Missouri’s agriculture department has spending authority, but not the necessary funds for the inspectors.

Chinn added that Missouri’s meat production in 2023 was 3.2 million pounds of red meat and 850,000 pounds of poultry, and without the additional inspectors, production in 2024 will be flat.

Fringe groups, driven by a mission to dismantle animal agriculture, are employing cunning and strategic tactics to influence lawmakers. Their focus on animals, farming, and ranching is particularly concerning, as they often present legislation in a deliberately misleading manner, taking advantage of the busy schedules of representatives.

A recent article by Sean Spicer in the Washington Examiner shed light on the activities of these animal rights groups and how they are gaining access to lawmakers who traditionally support agriculture. He points out that some of these groups are leveraging the universal fondness for dogs and cats to advance legislation that does little to improve the welfare of animals and, at the same time, will negatively impact animal agriculture. This manipulation of lawmakers with disinformation or partial information is a cause for concern.

PACs Making Donations and Endorsements on Both Sides of the Aisle

Traditionally, these fringe ideological groups have focused primarily on providing endorsements and campaign support for lawmakers on just one side of the aisle. However, over the last number of years, these groups have learned that they need to influence a broader selection of lawmakers to successfully push forward legislation that will help implement their agenda. This bipartisan influence is a warning to producers to be more vigilant about their activities and the potential impact of their actions. Listed below are some of the groups actively pursuing lawmakers at the federal, state, and local levels.

From an article in MeatingPlace by Chris Moore on 6/19/2024

Iowa officials asked for a federal judge to toss a lawsuit from several animal right activist groups fighting the state’s law intended to criminalize the use of video and audio recordings “on trespassed property” in agricultural facilities, according to a motion filed Friday.

The plaintiff groups, which include Animal Legal Defense Fund, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Bailing Out Benji and Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, claimed the law violated the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

In September 2022, the Iowa federal court ruled in favor of the activists, but in January, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled to reinstate a law. The panel said the activist-dubbed “Ag-gag” law is viewpoint-based and said that it represents a permissible restriction on intentionally false speech intended to cause harm.

The state’s motion cites the appeal’s court ruling that the law does not violate lawful free speech.

The court also noted the importance of balancing free speech concerns with the need to regulate deceptive practices that could lead to harm in the context of agricultural facilities.

Two ballot initiatives in Colorado are currently gathering signatures with the aim of being included on the November ballot. Both Ballot Initiative 144 and 145 are being proposed as solutions to the shortage of veterinary care available to animal owners in the state.

Livestock Production is Often Overlooked by the Media

An article in Colorado Politics provided information about the ballot initiatives and how they will impact pets. However, it overlooked a significant sector of animals and commerce in the state – livestock. Colorado Revised Statute 12-315-104 states: “(1) "Animal" means any animal other than human, and the term includes fowl, birds, amphibians, fish, and reptiles, wild or domestic, living or dead.” The language shows that the ballot initiatives will impact veterinary care for both pets and livestock.

FDA VCPR Guidance and Rural Veterinary Access

In 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration published the Guidance for Industry 263 that put new restrictions on the administration of antibiotics for livestock producers. The guidance states that livestock producers must establish a veterinary-client-patient relationship before certain medications are able to be administered to their animals. Specifically, it impacted the availability of medically important antibiotics that were previously available to livestock producers over the counter.

Since manure is a valuable resource for farmers and ranchers, it is important to get the most out of it. This process starts with record keeping, collecting regular samples, and developing nutrient management plans. Here are some guidelines to consider:

Manure Samples

• A new operation should collect samples a minimum of once per year for the first three years of operation and then as required.
• Samples should be collected and analyzed if there is a change in diet.
• Consideration should be made to the timing of the sample collection and the timing of manure application.
• Liquid manure samples should be collected in several areas because nutrients can separate and settle.
• · Solid manure samples should not be collected from the surface of the pile but at different depths within the pile.
• If both solid and liquid manure samples are collected at the same facility, they should be combined and thoroughly stirred. Then, an additional sample should be collected from the combined properties.
• Samples should be kept cool or frozen prior to shipping.

Soil Samples and Application

Ballot Box Biology’s Hostile Takeover Of State Wildlife Agencies

From an article in Forbes Magazine by Chris Dorsey

Article Excerpts:

“Is the traditional role of state fish and wildlife agencies coming to an end? That is increasingly the question as some of the nation’s most important—and often controversial—issues are no longer being decided by wildlife professionals whose charter it is to manage natural resources for the greater good. Instead, animal welfare groups and others have staked a clear strategy to circumvent state agencies through the referendum process. That is, if you want to ban mountain lion hunting or introduce wolves to a state, you have only to collect signatures from a population generally easy to sway with emotional media campaigns and overwhelm your opponents on election day— poor outcomes for people and wildlife be damned.”

Link to article:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrisdorsey/2023/10/05/ballot-box-biologys-hostile-takeover-of-state-wildlife-agencies/?sh=24b0744c5c4c

JBS Australia study documents lower carbon footprint from grass-fed beef

From an article in MeatingPlace by Frank Fuhrig on 6/6/2024

A study documenting the carbon footprints of 176 cattle farms across Australia has shown that the grass-fed, grass-finished beef has lower emissions than the Australian average, JBS Australia announced.

Data for the findings was independently collected from producers implementing regenerative agricultural practices in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and the Tasmanian mainland by IntegrityAg, an Australia-based sustainability consultancy.

“This study has been a unique insight into a large-scale closed beef supply chain that is tied to actual brands, showing impacts from grass-fed beef lower than the Australian average, and other global studies,” scientist Stephen Wiedemann of IntegrityAg said.

The initiative established a carbon emission baseline of 11.6 kilograms of CO2e per kilogram of live weight, 12% below Australia’s national average of 13.1kg CO2e/kg live weight.

IntegrityAg, which is working with JBS Farm Assurance on a further study to find a carbon baseline assessment for sheep, said that the beef study was conducted in conformance with ISO international standards.

Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein established at NC State

North Carolina State University on Friday announced the foundation of the Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein at North Carolina State University, a center of excellence and bio-manufacturing hub.

Established through a $30 million award from the Bezos Earth Fund, the center will unite academia, industry, chefs and policymakers to develop and commercialize alt-proteins, including cultivated, fermentation-enabled and plant-based products.

Meanwhile, cultivated meat maker Believer Meats on Friday announced it will partner with the newly established Center for Sustainable protein, which will form part of an international network of alternative protein centers supported through the Bezos Earth Fund’s Future of Food program.

“Innovation alone cannot solve our global nutrition needs in the future. We need to ensure that innovation reaches the market,” Andy Jarvis, director of the Future of Food at The Bezos Earth Fund, said in a statement e-mailed to Alt-Meat. “With NC State and their industry partners like Believer Meats, we see a path to take great products from discovery to commercialization.”

Ballot Initiatives Have Become Valuable Tools for Activist Groups

In recent years, animal and environmental activist groups have increasingly used lawsuits and legislation to promote their cause. Ballot initiatives, in particular, have proven to be a powerful tool for these groups to bypass the usual legislative process. It's important for producers to understand this process and be aware of where these groups have made progress and gained confidence. With some successes by these groups already, we can expect to see more ballot initiative activity at the state and local levels, some of which are already underway.

A Ballot Initiative is Not Legislation

The regular legislative process involves elected lawmakers proposing legislation, which then undergoes evaluation and potential modification in committee. It's not uncommon for legislation to stall or even die in committee. However, if the legislation makes it out of committee, it is then presented to lawmakers for a vote. Apart from Nebraska, every state in the United States has a legislature comprised of two chambers, both of which evaluate and vote on legislation. Once legislation passes both chambers, it is sent to the state’s Governor for either veto or signature into law.

Colorado Producers – You Have More Access to a House Agriculture Committee Member Than You Might Realize

Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo, representing Colorado’s 8th District, serves on the House Agricultural Committee. She is a ranking member of the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development. She also serves on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. In a recent email, our friend, Scot Dutcher, Weld County Farm Bureau President, has asked that Weld County Farm Bureau Members and other Coloradans take advantage of this great opportunity to provide direct feedback regarding the Farm Bill and other issues important to farmers and ranchers. He also communicated that Representative Caraveo personally requested help from producers in understanding agricultural issues. We need to take advantage of this invitation to offer guidance so Rep Caraveo can make informed decisions on critical votes that impact us all.

Representative Caraveo has three offices, one in Washington DC and two in Colorado, located in Northglenn and Greeley. You have an opportunity to either call one of Rep. Caraveo’s offices and speak with an aide directly or to submit your comment on her website via a comment form.

There’s More to Feedlot Management and Maintenance than Meets the Eye

We believe it is vital for families buying groceries to understand where their food comes from and the work and consideration that goes into its production. In the beef industry cattle spend most of their lives out on pasture. When cattle are close to being ready to process into food and other valuable resources, most spend the last several months at a feedlot or finishing yard in preparation. Another name for a finishing yard is a confined animal feeding operation or CAFO.

Animal Welfare and Environmental Protection

When managing feedlots or finishing yards, it is crucial for producers to prioritize the well-being of the animals they are responsible for. Along with ensuring that the livestock have access to proper nutrition and water, it is also important to manage the environment effectively. Good environmental management practices promote the health and well-being of the animals, help to reduce nuisances, and are the foundation of good land stewardship.

Engineering Plays an Important Role in Feedlot and Finishing Yard Design

Alabama Becomes Second State to Ban Lab-Grown Meat

Article by Caleb Taylor for 1819 News

Excerpts:

“MONTGOMERY — Alabama became the second state in the nation to ban lab-grown meat after Gov. Kay Ivey signed a bill on Wednesday prohibiting and providing criminal penalties for anyone who sells, manufactures or distributes lab-grown meat.”

“The bill, SB23, was sponsored and proposed by State Sen. Jack Williams (R-Wilmer) and carried in the House by State Rep. Danny Crawford (R-Athens).”

"Take your fake meat elsewhere," Williams said. "We're not doing that in Alabama."

"These folks are throwing a couple of animal cells in there with some chemicals and calling it meat. Alabamians want to know what they are eating, and we have no idea what is in this stuff or how it will affect us," he added. "Meat comes from livestock raised by hardworking farmers and ranchers, not from a petri dish grown by scientists. We are protecting our farmers and the integrity of American agriculture."

Alabama farmers have played a crucial role in sustaining our nation, feeding and clothing America through their dedication and hard work for generations.

“Crawford said, "This law will strengthen our livestock and poultry industry by preventing lab-cultured cells from being sold in Alabama."

Colorado HB 24 – 1249 proposes to provide a state income tax credit to agricultural producers who actively participate in stewardship practices on their farms or ranches. This credit will be implemented from January 2026 onwards.

Rulemaking

The Department of Agriculture will define the stewardship practices and determine the amount of credit to be awarded for each practice through a rulemaking process. A public stakeholder process will also be established to advise the Commissioner of Agriculture on the requirements.

Qualify and Claim

To qualify for the tax credit, a taxpayer will need to implement one, two, or three stewardship practices. The Department of Agriculture will issue tax credit certificates to qualified taxpayers upon application.

To claim the tax credit, a taxpayer must apply to the Department of Agriculture. Once the application is reviewed and approved, a tax credit certificate will be issued. The taxpayer needs to attach the certificate to their income tax return and submit it to the Department of Revenue.

Limited Terms

This tax credit proposal has a limited term of three years and is available only for qualified taxpayers who have not received any other tax credit, tax deduction, or grant for agricultural land health in the income tax year for which the credit is sought. Additionally, only one tax credit certificate may be issued to a qualified taxpayer per calendar year.

Fourteen farms a week vanished from Washington state every week during the last five years.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently released data from the U.S. Census of Agriculture and the numbers are shocking.

Between 2017 and 2022, our state lost 3,717 farms and ranches. It also lost more than 102,000 food-producing acres. To put these numbers in perspective, Washington lost a total of 3,456 farms in the previous decade.

We all know that correlation does not equal causation. Yet increases in operating costs and the enactment of hostile state and federal agricultural policy certainly suggest causation.

For example, 2022 was the first year agricultural overtime pay was implemented in Washington state.

In just a year’s time, agricultural employers saw their labor costs increase nearly 10% per employee by adding just five hours of overtime pay a week. An increase of $107.73 per employee, applied to the 164,000 farmworkers in our state, represents an increase of $17.67 million in overtime wages a week industrywide.

Compromise - Colorado House Bill 1379

Article excerpts:

"The Senate on Monday unanimously approved House Bill 1379, the measure backed by House Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, and Sen. Dylan Roberts, D-Summit County. It now heads to the House for review of a compromise amendment, which is expected to pass, and then head to the governor for signing.

Over the weekend, the proposal had added a significant new sponsor: Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Weld County, the sponsor of the competing measure, Senate Bill 127.

Lawmakers have been looking at dueling approaches contained in two measures seeking to implement a way for the state to manage "dredge and fill discharge" permits tied to a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that redefined how a body of water can be protected under the Environmental Protection Agency's "Waters of the United States" rule."

"The two measures looked nothing like each other at the beginning: House Bill 1379 sought to protect far more than the million acres of wetlands left unprotected by Sackett, while Kirkmeyer's bill, Senate Bill 137, sought to protect only the wetlands affected by Sackett.

White House Finalizes NEPAs Phase 2 Rule

By Anna Miller for Western Livestock Journal

Article excerpts:

"The Biden administration has rolled out its phase two rule for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations, reversing Trump-era reforms.

The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) said its “Phase 2” ruling will “simplify and modernize the federal environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act,” but industry groups argue otherwise."

"The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) oppose the new rule, saying it fails to reduce NEPA’s regulatory burden.

“The Biden administration largely ignored the requirements Congress passed in the Fiscal Responsibility Act that would streamline NEPA processes,” said Kaitlynn Glover, NCBA executive director of natural resources and PLC executive director. “Instead, this final rule changes the focus of NEPA, making it more ambiguous, less targeted, and nearly impossible to navigate.”

Updates on H5N1 Beef Safety Studies

- Announcement on the USDA / APHIS website -

Last Modified: May 01, 2024

What's New

May 1, 2024: USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing results from its testing of retail ground beef. FSIS collected 30 samples of ground beef from retail outlets in the states with dairy cattle herds that had tested positive for the H5N1 influenza virus at the time of sample collection. The samples were sent to APHIS’ National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) for PCR testing. On May 1, NVSL reported that all samples tested negative for H5N1. These results reaffirm that the meat supply is safe.

Background

USDA is confident that the meat supply is safe. USDA has a rigorous meat inspection process, where USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) veterinarians are present at all federal livestock slaughter facilities. FSIS inspects each animal before slaughter, and all cattle carcasses must pass inspection after slaughter and be determined to be fit to enter the human food supply.

While we have multiple safeguards in place to protect consumers, we recommend consumers properly handle raw meats and cook to a safe internal temperature. Cooking to a safe internal temperature kills bacteria and viruses in meat. Specific recommendations are available online at: Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart | Food Safety and Inspection Service (usda.gov).

Win for Livestock Industry

CDPHE Upholds CAFO General Permit and Continues to Safeguard Colorado’s Natural Resources

Livestock industry, led by the Colorado Livestock Association, prevails in a battle challenging the General CAFO Permit

Aurora, CO - This week, the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment accepted the Colorado Livestock Association’s appeal and reversed the initial decision by the Administrative Law Judge reaffirming the validity of the General Permit for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). This decision was the right result for livestock raising families in Colorado and preserves a permitting system that protects our state’s natural resources while maintaining economic viability for Colorado’s agriculture industry for generations to come. Colorado’s General Permitting system sets one of the highest standards across the nation in environmental stewardship and protection.

In June 2022, the Center for Biological Diversity, Food & Water Watch, and the University of Denver Sturm Law Clinic challenged the statewide general water pollution permit for CAFOs. Based on the petitioners’ assertions the administrative law judge issued an opinion stating the need for additional liners and groundwater testing wells. The basis for the petition was a court decision vacating EPA’s CAFO permit program in Idaho due to inadequate monitoring.

Ryan Hostetler, ALC Recognized as the 2023 RLI APEX Region 6 Broker of the Year in Ag Land Crop Sales

4/22/2024 (Greeley, CO) – Ryan Hostetler, ALC, with AGPROfessionals Real Estate in Greeley, Colorado, has been recognized as the APEX 2023 Region 6 (AZ, CO, NM, UT, WY) Broker of the Year in Ag Land Crop Sales by the REALTORS® Land Institute as a part of the RLI APEX Production Awards Program, sponsored by The Land Report.

“We are incredibly proud of Ryan for his accomplishments in 2023. The Regional Broker of the Year is a new category for the APEX Awards this year. We are proud to honor land professionals like him across RLI’s ten regions who are dedicated to both the industry and their clients. Ryan is truly among the most accomplished professionals in land real estate.”

A Colorado native, Ryan obtained his Colorado real estate license in 1999 and is an active member of the Realtors Land Institute, having earned the esteemed Accredited Land Consultant designation. He is currently licensed in Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Idaho, Nevada, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Ryan has been recognized as one of the “Top 20 Land Brokers” in the nation for 2017, 2019, and 2020 and as a member of the “Top Producers Club” annually from 2017 through 2023.

There is a movement across the country to ban or highly regulate cell-cultivated food products made in a laboratory. Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Alabama, Tennessee, and Texas are on the front lines of stopping and restricting lab-grown “meats.”

Arizona

The state of Arizona has created two bills to regulate lab-grown foods. The first is HB 2244. HB 2244 would make it illegal to label products not from livestock or poultry as “meat.” On January 22, the Arizona House Committee on Land, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs voted 6-3 in favor of HB 2244. On February 1, the Bill was passed by the House of Representatives. The Senate read HB 2244 on February 20.

In addition to HB 2244, Rep. David Marshal proposed HB 2121. The goal behind this Bill is to prohibit both the sale and production of cell-cultured meat. On February 22, the House passed HB 2121. The Senate read the bill on February 29. The bill passed its third reading in the Arizona Senate on April 4, 2024.

Florida

In the State of Florida, SB 1084 and HB 1071 have been proposed to strengthen the agricultural sector. Both legislative proposals state that unlawful activity under the Bills would be to “manufacture, sell or deliver, or offer for sale ‘cultivated meat’ for human consumption.”

Dive Brief:

• The Food and Drug Administration requested $7.2 billion as part of President Biden’s fiscal 2025 proposed budget to “strengthen and modernize” the agency’s ability to promote a safe and nutritious food supply in the U.S. The request includes an increase of $495 million — 7.4% above the FY 2023 budget.

• The FDA has come under fire recently as states have passed legislation preventing companies from using food additives like red dye 3 that the agency has approved as safe. Jim Jones, FDA’s first deputy commissioner for human foods, said last week on a webinar hosted by the Alliance for a Stronger FDA that the funding will provide necessary resources to regulate these ingredients.

Bovine Influenza A Virus Recommended as New Name for Recent Illness in Dairy Cows

"The American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) is recommending a new name for the illness that has been making dairy cows sick in several states: Bovine Influenza A Virus (BIAV)."

"While the virus is the same, it has different symptoms in cattle and thus we want to be sure the name reflects this virus in cattle," Gingrich told DTN.

The virus isolated from the affected dairy cows has been identified as avian influenza virus Type A H5N1. While this virus causes high morbidity and mortality in birds, it does not have the same effect on cattle."

"While for now the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, APHIS, and other organizations are still referring to the illness officially as HPAI, AABP said it will refer to the disease as BIAV in all its messaging.

AABP is encouraging other organizations, state animal health officials, diagnostic labs and state and federal agencies to use this name as well. The organization said this will make the messaging more consistent and better distinguish the disease syndrome in cattle from that observed in birds.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Rick Stott grew up on a dairy farm in Montana, but when he looked ahead to the future, agriculture was not a part of it.

“I swore I'd never go into ag,” Stott recalls.

After pursuing a career as a CPA, however, Stott worked his way back to agriculture in a “roundabout way,” and after two decades with Agri Beef, he began working for Superior Farms in 2013, where he now serves as president and CEO. An employee-owned company with 475 people, Superior Farms processes approximately one-third of the lambs in USDA facilities each year, and owns facilities in Dixon, Calif., Blue Island, Ill., Boston, and Denver. It is the latter facility that has inspired Stott’s recent activity on the political scene.

The impetus was “Prohibition of Slaughterhouses,” a citizen-initiative Denver ordinance that would, come Jan. 1, 2026, ban “the construction, maintenance, or use of” any meat processing facilities in Denver. The ordinance, which acquired signatures last year and will appear on the November 2024 ballot, would effectively close Superior Farms’ Denver facility, and Stott and other industry actors have responded.

Meatingplace caught up with Stott at the Annual Meat Conference, where he detailed his counter campaign, and how he sees things panning out in November. (The discussion has been edited for length and clarity.)

Article first published on March 16, 2024

The rule, announced last week, stated chicken, beef, pork and other animal protein can only be sold under patriotic packaging if the product was wholly produced in America, from conception to meat counter.

The decision was lauded by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), whose president, Marc Perrone, lambasted the practice of repackaging meat that originated outside the U.S. as American, as ‘trickery’ and ‘cheating.’ “Now, consumers can shop with confidence, knowing that when they buy products with the USA label, their money will actually go toward supporting America’s ranchers and meatpacking and processing workers,” Perrone said in a statement.

Article first published on March 12, 2024

This week’s finalization of the voluntary “Product of the USA” label claim is prompting concern from the Canadian government even as U.S. trade groups expressed support for specific changes to the previous policy.

The finalized rule announced this week by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack allows the “Product of USA” or “Made in the USA” label claim to be used on meat, poultry and egg products only when they come from animals born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the United States. The statute no longer allows the use of these types of labels on products from animals that were raised outside of the United States but slaughtered, repackaged, processed or reprocessed in U.S. facilities. It takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, USDA said.

Canada’s Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and International Trade Minister Mary Ng issued a joint statement saying that the final rule does not consider how closely the meat and livestock sectors in two countries currently work together. The officials noted that the current relationship allows producers, processors and consumers on both sides of the border to benefit from efficient markets and ensuring a reliable supply of high-quality products.

Article first published on March 8, 2024

Any company involved in the production, processing, and retailing of dairy, meat, poultry, eggs, and seafood has at least one thing in common — the potential to be targeted by animal rights extremist organizations. These groups are opposed to people using animals for any purpose, including for food. Among the many tactics used to advance their goal of eliminating animal agriculture and taking animal products off of our plates, one is of primary concern to any consumer-facing food brand (and those that supply them) — pressure campaigns and pushing for “incremental changes” which they claim are in the name of animal welfare or sustainability.

Legislative efforts have been a mainstay of extremist campaigns, but in recent years animal rights extremists have discovered a quicker way to exert influence on animal agriculture that cuts out the patchwork of state-level regulations on animal care dictated by ballot initiative campaigns. By pressuring restaurant, retail, and foodservice brands to adopt certain policies, these organizations are able to force the implementation of supplier requirements under the guise of animal welfare or sustainability — even if the policy does not truly benefit animals or the planet.

UPDATE: - April 3, 2024

On April 1st, the Colorado General Assembly website listed HB24 - 1375 as "postponed indefinitely",

Editorial About Colorado House Bill 1375 - Another Attack on the Western Slope

Article Excerpts:

"When urban Front Range liberals released wolves on Western Slope farmers and ranchers, they illustrated how 51% of voters can tyrannize the other 49%. In this case, a slim majority brazenly imposed liability on a large minority. Wolves kill livestock, outdoor pets and on rare occasions, children.

Because the wolves certainly will kill livestock and herding animals, the Legislature in 2023 passed Senate Bill 255. It established the half-million-dollar Wolf Depredation Compensation Fund to reimburse “people who suffer damages because of gray wolf depredation.”

"Today, legislators want to gum up the compensation fund with bureaucratic hurdles that will impose costs on farmers and ranchers. Under House Bill 1375, Western Slope residents would qualify for compensation only after proving they were kind to the wolves that preyed on their animals.

Sponsored by state Sen. Kevin Priola and state Rep. Tammy Story, the bill excludes from compensation any applicants who have failed to implement “nonlethal coexistence strategies"

A Guide to Understanding Ranching in The West

Learning about grazing and water rights on federally managed public lands is essential to understanding some key factors impacting livestock production and the purchase of ranch land in the West. This is particularly essential information if you are considering a property with grazing and water rights as additional assets.

In the early days of the American West, land was settled through various government acts. Along with settlement, the land's natural resources, like grass, water, and minerals, were claimed. Over time, those same rights were sold or passed down through the generations, and the rights remain in place to this day.

Split Estates

These claimed resources are not “public” even though the Federal Government administers them. Instead, they are considered a “split estate.” Split estates were proposed by President Theodore Roosevelt. Split estates occur when separate parties own the rights to the land above ground and minerals rights below the ground.

Acts To Settle the West

Throughout the 1800s and 1900s, several key acts were passed to promote the settlement and well-being of the American West, and many are still in effect. Without these acts, the West would not be what it is today.

Manure Digesters Add Value to Agriculture and Communities

Alternate revenue streams in agriculture are becoming increasingly important as farmers and ranchers struggle with rising costs due to inflation and other market conditions. Diversification has become a vital component of the long-term financial viability of many farms. The utilization of manure digesters is emerging as a viable way for farmers to generate additional income and help meet consumer demand for sustainable practices.

What Anaerobic Digesters Do

Farmers can utilize anaerobic digesters as a part of an integrated manure management approach. Methane is created when organic materials such as manure decompose in an oxygen-free environment, like a landfill or lagoon. Anaerobic digesters capture methane, and a renewable source of energy is created called biogas. In addition to creating biogas, anaerobic digestion produces a material called digestate, a nutrient-rich and stable biproduct.

Benefits of Anaerobic Digesters

According to the United States Environmental Protect Agency’s (EPA) website, anaerobic digesters offer a long list of benefits to the farmer, the local community, and the environment:

What Is Stormwater Runoff?

Stormwater runoff is produced by precipitation like snow or rain that falls onto an impervious or partially impervious surface like roofs, driveways, roads, or structures and is not absorbed into the soil. As the runoff flows, it picks up pollutants and sediment along the way that can be transferred into nearby waterways. Stormwater controls help to manage this by filtering and/or preventing pollution by controlling those sources.

Purpose For Construction Stormwater Management

Construction sites pose a higher risk of transporting pollutants into water. The disturbed ground is less stable, increasing the chances of erosion and/or runoff. The construction equipment and materials (i.e., stockpiles, oils/grease, etc.) found on construction sites may release pollutants onto the ground that can then be transported off-site in a potential discharge event.

Construction stormwater management practices help keep the property in compliance with the Clean Water Act and local, state, and federal stormwater regulations. The proper placement and installation of erosion and sediment control features keep runoff from exiting the site or filters runoff reducing/preventing pollutant runoff.

At AGPROfessionals, our mission is to advocate for our clients. As a part of this, we follow the regulatory landscape and participate when needed. Most recently, we stepped in on the EPA's request to comment on their Draft National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics. All too often, agencies pass regulations without thought to the bigger picture and their ripple effect. In the case of food and organic waste, we asked for consideration to be made to existing roadblocks and the need to open up viable, practical pathways for anaerobic co-digestion and composting.

See our comment below, submitted on February 1st.

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Comments Regarding Draft National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics

Docket Number: EPA-HQ-OLEM-2022-0415

The dairy industry has a long history of seeking solutions to make our products environmentally friendly and sustainable. We applaud the focus on reducing food waste and methane emissions by the United States Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency. Dairy organizations have committed to becoming a carbon-neutral sector of our food system and reaching this goal by 2050.

Arizona and Florida Lawmakers Put Forward Bills Regulating Factory Laboratory Food

Arizona and Florida lawmakers have put forth bills that aim toward the regulation and labeling of cultivated meat on store shelves. Cultivated “meat” is defined as a product that is produced when cells are taken from an animal and put in a bioreactor to replicate.

Making Headway

The proposed bills from both the states of Arizona and Florida are making headway just six months after the USDA Food and Safety Inspection Service notified the public that Upside Food and Good Meat were moving forward after the completion of the pre-market regulatory review process for cultivated meat. Both companies listed have been selling their products in restaurants; however, they have not had their product on grocery store shelves.

Arizona

In the State of Arizona, two bills have been put forward. House Bill 2244 was proposed with the intention of making it an illegal act to put the label “meat” on products that are not from livestock or poultry. The keywords on the bill are “misbranding, misrepresenting: food products”. On Monday, January 22nd, the Arizona House Committee on Land, Agriculture and Rural Affairs voted in favor of House Bill 2244 in a 6-3 vote.

Anaerobic Co-DigestionA Renewable Solution for Farms and Food Waste

With the focus on reducing greenhouse gases (GHGs), urban and rural communities across America are looking at their options for managing the waste that is producing methane in our nation’s landfills. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in their report, “From Farm to Kitchen: The Environmental Impacts of U.S. Food Waste”, the greenhouse gas emissions from food waste and food loss in the United States are significant. The estimation is that decomposing food and plant matter is equal to the output of 42 coal-fired power plants. In the report, the EPA lists food waste as the “single most common material landfilled and incinerated in the United States, comprising 24 and 22 percent of landfilled and combusted municipal solid waste…”.

Anaerobic Co-Digestion for Small and Mid-Sized Dairies

Anaerobic co-digesters utilize food waste, other organic materials, and manure to prevent methane from escaping into the environment and putting it to work. Co-digesters help keep food waste out of landfills and incinerators and reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers, yielding potentially significant GHG emissions reductions. The technology offered by anaerobic co-digestion is an economical solution that helps farmers and rural and urban communities manage waste products from food production, food processing, grocery stores, restaurants, homes, schools, and other institutions.

On Wednesday, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) withdrew their proposal to create a new type of publicly traded corporation called a natural asset company (NAC).

Why does this matter? Under the formerly proposed rule, an NAC would be a corporation that holds the rights to the ecological performance of a specific area of land. These rights would be licensed, much like water rights, mineral rights, etc. An NAC would have to license the rights from a private landowner or sovereign nation (either the U.S. federal government, Tribal government, or foreign nation.) The proposal garnered significant criticism due to its potential to reduce or remove industries like grazing from public lands.

The NYSE's reversal followed several weeks of pushback from congressional Republicans, the livestock industry, Western energy and other multiple-use stakeholders, and private property rights advocacy groups. PLC joined NCBA on comments in opposition to the rule earlier this month. 25 Republican state attorneys argued in a letter to the SEC that the proposal did not abide by financial laws. House Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman stated that the decision to withdraw the rule was a “sigh of relief.”

The National Western Stock Show is going on right now, and among the many things it does, it brings people together.

This is a great article about a visit a livestock judging team had with our friends and clients - the Gabel family and Magnum Feedyard LLC. Steve Gabel was one of our first clients more than 20 years ago, and his support helped AGPROfessionals get started.

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Article by Jennifer Shike for Farm Journal's PORK

Encourage the Next Generation to Chase Big Dreams

I instantly felt at ease when I walked into the office of Magnum Feedyard LLC and found myself surrounded by two of my passions: livestock and wrestling. In addition to being well known for their impressive cattle feedyard, the Gabel family is also well known for their love of wrestling.

We were traveling with our 4-H livestock judging team to Denver for the Western National Roundup and had just worked out on three great classes of feedlot cattle. The cattle were awesome, nobody busted a class, and the weather was chilly, but beautiful. As I stood there listening to Steve Gabel and his daughter Christie discuss the history of Magnum Feedyard, I was reminded once again of why I believe livestock judging is one of the greatest opportunities available for young people today.

Is It Mining?

The Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety provides a questionnaire to determine if potential projects require a Reclamation Permit. While a simple questionnaire seems helpful, the Mined Land Reclamation (MLR) Board has created policies that do not align with the Colorado Revised Statutes. The “Is it Mining” questionnaire requires the user to answer such questions as whether the mine site operator will receive any compensation and what post-mining land uses will be made of extracted materials.

It requires that you identify yourself as a mine operator to determine whether you are a mine operator.

As directed by the MLR board, office staff members consider the extraction of any material that uses public roads or benefits another to be mining.

They have extended this policy to include cleaning and maintaining irrigation reservoirs and canals.

We believe that this interpretation is wrong.

When the Left Hand is Stopping the Right Hand

We are currently advocating for clients who received a grant from the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) to clean out an irrigation reservoir on their property, and they are running into unnecessary roadblocks at every turn. The tentacles of regulation and their interpretation are strangling farmers, ranchers, and rural property owners. Regulations and policies in Colorado are even putting different state and county agencies at odds with each other. In this case, the project that the CWCB wants to have completed before the wet weather hits is being delayed because Weld County is insisting that the project be cleared with the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS) when it clearly is not mining, nor is it a reclamation project. Regardless, the Colorado Division of Mining Reclamation is demanding a mining permit.

Oregon Petition 3 Threatens Agriculture

Petition 3 (IP 3) is a ballot initiative currently collecting petition signatures in Oregon. Its language is similar to Colorado Initiative 16, but with much greater restrictions. If IP3 makes it on the ballot in Oregon, it will misrepresent and harm animal owners and set a precedent for other states. This will be harmful to pet owners and agriculturalists across America.

Misleading Summary

Like with most of the ballot initiatives by animal rights groups, the summary of IP 3 leads the people of Oregon to believe that they are supporting animal welfare by signing a petition in favor of this ballot initiative. This common tactic is used with ballot initiatives to mislead and sway voters.

Looking Past the Summary

A look beyond the surface of the petition shows that IP 3 is a way to implement an animal rights agenda and to remove animal protein products like beef, chicken, pork, and dairy, as well as fish and game meats, from the diet of the citizens of Oregon. IP3 will charge livestock producers, veterinarians, and even pet owners with felonies and misdemeanors for performing practices well within humane industry standards.

Linn County, Oregon, Uses New Law to Restrict Livestock Operations

According to a June 2023 article in the Statesman’s Journal, “Oregon has passed a bill imposing restrictions on new or expanding large livestock and poultry farms in the state.” The bill the article refers to is Oregon Senate Bill 85, which comprises of a number of restrictions for confined feeding animal operations (CAFOs), including groundwater use, permit requirements for waste management, and property line setbacks.

On December 12, 2023, Linn County, Oregon, recently utilized Oregon Senate Bill 85 to severely restrict the number and locations of large CAFOs by changing their county code to include a setback of one mile for livestock buildings from the property line of neighboring property. This action was taken in response to a proposal to build an 11-barn poultry farm in a rural area of Linn County.

SB 85 was Legislation Presented by Special Interest Groups Calling for a Moratorium on New or Expanding Livestock Operations

Originally, SB 85 called for an 8-year moratorium on building new large CAFOs and expanding existing large CAFOs. Along with the moratorium, it would have required the Oregon Department of Agriculture to conduct studies and recommend legislation with expanded regulations.

Winter Manure Management Tips

Article by Progressive Farmer reporting information provided by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Highlights:

Factors To Consider

Producers need to test their soil and manure nutrient concentrations to guide their decisions on where manure should be applied. If possible, avoid applying manure on fields with slopes, as this land presents a greater risk for erosion and runoff.

Try to apply manure on ground with at least 30% crop residue cover as this reduces the chances of manure runoff during heavy rains and snowmelt. Another consideration would be to apply manure on coarse-textured soils as fine-textured soils have more infiltration rates and reduce the risk for nutrient runoff losses.

In general, manure application should be avoided when fields are snow-covered. If manure must be applied then or when the soil is frozen, it is critical to recognize the runoff risk associated with solid versus liquid manures before making application decisions.

Different Manure, Different Rules

For liquid manure, it is not recommended to make an application to soil frozen beyond the top layer as this poses a high risk of nutrient loss through runoff. However, if conditions cause soil to freeze overnight and thaw during the day, application will likely create little risk for runoff.

Article excerpts:

"Two wolves released on Dec. 19, 2023, in Grand County, Colorado, 2302-OR, a juvenile female, black color, 68 pounds, and 2303-OR, a juvenile male, gray color, 76 pounds, come from the Five Points Pack. According to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Livestock Depredation Investigations, Five Points Pack wolves injured one calf and killed another in separate depredations in July of 2023; killed a cow on Dec. 5, 2022; and injured a 900-pound yearling heifer on July 17, 2022.

On July 21, OFW authorized the killing of up to four wolves from the Five Points Pack after two attacks on livestock within a week, which were the second and third depredations in the area within eight months. USDA employees killed two adult females, one adult male, and a yearling female from the problem pack by Aug. 4.

The other wolves released the same day, 2304-OR, a juvenile female, gray color, 76 pounds, and 2305-OR, a juvenile male, black color, 93 pounds, both come from the Noregaard Pack. According to OFW, the Noregaard Pack was involved in the confirmed killing of a calf on June 15.

The 2307-OR, an adult male, gray color, 108 pounds, comes from the Wenaha Pack. According to OFW, this pack was involved in the confirmed killing of a 7-month-old calf on Sept. 18 and a confirmed cow killed on Oct. 25."

Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) recently introduced the Farmer’s Freedom Act of 2023. The Farmer’s Freedom Act was written in response to governmental overreach in the latest Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule written by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA had rewritten the rules in response to the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) decision in Sackett vs. EPA, which clarified the definition of navigable Waters of the United States. This stripped EPA control over unconnected wet areas, like livestock ponds and vernal pools (mud puddles) that can form in the low spots in pastures and fields after a rain.

The legislation is designed to offer regulatory certainty to farmers, ranchers, and landowners by safeguarding the definition of prior converted cropland (PCC). Wetlands converted to cropland before 1985, have historically been exempt from WOTUS regulation. The EPA’s new WOTUS rule alters this exemption, potentially categorizing PCC as wetlands if it becomes unsuitable for commodity production or is used for non-agricultural purposes.

Senator Rounds pointed out the historical challenges faced by South Dakota producers due to complex WOTUS rule changes. He emphasized the importance of restoring the definition of PCC, as established by the previous Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR), which provided protections for owners of prior converted cropland while granting producers necessary flexibility.

Chad teVelde, PE, Appointed to Weld County Farm Bureau Board of Directors

- PRESS RELEASE-

Greeley, Colorado

December 6, 2023

We are pleased to announce AGPROfessionals' Senior Principal Engineer, Chad teVelde, P.E. has been appointed to the Weld County Farm Bureau Board of Directors.

Chad's connection to the dairy industry is deeply rooted, having grown up on his family's dairy in Chino, California. His hands-on experience extends to operating a dairy in partnership with his brother in Nebraska and beyond. Chad earned his degree in Agricultural Engineering from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo. In 2002, he launched his engineering consulting career, specializing in dairy and building design.

Chad teVelde joined AGPROfessionals in 2011, assuming the role of Senior Professional Engineer. Within our organization, Chad is dedicated to serving our clients by offering a range of new and existing dairy development services, encompassing site selection, construction, irrigation structures, waste-water pond design and permitting, and more.

Throughout his career, Chad has played a pivotal role in the design and permitting of over 30 new dairy projects, spanning a wide range of sizes from 800 to 15,000 cows. In addition to his involvement in new designs, he has provided support and designs for over 50 dairy remodel projects.

Keeping Small-Town America Alive

We believe it is critical to keep small towns in rural America alive. Small towns are the foundation and backbone of America. They embody the values that this country was built on. Traditionally, agriculture has been a significant source of revenue for small towns. It provides jobs on farms and related industries such as food processing, transportation, services, and retail. The income generated by these jobs circulates in the local economy.

Unfortunately, small towns across America are facing a problem with limited job opportunities and increased poverty. According to a USDA report titled Rural Employment and Unemployment, from 2007 to 2010, small towns lost over 1.4 million jobs, with the 2009 recession being a significant contributing factor. From 2010 to 2019, employment slowly grew but never fully recovered to the employment rates in 2007. Factors for unemployment can vary; however, there is often not enough work in small towns, even if a person is consistently looking and applying for positions.

Off-Farm Income and the Importance of Diversity of Business Opportunities

A March 2020 article by the USDA reported, “Among family farms, 45 percent of principal operators and spouses have a job off the farm…Most of these jobs were in construction, production, transportation, professional, sales, and administrative occupations.” Further, in a September 2021 article, the USDA stated, “Off-farm income, such as pensions, investment income or wages and salary from an off-farm job is an important source of total income for U.S. farm households. In 2019, 96 percent of farm households derived some income from off-farm sources.”

COLORADO WATER QUALITY CONTROL DIVISION CHANGES

The Colorado Water Quality Control Division (WQCD) is currently in the process of making changes and updates to the state’s construction stormwater permit regulations.

These changes are primarily being made to provide additional clarification on existing regulations and to update definitions to be clearer.

New Permitting Process – Updating Stormwater Management Plans

Colorado is transitioning to new construction stormwater permit certifications and the Stormwater Management Plan requirements and meeting specific submittal deadlines to continue coverage.

Since there are new code changes, current Stormwater Management Plans may require additional information in order to be in compliance when the transition occurs.

Critical Dates for Stormwater Discharge Permit Holders

For current construction, stormwater discharge permit holders

o Current permits expire on March 31, 2024

o To continue coverage after March 31st, a renewal must be submitted by January 2, 2024

For upcoming construction projects

o No construction stormwater permits will be issued in the month of March 2024

It's Time That Colorado's 2nd Leading Economic Driver, Agriculture, Gets Some Respect

July 11, 2023 Opinion Editorial by Senators Bryon Pelton and Barbara Kirkmeyer published in Our Town Colorado

"Every now and then we all like to take a trip down memory lane.

When you are a senator serving in the minority, those memories can be painful sometimes. But try being a senator from rural Colorado in the minority and recalling all the bad legislation, proclamations, executive orders or department appointments that have come across the books over the past few years — painful doesn’t even begin to describe it.

We represent the heart of rural Colorado — Weld, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington, and Yuma counties where agriculture is one of the top industries, and not just in our own counties, but also in our state and the nation. Weld County is the No. 1 beef producer in Colorado and among the top 5 in the United States.

And let’s not forget lamb, turkey, pig and chicken production as well as corn, wheat, potatoes, onions, carrots, the list of products coming out of northern and eastern Colorado goes on and on. Without the farmers and ranchers in Colorado to help feed America, the shelves at the supermarket would run dry.

Waters of the United States - WOTUS - is Back in Court

On November 11th, twenty-four states filed an Amended Complaint in federal court over the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. This is happening on the heels of the Supreme Court decision Sackett vs. the EPA and subsequent rulemaking by the current administration.

Attorneys for the states and industry groups have voiced strong criticism against the new rule. The complaint asserts that the current administration’s latest revision of the Waters of the United States Rule utilizes an impractical definition conflicting with the Clean Water Act, the Constitution, and Supreme Court precedent.

The Amended Complaint states, “…the Amended Final Rule still violates the CWA, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251-1387, the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 U.S.C. §§ 701-706, and the United States Constitution. It “exce[eds] [the Agencies’] statutory jurisdiction [and] authority” under the CWA by encompassing waters with no reasonable connection to “navigable waters.” 5 U.S.C. § 706(2)(C). It is arbitrary and capricious because— among many things—it embraces vague standards with little justification and minimal consideration of costs. See 5 U.S.C. § 706(2)(A). The Agencies promulgated the Amended Final Rule in violation of multiple procedural obligations. See 5 U.S.C. § 706(2)(D). And the Amended Final Rule runs “contrary to constitutional right, power, privilege, or immunity,” by offending the Commerce Clause, Due Process Clause, and the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. See 5 U.S.C. § 706(2)(B).”

AGPROfessionals Hires Maria Irianni Renno, M.S. PhD Candidate

- PRESS RELEASE-

November 7, 2023

On November 7, 2023, Maria Irianni Renno joined the group as Senior Environmental Engineer. Irianni Renno has over 10 years of experience working as a project manager and technical specialist in environmental remediation, working in the academic sector in collaboration with private and government clients, on-site investigations, remediation system design, and developing and implementing monitoring tools for site and technology assessments.

Maria specializes in biogeochemical cycle characterization and its application to different environments with the goal of optimizing natural and engineered processes to achieve efficient and cost-effective solutions. She has extensive field experience in the collection and preservation of biodegradable and redox-sensitive samples as well as in the installation of non-conventional monitoring sensor-based tools. Maria is well-versed in several remediation technologies and has primarily focused on molecular biology tools and microbiology for environmental applications. A focus of her career has been the development of monitoring tools for natural source zone depletion (NSZD) of contaminants and biodegradation enhancement technologies for contaminants in multiphase environments with a strong emphasis on sustainability and impact mitigation. This expertise makes her a valuable resource in waste management and remediation practices to yield the best cost-benefit for our clients.

WELD COUNTY NOTICE – PROPOSED ZONING CHANGES:

Weld County, Colorado, is considering major changes to its subdivision processes, which include changes to Chapter 23 (Zoning), Chapter 24 (Subdivisions), and Chapter 27 (Planned Unit Developments).

The following changes are proposed:

• ORD2023-17 (Repealing and Reenacting with Amendments Chapter 23 (Zoning) and Chapter 24 (Subdivisions)) . Ordinance 2023-17 was withdrawn from the November 7th Planning Commission Agenda for further changes to the draft Ordinance.
• ORD2023-18 (Repealing and Reenacting with Amendments Chapter 27 (Planned Unit Developments)). If adopted, Ordinance 2023-18 will rewrite Chapter 27 and state that no new PUDs will be allowed.

Planning Commission Voted Unanimously to Recommend Denial

At the November 7th Planning Commission hearing, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend of denial of ORD2023-18 to the Board of County Commissioners, with the comment that the Planning Commission would like to see additional Board Work Sessions and stakeholder meetings.

AGPROfessionals were among the several requesting the code changes be referred back to stakeholder’s meetings. Our concern is going too fast, and Weld County citizens and stakeholders have not been given adequate time to be made aware of code changes or have the opportunity to understand the impact to their property rights or to provide their feedback.

Diabetes is a Glucose Problem, and Red Meat Does Not Contain Glucose

Harvard University’s T.H. Chan’s School of Public Health, recently published a study titled, Red meat intake and risk of type 2 diabetes in a prospective cohort study of United States females and males (2023). The study concluded: “Our study supports current dietary recommendations for limiting consumption of red meat intake and emphasizes the importance of different alternative sources of protein for T2D prevention.”

Diabetes is a disease where the human body is unable to manage glucose. Red meat does not contain glucose. However, carbohydrates such as buns, rolls, bread, french fries, and soda that are often consumed with red meat do contain glucose.

Epidemiological Studies Have a Bad Track Record

The methodology utilized in the study is called epidemiology. It has been defined as the study of the determinants, occurrence, and distribution of health and disease in a defined population. Overall, epidemiology, when rigorously tested in clinical trials, has a very low accuracy rate of only 0 to 20%.

In an article titled, ‘The Problem with Observational Studies (Epidemiology)’ (Nobbs 2021), the author states,

Solar Farms and Wildlife – Success Stories Uncovered

Solar farms have been a target of contention for several years among critics concerned about their potentially harmful environmental and wildlife impacts. These concerns are often based on misinformation and the lack of broad public awareness of the successful work solar developers, environmental experts, and others have done to benefit wildlife, minimize water usage, and manage water runoff. Studies have shown that solar farms do a lot to improve and enhance the environment and wildlife.

Benefits to Wildlife

Wildlife can see a significant benefit from solar farms through scientific research, careful scaling, and effective modeling. An article by the Quintas Group stated that solar farms can help various endangered species thrive. The article also highlighted that the panels could reverse the decline in some species.

According to a study by researchers from the Universities of York and Lancaster (UK), the panels can serve as protection for small animals. One pro-solar panel organization, Woodlands, shared that the panels can shelter small mammals and birds and can act as protection from predators and a barrier between harsh weather and the animals.

Article published on Chevron.com

"On Art Guttersen’s 35,000-acre Colorado ranch are cows, horses, chickens—and active oil and gas operations.

Wellheads, tankless facilities and drilling rigs are strategically placed throughout his property, against the backdrop of green fields and distant, snowcapped Rocky Mountains.

As his cows grazed nearby, Guttersen reflected on how energy development spared his multigenerational farm from being sold to developers.

“Chevron saved my ranch,” he said.

Why It Matters

Agriculture and energy production are essential industries.

Guttersen wants his ranch to serve as an example of how these sectors can work together to meet growing demands for both.

“Our ranch is better today with wells on it,” he said. “It’s no longer just a ranch. It has become a major producer for the economy.”

A Good Neighbor

"Those visiting Guttersen’s ranch must abide by a series of rules: no smoking, littering or exceeding the 21 mph speed limit.

Likewise, Chevron has its own policies to help protect the environment. One way is by restoring the fields to their original condition after work in a certain area has concluded.

For nearly 25 years, AGPROfessionals has been a proud developer and advocate of all types of agricultural business in Colorado and throughout the United States. The fingerprints of our work have been on nearly every major agricultural project in Morgan County in the last quarter-century. We are unapologetic about our focus to keep agriculture thriving and growing.

However, with the challenges facing common agricultural practices, keeping agriculture thriving and growing is becoming more complex every year. Agriculture is under significant regulatory pressure to lower its carbon footprint and reduce environmental impacts without regard for the producer's costs. Satisfying those pressures and keeping our clients in business is complicated.

Every day, farmers and ranchers face rules and regulations that make it harder to produce. Some of the challenges producers face are as follows:

• Row crop farmers are unable to aerial spray anymore due to urban encroachment and their options to protect their crops are continually decreasing.
• Land prices and taxes are climbing from urban encroachment.
• Routine complaints are lodged against farmers and ranchers about dust or odors from acceptable farming practices and lawmakers are responding with no regard for the right-to-farm laws.
• Attacks from our own state and federal government are nonstop along with ever-increasing regulations of our labor.
• The media and urban marketing firms are constantly pushing disinformation campaigns about our animal welfare and our use of technology to genetically improve production output using less land, water, and chemicals.

Digesters are being utilized in dairies to recycle manure into biogas and fertilizer.

They are also being used to reduce the impact of food waste.

We are proud to be working with Vanguard Renewables on many of these projects.

How Diary Farmers Are Turning Manure Into Money –

Article in Smithsonian Magazine

Article Excerpts:

“In the early 2000s, when the price of milk plummeted and dairy farms everywhere were trying to find a way to diversify, the Barstows began thinking about how to stay alive. They decided to take full advantage of an underutilized commodity the cows produced in abundance, and build something called an anaerobic digester—basically, a manure-fueled power plant.”

“In 2013, Vanguard started trucking more than 24,000 tons of food waste each year, from local companies, such as Cabot Creamery and HP Hood, to the Barstows’ farm. “Manure is really just food waste that’s been digested once,” says Patrick Serfass, executive director of the American Biogas Council. “So when you take food waste that hasn’t been digested at all, it has 10 to 35 times more energy in it.” Allocating just 10 percent of a digester’s volume to food waste doubles the biogas yield. “If we don’t recycle this food waste, it’s just going to be buried,” Serfass says.

The Cost of Solar Panels Has Decreased – Creating Opportunities for Farmers

As solar panel manufacturing has ramped up around the world, prices have declined dramatically. The long-term price implications suggest that solar will be the cheapest form of energy in all markets, it is only a matter of time. In fact, it already is the cheapest electric power in many locations. This points to the opportunity that solar presents for farmers.

Only the Sun and Space Needed for Solar

Most basically, generating solar energy requires the sun, solar equipment, and the space to locate that equipment. Farmers own, control, or work more space (land) than any other profession. Whether the under-utilized space is rooftops, marginal farmland, or other unused land area, considering solar energy for those spaces can generate significant benefits for farmers and ranchers.

Reduced Energy Costs and Tax Credits

The first benefit of owning solar is reducing energy costs. Solar panel systems produce electricity for over 30 years with modest maintenance. They have warranties that last for 30 years as well, so there is comfort in knowing that the long-term investment is well worth it. The upfront cost of purchasing a solar system is offset by the 26% federal investment tax credit, depreciation tax benefit, and grants for renewable energy.

Morgan County: Solar Project Update

We have provided the documentation involved in the planning and permitting process of the Taelor Solar Project here on our website. Having it here, to easily open or download online, saves a trip to the Morgan County Planning Commission Office. We have included the entire application packet as well as the supplemental packet and have also broken out specific sections for ease of reading.

You will find that a lot of work has gone into the planning of this project with concern given to the wildlife, ecosystem, erosion and flood control, traffic, community, and economic impact.

Questions? Contact Taylor Henderson

Contact Information

Taylor Henderson – Project Developer

3300 E 1st Ave, Suite 675

Denver, CO 80206, USA

(970) 295-2234

TaelorSolarProject@BalancedRockPower.com

Links and Resources

Link to Taelor Solar Project Open House Event on Facebook HERE

Link to Taelor Solar Project website HERE

Renewable Energy Has Become a Key Component of Agriculture

Over the weekend, we were asked what energy has to do with agriculture, and the answer is – everything.

Agriculture relies on various forms of energy to power equipment, to heat and cool buildings from barns to greenhouses, to run fans in barns and silos, to light barns and pens, to run well pumps, to heat water, to run robotics, to electrify fences, to heat and refrigerate tanks, to manage manure, to plant, harvest, store, and ship crops and commodities and more.

Renewable Energy Offsets Farm and Ranch Expenses

In addition to the required energy to produce nutritious and affordable food, farmers and ranchers utilize energy to offset expenses. Corn is grown to produce renewable energy in the form of ethanol. Manure digesters produce natural gas at dairies. The US Department of Energy estimates that biomass energy has the potential to provide as much as $20 billion in new income for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. Farmers and ranchers are also adding to their monthly income and helping to support their farming and ranching operations with wind and solar farms. They do this by either installing their own or leasing ground to renewable energy companies.

Another "Not in my backyard" scenario was made even more egregious since the city annexed a long-operating farm, and Tennessee's Right to Farm laws are very clear.

Article by Chris Bennett for Farm Journal and AgWeb.com

Excerpts:

"On Sept. 5, 2023, the city council of Jackson, Tenn., passed a motion (9-0) to outlaw chicken litter use on farmland within the city limits due to odor issues.

Karen Gerfen Glueck is named Vice President, Communications and Strategic Planning

PRESS RELEASE

September 14, 2023

Agriculture development and advocacy firm AGPROfessionals, is positioning itself for future growth. On August 28, Karen Gerfen Glueck assumed the role of VicePresident of Communications and Strategic Planning.

Gerfen Glueck is a recognized advocate for agriculture and a communications, operations, and strategic planning expert. She guided the non-profit agriculture advocacy group Protect the Harvest’s growth to national prominence.Before joining Protect the Harvest, Karen spent 20 years working in a variety of roles, from operations and training to communications, marketing, and strategic planning to help grow the largest animal hospital company in the United States, VCA Antech , which Mars Animal Health now owns.

“AGPROfessionals has been highly successful going into our 25th year; however, the business environment is changing around us, and we must not only adapt, but lead in our work of advocating for our agricultural clients,” said AGPROfessionals founder, Tom Haren. “Karen embodies our AGPRO way. Her unique combination of agricultural and animal welfare advocacy, along with her years of experience and involvement with the groundbreaking growth in the veterinary industry, will help position AGPROfessionals and our valued clients for the future. “

Colorado Laws Mandate Change in Energy Production

In 2021, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed into law a suite of bills related to greenhouse gas emissions and energy production. The bills address streamlining solar energy permitting, encouraging other types of heating and cooling, renewable energy workforce careers, and more. This new suite of laws to encourage alternative energy production is not a new concept for Colorado and its residents. In fact, Colorado was the first state to enact a renewable energy standard (RES) in 2004. The energy standard required utilities to transmit specific percentages of energy from renewable sources.

Some Colorado Landscapes Are Ideal for Solar Energy Production

An article in Forbes about solar energy stated, "...the state of Colorado is one of the best states for solar energy." Colorado's elevation, weather, and broad expanses of flat land make it an ideal area for solar energy generation. In addition to those features, portions of Colorado's landscape are unsuitable for crop production and even marginal for livestock grazing. One such area is in Morgan County, Colorado, where the soil is comprised mostly of sand. In this specific area, the soil is so sandy that decades ago, water engineers decided to abandon the idea of creating a reservoir in the floodplain because the ground simply could not hold water.

Colorado:

New Pollution Rules for Manufacturers Raise Questions and Eyebrows

Anyone reading the Denver Post article titled, “State weighs new pollution rules for manufacturers” has to wonder why certain businesses have become targets of environmentalists and the policy makers they sway, and others have not. This is all about the 2021 law titled the Environmental Justice Act (HB 21-1266) which mandates a requirement for greenhouse gas reduction from companies that are in disproportionately impacted communities. At this point it appears that the rulemaking process has already commenced and there will be a hearing starting Wednesday at 4:35, then on Thursday 21st, and Friday the 22nd.

Washington DC Environmental Group Is Meddling in Colorado

It is not surprising that a Washington DC group called Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) has weighed in and the panel advising the Department of Public Health and Environment, called the Climate Equity Community Advisory Council, is vying for their recommendations to be followed instead of the recommendations of other concerned groups based in Colorado, or even the recommendations of their own Air Quality Control Division.

Founded in 2014, the Snake River Waterkeeper group has been busy in Idaho. The group’s website touts a variety of activities, from dam removal demonstrations, joining numerous lawsuits over the definition of “Waters of the United States,” to suing the EPA and filing a lawsuit to appeal Idaho’s newly promulgated General CAFO Permit Rule to the 9th Circuit.

Most Recent Target – Simplot

In May of this year, Snake River Waterkeeper filed a Clean Water Act lawsuit against Simplot Livestock, alleging that Simplot was discharging manure illegally. According to an article in Progressive Farmer, in response, Simplot Livestock filed a motion for dismissal on the grounds that the lawsuit could not provide any specifics for which they are making their claims.

On September 6th, the court ordered to stay discovery until it issues a decision on the pending motion to dismiss. The court took this action for various reasons, but most importantly, because proper notice to Simplot was not given. Snake River Waterkeeper could not and did not provide specific facts regarding their allegations. As a part of the decision, the court provided this information:

“Under Section 505(b) of the CWA and 40 C.F.R. § 135.3(a), a plaintiff must give a defendant detailed notice of an alleged violation 60-days prior to commencing a civil enforcement action. Specifically, the 60-day notice must identify “the specific standard, limitation, or order alleged to have been violated, the activity alleged to constitute a violation, the person or persons responsible for the alleged violation, the location of the alleged violation, the date or dates of such violation…”

The Urban Dictionary defines a “shakedown” as:

“Another word for extortion/blackmail, or the obtaining of a good or service through means of force, threats/intimidation, or abuse of power."

Colorado’s Energy Performance for Buildings Statute

Colorado House Bill 21-1286, the Energy Performance for Buildings Statute, was established with the goal of helping building owners increase energy efficiency, lower energy costs, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

This sounds like a great idea until implementation commences, and government agencies enter the picture.

Agriculture is Supposed to Be Exempt

The Colorado Energy Office is mandated to address the “Energy Performance for Buildings” statute. It requires buildings over 50,000 square feet to comply with new energy standards by 2030. According to the law, agricultural buildings are exempt.

It clearly states:

“(II) "COVERED BUILDING" DOES NOT INCLUDE:

(B) A BUILDING IN WHICH MORE THAN HALF OF THE GROSS FLOOR AREA IS USED FOR MANUFACTURING, INDUSTRIAL, OR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES;

Even though the statute states agricultural buildings are exempt, that sure doesn’t seem to be the case. A free-stall barn certainly is an agricultural building. However, farmers with free-stall barns are receiving notices from the State Energy Board.

As the Farm Bill gets close to expiring, an important piece of legislation meant to protect animal agriculture producers, titled Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression Act (EATS), has become a hot topic.

On August 21st, Congressmen Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Earl Blumenauer of Oregon submitted a letter to the House Committee on Agriculture opposing the EATS Act. This letter is reported to have gained 171 signatures. Of those signatures, four Colorado Congress members have signed, including some “agriculture” groups based in Washington D.C. that have no practical experience in actual agriculture production geared towards feeding hundreds of millions of people.

The EATS Act - A Response to Proposition 12 in California and Similar Legislation in Other States

The EATS Act was initially sponsored by U.S. Senator Roger Marshall and cosponsored by Senators Charles Grassley, Cindy Hyde-Smith, John Cornyn, and Joni Ernst. The EATS Act aimed to combat anti-animal agriculture legislation penned by animal rights groups. The EATS Act would prohibit individual states and local governments from attempting to interfere with agricultural production outside of their jurisdiction, and with good reason. Animal extremist groups and the lawmakers they support oppose the EATS Act because it prohibits them from forcing producers to comply with their ideological agenda.

On July 18, 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) submitted new proposed modifications to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements. At this time, Region 10 of the EPA has tentatively determined to make the proposed modifications.

The comment period to respond and give feedback was open until September 1, 2023.

Now, we wait for the findings and the final rule.

Here’s What You Need to Know

The EPA’s proposed modifications involve the establishment of monitoring conditions for the following discharges involving “waters of the United States”:

• Subsurface discharges of pollutants from production areas
• Dry weather surface and subsurface discharges from land application areas

Details

Listed below are highlights of the new regulations. The following actions must be taken if runoff or discharge from land application area impacts “Waters of the United States”:

Monitoring the following discharges, which will be sampled and analyzed:

• Dry weather discharges resulting from land application of manure, litter, or process wastewater, including discharges through tile drains, ditches, or other conveyances, and irrigation return
• Stormwater or snowmelt runoff or discharges of manure, and litter that has not been applied in accordance with site-specific nutrient management practices that ensure appropriate agricultural utilization of the nutrients in the manure

Car∙bon se∙ques∙tra∙tion / noun / a natural or artificial process by which carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and held in solid or liquid form.

It is estimated that 80% of the world’s carbon is found in the soil and it has potential to store more[1]. Hence, why the new federal administration is looking toward agriculture to help. Carbon is initially transferred to the soil through photosynthesis of plants. Carbon that is not used by the plant is transferred to the soil through the root system. Carbon then feeds the soil organisms and becomes stable. It gives the soil structure, as it is the main component of organic matter, which also increases water retention capacity. Some carbon is maintained in the topsoil and can be released back into the atmosphere, while other carbon is more stable and can stay in the soil for thousands of years. [2]

Climate change, carbon emissions, sustainability, regenerative, and the list of environmental language being used in the agricultural sector could continue. While there has been an upward trend of conversation revolving around these topics, there is also physical movement and some changes occurring within operations that the agriculture community has not experienced in the last decade. The new federal administration is even looking to agriculture as a solution to sequester carbon and move toward net-zero by 2050. Could this be the opportunity agriculture has been looking for to be placed in a positive spotlight nationally? For many farmers and ranchers, practices they have been doing for years are getting recognized for being beneficial to help with climate change.

Finding agricultural properties in Greeley, Colorado

Solar Energy - What if you could harvest the sun?