What happened: NPPC, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association on Tuesday joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in asking a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit seeking a broad interpretation of the requirements for reporting emissions from animal waste.
Animal and environmental activist groups sued EPA in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia over a section of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) that exempts livestock and poultry farmers from reporting routine air emissions from animal waste. EPCRA requires certain entities to notify state and local authorities, including first responders, about accidental spills and releases of hazardous materials and chemicals.
The law initially exempted livestock and poultry farmers from reporting, but a 2017 court decision rejected the exemption. In 2018, Congress approved the Fair Agricultural Reporting Method (FARM) Act, which reinstated the exclusion. Activist groups challenged EPA’s regulation implementing the FARM Act.
NPPC’s take: NPPC and the other agricultural organizations cited EPA’s reasoning for exempting agriculture from the reporting requirements: Farm emissions might exceed thresholds that would trigger responses under EPCRA, but such responses would be “unnecessary, impractical and unlikely.” Agitating a manure pit, for example, could result in the release of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide in amounts that exceed reportable levels, but the gases would dissipate quickly, so no response would be warranted.
Why it matters: If livestock producers were subject to EPCRA reporting, they would be required to estimate the emissions of certain gases. However, EPA has yet to finalize reliable, scientifically sound estimating methodologies that accurately represent the air emissions from animal manure at modern livestock farms. Additionally, farmers could be subject to liabilities resulting from differing interpretations of the information called for in the emissions reports, exposing them to potential civil penalties or litigation.
NPPC’s Stevermer, Staff Participate in NAFB ‘Trade Talk’
What happened: NPPC President and Minnesota producer Lori Stevermer and several NPPC staff Thursday participated in the National Association of Farm Broadcasting’s (NAFB) national convention in Kansas City, MO, where they took part in NAFB’s “Trade Talk.” Stevermer also participated in a panel discussion on environmental issues. (Oklahoma Farm Reports KC Sheperd also interviewed Stevermer, we will be publishing this in the next few weeks)
Joining Stevermer were NPPC CEO Bryan Humphreys; Maria Zieba, vice president of government affairs; Chase Adams, assistant vice president of domestic policy; and Dr. Ashley Johnson, director of food policy.
Among the topics they discussed in 44 radio interviews were:
- Fixing California’s Proposition 12, which bans the sale in that state of pork from hogs born to sows raised in housing that does not meet California’s arbitrary and unscientific standards.
- Passing as soon as possible a new Farm Bill that includes programs to prevent and prepare for foreign animal diseases, promote U.S. agricultural exports, codify USDA’s National Detector Dog Training Center, which trains canines used at U.S. ports of entry to detect agricultural contraband, and reauthorize the federal Feral Swine Eradication Program.
- Addressing the farm labor shortage through reform of the H-2A and TN visas to make them more useful to animal agriculture. H-2A visas only allow temporary, seasonal farm workers into the country; TN visas allow certain professionals, including animal breeders and veterinarians, but have been routinely denied.
- Negotiating comprehensive trade agreements that eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers to U.S. pork.
Why it matters: NAFB’s “Trade Talk” connects agriculture broadcasters and agricultural industry leaders to discuss key issues and topics affecting U.S. farmers. Farm broadcasters are a trusted source, provide an invaluable service, and are a vital tool for communicating with the agricultural community, telling the story of the who, what, when, where, and how of America’s food, feed, fiber, and fuel system.
