Ag Alert Sept. 15, 2021

Farmers seek ‘clarity and certainty’ in U.S. waters rule

Agricultural Market Review

ByChristine Souza On behalf of California farmers and ranchers, California FarmBureau provid- ed feedback thismonthto federal agencies as they seek to revise thedefinitionof “wa- ters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act, which establishes the scope of federal jurisdiction. The U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyandU.S. ArmyCorpsof Engineers, in a Federal Register notice on Aug. 4, re- quested pre-proposal feedback on the definition of waters of theU.S. FarmBureauSeniorCounselKari Fisher saidtheagencies intendtoissuea“founda- tional rule” restoring regulations defining waters of the U.S. in the Clean Water Act that were in place for decades until 2015, withupdates tobe consistentwith relevant SupremeCourt decisions. A separate, second rulemaking process would refine this regulatory foundation and establish an updated, durable defi- nition of WOTUS, she said. The founda- tional rule would repeal the Navigable Waters Protection Rule enacted during the Trump administration. In feedback related to theWOTUS defi- nition, California FarmBureau President Jamie Johansson said, “To ensure that law-abiding farmers, ranchers and other landowners understand and comply with theCWA,anydefinitionofwatersof theU.S.

mustprovideclarityandcertainty.”Headd- ed, “It is necessary that family farmers and ranchershavearulethatdrawsclear linesof jurisdiction that they canunderstandwith- out hiringcostlyconsultants and lawyers.” In related news, the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona on Aug. 30 is- sued an order vacating and remanding the Navigable Waters Project Rule in the case of Pascua Yaqui Tribe v. U.S. EPA. As a result of the order, the EPA said, “The agencies have halted implementation of theNavigableWaters ProtectionRule.” “With the U.S. District Court for the District ofArizona’sAug. 30order, the2020 NavigableWatersProtectionRulehasbeen vacatedandno longerapplies,”Fisher said. “Instead, the agencies will apply the 1986 regulations and various U.S. Supreme Court guidance when determining if a water is a water of the United States and if a permit is needed.” American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall expressed dis- appointment in the decision. “Farmers finally had environmentally responsible regulations that brought clarity to clean water efforts,” he said. “This ruling casts uncertainty over farmers and ranchers across thecountryand threatens theprog- ress they’vemade.” (Chr i s t ine Souza i s an ass i s tant editor of Ag Alert. She may be contacted at csouza@cfbf.com.)

Quotations are the latest available for the week ending September 10, 2021 Year Ago Week Ago Latest Week Livestock Slaughter Steers – 5-Area Average Select & Choice, 1050–1150 lbs., $ per cwt. 103-104 No Quote 123-124 Hogs – Average hog, 51-52% lean, Iowa-Minn. market, $ per cwt. 62.55 97.24 95.79 Slaughter Lambs – $ per cwt. 125–175 lbs. National weekly live sales No Quote 215-277.98 215-273.40 Field crops – basis prompt shipment Barley – U.S. No. 2, $ per cwt. Truck, Stockton-Modesto-Oakdale-Turlock No Quote No Quote No Quote Cotton – ¢ per lb., Middling 1 3/32” Fresno spot market 66.10 83.31 82.59 Corn – U.S. No. 2 yellow $ per cwt. trucked 4.91 7.68 7.52 Alfalfa Hay – $ per ton, quality*, FOB Region 1, Northern Inter-mountain 200-215 (P/S) 225-250 (G/P) No Quote Region 2, Sacramento Valley 300 (orchard mix) No Quote No Quote Region 3, Northern San Joaquin Valley 235-245 (P/S) 265-280 (P/S) 275-280 (G/P) Region 4, Central San Joaquin Valley 190 (F/G) 255 (P) 260 (utility) Region 5, Southern California 260 (P) No Quote No Quote Region 6, Southeast Interior 130-148 (F/G) 120-260 (G/P) 220-245 (F/G) Oat Hay – $ per ton, quality*, FOB Northern California, dairy No Quote No Quote No Quote Oats – U.S. No. 2 white, $ per cwt. Statewide, trucked price No Quote No Quote No Quote

Dry Beans – Grower FOB prices Baby Limas, $ per cwt, (sacked) Large Limas, $ per cwt. (sacked) Blackeye, $ per cwt. (sacked)

No Quote No Quote No Quote

Rice – Milled No. 1 Head, FOB No. Calif. mills Medium grain, $ per cwt. Wheat – U.S. No. 2 or better, winter, $ per cwt. 13% protein, Los Angeles, trucked price

No Quote

42-44

No Quote No Quote Provided by the California Farm Bureau as a service to Farm Bureau members. Information supplied by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Market News Branch. * ADF=Acid detergent fiber; (S) = Supreme/<27%ADF; (P) = Premium/27-29; (G) = Good/29-32; (F) = Fair/32-35. No Quote

2021 California Farm Bureau

PHOTO CONTEST

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September 15, 2021 Ag Alert 19