Arizona Farm Bureau’s Kevin Rogers Outlines Steps to Ease Regulatory Nightmares Impacting Farmers

Congress must help alleviate the burden of an ever-increasing array of federal environmental regulations on agriculture, according to Arizona Farm Bureau President Kevin Rogers, who testified today before a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee.
By: Arizona Farm Bureau
 
July 15, 2011 - PRLog -- Congress must help alleviate the burden of an ever-increasing array of federal environmental regulations on agriculture, according to Arizona Farm Bureau President Kevin Rogers, who testified today before a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee. Representing the American Farm Bureau Federation, Rogers told the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy that the breadth and extent of the regulatory challenges facing U.S. agriculture are tremendous.  



According to Rogers, the regulations cover a broad range of issues, including: Clean Air Act requirements, Clean Water Act permitting and other requirements, restrictions on pesticides and other farm in-puts and regulatory burdens involving both crops and livestock operations.



“It is no exaggeration to say that the onslaught of federal regulations now confronting farmers and ranchers across America is truly overwhelming,” said Rogers. “A farmer trying to manage his land and his crops knows one thing – the federal government is making it tougher and tougher to make a living from the land.”



While not all regulations can be quantified, some can, explained Rogers, and some are substantial. He outlined the following steps Congress can take to alleviate agriculture’s regulatory burdens:

·The House should adopt language in the House Interior Appropriations bill that incorporates the provisions of H.R. 910, a bill that would allow Congress, not the Environmental Protection Agency, to determine how to regulate greenhouse gases.

·Congress should adopt language that would prevent EPA from regulating agricultural dust, forcing many rural areas into non-attainment status.

·Congress should approve H.R. 2458, which would provide a realistic interval for updating national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS).



“These pieces of legislation effectively balance environmental concerns with those of farmers and ranchers,” said Rogers. “These are critical legislative initiatives that must be pursued.”

About the Arizona Farm Bureau:

The Arizona Farm Bureau is a grassroots organization dedicated to preserving and improving the Agriculture industry through member involvement in education, political activities, programs and services. Go to www.azfb.org to learn more.

# # #

We help small business owners and start ups build buzz for their business through creative marketing strategies that work!
End
Source:Arizona Farm Bureau
Email:***@azfb.org
Zip:85212
Tags:Clean Air Act, Farming
Industry:Agriculture, Government, Food
Location:Phoenix - Arizona - United States
Account Email Address Verified     Disclaimer     Report Abuse
23 Kazoos PRs
Trending News
Most Viewed
Top Daily News



Like PRLog?
9K2K1K
Click to Share