New working group on ag and EPA

Farm and Ranch March 10, 2011 The Environmental Protection Agency has several pending rules and regulations that will impact agricultural producers and a few days ago Senate Ag Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow told the USDA’s Outlook Forum;

Stabenow: “We are putting together a working group with USDA and EPA to discuss these issues.”

And earlier this week lawmakers, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack got together to talk about the working group and its job. Vilsack telling reporters;

Vilsack: “It was a very constructive meeting and I think it was an opportunity for us to begin the process of making sure there is a meeting of minds about precisely what the EPA is proposing or not proposing. And I think that there is a real opportunity there for a lot of misunderstandings to be cleared up and certainly appreciate the chair and ranking members willingness to give us that opportunity and we are going to continue to work with them through the working group process.”

Vilsack said he will make sure the EPA is aware of the possible effects on farmers of any regulations being considered.

Chairwoman Stabenow issued a short statement after the meeting which included the following, “In the end, we all share the same goal of strengthening our economy, protecting our food supply, land and water, and empowering our nation’s farmers.”

EPA Administrator Jackson is scheduled to appear before the House Agriculture Committee today where she will be asked about the agency’s pending regulations affecting agriculture.

I’m Bob Hoff and that’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on Northwest Aginfo Net.

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