California Drought Impact Lessens and AFBF Unhappy with WOTUS Proposal

California Drought Impact Lessens and AFBF Unhappy with WOTUS Proposal

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.

**Impacts of the 2020-21 drought on California farms and ranches might not be as bad as feared, according to a University of California report.

Despite record-setting drought conditions and hundreds of thousands of acres left unplanted, the authors say the state’s farms and ranches may generate normal revenue in 2021.

The report cites adaptability as a key factor.

**Ag groups are reacting to the EPA’s proposed rule to replace the Navigable Waters Protection Rule, and they’re not happy saying it would re-establish the pre-2015 WOTUS rule.

American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall says overreaching regulations create major permit backlogs for the federal government and result in long delays for farmers and ranchers working hard to keep America fed.

Duvall says they’re putting this in place before completing the promised stakeholder engagement.

**Lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow soybean oil-based jet fuel to qualify for an unprecedented tax credit.

A Reuters article says that would be a win for biofuel producers and a blow to environmental groups that say crop-based fuels undermine the benefits of producing greener fuels.

This comes as the Biden administration set a target of lowering aviation emissions by 20% by 2030.

U.S. biofuel groups say it will be impossible to meet such targets without using ethanol and soybean oil.

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