Zeldin Nominated to Lead EPA and Threat to OSHA's Heat Rule
From the Ag Information Network, this is your Agribusiness Update.
**President-elect Trump has selected former New York congressman Lee Zeldin to run the Environmental Protection Agency.
Trump says Zeldin will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will unleash the power of American businesses but will still maintain “the highest environmental standards.”
NPR reports environmental groups decried the nomination as a step backward for environmental policy.
The nomination needs confirmation from the Senate, where Republicans will hold a majority next term.
**Sales of ag tractors plunged year-over-year in October, according to data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.
Tractor sales dropped 14% and combine sales fell almost 35%.
These declines point to the overall softness in the ag economy following a robust five years of positive industry results.
Sales of two-wheel drive tractors fell 15%, led by a 38% drop in sales of those with 100 horsepower or more.
**The coming months will likely mean the death of OSHA’s recently published heat safety rule, but experts say it won’t necessarily mean no standard will come to pass.
The agency published the proposed rule and began accepting public comments over the summer.
The rule requires a Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Plan that employers would need to put into effect for a heat trigger when temperatures reach 80 degrees.
