Problems With The EPA Way?

Over the course of the past few years, we have seen the Environmental Protection Agency become prevalent in agriculture.

The EPA is a government program that was established to protect human health and the environment, although, some believe they have become overbearing. The EPA has produced many acts dealing with agriculture. All of these acts have requirements, many of which require monetary action to conform to.

In addition to the current acts, in a recent USDA Agricultural Air Quality Task Force meeting, an outline of new regulations was provided. The EPA will be adding more than ten new requirements. Of the existing acts there are several that affect farming communities such as ours.

Acts exist regulating pasture, rangeland, and grazing operations. These acts include stipulations that manage herd size, charge grazing fees, and require obtained grazing permits. Although these regulations have not been established in Nebraska yet, states such as New Mexico, California, and Colorado are under consideration.

Other acts set forth regulations on antimicrobial pesticides, biopesticides, insecticides, fungicides, and rodenticides, in which the EPA evaluates what is to be used and how much can be used, as well as when these pesticides may be applied. In addition, there are acts set in place that regulate worker safety and training. This states that if workers are employed at a farm, forest, nursery, or greenhouse and will be handling any chemical they must attend safety training.

Also, there are regulations that affect animal feeding operations by placing regulations on animal waste storage and disposal in effort to prevent pollution of water sources. Other acts include the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Food Quality Protection Act, Toxic Substances Control Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and many more. New regulations may include: a new solid waste act, diesel engine regulations, regulations for bioenergy/biogenic emissions, a dust standard, etc.

With all regulations in consideration, does the EPA have an effect on workers personally? According to American Electrical Power’s CEO and NBC News, In 2011, the EPA was responsible for the loss of nearly 600 jobs within American Electrical Power and hundreds more in other companies by creating unrealistic timelines and causing 25 percent of plants to shut down before the end of the production season.

Northwest timber agency has faced similar problems. According to CNN and a Santa Clara University study, in many areas where the Spotted Owl species was prevalent, all logging was stopped in effort to save the them from becoming extinct, when other methods such as species extraction and confinement could have been utilized. This put hundreds to thousands of people per company out of work.

The Environmental Protection Agency has the power to change the face of agriculture. What they may not realize is the intense regulations set forth may cause food, fiber, and fuel prices to rise.

The real question; is the EPA is potentially limiting economic growth for our nation?