Environmental Policy
EPA is removing DEF sensor requirements to end costly equipment shutdowns and save farmers an estimated $4.4 billion annually.
The RFS Set 2 rule is projected to increase net farm income by $4 billion and create a $31 billion market for corn and soybean oil while supporting 100,000 new rural jobs.
While the EPA has set federal regulations for 2026 applications, some states are implementing tighter calendar deadlines and temperature cutoffs.
Following Monday’s right-to-repair announcement, EPA is demanding DEF failure data from engine makers, targeting shutdowns and derates that cause costly downtime, with more DEF changes expected.
During Monday’s roundtable with farmers, Trump said he’ll cut environmental requirements on tractors and other farm equipment, pushing manufacturers to lower prices and make machines simpler to operate and repair.
EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers unveiled a revised rule on Monday aimed at clearer permitting and fewer regulatory surprises, such as narrowing which water features fall under federal oversight and confirming exclusions.
In the heart of California’s Central Valley, generations of farm families are facing a new kind of crisis: what farmers argue is a man-made drought. It’s mounting water regulations that could determine whether the most fertile farmland in the nation survives.
A federal court has vacated the Biden-Harris administration’s rule that listed the lesser prairie-chicken as an endangered species.
Now farm tractors, combines and sprayers can be configured so there is no impact on engine power for up to 36 hours when a DEF system malfunction occurs, and a farmer has up to 100 engine hours at 25% power reduction before a 50% reduction takes hold.
The White House said on Monday to not expect public release of the Make America Healthy Again policy recommendations on Aug. 12
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin proposes rescinding the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding. If the proposal goes into effect, it could potentially lead to DEF systems no longer being required in tractors, trucks and other equipment using diesel-powered engines — a decision many farmers and others in the ag community would applaud.
The recommendations in the recent report could impose steep economic and environmental costs on U.S. farmers by limiting access to glyphosate and atrazine for weed management.
USDA’s Brooke Rollins and more than 300 farm groups went to bat for agriculture leading up to the report’s release on Thursday. Yet farmers were excluded from having a voice at the table in the development process. That needs to change before the next report – which will provide policy recommendations – is issued within the next 80 days.
Many farm organizations say the 68-page document released on Thursday is filled with “fear-based rather than science-based information about pesticides,” positioning that will sow seeds of distrust with the American public.
A chief concern is whether glyphosate will be targeted by the report, which is expected to be unveiled on Thursday. A number of farmers have voiced concerns collectively and individually this week.
The agency plans to cut staff to Reagan administration levels and shift research to office run by political appointees. Advocacy groups are concerned about scientific independence.
U.S. officials and lawmakers have complained that Mexico’s failure to meet its obligations under the treaty is harming Texas farmers. Mexico has argued that it is under drought conditions that have strained the country’s water resources.
A small group of farmers had the chance to meet with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s team last week. They described the conversation as enlightening and eye-opening, but their biggest takeaway was how open Kennedy’s team was to hearing their point of view.
The agency will hold at least six listening sessions for stakeholders between late March and into April. Persons or organizations wishing to provide input will be selected on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Steady investment in ‘green’ biofuels has promised new market demand for farmers and ethanol producers, but will that continue in 2025?
Farmers will need to be able to show farm records, receipts, delivery tickets, and any as-applied maps. Geo-stamp photos will also be required to prove the use of no-till and cover crops.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promised to work with farmers to remove burdensome regulation during his confirmation hearing. And while Lee Zeldin’s past positions raised initial concerns, his recent statements during the confirmation process suggest he may be open to working with the biofuels industry in his new role as EPA Administrator.
NAICC has worked to strengthen and expand our relationships with members of Congress and multiple agencies such as EPA, Fish and Wildlife, Natural Resources Conservation Service, etc.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s pick to lead the Health and Human Services, is scheduled to appear in front of the Senate twice this week for confirmation hearings.
President Donald Trump signed several executive orders on stage at a rally in Washington, D.C.'s Capital One Arena on Monday, immediately following inauguration. It marked a dramatic and public start to his administration.
As Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th president, he’s not expected to impose China-specific tariffs on his first day in office, signaling a strategic shift toward engagement with Beijing rather than reigniting a trade war.
Trump’s plans to roll out blanket import tariffs could slam the door on imported vegetable oil supplies, which renewable energy analysts said could in turn lure the U.S. crush industry to revive lagging plans to build new plants and expand capacity.
Trump stated that Zeldin would “ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions” to “unleash the power of American businesses.” The administration aims to maintain “the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet” while pursuing deregulation.