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Farmers and ag organizations talk WOTUS

Agricultural organizations are coming together in the fight against the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Waters of the US rule.

Mike Dunn, director of production and environment for the Indiana Soybean Alliance joined farmers and members of the American Soybean Association in Washington DC earlier this week to voice their concerns to EPA about its proposed WOTUS rule.  “One of the concerns we have is that some of the definitions are not very clear,” he says.  “In on specific example talks about flood plains.  But the rule does not specify what size of flood plain.  Some of the things we’ve asked for are clarifications on some of the definitions and clarifications on some of the exemptions this rule includes.”

Dunn tells Brownfield the lack of clarity in the rule could have negative unintended consequences to the agriculture industry and specifically to parts of Indiana.  “In the northwest part of the state, there are quite a few drainage ditches,” he says.  “The rule can be read numerous ways.  In one section it talks about the rule being exempt from jurisdiction and in the other part it talks about ditches that would be subject to the rule.”

This week EPA extended the deadline to comment on the WOTUS to November 14.  Dunn says it’s imperative for farmers to visit EPA’s website to submit their comments and concerns about how the rule would affect their farming operation.