U.S. Ag Groups Push for Water Rule Extension

Jun 02, 2014

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

More than 70 food and agriculture groups have asked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for more time to commit to a new rule on waters of the United States. The formal request for an extension on certain agricultural practices was made in the form of a letter.

The rule expands the EPA’s definition of what is classified as navigable waters. Currently, it includes waters and waterways with a hydraulic connection to navigable waters. But the new rule would redefine “waters of the United States” to also include intermittent or seasonal (a body of water that flows for part of the year) and ephemeral streams (a stream that flows during/following a period of rainfall).

Agriculture groups argue that the expanded rule could affect farming practices. The groups point out that the 90 day comment period on the proposed rule is the busiest time for farmers, making it difficult for them to take the time to comment on a rule that could greatly impact their farm. The organizations involved in the drafting the letter to the EPA are asking for an additional 90 days to submit comments.

Video: Is China Buying US Soybeans + USDA Nov 14th Crop Report could be “Game Changing”

After a week of a U.S./China trade truce, markets/trade is skeptical that we have not seen a signed agreement nor heard much from China or seen any details. There are rumors that China is buying soybean futures & not the physical. Trust in Trump?
12 MMT of U.S. soybean purchases by China by year-end is better than 0 but we all need to give it more time and give it a chance to unfold. China did lower the tariffs on Ag and is buying U.S. wheat and sorghum.
U.S. supreme court could rule against Trumps tariffs, but the Trump administration does have a plan B.
U.S. government shutdown is now the longest in history at 38 days.
But despite a U.S. government shutdown we will be getting a USDA November crop report next Friday and it could be “game changing.” If the USDA provides a bullish surprise with lower U.S. corn and soybean yields and ending stocks that are lower than expected both corn and soybean futures will break out above their ceilings at $4.35/bu and $11.35/bu respectively.
The funds continued their selling in live and feeder cattle futures on continued fears that the Trump administration want to lower U.S. beef prices. The fundamentals have not changed, only market psychology has.
Stocks markets continue to worry about a weak U.S. job market, but you can blame ChatGPT for that. In the future, we will have a more efficient, productive and growing economy with a higher unemployment rate until we have more skilled AI workers.
After 34 new record highs in the S & P 500 and 124 new records in the NASDAQ in 2025 we are back to a correction and investor profit taking as AI valuations may have gotten too stretched near-term ahead of NVDA’s 3rd quarter earnings announcement on Nov. 19th. But this is not an AI bubble.
75% of Tesla shareholders approved a $1 trillion pay package for Elon Musk!
It has rained in South America in the last 7 days, but both the American and European models agree that Central Brazil remains dry in the next 14-days!

New Logo Helps Consumers Identify Canadian Chicken in the Grocery Store

Ontario’s Local Food Week June 2 -8 2014