EPA clears air on Farmers’ equipment Repair Rights

Sep 11, 2023

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has given a boost to farmers. They've stated that the Clean Air Act (CAA) shouldn't be a barrier for farmers wanting to repair their equipment themselves.

Some equipment makers and sellers had previously claimed EPA rules and the CAA as reasons to put limits on repairs. Their argument is that independent fixes might interfere with systems controlling pollution. However, NFU's head, Rob Larew, suggests these claims by manufacturers were just excuses to limit independent repairs.

In a significant move, EPA's Administrator Regan penned a letter to the National Farmers Union (NFU). He mentioned that their concern isn't about who repairs the equipment but about preventing wrongful tampering. He expressed that proper care and mending of equipment is good for our planet. Thus, he supports any rules that let farmers fix their equipment as long as they don’t mess with emission controls.

The NFU is pushing for a nationwide rule. They want farmers and mechanics to be able to fix farming tools at fair prices. President Larew emphasizes that the freedom to repair is crucial for ensuring fairness in the agricultural sector.

Source : wisconsinagconnection

Video: What Happens When Pigs Adapt to High Soybean Meal Diets? - Gustavo Lima

In this special rerun episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Gustavo Lima, PhD candidate in Animal Science at Iowa State University, discusses how grow-finish pigs respond to high soybean meal diets. He explains the initial drop in feed intake, changes in backfat, later adaptation, energy efficiency, amino acid utilization, and the rise in nitrogen excretion at higher inclusion levels. Listen now on all major platforms!

Click here to read the full research article: https://academic.oup.com/jas/article/...

“Once they got adapted to the diet, they can handle higher levels of inclusion of soybean meal.”

Meet the guest: Gustavo Lima / gustavo-lima-a9867127 is a PhD candidate in Animal Science at Iowa State University whose work focuses on swine nutrition, ingredient characterization, energy metabolism, caloric efficiency, and applied data analysis. With more than 15 years of experience in swine production across Latin America, Gustavo also brings expertise in environmental control, performance evaluation, barn ventilation, and grow-finish housing. Learn more from Gustavo Lima on The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.