Environment

Water board order puts ag communities at center of nitrate cleanup

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:03:00 -0400

The Central Valley water board’s first nitrate management zone order starts a decades-long cleanup effort around Modesto, promising continued drinking water help for rural households while giving farms, dairies and cities time to reduce groundwater contamination.

Water board drafts new dairy order as industry warns of farm losses

brad@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:01:00 -0400

California water regulators are drafting a new dairy order that would tighten nitrate rules in the Central Valley. Dairy groups warn the proposal could add costly mandates for family-owned farms already under pressure.

Daybreak June 10: Ag labor draft bill would expand H-2A

noah@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 08:51:52 -0400

House Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa., is calling to broaden a U.S. temporary agricultural worker program under an early draft of a proposed ag labor bill.

Winemaking weather woes muddle vineyard economics, study shows

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 06:05:00 -0400

A new Cornell University study examines the tradeoffs involved for wine grape growers when trying to adapt to more extreme weather versus completely changing grape varieties or picking up and moving elsewhere.

Lawsuit goes after grazing in Arizona conservation area

noah@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 06:01:00 -0400

The Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Bird Alliance are suing the Bureau of Land Management and the Fish and Wildlife Service over the impacts of cattle grazing in southern Arizona's Las Cienegas National Conservation Area.

Daybreak June 3: School meal proposals coming this year, Vaden says

noah@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 10:06:37 -0400

The Agriculture Department will seek comment later this year on proposals aimed at aligning new federal dietary guidelines with school meal standards, Deputy Ag Secretary Stephen Vaden says. Rep. Randy Feenstra suffered a surprising defeat in Iowa’s GOP gubernatorial primary Tuesday, losing to businessman Zach Lahn despite a late endorsement from President Donald Trump.

Farm Journal releases report on dairy industry

grace@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 06:02:00 -0400

Farm Journal released its annual State of the Dairy Industry report, detailing both the challenges and triumphs of the past year for dairy operators.

On marine fuels and RFS, Zeldin says he’s open to discussion

lydia@agri-pulse.com — Fri, 29 May 2026 13:17:09 -0400

EPA chief Lee Zeldin says he's open to discussion on marine fuels and the RFS.

Daybreak May 29: Zeldin talks WOTUS on Newsmakers

noah@agri-pulse.com — Fri, 29 May 2026 09:20:41 -0400

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin says he could rush out a final Waters of the U.S. rule — but it’s more important to get it right. U.S. and Indian officials will meet next week with the aim of finalizing details of an interim agreement and continue broader negotiations, the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry says.

Rail regulator accepts revised Norfolk Southern-Union Pacific rail merger application

noah@agri-pulse.com — Thu, 28 May 2026 14:41:53 -0400

The Surface Transportation Board on Thursday unanimously accepted Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern’s merger application for consideration after finding the rail companies’ second attempted application sufficient, kicking off a formal review of the proposed deal.

Zeldin vows ‘no bias’ in EPA’s safety review of glyphosate

lydia@agri-pulse.com — Thu, 28 May 2026 14:11:26 -0400

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin says his agency's review of glyphosate will reflect whatever the science says.

U.S. marine biofuel hopes build despite uncertain global market

Wed, 27 May 2026 06:04:00 -0400

U.S. marine fuel stakeholders eye global market opportunities while President Donald Trump is said to remain opposed to UN emissions-cutting efforts.

EPA announces funding to reduce PFAS in drinking water

grace@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 27 May 2026 06:01:00 -0400

EPA announced funding to reduce PFAS levels in drinking water while also proposing to drop regulation of some PFAS compounds.

Lower Colorado River basin states lay out proposal for water reductions through 2028

noah@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 20 May 2026 06:04:00 -0400

Lower Colorado River water leaders are pitching a new plan to stave off the threat of low water levels at key Colorado River reservoirs for the next two years while state officials continue negotiations over the best way to manage the river’s supplies beyond 2026.

NRCS Chief Bettencourt resigns; Buckley becomes chief today

lydia@agri-pulse.com — Mon, 18 May 2026 14:28:03 -0400

Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Aubrey Bettencourt has resigned from the agency, according to a letter sent to staff and obtained by Agri-Pulse.

California moves to regulate pesticide-treated seeds

brad@agri-pulse.com — Fri, 15 May 2026 13:39:17 -0400

California pesticide regulators are proposing new reporting requirements for treated seeds, reviving a long-running fight over seed coatings, pollinator risks and how far the state should go beyond federal pesticide rules.

'It's complicated': Senate Ag chair says E15 bill needs changes

oliver@agri-pulse.com — Thu, 14 May 2026 17:09:11 -0400

Senate Agriculture Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., expresses concerns with the House-passed E15 bill.

Trump to sign executive orders to boost beef imports, cattle supply

oliver@agri-pulse.com — Mon, 11 May 2026 13:14:53 -0400

President Donald Trump is set sign a pair of executive orders Monday to expand beef imports and grow the domestic cattle herd, according to a White House official. Officials have briefed industry on the measure, which is set to suspend certain beef import quotas that allow a set volume of beef to enter the U.S. at a reduced tariff rate.

Europe revisits deforestation rule without recommending further simplification

oliver@agri-pulse.com — Mon, 04 May 2026 14:54:40 -0400

The European Commission Monday declined to recommend any further changes to the legal text of a forthcoming deforestation rule, although it will narrow the scope to exclude leather products. The U.S. timber industry is lamenting a missed opportunity to address its concerns.

Army Corps aims to make headway on projects under proposed work plan

noah@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:04:00 -0400

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is putting $3.1 billion toward waterway construction efforts this year and is expected to fully complete at least one major dam project, enabling it to focus on others vital to ag shipping in coming years.

Farm bill advances to House floor, E15 to get stand-alone vote

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:43:00 -0400

E15 legislation to get a stand-alone vote in the House while a farm bill amendment to block animal-welfare state laws like California’s Prop 12 fails. A bipartisan proposal to strip the farm bill’s pesticide‑labeling provision will get a vote on the House floor.

USDA to provide second payment to farmers through disaster program

noah@agri-pulse.com — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:42:40 -0400

The Agriculture Department will issue a second round of disaster payments to producers who suffered losses in 2023 and 2024, Secretary Brooke Rollins announced Friday.

Trump's former maritime commission chief bullish on biofuels and global climate regs

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 06:06:00 -0400

The Federal Maritime Commission's former chairman says he's optimistic global rules to cut carbon-dioxide emissions from ocean vessels will include biofuels – and have the Trump administration's blessing.

Return of El Niño expected, but impacts not likely until fall

noah@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 06:04:00 -0400

Subsurface temperatures are rising in the Pacific Ocean, a signal that El Niño may be on the way, ushering in changes to U.S. weather patterns as soon as late summer.

EPA chief on biofuel-blending rules: 'We want to get it right'

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 12:41:59 -0400

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin reiterated the agency's goal of releasing biofuel-blending rules by the end of this month.

Interior announces $889 million for water infrastructure projects

noah@agri-pulse.com — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 16:02:54 -0400

The Interior Department is providing $889 million in infrastructure funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to water projects across six states, including several in California.

Lesser prairie chicken taken off the endangered species list

noah@agri-pulse.com — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:00:01 -0500

The Fish and Wildlife Service on Thursday finalized a rule delisting two populations of the lesser prairie chicken under the Endangered Species Act.

Brazil's Ag Powerhouse: Soy industry goes on sustainability offensive

oliver@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 06:09:00 -0500

The soybean industry in Mato Grosso is on a mission to highlight its sustainability work and shift its reputation as a climate villain. But analysts fear the collapse of a key effort to curb deforestation could undermine recent progress.

Wildfires burn through parts of Kansas, Oklahoma

noah@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 06:04:00 -0500

A series of wildfires over the past week have scorched nearly 850,000 acres of land in Kansas and Oklahoma, impacting cattle ranchers and other agricultural producers.

CRP likely to be competitive in a tough farm economy

noah@agri-pulse.com — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 06:04:00 -0500

Experts say the Conservation Reserve Program this year is likely to see increased interest from farmers looking for a consistent source of income from their less productive acres amid a tough commodity market.