The Farm Post eNews

Friday eNews from the Pike and Scott County Farm Bureaus

MAY 1, 2015

SENATE MOVES TO STOP EPA

AFBF praised the bipartisan leadership of Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) on Thursday as they introduced the Federal Water Quality Protection Act, which would put in check the Environmental Protection Agency and its attempt to broaden the definition of "waters of the U.S."

"Tens of thousands of farmers, ranchers and land owners have spoken out, but EPA has yet to fully acknowledge the proposal's potential impact on everyday farming activities," AFBF President Bob Stallman said.

AFBF news release

FB vs EPA Over Privacy

The Environmental Protection Agency's public release to environmental groups of personal details about the home locations and contact information of tens of thousands of farm and ranch families was unlawful. A lower court ruling that upheld the EPA action failed to address key privacy issues and should be reversed, according to court documents filed Friday by AFBF.

Farm Bureau, along with the National Pork Producers Council, filed a brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit to overturn an earlier district court ruling. That ruling held, in part, that because some of the information had been posted online by state agencies, EPA was free to publicly release the same information under the Freedom of Information Act.

AFBF news release

AFBF Sends Message to EU

The American Farm Bureau has praised the European Commission for its careful and scientific analysis in approving seventeen different genetically modified agricultural products for food and feed. The approval came in the face of fierce opposition by anti-science and anti-trade forces on the continent. Unfortunately, the EC also undermined its principled position by recommending that individual states be permitted to opt out of importation or use of the products within their own borders. AFBF views this decision with alarm. In addition to undercutting its own authority, the EC now runs the risk of violating its international trade obligations, undermining the role of science, and jeopardizing the foundation of the single market in Europe.

AFBF news release

Some Food "Facts" Aren't True

A recent post to the Washington Post's Wonkblog, "7 of the Biggest "Facts" About Unhealthy Food That Actually Aren't True," explores clear examples of misconceptions about food that are vigorously touted as truth by supporters. Among them: genetically modified organisms are not safe to eat, and we should avoid them; gluten is something we should stop eating; and high fructose corn syrup is worse than sugar. According to reporter Roberto A. Ferdman, "The takeaway isn't that it's a myth that these things are inherently bad for you, but rather that it's a failure on anyone's part to assert that we know for sure that consuming them is deleterious to our health. We don't."

In This Issue

Stop EPA

FB vs EPA

EU and GMOs

'Facts' Aren't Factual

On This Day

MAY 1, 1898

BATTLE OF MANILA BAY

Commodore George Dewey achieved a crushing naval victory over the Spanish fleet in the waters west of the city of Manila in the Philippines on 1 May 1898 during the Spanish-American War (21 April to 13 August 1898). Although the operation had long been a part of the U.S. Navy's strategic plans in the event of a conflict with Spain, no one, even at the start of the war could foresee the impact Dewey's success would have on the future of the United States.