The Environmental Protection Service (EPA) is withdrawing plans to reduce wastewater discharge at meat and poultry plants, citing concerns that many operations couldn’t afford to make the upgrades.
Mike Formica with the National Pork Producers Council joined us on Thursday on Market Day Report to share his reaction to the news.
The effort to reduce wastewater discharges came from the Biden Administration. However, a previous study by the EPA shows that as many as 16 meat manufacturing plants would be forced to close if the rules went into effect.
Related Stories
According to the National Council of Farmers Cooperatives (NCFC), President and CEO Chuck Conner says, there is only one other option besides addressing ag labor shortages.
Sen. Roger Marshall, a founding member and chairman of the Make America Healthy Again caucus, joined us with his thoughts on the commission’s latest report and the key ag-related issues.
The EPA proposal laid out two options: fully reallocate all exempted volumes to the 2026–2027 standards, or reallocate half.
Producers may need to prepare for margin pressure in livestock feeding, while dairy farmers could benefit from stronger product demand.
U.S. trade talks with China resume, but meat industry leaders say dealing with shifting demand and market uncertainty is nothing new in this side of the ag sector.
Bottom line: Despite all the efforts advocates make, workers are still making less money.
Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) joined us on Champions of Rural America to share his insights on upcoming changes to public land management and how they will benefit agriculture and the Western working class.
As the White House works to close the trade gap, patience is wearing thin for some lawmakers. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) says farmers are getting backed into a corner.