It seems recently that there haven’t been a lot of good relations between the agriculture community and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). You need to look no further than topics like the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule or the ongoing saga of year-round E15. Many farmers and ag groups believe that the EPA has become more politically driven and is not being supportive of those who feed and clothe the world.
EPA is working hard to remove that stigma and talk about the ways that they are working to support farmers outside those topics mentioned above. They are also working to educate farmers on conservation practices, working with the USDA to support rural water upgrades, and trying to help discover best management practices for farmers looking to protect their land and water quality.
Meg McCollister is with the EPA, and she talks about how the agency is structured to help farmers across the country.
When it comes to the interactions they have with farmers, McCollister says a lot of the focus is on the funding of projects.
McCollister talks about how farmers lead the way in innovation and the adoption of new ideas to better protect the environment.
If you have any questions or concerns about the relationship between EPA regulations and your farm, you are encouraged to reach out to the Region 7 office.
