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Young farmer concerned with water rule
The EPA’s “Waters of the U.S.” rule dominated the discussion on the Nebraska Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers National Affairs Trip to Washington, D.C.
One of the participants, Dustin Fairley, wonders if the EPA hasn’t already set the wheels in motion.
“I serve on our local FSA board and just since the first of the year we’ve had six new rulings on wetland classifications,” Fairley says. “We haven’t had six in the last six years. So all of a sudden to have six in one year, it kind of makes you a little nervous about how EPA is going about this.
“They have this new proposed ruling, but I kind of think they’re already starting to push that ruling through other routes.”
Fairley says over-regulation of agriculture and regulatory uncertainty are major concerns.
“As a young farmer, these rules will impact everything we do in the future of ag,” he says.
Fairley farms near Fairbury. He also has a custom farming business.
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