Special Report
USDA official says EPA’s Bay model is flawed
The chief of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) says the EPA used flawed agricultural data in formulating its TMDL rule for the Chesapeake Bay region.
White addressed NCBA’s Property Rights and Environmental Management Committee on Friday. According to an NCBA report on that meeting, White confirmed there are big differences between NRCS’ data on the effects of conservation practices on cropland and the data used by EPA.
“Where we have a problem is we think this Bay model is not 100 percent accurate when it comes to agriculture,” White said. “There is just some erroneous stuff in there. We believe 88 percent of cropland (in the Bay areas) is under no-till. EPA is saying 50 percent. That’s a big, big difference.”
Ashley Lyon, NCBA deputy environmental counsel, said it was reassuring to hear White reinforce the need for an accurate study.
“Given the seriousness of this issue and potential regulatory consequences to agriculture, it is absolutely imperative that a more accurate study is conducted. The regulations that will likely be derived from EPA’s flawed model will put farmers and ranchers out of business,” Lyon said. “This regulation not only impacts agricultural producers living on the Chesapeake Bay watershed but lays the foundation for all watersheds. Sound science must be the basis for any regulations.”
White said NRCS continues to work with EPA to collect accurate, science-based information.
Just reviewed the CEAP Report. The 88% that Chief White talks about included “mulched” tilled acres. “Mulched” tilled to me is “reduced tillage” (chiselplow/disc). Maybe the EPA’s 50% actually being”no-tilled” is correct. SEveryone needs to re-read the CEAP Report.