• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Sunday, March 26, 2023
The Iowa Torch
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
The Iowa Torch
The Iowa Torch
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion

Feenstra: Iowa farmers are the best stewards of their farmland

Randy Feenstra: Farmers are already facing serious hurdles and significant challenges. Federal bureaucrats should not make their work harder.

Randy FeenstrabyRandy Feenstra
February 15, 2023
in Opinion
Reading Time: 2 mins read
Editorial: Elected Officials Should Stay Out of Private Labor Disputes

Late last year, the Biden Administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) quietly finalized and expanded the definition of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule and, as a result, cemented the federal government’s increasingly intrusive role in regulating bodies of water – both large and small. Under this new definition, more than 97% of Iowa’s land, including our productive farmland, would be subject to federal regulation. While protecting our water is an important priority, the EPA’s final WOTUS rule represents federal overreach at its worst.  

RELATED POSTS

Sherman: Iowa can fight back against the Biden Administration’s attack on retirees and families

Hendrickson: Iowa’s fiscal foundation is solid

Feenstra: Delivering a strong Farm Bill for Iowa

From rivers and streams to ponds and puddles, the Biden Administration has opened the flood gates to more red tape, paperwork, and headaches for Iowa’s farmers, producers, and agricultural community. Absent consultation with America’s heartland, the EPA expanded the controversial significant nexus test, which determines whether the federal government can regulate farmland miles from the nearest “navigable” water source. This overreaching interpretation of what constitutes both a “significant nexus” and a “navigable” water source would require burdensome permits for simple farming activities like building fences, moving dirt, and plowing. 

Born and raised in rural Iowa, I know how red tape can increase input costs and complicate the already difficult business of farming. That’s why I sent a letter, alongside nearly 200 of my congressional colleagues, to EPA Administrator Michael Regan demanding that the Biden Administration rescind its final and destructive WOTUS rule, and instead support farmers and producers in the Midwest who feed and fuel our country and the world. I also helped introduce a joint resolution under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which allows the Congress to hold the Executive Branch accountable for its rulemaking procedures and review onerous new rules, condemning this new WOTUS definition. Farmers are the best stewards of their land and should be treated as such.

ADVERTISEMENT

Between record inflation, high energy costs, and regulatory uncertainty, farmers are already facing serious hurdles and significant challenges. Federal bureaucrats should not make their work harder. In Congress, I will continue to work with my colleagues to overturn this arduous rule so that we can return local control of farmland back to our agricultural community – where it rightfully belongs. 

We are government together, and your thoughts and opinions matter to me. Please contact my office at Feenstra.House.Gov or by phone at 202-225-4426 if I can ever be of assistance. I am proud to represent our families, farmers, main street businesses, and rural communities in Congress.

Tags: environmental conservationEnvironmental Protection AgencyIowa AgricultureRandy FeenstraWaters of the US
ShareTweetShare
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Hendrickson: “More Ted, Less Taxes” A lesson for state and local policymakers

Next Post

State of Iowa to invest additional $2 million in manufacturing 4.0 technology

Randy Feenstra

Randy Feenstra

Randy Feenstra was born and raised in Hull, Iowa, where he has served as City Administrator, Sioux County Treasurer, and Iowa State Senator. He was first elected to Congress to represent Iowa's 4th Congressional District in 2020.

Related Posts

corn field
Opinion

Feenstra: Delivering a strong Farm Bill for Iowa

March 22, 2023
Naig Announces $2.6 Million in Awards for Soil Health & Water Quality Projects
Opinion

Ernst: Biden’s WOTUS whiplash.

March 20, 2023
Bio Ethanol on the Way
Opinion

Feenstra: Defending Iowa’s rural energy production

March 15, 2023
Opinion

Feenstra: Our trade deficit threatens our economic security

March 8, 2023
Grassley: Inheritance Taxes Are Bad for Farm Economy
Opinion

Feenstra: Agriculture is the economic engine of Iowa

March 1, 2023
gas pump nozzle filling the white car
Opinion

Feenstra: American families deserve year-round access to E-15

February 22, 2023
Next Post
man standing beside heavy equipment

State of Iowa to invest additional $2 million in manufacturing 4.0 technology

Ernst: Let’s build the border wall instead of charging taxpayers to babysit materials

Miller-Meeks: Secure our border to save countless lives

Sign-Up For Our Daily Updates

Get The Iowa Torch right in your inbox!

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Recommended Articles

Miller Urges Congress to Extend Deadline to Use CARES Act Funding

Miller Urges Congress to Extend Deadline to Use CARES Act Funding

November 30, 2020
Iowa House Passes ‘Back the Blue’ Legislation

Iowa House Passes ‘Back the Blue’ Legislation

April 16, 2021
shallow focus photography of a man in white collared dress shirt talking to the phone using black android smartphone

Miller files enforcement actions against two alleged illegal robocallers

November 2, 2022

Popular Stories

  • elderly couple walking on a flower field

    Sherman: Iowa can fight back against the Biden Administration’s attack on retirees and families

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • School restroom bill heads to Reynolds’ desk

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Ernst: Biden’s WOTUS whiplash.

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Reynolds signs two bills addressing transgender children

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Horn: It’s time for employers get serious about Iowa’s untapped workforce

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

The Iowa Torch

The Iowa Torch​ is a for-profit, news organization that focuses on political news as it relates to Iowans

Categories

  • Education
  • Federal Government
  • Iowa History
  • Local Government
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • State Government
  • Uncategorized
  • Uncategorized

Newsletter

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.