JEFFERSON CITY — The Missouri Corn Growers Association (MCGA) continues to weigh in on one of the more challenging regulatory issues facing Missouri farmers; impending state nutrient regulations. Over the past several months, MCGA has worked diligently with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and EPA to ensure a workable solution is ultimately found to a court-mandated state nutrient regulation.
The regulation is being forced upon Missouri due to a sue and settle style lawsuit dating back to 2016 between the Obama EPA and an anti-farming environmental activist group. In response to the court order, two draft regulations were proposed; one by the EPA and one by DNR. Both are distinctly different, but both would place statewide numeric nutrient water quality criteria on all Missouri’s lakes and reservoirs.
MCGA reviewed both draft rules and concluded EPA’s proposal is unrealistic and overly stringent, resulting in an extraordinarily costly and unacceptable regulation for Missouri farmers. In February, MCGA voiced these concerns in a written comment submitted to EPA on behalf of corn farmers as part of the public comment period. We believe EPA’s proposal would result in serious long-term ramifications to Missouri agriculture and would force farmers to adopt certain practices, threatening their freedom to operate.
MCGA is more comfortable with the state’s nutrient proposal, as it has better-balanced water quality protection with the needs of farmers, businesses and other stakeholders. A final decision from EPA is expected later this year. We continually watch proposed policy and fights to prevent unnecessary costs that impact your bottom line. As your advocate, MCGA will continue to push back on laws, regulations and policy that place unnecessary burdens on growers.
— The Missouri Corn Growers Association
For more news from Missouri, click here.