USDA Reminds Farmers of 2014 Farm Bill Conservation Compliance Changes
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack reminds producers that changes mandated through the '14 farm bill require them to have on file a Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation Certification (WC) (AD-1026). USDA also made available a fact sheet on (HELC) and (WC) provisions.

Cotton LEADS™ Partners Now Exceed 200
Cotton LEADS™, a joint program established by the Australian and US cotton industries, now has attained more than 200 partners across the global cotton textile supply chain.

NCC Letters Convey California Water Legislation Support
In letters to several members of California’s congressional delegation, the NCC urged the House and Senate to work to resolve the differences between S. 2198 and H.R. 3964 and work together in the remaining days of the 113th Congress to approve comprehensive drought relief legislation.

NCC Responds to Interpretive Rule
In comments, the NCC urged the EPA and Corps of Engineers to withdraw their Interpretive Rule (IR) regarding the exemption from permitting under Section 404(f)(1)(A) of the Clean Water Act to certain agricultural conservation practices. The NCC disagrees with EPA’s assessment saying that the IR actually will restrict the exemptions that Congress intended for agriculture.

EPA Issues New Pollinator Risk Assessment Guidance
EPA has posted online its new Pollinator Risk Assessment Guidance as part of a long-term strategy to advance the science of assessing the risks posed by pesticides to bees -- giving risk managers the means to further improve pollinator protection in the agency's regulatory decisions.

USDA June Acreage Report
In its June acreage report, USDA estimated '14-15 US cotton plantings at 11.37 million acres, up 9.2% from '13. Upland planted area is estimated to have increased 9.7% to 11.19 million acres. ELS cotton producers planted 178,000 acres, down 11.4%. USDA’s June projection is up 268,000 acres from their initial '14 estimate released in March.

USDA Provides $8 Million to Help Boost Declining Honey Bee Population
USDA on June 20 announced $8 million in Conservation Reserve Program incentives for Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin farmers and ranchers who establish new habitats for declining honey bee populations.

President Issues Pollinator Protection Memo
President Obama issued a memorandum on June 20 directing US government agencies to take additional steps to protect and restore domestic populations of pollinators, including honey bees, native bees, birds, bats, and butterflies – critical contributors to our nation’s economy, food system, and environmental health.

Statement Calls For Withdrawal of CWA Interpretive Rule (280k pdf)
The NCC joined with other agricultural organizations in submitting a statement conveying concerns with and calling for withdrawal of the Interpretive Rule regarding the Clean Water Act's agricultural exemptions. The statement was sent to House Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy and Forestry Chairman Thompson (R-PA) and Ranking Member Walz (D-MN) prior to the Subcommittee's review of that Rule.

Farm Bill Frequently Asked Questions
Following the series of farm bill education meetings, the NCC prepared a list of frequently asked questions on the The Agricultural Act of 2014.

Farm Bill Summary and Overview (click here)
This NCC-prepared document contains the basic preliminaries of The Agricultural Act of 2014 that passed out of the House/Senate Conference. The bill is subject to verification when legislative language is reviewed.

FSA Posts Farm Bill Fact Sheet
USDA's Farm Service Agency has created a fact sheet entitled, "What’s in the 2014 Farm Bill for Farm Service Agency Customers?" that includes highlights of The Agricultural Act of 2014 (the Act), also known as the 2014 Farm Bill.