Dust raised during the normal course of agriculture operations could soon be regulated by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality as it enforces new EPA rules regarding "coarse particulate matter." Also, pesticide and herbicide sprays, a court ruled, can be considered point sources of pollution.
Dust-up coming over two court decisions
Federal appeals courts issued two rulings since the first of the year that left American farmers wondering how they'll produce food if the decisions are applied narrowly, and how much it will cost them if applied liberally. Click here for full story.Fighting the war at your fencerows
Ignoring the war - even when it's raging over the next hill - is easy when there's nothing to fight about. Click here for full story.Dairy prices to trigger MILC payments
Due to low milk prices, USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) will make payments in April to producers through the FSA's Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program, according to Maureen Meehan, acting state executive director for USDA's FSA in Michigan. Click here for full story.Water registration deadlines are April 1
April 1 is the deadline for Michigan farmers to register their existing water uses that have the capacity to use more than 70 gallons per minute. Click here for full story.Ag secretary angers farm groups
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently angered agriculture groups, including Michigan Farm Bureau. Click here for full story.