U.S. Ag Groups Push for Water Rule Extension

Jun 02, 2014

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

More than 70 food and agriculture groups have asked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for more time to commit to a new rule on waters of the United States. The formal request for an extension on certain agricultural practices was made in the form of a letter.

The rule expands the EPA’s definition of what is classified as navigable waters. Currently, it includes waters and waterways with a hydraulic connection to navigable waters. But the new rule would redefine “waters of the United States” to also include intermittent or seasonal (a body of water that flows for part of the year) and ephemeral streams (a stream that flows during/following a period of rainfall).

Agriculture groups argue that the expanded rule could affect farming practices. The groups point out that the 90 day comment period on the proposed rule is the busiest time for farmers, making it difficult for them to take the time to comment on a rule that could greatly impact their farm. The organizations involved in the drafting the letter to the EPA are asking for an additional 90 days to submit comments.

Video: Seaweed-Based Solutions: Building Natural Performance in Modern Swine Production

In today’s pork industry, producers are under increasing pressure to do more with fewer inputs—while maintaining performance, improving animal health, and meeting sustainability expectations.

we sit down with Sylvain David and Scott Preston from Olmix to explore how seaweed-based solutions are emerging as a foundational tool in modern swine nutrition.

Rather than acting as simple alternatives, these solutions are designed to support gut health, immune resilience, and overall system consistency—especially during key stress periods like weaning, feed transitions, and disease challenges.

The conversation dives into:

• What seaweed-based solutions actually are and how they work

• Why consistency and standardization matter in “natural” products

• How gut health connects to immune function and performance

• Where producers are seeing real-world impact today

• The role of natural solutions in the future of sustainable pork production