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4-15-10 Focus- AFBF TAKES THE CORPS TO COURT

 
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Hi this is Nebraska
Farm Bureau's Ag News Now Radio Service, I’m Tina Henderson.



 



Now here is a
suggested lead-in to our focus program.



 



Taking
a stand against unlawful pervasive tactics to regulate prior converted
cropland, American Farm Bureau has filed a lawsuit against the Corp of
Engineers. . Nebraska Farm Bureau’s Tina Henderson tells us more in the
following report. The report runs 1:33.



 



Now for our report,
on the count in 3...2...1...



 



THE
ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS IS OVERSTEPPING ITS REGULATORY BOUNDS BY TRYING TO
REGULATE PRIOR CONVERTED CROPLANDS UNDER THE CLEAN WATER ACT. aMERICAN fARM
bUREAU FEDERATION CLEAN WATER ACT SPECIALIST DON PARRISH SAYS THIS ACTION IS
UNLAWFUL AND THAT’S WHY AFBF HAS FILED LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE CORPS. 



 



PARRISH
(CWA SPECIALIST): we have a situation in which the Corps and EPA are not paying
attention to regulations that are on the books and we’re going to ask the court
to clarify that.



 



ACCORDING
TO A 1993 RULE, PRIOR CONVERETED CROPLANDS ARE EXCLUDED FROM CLEAN WATER ACT
JURISDICTION. BUT THE CORPS’ ACTIONS WOULD NOW SUBJECT AS MUCH AS 55 MILLION
ACRES OF CROPLAND TO FEDERAL CONTROL AND FARMERS WOULD PAY THE PRICE.



 



PARRISH:
prior converted croplands have value far exceeding anything that would be
encumbered by a wetland designation. we’ve seen in just kind of back of the
envelope analysis as much as twice the value of the land if it’s not a water of
the U.S. and that means billions, billions to farmers and ranchers.



 



PARRISH
GOES FURTHER TO EXPLAIN ITS NOT JUST LAND VALUE FARMERS WOULD BE GIVING UP.



 



PARRISH:
farmers use prior converted cropland just like they would anything else. they
can continue to farm them, they can also build their son’s house on them or use
them in any way they want to. Prior converted croplands do not require permits.
And importantly that’s a property rights issue.



 



Visit
Nebraska Farm Bureau’s website to get additional agriculture news you need at www.nefb.org. Reporting for Nebraska Farm Bureau I’m Tina
Henderson.



 



Thanks
for listening!