LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
FROM STATE ADVOCACY TO THE ESA — Water is still the focus
By John Farner I
As states continue to face more and more
CHALLENGES related to water
supply, the spotlight on
AGRICULTURAL
WATER use will continue to grow.
n the previous legislative update in Irrigation Today, we focused on issues facing the irrigation industry that were not related to water. While
these issues continue to be front and center, specifically trade and tariffs, water continues to make headlines as we move into the last quarter of 2019 and the true beginning of the 2020 presidential election season.
Recently, the Irrigation Association staff attended the Legislative Summit of the National Council of State Legislatures. The annual gathering of state legislators, legislative staff and experts from industry focuses on policy discussions on issues facing legislatures from across the United States. The importance of state advocacy is paramount to the success of agricultural water use.
During the NCSL Legislative Summit, the IA participated in discussions promoting efficient irrigation with leaders from California, Nebraska, Texas, Colorado, Kansas and Maryland, among others. There is great interest in the solutions that the irrigation industry brings to the table. From discussions about crop yield, to ground and surface water sources, to the environment and labor, legislators sought out the IA for information about the technologies and practices that are driving innovation throughout agricultural water use.
IRRIGATION AS A SOLUTION
As states continue to face more and more challenges related to water supply, the spotlight on agricultural water use will continue to grow. The technologies innovated by the irrigation industry are a part of the solution to these challenges. The IA’s reach expands into states to promote the industry through sound public policy. For more information about our efforts, or to join the advocate program, visit
www.irrigation.org.
States are not the only governing bodies focused on agricultural water use and the environment. On Aug. 12, Secretary David Bernhardt of the U.S.
8 Irrigation TODAY | Fall 2019
Department of the Interior announced revisions to the implementation of the Endangered Species Act. With a focus on “species recovery,” these revisions deal with adding species to and removing species from the ESA’s protection and designating critical habitat.
Over the years, implementation of the ESA has been a challenge to irrigated agriculture. Through this streamlining of processes regarding the listing of species, it is the intent of the Trump administration to achieve the goals that were originally set by Congress when the act was passed in 1973, while not resulting in adverse economic or agricultural impacts.
The IA advocates for laws such as the Endangered Species Act to be implemented in a fair and transparent manner, while protecting the species covered by the law. However, the IA also advocates for implementation to be modernized whenever possible, while staying true to the original intent. These changes to the implementation are in line with the efforts of the IA, and we look forward to continuing to work with the U.S. Interior Department in promoting the benefits of U.S. agriculture, while protecting our nation’s endangered species.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2020
As the presidential election of 2020 approaches, the IA will be studying the positions of all the candidates regarding rural development, environment and agriculture, while informing and educating the candidates on the benefits of agricultural irrigation and efficient irrigation technologies and practices. Through state and federal advocacy, the IA hopes to keep agricultural production at the forefront of priorities, while enhancing the opportunities for efficient irrigation adoption.
John Farner director for the Irrigation Association.
irrigationtoday.org
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