ASSOCIATION NEWS
Alliance hosts first virtual conference
The Family Farm Alliance con- ducted its first virtual Zoom annual conference Feb. 18-19. Featured speakers included U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), U.S. Reps. Jim Costa (D-Calif.) and Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), former Commis- sioner of Reclamation Brenda Burman, and Tanya Trujillo, President Biden’s nominee for assistant secretary of water and science at the Depart- ment of the Interior with responsibility for overseeing the Bureau of Reclamation and U.S. Geological Survey. The event also included panel presentations, the Bureau of Reclamation Roundtable and the Capitol Hill Update.
Recordings of the event, includ- ing links to each day’s events, the agenda and associated time stamps, are available at
www.familyfarmalliance.org.
Decrease in cotton production expected
The National Cotton Council’s planting intentions survey, released in mid-February, suggests that U.S. cotton producers intend to plant 11.5 million cotton acres in 2021, down 5.2% from 2020. Using an average U.S. yield per harvested acre of 855 pounds generates a cotton crop of 16.7 million bales.
NCC economists say that although global cotton stocks remain high, there is a growing bullish sentiment for cotton prices due to a variety of factors. However, additional restrictions related to the pandemic and other factors could put downward pres- sure on prices in 2021. More details and information on the NCC’s leadership for 2021 are at
www.cotton.org/news/ meetings/2021annual/
index.cfm.
ASA welcomes Vilsack
The American Soybean Association congratulates Tom Vilsack as he returns as head of the United States Department of
Agriculture. Secretary Vilsack gained choice experience in the same role as part of President Obama’s administration and was known as a staunch supporter for renewable fuel initiatives, biotechnology advances, fair trade agreements and preserving the farm safety net.
“We appreciate that Secretary Vilsack always supported farmers and understood that they are a driving force for the rural econo- my,” says Kevin Scott, ASA president and soybean grower from Val- ley Springs, South Dakota. “We are confident that he will continue to support producers and appreciate his ongoing commitment to seeking farmer input. ASA looks forward to working with him on these priorities and other issues important to soy and agriculture.”
For more information, go to
www.soygrowers.com. 36 Irrigation TODAY | Spring 2021
Pandemic positives webinar
The California Agricultural Irrigation Association hosted a Feb. 16 webinar titled, “Pandemic Positives: An Overview of Industry Solutions and Survival.” This discussion between a grower (Cannon Michael of Bowles Farming), an irrigation manufacturer (Mike Hemman of Netafim), an irrigation dealer (Jon Topham, CAIS, CID, of Irrigation Design and Construction) and an industry trade organization (Mike Wade of California Farm Water Coalition) and moderated by Paul McFadden (RDO Water) provided broad insight into how the coronavirus has affected the agricultural industry and what is being done to move forward. Across the board, keeping employees safe and healthy has been the primary concern. As we have dealt with this pandemic, we have learned to use modern technology to better communicate with employees, customers and other stakeholders, and this has changed the way we will conduct business in the future.
This webinar replaced the CAIA membership meeting typically held during the World Ag Expo. CAIA is striving to provide its members useful information needed during this difficult time and looks forward to the next time the membership can once again have these discussions in person. For more information, visit
www.calirrigation.com.
Comments to EPA on PFAS
The National Ground Wa- ter Association submitted comments to the U.S. Environ- mental Protection Agency in response to the EPA’s “Interim Guidance on the Destruction and Disposal of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Materials Contain- ing PFAS.”
NGWA states within its com- ments that the EPA’s interim guidance document, while a step forward in the regulation of PFAS, should be updated to be more useful, practical and informative.
EPA’s interim guidance outlines the factors and data gaps that should be considered when determining whether PFAS- impacted materials require destruction and disposal. But NGWA notes the EPA does not provide a list of accept- ed disposal options for PFAS or methods for evaluating their effectiveness. NGWA is also concerned the current guidance document does not establish what concentra- tions of PFAS in wastes, spent products or other materials would necessitate destruction or disposal.
The EPA is required to pub- lish revisions to the guidance once every three years. NGWA argues, though, due to rapid developments in PFAS treat- ment and disposal technology and lack of definitive guidance, revisions should be made an- nually. For more information, go to
www.ngwa.org.
irrigationtoday.org
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