By Jessica Domel
Multimedia Reporter
It’s not every day you see an official from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) driving a tractor and planting corn, but that’s exactly what happened on National Ag Day when EPA Region 6 Administrator Scott Mason visited the farm of Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) District 4 State Director James Foster in Collin County.
Mason and other EPA staffers met with Foster, his wife and son, other area farmers, TFB staff, Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller and staff from the Texas Department of Agriculture to discuss issues important to agriculture like water, the Waters of the U.S. rule, pesticide regulations, dicamba, feral hogs and loss of agricultural land.
“I’m here to really let folks know how vitally important our ag community is—and our farmers, ranchers and landowners—to EPA and to President Trump’s administration,” Mason told the TFB Radio Network. “The president loves the farmers, and he recognizes how extremely vital they are to our economy and to this country. We’re trying to do our part out here.”
Foster, who has one of the last remaining farms in Parker, said he felt Mason was receptive to the issues he and other farmers brought to his attention.
“Now that the Trump administration is in office, we’re going to see a lot of positive change,” Foster said. “They’re planning on loosening a lot of the regulations that have made our jobs a little more difficult. I think there’s going to be a lot of positive change.”
One of those positive changes is clarification on what areas define a Water of the U.S. (WOTUS), and therefore, fall under Clean Water Act jurisdiction.
“Last week was obviously a huge week with 31 deregulatory actions—the largest deregulatory day in American history when it comes to federal agencies, I believe,” Mason said. “Last week, we had a big announcement for America’s farmers, ranchers and landowners. Following the SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States) ruling on Sackett v. EPA, we’re fixing the Waters of the U.S. rule. We’ll be making the definition durable and consistent with the rule of law.”
Over the past decade, the definition of WOTUS has changed four times due to changing administrations and court cases.
The 2015 definition of WOTUS would have expanded authority under the Clean Water Act to areas that only sometimes held water, creating concern among farmers, ranchers and landowners that permits would be required for doing everyday farm work.
Half of the nation is currently operating under one version of WOTUS, while the other half is operating under another. Texas is currently operating under the pre-President Obama era definition.
Foster said he was thankful EPA is clarifying the definition to give all farmers, ranchers and landowners certainty.
“I think there’s going to be some positive change,” Foster said.
Mason, who grew up in a small ranching community in Oklahoma, said his visit to Foster Farms was important to show that with what the president and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin are doing, it is truly “a new day.”
He noted the ag community and the state departments of agriculture will have a voice in the administration and at EPA.
“We’re not going to be at odds with farmers and ranchers,” Mason said. “We’re going to be partners with the states. It’s cooperative federalism, which is part of the administration’s five pillars. I think you’re going to see an enhanced relationship. We’re going to listen. We’re going to do what we can to make their lives easier.”
After discussing issues at the Foster’s Farm, Foster invited Mason to another field to plant corn and continue to discuss the work farmers do each and every day to protect the soil, air and water they work.
“America’s farmers and ranchers are the original conservationists. Nobody knows conservation like farmers and ranchers, and I can’t state that enough and how important that is,” Mason said.
Mason, whose territory includes Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas, said he looks forward to strengthening EPA’s partnership with the agricultural sector to grow the economy while protecting the environment—not just on National Agriculture Day, but every day.
TFB and the Texas Department of Agriculture welcomed the partnership.
“National Agriculture Day is a day to celebrate and promote agriculture’s role in modern society. Texas Farm Bureau is pleased to share the special day with EPA representatives on a family farm in Collin County to learn more about the challenges of growing crops and livestock in a high-growth area of the state,” Jay Bragg, TFB associate director of Commodity and Regulatory Affairs, said.
Miller said events like National Ag Day remind us why Texas agriculture is worth fighting for.
“I’m proud to be joined by our partners at the Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Farm Bureau to recognize the dedication of our farmers and ranchers. Texas agriculture matters, and we’re committed to ensuring it thrives for generations to come,” Miller said.
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