Senate Agriculture Committee Provides Additional Details on Upcoming Farm Bill Hearings

The Senate Agriculture Committee has provided additional details on two of its upcoming Farm Bill related hearings (see the Committee's hearing calendar overview page here). 

• The Committee's hearing to "examine policies that make investments in jobs and opportunities for farmers and rural businesses through new markets, entrepreneurship, regional strategies and energy innovation" (entitled "Energy and Economic Growth for Rural America") will be held on Wednesday, February 15, at 9:30 AM (EST) in room G50 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building (link to hearing details and streaming video here).  The Committee will also hold a general business meeting at that time to vote on several Federal appointment nominees (link to details here).
• Its Farm Bill conservation title hearing ("Strengthening Conservation Through the 2012 Farm Bill") will be held on Tuesday, February 28, at 10 AM (EST) in room  216 of the Hart Senate Office Building (link to hearing details and streaming video here).

Groups Seek Broad Organizational and Business Support for Farm Bill Conservation Programs

Several conservation groups (including American Farmland Trust, American Forest Foundation, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Land Trust Alliance, National Association of Conservation Districts, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, The Nature Conservancy and Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership) have taken the lead in drafting a Farm Bill conservation program support letter that will be sent to U.S. House and Senate Agriculture Committee leadership. It is available on-line to review and (for organizations and businesses interested in signing) for internet sign-on at this link.  The deadline for signatures is Friday, February 24. 

Questions on the letter and related issues should be emailed to K. Diane Hoskins, khoskins@tnc.org, Federal Legislative Campaigns, at The Nature Conservancy.

Federal Budget and Appropriation Season Kicking Off in Earnest - Discussion of and Links to Key Resources

As the Administration and Congress gird themselves for what is likely to be a long and arduous election-year battle over Federal spending, key milestones in the annual budget and appropriation's ritual are on the immediate horizon.  House Appropriations subcommittees have sent out official calls for Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 spending and language requests that Members wish to be included in appropriation bills, and the President is set to release his Administration's FY 2013 budget proposal next Monday, February 13.

Next week's Obama FY 2013 budget plan (which can be found on this Office of Management and Budget site early Monday morning) is widely expected to mirror the rather austere spending plan from September 2011 (called the "President’s Plan for Economic Growth and Deficit Reduction"), which was released following the August deficit-reduction deal (see news coverage here).  Traditionally, the release of the Administration’s budget proposal sets the stage for development of a Budget Resolution, for hearings on the President’s budget proposal and for appropriation bill development.  

Chairpersons of the House Labor-HHS-Education, Financial Services, and Interior-Environment Appropriations subcommittees have kicked off that process, each sending "Dear Colleague" letters to House Members, calling for spending request submittals and setting a March 20 deadline for their submission via an electronic database (accessible starting on February 13).  Similar letters from the other nine House appropriation subcommittees are expected to follow shortly.  During this period of each year's fiscal planning cycle, House Members often hear from constituents in their respective districts (and other advocates) regarding stakeholder spending priorities.  Those priorities can sometimes be reflected in Member-submitted spending requests.

House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan (R-WI-1) is reported to be already preparing a Budget Resolution. Congress would typically negotiate and adopt the Budget Resolution as its response to the President’s budget proposal. The Budget Resolution is used, in part, to set spending ceilings for appropriations bills that would fund the government during the upcoming fiscal year.

Following approval of the Budget Resolution (assuming it is, in fact, approved), Appropriations Committees in both the Senate and House would normally go about developing legislation to allocate funds, in line with Fiscal Year 2013 spending ceilings set by the Budget Resolution. The appropriations subcommittees with jurisdiction over funding for Federal departments and agencies that manage key Mississippi River Basin programs, and links to their web pages are:

• Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies (USDA, except the U.S. Forest Service) - House Internet Site; Senate Internet Site
• Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies (Army Corps of Engineers, Department of the Interior-Bureau of Reclamation) - House Internet Site; Senate Internet Site
• Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies (USEPA; U.S. Forest Service; Department of the Interior, except Bureau of Reclamation and Central Utah Project) - House Internet Site; Senate Internet Site

The words “traditionally,” “typically,” and “normally” are used very intentionally in the above descriptions of what may be to come. During many (if not most) years the process does not follow any “traditional” pathway at all (look to the Fiscal Year 2012 funding process as a prime example). An informative Congressional Research Service introduction to the Congressional appropriations process and its multiple variations can be found here.

Save the Date: 2013 National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration

The date and locale for the 2013 National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration ("NCER 2013") have been set The renowned biannual restoration conference will be held in the Great Lakes Region (specifically in the Greater Chicago, Illinois area at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel) from July 30-August 2, 2013. You won't want to miss this one. Here is the NCER home page to view past conference information and get a flavor for what will be coming in just 18 short months!

Mississippi River Basin-Related Congressional Hearings for the Week and Beyond - Including Farm Bill Hearing Schedule Updates

There is only one U.S. Congressional hearing scheduled this week of particular relevance to Mississippi River Basin water resource issues.  That is:

•  House Natural Resources Water and Power Subcommittee hearing on "regulatory impediments" to construction of the dams and reservoirs.  10 AM, Tuesday, February 7; Room 1324 House Longworth Office Building.

Looking beyond this week, on the hearing schedule, here are the currently-scheduled, upcoming Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee Farm Bill Hearings (note the schedule change of the Conservation hearing):

• Wednesday, February 15: Energy and Economic Growth for Rural America
• Wednesday, February 28: Strengthening Conservation through the 2012 Farm Bill (note that this is a date change from the originally-announced February 29 date)
• Wednesday, March 14: Healthy Food Initiatives, Local Production and Nutrition
• Wednesday, March 21: Risk Management and Commodities in the 2012 Farm Bill

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

Senate Agriculture Committee Sets Farm Bill Hearing Schedule
Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, has announced the Committee’s Farm Bill hearing schedule for February and March. It includes a February 29 hearing on the Conservation Title (Title 2), entitled "Strengthening Conservation through the 2012 Farm Bill." The hearings will set the stage for an anticipated Spring 2012 Farm Bill "Chairwoman's mark;" a draft bill that will be considered by the full Senate Committee.  For more details and the complete hearing schedule through the end of March see this Committee announcement.

Controversial St. Croix River Crossing Project Bill Passes U.S. Senate
On January 23, the U.S. Senate passed the St. Croix River Crossing Project Authorization Act (S. 1134) by unanimous consent, clearing the way for the much-debated and controversial measure to be considered by the House.  The bill, sponsored by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), would permit "any federal agency to authorize and assist in the construction of a new bridge crossing" over the St. Croix River as long as certain mitigation measures are included within the project.  Two issues have consistently arisen at the center of a running controversy regarding the appropriateness of the bridge replacement project: the project's cost and its suitability, especially given the St. Croix River's Federal designation as a Wild and Scenic River.   For more information, including bill proponent and opponent views, and links to the bill and related details, click here.

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week 

Agriculture -

• USDA announces a 4-week Conservation Reserve Program general signup, March 12 - April 6 http://1.usa.gov/xZwp7d
• PRI's "The World" - Farms, factories, and a dangerous nitrogen overload http://bit.ly/AyobZS
• US cattle herd shrinks to smallest size in 60 years; news: http://bloom.bg/y5Q2Zr and USDA report: http://bit.ly/yjSjIj (PDF file)
• The Central US search for grazing land that is not parched is "reshaping the US livestock industry" http://reut.rs/zTCTu7
• MinnPost Editorial: Cities, industries have reduced their Mississippi River pollution; now it's farmers' turn http://bit.ly/xir7MZ
• Sign-up for USDA's Conservation Stewardship Program that ended Friday was higher than expected; NRCS "stunned" http://bit.ly/wD5bBr

Farm Bill-

• Op-ed: "Attaching conservation measures to crop insurance should not be a bad thing"  http://dmreg.co/z6Wt9I
• Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI-3) hopeful that Congress in 2012 reforms farm policy that spends billions of $$ in crop subsidies http://bit.ly/wTOui2
• Leaders of major farm and commodity groups look to end their very public feud over Farm Bill safety net priorities http://bit.ly/yGdruq
• 40 leaders from 13 farm commodity organizations meet and agree to work together on Farm Bill issues http://bit.ly/wAMY1c

Water Quality -

• EPA pushes to reduce environmental and water quality impacts of 2,300-acre WV mountaintop mine project http://bit.ly/wFayWA
• OH EPA to use alum in fight to control excessive phosphorous in Grand Lake St. Marys (Ohio River Basin) http://bit.ly/zkWfqA
• Louisiana draft 2012 impaired waters report delists nearshore impaired waters, cites lack of data; links/comment: http://1.usa.gov/w5LfwD
• Natural resources district eyes use of N-inhibitors in attempt to control farm region drinking water contamination http://bit.ly/Adn7uN
• EPA seeks Mississippi River Basin nutrient pollution impact photos for education and outreach http://bit.ly/yIB51w
• Sierra Club: EPA pollution control standards (TMDL) set but little has been done to improve Hinkson Creek's (MO) condition http://bit.ly/AsPo78

Water Resource Management (Floodplains, Dams, Navigation, Wetlands, Flooding, etc.) -

• Report: Policy & $ changes needed to support US freshwater system efficiency, reliability & environmental upgrades http://bit.ly/zJrQIs
• Army Corps of Engineers performing daily inspections of previously-breached Mississippi River's Birds Point levee (MO) http://bit.ly/xCz0f5
• Army Corps creates 700,000 acre-ft additional Missouri River basin flood storage capacity; says flood concerns low http://argusne.ws/xtDdJT
• 128 floodplain homes to be purchased by Louisville KY Metropolitan Sewer District; area will then collect floodwater http://cjky.it/zczkBO 
• Rebuilding river delta wetlands by managing the muddy Mississippi http://bit.ly/AbYucj 

In the States -

• Indiana Dept of EM effort to establish numeric standards for phosphorus in lakes and reservoirs moving forward slowly http://bit.ly/yxmTYZ

Forestry -

• USFS's 1st planning rule in 30 yrs places more emphasis on watershed protection in 193 million acres of land http://1.usa.gov/zHHHdz

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• Missouri ban on porous  angling waders to take effect on March 1 http://bit.ly/zM2wRe (aquatic invasive species issue)
• New MN law requires mandatory zebra mussel training for those in dock and boat service businesses http://bit.ly/yelnIc 
• Report proposes dividing Great Lakes, Mississippi basins http://bit.ly/x66Dt3
• Report demonstrates that permanent physical barriers to protect Great Lakes & Mississippi River "feasible" http://bit.ly/z7m46L [Asian carp]
• Great Lakes Commission: natural divide between Mississippi River & Great Lakes can be rebuilt; suggests 3 alternatives http://bit.ly/yLLBXc
• UMN River Life blog: We Can’t Afford to Stop Invasives; We Can’t Afford Not To http://bit.ly/wVtZLo
• IL DNR trying to create consumer demand for Asian carp in effort to rid state’s waterways of them http://bit.ly/xMagwD
• MN panel in charge of deciding how to spend state Legacy fund debate its use for Asian carp fight http://bit.ly/wkX1od
• Many frac sand companies mine in WI ; only 1 applied for permit to legally destroy endangered butterfly habitat http://bit.ly/xn4lzj

Gulf Coastal Area-

• New study finds Louisiana's second Gulf of Mexico dead zone is 4x larger than that found in 2010 http://bit.ly/wKBpwG
• OP-ED: "The Mississippi River Delta Must Be Restored" (NY Times) http://nyti.ms/ySIomE
• Times-Picayune editorial: "Take the long view on Louisiana's coastal restoration plan" http://bit.ly/xED6ab
• LA scientists lay groundwork to create carbon storage industry that could help rebuild coastal wetlands http://bit.ly/zjTtQn

Resource extraction -

• SELC list of southern endangered ecosystems includes VA and TN mountains in Mississippi River Basin (coal mining) http://nyti.ms/yNdzC9
• RT @americanrivers: Collateral damage from fracking: runoff from roads surrounding hydrofracking wells http://ow.ly/8L36W [Ohio River Basin]
• IL state House bills aim to control fracking to extract natural gas http://bit.ly/AzShkN

Federal Budget -

• House Budget Committee Chair Ryan will work off FY 2012 budget the GOP passed last year when writing new FY 2013 budget http://bit.ly/z9VIcO

Events-

• EPA annual Rachel Carson “Sense of Wonder” contest; 4 water-focused categories: photography, essay, poetry & dance http://1.usa.gov/TC8OR
• 2012 National River Management Symposium; April 24-26; Asheville, NC; for information and registration: http://bit.ly/zgUSkK

e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -

• National Great Rivers Research and Education Center February E-News Update now available http://bit.ly/zdeDak

Other news-

• UN: world running out of time to assure enough food, water & energy to meet needs of rapidly growing population http://huff.to/wdqoie

Political Scene -

• MN & ND's American Crystal Sugar cooperative-one of US's most powerful lobbying groups; calls for sugar price supports http://bit.ly/xAa0IU
• Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL-8) faces tough reelection fight after redistricting; but is focusing on defeating Obama http://bit.ly/yHH4dA
• New survey: Western state voters of all political affiliation call themselves conservationists; views differ from DC's http://bit.ly/xZzSbq
• US Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN-5), a 15-term congressman, announces that he will retire at the end of this term http://bit.ly/y5rKGX
• Rep. Latham (R-IA) has campaign bankroll ~4x that of opponent Rep. Boswell (D-IA) heading into redrawn district race http://bit.ly/xWyKNp
• KY Legislature, long-deadlocked over US Congressional redistricting map, takes big step toward passage of final map http://bit.ly/x5CBYi

 Last Word -

Paula the Penguin

"Are you talking about the penguin that just defecated on the floor?" Kentucky State Senate President David Williams, asked of State Senator Katie Stine.  Stine was describing a resolution, thanking the Newport Aquarium "for its contributions to the ecology of our world and the economy of Kentucky," including the "second most diverse collection of cold-weather penguins in the country."  Paula, the Aquarium's "pooping penguin," as it quickly became known, was in the Senate chamber for a reading of the proclamation.  Click here for a video of the ensuing frivolity.

Senate Agriculture Committee Sets Farm Bill Hearing Schedule

Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, has announced the Committee’s Farm Bill hearing schedule for February and March. It includes a February 29 hearing on the Conservation Title (Title 2), entitled "Strengthening Conservation through the 2012 Farm Bill." The hearings will set the stage for an anticipated Spring 2012 Farm Bill "Chairwoman's mark;" a draft bill that will be considered by the full Senate Committee. For more details and the complete hearing schedule through the end of March see this Committee announcement.