Upper Mississippi Basin Stakeholder Network

DNR suspended wastewater testing at many treatment plants STEVENS POINT, WI. -- Some wastewater treatment plants will go a year without federally required water-quality tests because of a budgeting problem in the state Department of Natural Resources, raising fears that pollution could enter Wisconsin' s water system. (AP, 5/26/02)

EPA told to rework park pollution-reduction plan WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Environmental Protection Agency must rework part of its regulation to reduce air pollution in national parks and wilderness areas, a federal appeals court said Friday. (AP, 5/26/02)

Invasive species infect 26 more lakes WI. -- State boaters carelessly delivered two exotic pests to 26 lakes last year, providing zebra mussels and Eurasian water milfoil with an opportunity to destroy the water quality that attracts the public to those lakes in the first place, a state environmental official said. (Don Behm, Journal Sentinel, 5/26/02)

Senate approves trade bill that could aid Iowa exports WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate approved a trade bill Thursday night that could dramatically expand opportunities for Iowa to ship more corn, hogs and soybeans around the world. (Jane Norman, Des Moines Register, 5/24/02)

Corps releases draft navigation report The first comprehensive document from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on its embattled $60 million Mississippi River navigation study has been released as a draft interim report. (By Jeff Dankert, Winona Daily News, 5/24/02)

ENVIRONMENT: Session produced mixed bag of new rules For environmentalists, the 2002 [Minnesota] Legislature began with modest expectations. It met those, but also came up with some surprises. (BY DENNIS LIEN, Pioneer Press, 5/21/02)

Water War Engulfs The Missouri River Bid to Divert Flow for Barges Under Fire First they tried to divert water from two huge reservoirs in South Dakota to bolster the Missouri River's sagging water levels farther downstream, but a federal judge stopped them.(by Eric Pianin, Washington Post, 5/20/02)

Editorial: Revive the river, and reap the gain Forget the piping plover. Don't worry about the exotic and endangered little bird called the least tern. Put aside any thoughts of the ancient pallid sturgeon disappearing forever from the planet. Never mind that the Missouri River is America's most endangered river, that an ecosystem once teeming with life has become an ugly, dying ditch. (Des Moines Register Editorial Board, 5/19/02)

Conservation bill on life support St. PAUL, MN -- A surprisingly resilient [Minnesota] bill that would dedicate a percentage of the state's sales tax to natural resources was pronounced dead Friday by its House sponsor. (Mark Brunswick, Star Tribune, 5/18/02)

Nitrate levels surge in D.M. DES MOINES, IA. -- Potentially health-threatening nitrates hit a record level in the Raccoon River in Des Moines this week, the ninth record set since 1991. (Perry Beeman, Des Moines Register, 5/17/02)

Loving Lakes to Death Urban Sprawl Damaging Wilderness Minnesotans Enjoy. Loving the outdoors is a fundamental part of being a Minnesotan — but it has destructive consequences. (By Peter Jennings, ABC News, 5/16/02)

Farm Bill Links The final version of the 2002 Farm Bill is now available from "Thomas:" http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:h.r.02646::. The sections of the Conservation Title are on the Farm Bill Network: http://www.fb-net.org/FB/fb-contents.htm. NACD's Section-by-Section Summary: http://www.nacdnet.org/govtaff/FB/FB-SxS.htm. Secretary of Agriculture, Ann M. Veneman, remarks on the new farm bill: http://www.usda.gov/news/releases/2002/05/0194.htm. USDA web site for current 2002 Farm Bill information: http://www.usda.gov/farmbill/. Thanks to Gene Whitaker of the Farm Bill Network, 5/16/02.

Farm bill backers move on to trade WASHINGTON, D.C. -- For many members of the farm community, passage of the 2002 farm bill now signed into law by the president was just a first step. (Jane Norman, Des Moines Register, 5/16/02)

EPA: pollution trading program would help improve water quality WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Polluters that exceed federal clean water standards are getting an alternative to reducing discharges or installing new controls: buying credits from others polluting below their legal limits. (John Heilprin, AP, 5/15/02)

EPA Proposes Enhanced Approach To Cleaning Up America's Waters WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. EPA Administrator Christie Whitman today proposed a Water Quality Trading Policy for cleaning up impaired rivers, streams and lakes. The policy sets forth what EPA believes is necessary for state and tribal water quality trading programs to be successful and identifies provisions of acceptable trading programs consistent with the Clean Water Act and federal regulations. A 45-day comment period will follow. (Robin Woods, EPA News Release, 5/15/02)

The volunteer Mississippi River Citizen Commission will send the attached letter to Senators from Mississippi River states urging their support for the Upper Mississippi River Basin Protection Act, H.R. 3480. The MRCC forwarded their letter and an .xls file of Senate names and addresses (download .zip file). The MRCC encourages you to contact any or all of these Senators regarding H.R. 3480. (Contact Robin A. Grawe, Secretary, Mississippi River Citizen Commission, 5/14/02)

Legislation's missing pieces have some farmers worried WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Iowa farmers who support a ban on meatpacker ownership of livestock and subsidy payment limits think the compromise farm bill to be signed into law today will cause trouble because it lacks those provisions. (Jane Norman, Des Moines Register, 5/13/02)

Bush Signs Bill Providing Big Farm Subsidy Increases CHICAGO, May 13 -- President Bush, setting aside his rhetorical devotion to free markets, signed a farm bill today that will shower billions of dollars in new subsidies on bread-basket states that will help determine control of Congress in November's elections. (By Mike Allen, Washington Post, 5/13/02)

Bush signs farm legislation over objections of many Republicans WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President Bush signed a six-year farm bill Monday that expands subsidies to growers, turning aside criticism from fellow Republicans who called the measure a budget-busting step backward in agriculture planning. (Scott Lindlaw, AP, 5/13/02)

Senate Sends Farm Bill to Bush WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate gave final approval Wednesday to a farm bill that will shower billions of dollars in new subsidies on political battleground states and scrap the a 1996 law that was intended to make growers less dependent on the government. (By PHILIP BRASHER, AP, 5/08/02)

Iowa to lead in farm subsidies But overall payments to farmers would drop in the new six-year bill's later years. Washington, D.C. - Iowa would continue to lead the nation in federal farm subsidy money under the new farm bill agreement, according to an analysis by agricultural researchers released Monday. ( By JANE NORMAN, Des Moines Register, 5/07/02)

94 waterways may be reclassified Madison, WI. -- The Department of Natural Resources is taking steps to downgrade the status of 94 rivers and streams in Wisconsin - a move that could allow more pollution into those waterways and has angered environmental groups across the state. (Lee Bergquist, Journal Sentinel, 5/4/02)

Farm Subsidies Pass House WASHINGTON (AP) - The House overwhelmingly approved an election-year farm bill Thursday that will pour billions of dollars in subsidies into Midwestern and Southern states that are political battlegrounds for lawmakers in both parties. The bill, which would boost subsidies by 70 percent, marks a reversal of the 1996 Freedom to Farm law that was supposed to wean farmers from government subsidies. (By PHILIP BRASHER, AP, 5/2/02)

2002 Farm Bill text now available WASHINGTON, D.C May 1, 2002 - The Conference Committee has issued it final report and for the House of Representatives may vote passage as early as. The Senate will vote will probably be next week. Once signed implementation will start. Substantial funds are provided for several programs to be spent this year. It may be difficult getting the Administration to use all the available funds this year. (courtesy of Gene Whitaker, http://fb-net.org, 5/1/02)

150 Water Projects Halted For Army Corps Review WASHINGTON, D.C. The Army Corps of Engineers is suspending work on about 150 congressionally approved water projects to review the economics used to justify them, an unprecedented response to mounting criticism of Corps analyses inside and outside the Bush administration. (By Michael Grunwald, Washington Post, 5/2/02)

Final Farm Bill Summary Link

Rep. Ron Kind's The Upper Mississippi River Basin Protection Act passed unanimously out of the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee last week per Karrie Jackelen (Office of Congressman Ron Kind, 4/29/02)

Chips of wood clean up nitrates in water AMES, Iowa Federal researchers in Ames say they have found a simple way to stop most nitrates from washing off farm fields. (By PERRY BEEMAN, Des Moines Register, 4/29/02)

Big-City Paydays at 'Farmer Mac' NEW YORK, NY During one particularly nasty agricultural recession, as farmer after farmer was forced to abandon the land, Congress reached out to help, creating a company to offer them easier credit, the same way it had made mortgages cheaper and more plentiful for millions of homeowners. (By ALISON LEIGH COWAN, NY Times [registration req'd], 4/28/02)

DOT restores wetlands lost to highway projects MAQUOKETA, IA. -- An ecological rebirth has occurred in eastern Iowa's Jackson County. The 18-acre Hurstville Wetland Mitigation Area near Maquoketa had once been mostly privately owned, low-lying grazing land that often flooded. (William Petroski, Des Moines Register, 4/28/02)

Farm bill deal pleases Harkin, frustrates critics WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Sen. Tom Harkin hailed a deal sealed Friday on a six-year rewrite of the farm bill, maintaining that it will provide a safety net for Midwestern farmers while boosting conservation incentives. (Des Moines Register, 4/27/02)

Negotiators have framework for farm bill compromise (Iowa Sen. Grassley says a ban on packer ownership is dead.) Washington, D.C. - House and Senate negotiators on the farm bill appeared to have a framework for an agreement on Thursday night that leaves out a ban on packer ownership of livestock and significantly weakens proposed subsidy limits. (By JANE NORMAN, Des Moines Register,4/26/02)

On Earth Day, water policy floods the ecodebate ASHLAND, ORE. – As thousands of Americans observe Earth Day today by cleaning beaches and restoring streams, water connects just about every major environmental challenge the country faces. (By Brad Knickerbocker, Christian Science Monitor, 4/22/02)

Farmers' penalties rarely stick In exchange for millions of dollars in federal subsidies, Iowa farmers promise to protect the soil and water. But a Des Moines Sunday Register analysis shows farmers almost never lose their taxpayer subsidies, even when federal officials discover they have violated their conservation pledge. (By JOHN McCORMICK, JERRY PERKIN, PERRY BEEMAN, Des Moines Register, 04/21/02)

Critics see loopholes in conservation provisions Environmentalists and others say a handful of changes in the 1996 farm law, combined with the practical problems of turning federal employees into farm police, have undermined efforts to link farm subsidies to sound conservation practices. (By BLAIR CLAFLIN, Des Moines Register, 04/21/02)

Senate wary of House plan for farm bill WASHINGTON -- The House on Thursday offered to bring commodity payments closer to what was in the Senate version of the farm bill, although Senate members were cool to the proposal. (Jane Norman, Des Moines Register, 4/19/02)

Newest House offer to Senate on Farm Bill WASHINGTON, D.C. House and Senate conferees met Thurday, 4/18 (Gene Whitaker, Farm Bill Network 4/18/02)

Kennedy criticizes hog industry Sioux City, Ia. - An unrepentant Robert F. Kennedy Jr. returned to Iowa Thursday night and continued his attack on corporate hog producers, calling them polluters and lawbreakers. (By MARK SIEBERT, Des Moines Register 04/19/02)

No quick pick for Corps post, Flowers says VICKSBURG, MISS. Former Gov. Kirk Fordice, a former Vicksburg resident, has been mentioned as a possible pick for the job.(By Mark J. Armstrong, The Vicksburg (Miss.) Post 4/17/02)

Corps reveals draft plan to revive endangered mussel species SAINT PAUL, MINN. - The St. Paul District released its draft plan for new populations of the native endangered Higgins' eye pearly mussel in the Upper Mississippi River (USACE Release, 4/15/02)

States weigh in on Mississippi cleanup ST. PAUL -- The Upper Mississippi River Basin Association (UMRBA), consisting of representatives of Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri, advises the US Army Corps of Engineers on how to restore ecological integrity to the river. (by Dennis Lien, Pioneer Press, 4/15/02)

Farm Bill Leaders May Meet on Monday - Aide WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Key negotiators working on the new U.S. farm law held discussions throughout the weekend (Charles Abbott, Reuters, 4/14/02)

Bill allots cash for monitoring Mississippi WASHINGTON, D.C. The House approved $6.8 million to improve monitoring of the sediment and nutrient runoff that flow into the Mississippi River. If the Senate concurs, the money would boost monitoring in the upper Mississippi and its tributaries, "so that scientists will be able to demonstrate where the hot spots are," said Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis., the bill's author. (TOM WEBB, Pioneer Press, 4/10/02)

Finally! HR 3480, The Upper Mississippi River Basin Protection Act, passes the US House of Representatives by a unanimous vote [today]...after many years and many versions.Ron did an excellent job presenting the bill. We're working on the Senate; I'll keep you posted. Thanks for all your assistance. Karrie Jackelen (Office of Congressman Ron Kind, 4/9/02)

Livestock bill hits a rough patch DES MOINES -- Cracks appeared Monday in the bipartisan support for a sweeping livestock-regulation plan after Democrats protested some of the revisions made by its chief Republican authors. (Jonathan Roos, Des Moines Register, 4/9/02)

Hog Summit message: Bigger is not better CLEAR LAKE, IOWA - Livestock concentration has moved beyond the boundaries of agricultural production. It has become a social issue, according to Mike Duffy, Iowa State University agricultural economics professor. "Concentration is the issue," (By JAN HORGEN, Mason City Globe Gazette, 4/6/02)

Kennedy: Hog factories threat to way of life CLEAR LAKE - "Hog factories are a bigger threat to our way of life than al Qaida or terrorism," Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Friday night. Kennedy, president of Waterkeeper Alliance, was speaking to 700 people at the conclusion of the organization's national Hog Summit. "This industry is the worst example of the worst America has produced," he said. (By JAN HORGEN, Mason City Globe Gazette, 4/6/02)

The Mississippi River's health is in danger. Letter to the Editor by Ken Lubinski. Brownsville, Minn. ...As a scientist with more than 25 years of experience, I can confirm the fact that the ecological condition of the Upper Mississippi River is indeed degrading. It is a slow, almost imperceptible degradation, but there is no doubt that it is taking place. (La Crosse Tribune, 4/5/02)

Farmers to be paid for losses ADEL, IOWA -- Farmers should get almost all the value of their corn and soybeans stored at the closed De Soto Elevator, state officials said this week. (Jerry Perkins, Des Moines Register, 4/4/02)

Working, living rivers: Striking the balance ROCK ISLAND The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) believes it can can work together with the USACE through the Corps’ revised Upper Mississippi-Illinois River waterway study to arrive at “economically sound and justifiable improvements that are environmentally acceptable.” (Martin Ross, Illinois Farmweek, 4/02/02)

Livestock plan is riddled with flaws, ag official says DES MOINES -- Iowa Agriculture Secretary Patty Judge complained Monday that a livestock regulation plan contains major flaws and would deal a financial blow to farmers. (Jonathan Roos, Des Moines Register, 4/2/02)

State farming preview, review PEORIA, IL. -- Illinois farmers are expected to follow a national trend by planting more corn and fewer soybeans this season. (Jay Hughes, Chicago Sun-Times, 4/1/02)

Hog plan fuels farmers' unease DES MOINES -- The rumors have come thick and fast since a groundbreaking livestock regulation plan was unveiled in the Legislature: (Jonathan Roos, Des Moines Register, 4/1/02)

Pollutants found in streams near cities CEDAR RAPIDS, IA -- A study of 28 stream sites around 10 of Iowa's biggest cities found herbicides, antibiotics or other pollutants in every one, researchers said Thursday. (Perry Beeman, Des Moines Register, 3/29/02)

Energy advocates battle for program WI -- Energy conservation advocates are trying to convince state leaders to reconsider budget measures that would reduce funding and possibly end a program designed to increase energy efficiency. (Lee Hawkins Jr. Journal Sentinel, 3/29/02)

Gann Valley native named to lead conservation agency HURON, SD -- Gann Valley native Bruce Knight has been named as chief of the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service by Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman. In the position, Knight will oversee the 11,000-person agency with a budget of $1.1 billion. He succeeds Pearlie S. Reed, who has served as NRCS chief since March 1, 1998. (By Robert Pore, Huron Plainsman, 3/2802)

Livestock bill sets stage for debate on pollution Iowa lawmakers last week unveiled their long-awaited plan to limit water and air pollution from livestock confinements, setting the framework for one of the most significant environmental initiatives in state history. (By PERRY BEEMAN, Des Moines Register 3/24/02)

Push to protect farmland gets more support WASHINGTON CO. WI. - Farms in Washington County, and the veterinarians and other businesses that serve them, add nearly $145 million in goods and services each year to the economy, says a new report advocating preservation of what is left of the county's rural landscape. (Don Behm, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3/23/02)

EPA chief visits D.M. to promote Bush plan DES MOINES, IA. - The nation's top environmental regulator came to Des Moines Friday to promote a plan that would encourage aging coal-fired power plants to voluntarily reduce toxic emissions. (John McCormick, Des Moines Register, 3/23/02)

Dumping won't end, MMSD officials say MILWAUKEE, WI. - The $2.8 billion deep tunnel sewer, the state's most expensive public works project, never was intended to stop the dumping of raw sewage, MMSD officials said Thursday, in perhaps their strongest acknowledgment to date of the tunnel's limitations. (Steve Schultze, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3/22/02)

Panel OKs farm bill spending Washington, D.C. - House and Senate negotiators on the farm bill reached a tentative agreement Tuesday that would leave $46 billion for commodities over 10 years but cut money for conservation championed by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin. (By JANE NORMAN, Register Washington Bureau, 03/20/02)

DNR has plan to combat pollution, but no money DES MOINES, Iowa Department of Natural Resources officials announced plans Monday to fight air pollution from livestock confinements but said they don't have the money to make the plan work. (Perry Beeman, DesMoines Register, 3/19/02)

Worries grow over corn contamination DES MOINES, Pollen drift, a source of StarLink corn's contamination of the food chain two years ago, has resurfaced as an issue for biotech-based crops. (Anne Fitzgerald, DesMoines Register, 3/17/02)

Curbing the Corps Few things are dearer to members of Congress than water projects in their home districts. So the congressional brouhaha last week when the Bush administration fired its civilian chief of the Army Corps of Engineers was no surprise. (Opinion by Christian Science Monitor, 3/15/02)

MISSISSIPPI RIVER: Survey finds 21 poisons in river ST. PAUL -- Caffeine and DEET, we know about. But what about Lincomycin, Tylosin and triclosan? Those are just some of the compounds the U.S. Geological Survey found in the Mississippi River above or below the Twin Cities as part of a first-time analysis of an emerging class of contaminants being flushed down drains every day. (BY DENNIS LIEN, Pioneer Press, 3/14/02)

Harkin firm on farm bill despite flub WASHINTON, D.C. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin said Tuesday that a $6.1 billion flub in the farm bill amounts to "pencil dust" when compared to overall federal spending. (Jane Norman, AP, 3/13/02)

Corps of Engineers and DNR initiate design of Whitewater Park in Minneapolis SAINT PAUL, MN - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources signed a cooperative agreement this week to initiate preconstruction engineering and design of a whitewater park near St. Anthony Falls in Minneapolis. (USACE News Release, 3/7/02)

Iowa farmland prices increaseDES MOINES, IA The price of Iowa's most productive farmland rose 3.8 percent, or $91 an acre, to an average $2,434 in the year ended March 1, according to a survey released Monday. (Jerry Perkins, Des Moines Register, 3/12/02)

Developing nations hold key to exports AMES, IA Developing countries are the key to future U.S. agricultural exports, and their collective clout will drive the debate over a new global agricultural trade agreement, economists and other agricultural experts say (By Anne Fitzgerald, Des Moines Register, 3/10/02)

Army Corps Battle Enters Key Phase -- With Departure of Engineers Chief, Some Critics See Chance for Real Reform WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Michael Parker made it clear as soon as he took over the Army Corps of Engineers last October: He didn't see anything wrong with his embattled public works agency. He saw a lot wrong with rival agencies that kept criticizing Corps water projects. (By Michael Grunwald, Washington Post, 3/10/02)

Senate proposal boosts ethanol -- WASHINGTON, D.C. Production of corn-based ethanol would nearly triple under a breakthrough agreement in the Senate energy bill announced Friday that brings together two warring interest groups. (By Jane Norman, Des Moines Register, 3/09/02)

Army Corps Chief's Ouster Prompts Outrage on Capitol Hill WASHINGTON, D.C. --The sudden ouster of Army Corps of Engineers civilian chief Michael Parker prompted waves of outrage on Capitol Hill today, as members of Congress accused the Bush administration of firing their former colleague for telling the truth about the Corps budget. (By Michael Grunwald Washington Post, 3/0702)

Harkin, ag secretary spar over spending WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin wanted a definition. The Iowa Democrat had just been told by Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman at a hearing Wednesday that the Bush administration wants $73.5 billion in increased spending on the farm bill spread out "relatively evenly" over 10 years. (By Jane Norman, Des Moines Register, 2/28/02)

Voodoo environmentalismDEKALB, ILL. - When President Bush recently presented his new climate-change policy, he argued that economic growth is the key to environmental progress. Economic growth, he suggested, provides us the means to develop and invest in cleaner technologies. Mr. Bush's father once referred to Ronald Reagan's trickle-down economics as voodoo economics. I would assert that growth-induced conservation is a case of voodoo environmentalism. (Opinion by William G. Moseley, Christian Science Monitor, 2/27/02)

Web Site Helped Change Farm Policy WASHINGTON, Feb. 23 — Throughout the angry Senate debate about whether to limit subsidies to wealthy farmers, lawmakers kept referring to "the Web site" to make their points. (NY Times, 2/24/02l registration required. See UMBSN link to the Environmental Working Group site in column two of this page ->.)

Farm bill far from finished WASHINGTON - Time is running out for Congress to agree on new farm programs before growers start planting spring crops. A compromise probably will not come easily given the many tough issues to resolve and the political stakes in an election year. (Winona Daily News, 2/24/02)

Kind gets top rating for environmental stance WASHINGTON, Who's the greenest of them all? According to the League of Conservation Voters, it would be Ron Kind, House Democrat from La Crosse - one of four members of Congress from Wisconsin to get a 100% rating in the league's National Environmental Scorecard, which examines votes in 2001. (Katherine M. Skiba, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 2/23/02)

Mississippi River commission is revived WINONA A Mississippi River watchdog group that disbanded last year when it lost funding from Wisconsin is back with a similar mission and no ties to government money. (By Jeff Dankert Winona Daily News 2/21/02)

Regulations would doom some, hog-lot owners sayIOWA, Hog-lot owners warned state regulators Monday that a proposal to measure and limit air pollution would help drive small- and medium-size farms out of business. (Tony Leys, DesMoines Register, 2/19/02)

Power: Earth, wind and ire ADDISON, WISCONSIN -- From the Town of Addison to the halls of Washington, the potential for wind-based production of energy in the United States apparently has stalled - but only temporarily, if Congress and the American public have any common sense at all. (AP 2/17/02 – Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

Senate Passes Democratic-Crafted Farm Bill WASHINGTON, D.C The Senate passed an election-year farm bill yesterday that increases subsidies for grain and cotton growers and doubles spending on conservation programs. (Washington Post 2/14/02)

The Environmental Working Group Makes Searchable Government Farm Subsidy Records Available To Public Search now

Conservation Technical Assistance Receives a Resounding Vote of Confidence from Landowners