A farm can’t operate without its farmer. That’s why new initiatives are underway to help keep the farmer and rancher on the farm and ranch.
Fostering support: At the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) 105th annual convention in Salt Lake City, President Zippy Duvall announced a peer-to-peer platform where members everywhere can anonymously share their struggles. It’s part of an ongoing effort to lessen mental health stigma in the agriculture industry and provide resources to help.
Collaborations for health: The free online service is a partnership with Farm Family Wellness Alliance and uses the Togetherall platform to allow everyone 16 and older a place to connect with others while being moderated by licensed and registered mental health clinicians.
Soundbite: “Farming is tough even on the best days. That’s why Farm Bureau has been committed to helping farmers and ranchers across the country get connected with the tools and resources they need to promote mental health and wellbeing—and to check in on their friends, neighbors, and loved ones. Togetherall will help us all to do just that.” — AFBF President Zippy Duvall
Breaking the silence: Farm Bureau is also partnering with Huntsman Mental Health Institute and the Ad Council for a series of PSAs to be broadcast nationally. The Ad Council’s research shows 63% of adults living in rural areas have a mental health condition, but only one-third reach out for help.
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Congress to EPA: What’s Your BEEF with Meat Packers?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering new regulations that take aim at meat and poultry processors.
And some members of Congress have a BEEF with the EPA’s proposals.
The proposed rules: In late January, the EPA released the details of its proposed “Clean Water Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Meat and Poultry Products Point source category.”
Huh?
Basically, the EPA formally published its proposals to combat wastewater contaminants that come from slaughterhouses.
Okay… that makes more sense.
At the heart of the rules proposal is a concern from environmental groups about nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants that originate from slaughterhouses. In some cases, the wastewater goes directly into waterways. In other cases, the water goes to municipal wastewater treatment facilities.
But not everyone is on board with the EPA’s suggestions…
Congress responds: Last week, two U.S. representatives—Eric Burlison (MO) and Ron Estes (KS)—pushed back against the EPA and introduced the “Banning EPA’s Encroachment of Facilities (BEEF) Act.” If passed and signed by President Biden, the law would prohibit the EPA from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing the rule.
According to the lawmakers, the proposed rules place undue burden on small processors—costs that can be absorbed by larger companies.
Soundbite: “The… proposed regulation isn’t just an attack on family-run small businesses, it’s an attack on rural communities,” said Burlison. “These meat and poultry processors are the lifeblood of our communities. The BEEF Act… lets these hardworking Americans do what they do best, produce safe, affordable food for our families.”