SGN!
Some good news, or perhaps some surprising news.
As global temperatures have been on the rise, one might guess that soil moisture might be on the decline—but quite the contrary.
A recent study has found that between 2011 and 2020, soil across the continental U.S. was 57% wetter.
Make it make sense. A warmer atmosphere can hold more water vapor. When the atmosphere holds more water vapor it produces more precipitation.
This latest study from Harvard University illustrates that rainfall, not temperature, is the MVP in determining soil moisture changes.
CO2 fertilization helps. While warmer temperatures can dry soils out, CO2 fertilization has helped, as it encourages plants to become more efficient water users.
But this is secondary: precipitation is still the answer in the soil moisture equation.
Can we guarantee that soil moisture will continue to increase as temperatures rise?
Unfortunately it’s not that simple.
Soundbite: “With uncertainties in the interannual variability of rainfall and uncertainties in predictions of long-term rainfall, it’s virtually impossible to predict soil moisture in the coming decades.” — Harvard Professor Peter Huybers
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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.”
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