David Whitte
Remember the theme song from the movie Toy Story, “You’ve Got A Friend in Me?” That could also be the theme song of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). NRCS Chief David White says his agency has been charged by Congress to protect farmers from over-regulation by other federal agencies such as the Fish and Wildlife Service and the EPA, “There is a provision in the Farm Bill that directs NRCS to stand between the farmer and federal regulators.” He said his agency will use conservation program to protect farmers and give the assurance they can be in compliance with regulations. The provision says NRCS will help producers “meet or avoid” regulation. White told HAT this means, “NRCS will act as a shield for farmers and ranchers.”
While this fact gets overlooked in a lot of media reports, White says his agency has a track record of protecting farmers from confusing and contradictory environmental regulations. He cited a recent agreement between NRCS and the Fish and Wildlife Service relating to the protection of the Sage Grouse. The NRCS program helps producers stay in compliance with endangered species regulations administered by FWS. Just last week, NRCS, the EPA, and the State of Minnesota announced an agreement on water quality regulations. The program is generally viewed as a pilot project for a possible larger federal strategy. Producers who commit to the specified land management activities to reduce nutrient run-off and erosion will receive assurance that their farms will meet Minnesota’s water-quality standards and goals during the agreement’s lifespan. That could run for as long as 10 years.
White is one of the few agency heads in Washington today that does not believe that more regulation is the way to deal with environmental problems, “I wish we could take these regulations off the table; it is so important that our men and women on the land be able to produce food.” Too bad Mr. White does run the EPA or the Labor Department.
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