The Waters of the U.S. rule rewrite topped the list of agricultural issues for the National Agricultural Law Center in 2023. While WOTUS was the top issue for 2023, California’s Proposition 12 came in second, with the one-year Farm Bill extension third.
The organization listed EPA’s rollout of the Endangered Species Protection Program and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act fourth. Other top issues include the Arkansas foreign ownership of land restrictions, competition in the livestock sector and water use from the Colorado River. Right to repair gained traction as farmers continued to advocate for the right to access manufacturer-controlled tools and information.
The list rounds out with growth in the industrial hemp sector and civil litigation over pesticides, such as glyphosate exposure. The organization expects corporate transparency rules requiring disclosure of ownership interests in companies, proposed H-2A changes and a myriad of issues before the Supreme Court as ones to watch for 2024.
