Fifty state Farm Bureau presidents from across the nation attended an event today at the Environmental Protection Agency headquarters in Washington to witness the signing of the proposed Clean Water Rule. One of those leaders was Montana Farm Bureau President Hans McPherson. 

“It’s fantastic to see common sense has returned to Washington, D.C. and especially to the EPA. This new rule will provide a clear direction for farmers and communities to follow” said McPherson, a diversified farmer from Stevensville. “Nobody cares more about the water we drink and the air we breathe than farmers and ranchers. The Waters of the U.S.(WOTUS) Rule that the Obama Administration tried to implement in 2015 was not about water, it was about power. This new rule will protect our water resources while allowing farmers to farm instead of spending their time dealing with bureaucratic paperwork, governmental overreach and impossible regulations.” 

McPherson noted, “We thank President Donald Trump for his common sense in realizing that farmers and ranchers are the most effective stewards of America’s water. This new rule is certainly a true Christmas present for everyone involved in agriculture.” 

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall added, “Farmers and ranchers want to protect land and water in the communities where we live and work. Clean water is our way of life. Preserving our land and protecting our water means healthy places to live, work and play. We believe this new Clean Water Rule is rooted in common-sense”. 

“We appreciate the months of hard work that the administration, especially the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers, invested in making sure the new Clean Water Rule was done right,” said Duvall Unlike the 2015 WOTUS rule, this new rule protects our resources, respects the law and provides greater clarity so the agencies and the public can identify regulated federal waterways. We will further analyze this new rule in the coming days and will suggest further refinements during the comment period.”