News

USDA Clarifies Wetland Determinations to Provide Certainty to Farmers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is putting farmers first and supporting government accountability by providing clear guidance around wetland determinations, which helps inform agricultural producers’ decisions for their operations.

USGS Dives Deep Into How Tile Affects Hydrology & Water Quality

Want to improve overall water quality? Focus on the tiles with the highest output.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has published the findings of an extensive research study on the variability of discharge, nutrients and other quality factors from drain tile in various conditions.

Plan Now for Deferring Tax on Advance Payments

With year-end fast approaching, now is a good time to review strategies that could affect your business’s 2026 tax liability. One area that may deserve attention is the tax treatment of advance payments. Some accrual-basis businesses may be able to defer recognizing a portion of that income.

USDA Invests $52 Million in 19 Projects to Expand Wildlife Conservation, Outdoor Access

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $52 million in 19 projects to increase public access to private lands for wildlife-dependent recreation while benefiting farmers, ranchers and private landowners. Through the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP), USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is helping state and tribal governments encourage private landowners to allow public access to their land for hunting, fishing and other wildlife-dependent recreation.

NOAA & Partners Find Smaller than Anticipated Hypoxic Zone in Gulf of America

NOAA-supported scientists announced today that this year’s Gulf of America hypoxic zone is approximately 1,332 square miles, making it the 2nd smallest zone on record in 40 years of measurement. Hypoxic areas, also called “dead zones,” are areas with little to no oxygen in the water, which can negatively impact fish, shellfish, corals and aquatic plants by making critical habitat unavailable to bottom species.

Deere Settles FTC Right to Repair Lawsuit

John Deere has agreed to a proposed settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to make the same repair tools used by its dealers available to farmers and independent repair shops “on fair and reasonable terms."

Authorization for Water/Wastewater Programs Passed in House Committee

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved legislation authorizing $14 billion over four years for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and $16.5 billion over five years for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, along with 133 new feasibility studies for locally proposed water infrastructure projects.

House/Senate Take Action on FY 2027 Funding - Farm Aid Prior to Recess

The House recessed last week for five weeks and the Senate is scheduled to follow suit by the end of this week. When both return in September there will be a short legislative session before members leave again to return home to campaign for the upcoming midterm elections.

Global Engineering Design Review of Wood-Based Denitrifying Bioreactors

Denitrifying bioreactors that use wood-based fill media provide relatively simple and cost-effective nitrate (N) treatment for many waters and wastewaters around the world. The number of studies about this young technology has grown exponentially over the past decades.

Senate Farm Bill May Be Addressed This Week – E15 Extension Likely to be Included – EQIP Funding Slashed

The Senate Agriculture Committee is scheduled to take up the Senate version of the farm bill on Thursday, August 6. A draft bill has made available for review by committee members and outside groups.

NRCS Wetland Determinations

Stop Losing Yield and Money to Wet Fields

Farming depends on a few inches of topsoil and the right amount of moisture to be successful. But what happens when farmers are met with the challenge of too much water? A panel of agriculture experts weighed in on how farmers can manage too much moisture during Grand Farm’s Cultivate conference in Fargo, N.D. From drain tiles and cover crops to precision technology and more, finding a solution can take numerous paths.

Funding Opportunity Announced for Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Projects

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Director James Jennings today announced $5 million in funding through the Section 319 (h) Grant Program for projects addressing nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. The Section 319(h) Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is now posted. “The Section 319 Grant Program targets areas of the state prone to nonpoint source pollution,” said Director Jennings. “This funding will aid in the development and implementation of watershed management plans to benefit local watersheds.”

Iowa Farmer Sees Culture Shift Toward Water Conservation

Nick Helland and his father have embraced a slew of conservation practices – bioreactors, saturated buffers, cover crops and a nutrient reducing wetland — on their farm in the Greater Des Moines Watershed.

Helland said he feels there has been a “shift in the culture” among farmers from judging one another on how black they could till their soil, to now, how frequently they till and how much cover they leave on the fields.

A New Solution

Denitrifying bioreactors are one of the most quickly thought of examples of an edge-of-field practice in agricultural drainage – one that could potentially solve some of the potential problems posed by tile drainage.

Assessing the Performance of Aged Field-Scale Woodchip Bioreactors in Iowa

Woodchip bioreactors are widely implemented to reduce nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) losses from agricultural drainage, yet long-term field performance data are underreported. This study evaluated long-term NO3-N removal efficiency (NRE) across 10 field-scale bioreactors in Iowa operating for 10–16 years and used conservative tracer tests at five sites to assess internal hydraulics.

Solar expansion and farm drainage: Bridging the gap

Utility-scale solar development is rapidly expanding across the Midwest and parts of Canada. These projects are often located on flat, productive farmland that depends heavily on subsurface drainage. As a result, contractors are on the front lines of a critical challenge – and opportunity.

Simple Retirement Solutions for Small Business Owners

Offering employees retirement options can be an effective way for small business owners to attract and retain talent. If you’re concerned about cost and administrative complexity, you’re not alone. Fortunately, several options are available, including a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plan.

LICA Participates in Coalition Seeking H-2B Visa Cap Revisions

LICA has joined in a coalition that is seeking to expand the existing cap on H-2B visas for seasonal workers which many LICA members utilize to meet workforce shortages. The current H-2B cap has consistently fallen short of documented workforce needs during periods of strong economic growth and low unemployment.

EPA Proposes NEPA Policy Revisions to Speed Construction Project Approvals

On June 25, 2026 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed updates to its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementation procedures to expedite permitting and streamline environmental reviews. The proposal establishes time and page limits, expands categorical exclusions, and aligns EPA rules with recent legislation and Supreme Court rulings.