A northeast Nebraska farming operation is starting the new year with an even bigger commitment to conservation, and they hope other farms take note.

Cover cropping and organic farming are already practiced by the Winnebago Tribe's Ho-Chunk Farms. And through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service "Eqip" program, they will add more conservation practices this year.

Aaron LaPointe, senior farm manager for Ho-Chunk Farms in Winnebago, said they've enrolled all 3,500 of their irrigated acres into a technology-driven water conservation program, known as the WaterSmart Initiative.

"There's lots of equipment that will inform you on your groundwater levels, which alerts you when to irrigate at the optimal time, using the least amount of water," LaPointe explained. "And also, if you're overwatering, that brings more of an issue when you start talking about leeching of different pesticides and herbicides, and getting things into our groundwater."

The USDA shares the upfront costs of water meters, soil-moisture probes, weather stations, and inspecting irrigation pumps to be sure they are functioning properly. LaPointe emphasized they are confident it will be a good long-term investment, both for water and soil health.

LaPointe noted they have also enrolled all their irrigated acres into another federal program to monitor their herbicide and pesticide use.

"It allows you to efficiently use a certain amount of chemical that you need to kill weeds without overdoing it," LaPointe pointed out. "Because any excess that you spray could eventually end up in groundwater or causing other issues in other things."

Ho-Chunk Farms is part of the Winnebago Tribe's economic development corporation. It will plant nearly 7,000 acres this year. Among those, 1,000 will be cover crops, and another 1,000 will have organically certified crops.

LaPointe hopes their successes will encourage other farmers to take a look at what the USDA offers.

"We, personally, might sit here and say, 'Well, is our 3,500 acres really making a difference?' But if you start inspiring more people to do it, now you're starting to make some real change," LaPointe remarked. "If there is somebody that's going to kind of set the trend and inspire people to maybe move in that direction, I think it should be us."

An environmental group is voicing concern about the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's efforts to tackle PFAS pollution.

The EPA recently announced steps to reduce the toxic "forever chemicals" in drinking water and hold polluters accountable.

Dan Firth, chair of the solid waste and mining committee for the Tennessee chapter of the Sierra Club, is concerned the EPA's efforts could be undermined by proposed budget cuts and regulatory rollbacks of pollution rules.

"We certainly hope that they will follow through and will improve, will strengthen the controls of around PFAS," Firth emphasized. "That they will truly make the polluters pay, and that they will clean up the drinking water and protect the residents of Tennessee."

EPA data show more than 143 million were exposed to toxic "forever chemicals" last year.

Firth pointed out if the EPA follows through on enforcing safe drinking water rules, it could improve water quality across Tennessee and ease the cleanup burden on taxpayers. He added the agency should also go further by treating PFAS as a class of chemicals and limit their use to prevent future contamination.

Firth noted the Tennessee Department of Environment Conservation is still in the process of revising its permit process. His group is encouraging the department to include some testing requirements for PFAS in biosolids.

"Grundy County had a bill in the legislature this year to gain local control over how they handle, whether they can permit or can deny the land application of biosolids at the local level," Firth observed.

Firth is calling for swift, meaningful action to improve access to clean water, noting PFAS exposure is linked to pregnancy complications and increase the risk of certain cancers.


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A Michigan group is speaking out after a top congressional leader's comment that lawmakers will most likely scrap the $7,500 federal tax credit for buying electric vehicles.

Ending the tax credit could deal a major blow to both the EV market and the country's clean-energy goals. Michigan automakers and suppliers have pumped more than $30 billion into the state's EV industry since 2020.

Jane McCurry, executive director of Clean Fuels Michigan, said her group joined several local and national nonprofits in signing a letter to the U.S. House Transportation Committee in support of the EV tax credits.

"Demonstrating that it's not just industry, not just individuals," she said, "but large nonprofits and advocacy groups that really care about continuing to show support for the clean mobility transition."

Despite growing Republican support for EV tax credits, some GOP senators have introduced the ELITE Vehicles Act. It would eliminate the $7,500 credit, a $4,000 credit for buying used EVs, and charging-station incentives. The senators have argued these are luxury cars and that taxpayers shouldn't foot the bill for incentives.

McCurry said it isn't just about cutting incentives. She said there are also new disincentives being pushed in Lansing and Washington, D.C. - including a proposal to increase the gas tax from 31 cents to 51 cents, which would hike EV fees.

"Because of the way that the EV registration fee in Michigan is designed, that would increase our EV registration fee by $100," she said, "and that would make Michigan's EV registration tax the highest in the country."

McCurry said her group, along with 70 companies, is working to bring back the Competitive Fuels Act in Michigan. It would reward cleaner, more innovative fuels based on how environmentally friendly they are. By 2030, hybrid or electric vehicles will be more than half of all vehicle sales in Michigan, according to the state.

Nonprofits, businesses, organizers and leaders have signed a letter calling for more climate solutions in Arizona and around the country. They claim the climate crisis is here, and say action is needed now more than ever.

Research shows most Arizonans are worried about the consequences of climate change on their own lives, and they want more renewable energy sources.

As the Trump administration takes steps to roll back environmental protections and boost domestic oil and gas production, people such as Gloria Walton, president and CEO of The Solutions Project, argue too much is at stake. Her organization is among 150 partners pledging renewed commitments to advancing climate solutions - especially from communities of color.

Walton said these are the areas disproportionately affected by the climate crisis, from their proximity to industry pollution to a lack of infrastructure to deal with extreme weather events.

"Frontline communities are literally taking a proactive stance to addressing the climate crisis, and they're thinking about the collective creativity that can change the material conditions when we work together," she said. "And they're thinking about the hope and possibility of new systems that can be created that benefit people, versus corporations."

The Solutions Project works with cooperatives and community organizers to cultivate policy and campaign wins, which Walton said work to fill in the gaps the current administration is not.

Historically, said Judith LeBlanc, executive director of the community organization Native Organizers Alliance, their advocacy work has been about defending and protecting natural resources, but added that the approach has changed in recent years.

"But what we've been moving in the direction of for eight, nine years - since Standing Rock, really," she said, "is putting forward solutions, generating possible ways to continue to build up the infrastructure for rural, and therefore our reservations."

LeBlanc said Indigenous stewards understand their inherent role and legal responsibility to take care of lands and waters for all. She added that organizing, engaging and mobilizing communities is key, "since the majority opinion is, 'Let's get 'er done, let's take care of Mother Earth, let's invest' - especially by registered voters, who play a big role in shaping government policy."