Waters of the U.S. Rule Could Be Scrapped; One Child Cap Lifted

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst announced last Thursday she believes there is now enough support in the U.S. Senate to consider her bill that would scrap the “Waters of the U.S.” rule. Senator Ernst has secured enough support to ensure the Senate can consider the bill without a filibuster. Last month, Senator Ernst led a group of 49 fellow Senators in introducing an effort to eliminate the WOTUS rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers which expands the scope of federal authority over land and waterways.

With China lifting the nation’s one child cap, the move should provide a boost to the countries dairy demand. China is the world’s biggest consumer of dried milk powders used in infant formula and world milk prices have slumped this year in part due to a slowdown in Chinese imports. The nation makes up nearly half of the world’s imports of whole milk powder though purchases are expected to drop about 40 percent this year as economic growth slows and China works through large dairy stockpiles. Low milk prices in recent months spurred losses for farmers from Europe to New Zealand.