**A petition filed to the Department of Transportation by livestock groups is seeking more flexibility to hours of service regulations.

The petition, signed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Livestock Marketing Association, and American Farm Bureau Federation is asking for a five-year exemption on particular hours of service requirements.

Agweb.com reports, current rules limit drive time at 11 hours with a 14 hour on-duty limit. The organizations want 15 hours of drive time with 16 hour on-duty, following a 10-hour consecutive rest period.

**Mad cow disease has been found on a U.K. farm for the first time since 2015, raising concern some countries may move to limit imports of British beef if more cases are found.

According to agweb.com, the disease was confirmed on a farm in eastern Scotland where officials say the animal did not enter the food supply.

If Mad Cow is confirmed in more animals, there’s a chance importers could cut off purchases of British beef.

**The EPA says it’s on track to issue a final rule replacing the 2015 “waters of the United States” rule by September of next year.

As reported by Agri-Pulse, the EPA expects to publish a proposed replacement rule this month, aligning with recent pledges by Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler

But, even if a proposal is published this month, the rulemaking process could make it difficult to meet the September 2019 target.

 

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