Older Trucks Banned in California & Ag Groups Take WOTUS to Court

**Large trucks and buses made before 2010 are NOW PROHIBITED from operating in California, under a California Air Resources Board rule that took effect Jan. 1.

Until this year, an agricultural exemption had allowed pre-2010 rigs to run up to 10,000 miles a year, but must now abide by a 1,000-mile limit.

The market is already saturated with older vehicles, and many business owners face steep financial costs to replace them.

**Groups representing agriculture, infrastructure, housing, and petroleum filed a legal challenge to the new Waters of the U.S. Rule.

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association chief counsel, Mary-Thomas Hart says, the Biden Administration’s WOTUS definition is an attack on farmers and ranchers, and we’ll be fighting back in court.

American Farm Bureau President, Zippy Duvall says, the new rule creates uncertainty for farmers and ranchers even if they’re miles from the nearest navigable water.

**Farm lending activity continued to gradually increase along with further growth in loan sizes.

The Kansas City Federal Reserve says the average size of non-real estate farm loans was about 20% higher than a year ago and drove an increase in lending volumes for the fourth straight quarter.

Average interest rates on farm loans rose sharply alongside higher benchmark rates and reached a ten-year high, putting additional upward pressure on financing costs.