The proposed Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, unless dramatically changed, will force farmers to obtain permits for a number of common and essential agricultural practices, the general counsel of the American Farm Bureau (AFBF) told a U.S. House Agriculture subcommittee last week.

AFBF’s Ellen Steen told a House Agriculture subcommittee that the WOTUS rule will create enormous uncertainty and vulnerability for farmers and ranchers nationwide.

"It is impossible to know how many farmers, ranchers and forest landowners will be visited by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)...