In early January, lawmakers are likely to consider legislation that would reform the rulemaking process for federal agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency. Paul Schlegel, AFBF’s director of environment and energy policy, explained in Tuesday’s Newsline that recent EPA actions highlight the need for change.

“We need to have changes in the system to make sure that stakeholders like farmers and ranchers are protected when these rulemakings take place,” Schlegel said, pointing to the Waters of the U.S. rulemaking, in which the agency was effectively lobbying itself.

“The way they used social media went over the line as to what we thought was a fair and objective approach to the rule,” Schlegel said.