274: The EPA Just Flipped the Switch: What It Means for Diesel and Cattle with John Campbell

This week, Lauren and John cover two things hitting rural America at the same time: wildfire recovery efforts that are still unfolding, and a major EPA shift that could change the regulatory landscape for agriculture and diesel-dependent industries. John shares why continued fire relief matters long after the headlines fade, then breaks down the reported rollback of the 2009 “endangerment finding” tied to greenhouse gases, what that has meant for diesel emissions systems like DEF, and why he believes this could be a turning point. The episode ends with a personal, no-nonsense EPA story that shows exactly how regulatory pressure can spiral into something absurd and expensive fast.

LinksKansasKLA Office - (785) 273-5115Donate Online - https://www.kla.org/affiliates/kansas-livestock-foundation/disaster-relief-donations Wildfire Relief Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/2017wildfirereliefThe Rancher Navy Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/share/g/182zrvruJZ/OklahomaOCF Office - 405-435-4391OCF Fire Relief Fund - https://www.okcattlemen.org/If you would like to donate to this relief effort, you can do so by mail or online. OCF is a 501c(3) charitable arm of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association (OCA). Make checks payable toOklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation and put “Fire Relief” in the memo line and send to P.O. Box82395, Oklahoma City, OK 73148.Donation Centers - https://extension.okstate.edu/programs/emergency-and-disaster-preparedness/wildfire/donation-centers-for-wildfire-relief.html Nominate or request to be a guest - forms.gle/fRkvzRenh7mqkDXV7 CattleUSA Insurance - ⁠https://info.cattleusainsurance.com/l/1102253/2025-06-04/288f5m⁠⁠CattleUSA Website - ⁠https://www.cattleusa.com/⁠Facebook - ⁠https://www.facebook.com/cattleusamedia⁠Instagram - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/cattleusa.media/⁠Subscribe to our newsletter - ⁠https://www.cattleusadrive.com/premium⁠CattleUSA Media - ⁠https://www.cattleusamedia.com/⁠Lauren’s Instagram - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/_laurenmoylan/⁠Lauren’s Youtube - ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@ShowboatmediacoThe Next Generation Podcast Website - ⁠https://www.thenextgenag.com/⁠

Key Takeaways

• Fire relief is not over and the biggest needs often come after containment
• Donations of hay, feed, fencing supplies, trucking, fuel, and labor are still critical
• Community support during disasters creates a long-lasting ripple effect in rural America
• John says the reported EPA shift targets the 2009 “endangerment finding” that classified greenhouse gases as a public health threat
• The 2009 finding became a foundation for expanded emissions regulation tied to CO2 and methane
• Diesel emissions systems like DEF became a real cost and headache for producers and truckers
• John expects major opposition and legal challenges from states like California
• The story highlights how compliance burdens can escalate even when intent and history are clean
• John’s message: rural America needs practical oversight, not bureaucracy that crushes commerce

Chapters

00:00 Weather, drought talk, and Lauren’s mountain snow story
03:35 Market recap from La Junta and regional barns
11:55 Fire relief update and why help is still needed
17:50 EPA shift overview and why it matters to ag
24:20 John’s burn pit EPA story and the compliance spiral
40:05 Lauren’s point: everyone has a regulation story
41:45 Weed spraying, risk-benefit, and feeding a nation
42:50 Wrap-up and fire relief reminder

EPA endangerment finding, 2009 Clean Air Act, greenhouse gas regulation, DEF diesel emissions, rural regulation burdens, agriculture EPA compliance, wildfire relief ranchers, fencing supplies donation, hay hauling wildfire, Kansas Oklahoma fire recovery, ranch disaster support, cattle producer advocacy, bureaucratic overregulation, diesel cost agriculture, environmental regulation agriculture