The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued new fracking regulations. This directly impacts the health of those living near fracking sites, many of whom are rural residents.

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a method to harvest natural gas. Chemicals are shot underground to break up rocks, releasing embedded gas. Residents living near fracking sites have reported polluted groundwater and other health dangers.

The new regulations target air pollution. Specifically, when the underground gas rises to the Earth’s surface, it tends to “flare” up before being collected.

Imagine a burst fire hydrant. The water surges out of the ground, until someone shuts the valve. Most of the water is conserved, but that initial squirt is lost.

Natural gas acts in a similar way. Usually, the initial flare up is just absorbed into the atmosphere. And natural gas, or methane (CH4) is a potent greenhouse gas.

The EPA has focused on minimizing the air-pollution effects of fracking. The new regulations compel frackers to capture the methane at the source, instead of letting it slip away.

The biggest benefactors are the people living near natural gas wells. Methane (and other toxic releases) from fracking can cause irreparable harm to humans. On a grander scale, minimizing air-pollution serves us all.

But gas companies will benefit from these regulations too. Methane collected from flare-ups can be sold to consumers like normal. In fact, its estimated that the industry will save $11 to $19 Million per year by following these rules. Most companies haven’t installed collectors because of the initial costs involved. The EPA ruling removes this roadblock.

The standards go into effect in 60 days, but companies have three years to comply. Beginning in 2015, all companies must capture methane. The sooner they install capturing technologies, the better.

The new EPA regulations don’t address all the health concerns of fracking.

But they’re a good start, for both the people living near the wells, and the companies that profit.

I bought a cider press at an auction last week. I am really excited to make apple cider this fall. The last two years, I had a bumper crop of apples. That sounds like gallons and gallons of cider to me.

But after last night, I am wondering if I should put the cider press back up for sale. You see, my apple trees were in full bloom before the end of March when temperatures hit 90 degrees.

Then it dipped to 27 degrees last night. A handy chart I found warns that fruit loss begins at 28 degrees, and if it hits 25 degrees, a near total loss occurs.

A lot of people are talking about the strange weather this spring. Come to think of it, a lot of people were talking about the weather last spring too.

That is when unexpected rain flooded thousands of acres of farmland along the Missouri river, and forced the closure of a key bridge between Nebraska and Iowa just 10 miles from our office in Lyons, Nebraska. The cropland stayed under water all summer. The bridge stayed closed too, forcing many residents of the the small river town to add 60 miles to their daily commute.

To be sure, a mix of factors contributes to every weather event, and early research indicates that climate change was only one factor contributing to the warm temperatures this spring.

Taken together, though, these experiences are painting a picture of the sort of challenges we can expect to face as climate change intensifies.

The risks to our communities, and to agriculture in particular, are significant. Last year some corn and bean farmers in our county lost their entire crop to flooding. The two farm families who operate our local wineries were probably up late last night worrying about their fruit trees and grape vines as the temperatures fell.

When farmers we know suffer a crop loss from extreme weather, the political objection to acting on climate change seems dimmer in comparison.

There is a great moral risk in continuing to treat climate change as a political issue. Our communities and our farms are on the line. Out of respect for future generations, it is far past time to set politics aside and take reasonable action.

That is why it is time for farmers and rural people of conscious to step forward and lead. We know some farmers are already concerned. And a recent poll of farmers in Iowa found that 68% believe climate change is real and 45% believe human activity is a contributing factor.

We are stepping up our efforts too. In our newsletter in June, we will run a feature on climate change, the challenges facing our communities and actions we can take. In early summer, we will issue a major new report on carbon, climate and agriculture.

We know that it will not always be easy. But the issue demands our leadership. For we must not allow political division to stand in the way of protecting our children and grandchildren from the risk of a changing climate.

Will you join us? To get involved as a leader on climate issues in your community, please get in touch. Shoot me an email at briand@cfra.org.