“Shirley Sherrod Gets Call from President Obama”
In television interviews Thursday morning – Shirley Sherrod – the former USDA employee at the center of controversy this week – said she wanted to hear directly from the President. She got her wish shortly after noon Eastern Thursday. According to a White House statement – President Obama expressed his regret about recent events. He added that U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack’s apology was sincere Wednesday and said this misfortune can present an opportunity for her to continue her hard work on behalf of those in need. He said he’s hopeful she will do so.
Secretary Vilsack has offered Sherrod a position with USDA’s Office of Civil Rights and Community Outreach. Sherrod has said she’s inclined to turn down the job offer.
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“House Ag Subcommittee Meets on Crop Insurance”
House Ag Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Chair Leonard Boswell says he knows how important good crop insurance is to managing risk and getting through tough times on the farm. The Iowa Congressman says that’s a lesson he learned as a farmer during the 1980s Farm Crisis. Boswell led a hearing to review current issues facing the U.S. crop insurance industry Thursday. He says it was an opportunity to get feedback about the kind of coverage farmers need, what the government can do to bolster their safety nets and the role of private crop insurance agents.
The recently renegotiated Standard Reinsurance Agreement was a main topic of discussion. The SRA governs the relationship between the federal government and private companies that deliver crop insurance products to farmers. Boswell has concerns regarding the SRA and the potential impact it will have on small rural communities. He says budgets are tight – but tight budgets shouldn’t mean jeopardizing the risk management tools already in place or putting in question what improvements can be made in the future.
According to Subcommittee Ranking Member Jerry Moran of Kansas – it was important to hold this hearing in the wake of the signing of the 2011 SRA. He said members of the Committee should have the opportunity to publicly voice their concerns and objections. He added Congress must exercise its oversight authority. Doing so now – he said – will provide some idea as to what parts of the SRA must be closely monitored as it’s implemented.
Congressman Earl Pomeroy says the crop insurance program remains the most important risk management tool for producers. He says the SRA reduces the deficit by four-billion dollars – which is good for taxpayers and the long-term stability of the farm safety net program.
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“CIPA Says Farmers Not Represented Well in Standard Reinsurance Agreement”
Various crop insurance agents told Congress at a House Ag Subcommittee hearing Thursday that USDA missed the opportunity to strengthen the U.S. crop insurance program – an essential piece of the safety net for producers of nearly all crops and regions. Vice Chairman of the Crop Insurance Professionals Association Jordan Roach says USDA mishandled the recent Standard Reinsurance Agreement negotiation that shortchanged the ag budget and farmers by six-billion dollars. Roach says everybody lost in the renegotiation process.
Roach expresses confidence in the ability of the industry to be dynamic and continue to provide the highest quality service – but asked Congress to consider what it can be if forces join together to encourage USDA to expand quality coverage for all crops and improve the existing policies so all producers have viable options.
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“Senator Grassley Tries to Address ‘EPA Overreach’ on Agriculture”
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he wants the EPA to stop treating agriculture like second-class citizens. Grassley is joining Nebraska Senator Mike Johanns to cosponsor legislation that would expedite a decision by the EPA to exempt milk containers from regulations initially intended for oil spills. He says it’s just another example of EPA overreach – especially when it comes to ag. Grassley notes dairy farmers are already struggling and adding burdensome, unnecessary regulations would put many of them in a precarious position – or even put them out of business. What’s more- he says forcing farmers to make unnecessary modifications to their operations could easily increase prices for consumers at the grocery store.
According to Grassley – it defies common sense that the EPA would even consider treating milk like oil. But despite indications in January 2009 that the EPA would exempt milk storage from Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure regulations – they have yet to make a final rule. The legislation Grassley is co-sponsoring would require the EPA to finalize the proposed rule to exempt milk containers within 30 days and would delay EPA fines or other compliance penalties against milk containers until EPA makes a decision on the proposed exemption.
Grassley is also leading an effort to keep the EPA from placing further economic pressure on rural America if the agency would choose to impose more stringent regulations on dust. The Iowa Senator is concerned a draft policy assessment on particulate matter – in which the EPA staff concluded the administrator could either retain the current standards on particulate matter or make them more stringent – puts the EPA one step closer to imposing more unnecessary regulations on farmers.
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“House Will Look to Senate on Tax Cut Extensions”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other House leaders will take their lead from the Senate on the Bush-era tax cuts that expire at the end of the year. She did not have details of how or when the Senate will move – but the Senate Finance Committee was slated to discuss extending the tax cuts during a bipartisan meeting last night (Thursday). Pelosi did say she prefers to stick to the President’s promise to allow the tax cuts to expire for individuals that earn more than 200-thousand dollars and families earning 250-thousand or more. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says the administration believes it’s appropriate to let those tax cuts that go to the most fortunate two or three-percent of Americans expire on their current schedule. As for the estate tax – Geithner says we should restore it to its 2009 levels. Republicans and some Democrats want to raise the exemption beyond last year’s 3.5-million per person and reduce the maximum tax from the ’09 level of 45-percent.
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“Wisconsin’s Agriculture Secretary Drowns, Leaves State Mourning”
Wisconsin Agriculture Secretary Rod Nilsestuen drowned in Lake Superior late Wednesday afternoon while in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. He was working with Habitat for Humanity. Rescuers searched for Nilsesteun for 50-minutes – but were unsuccessful in resuscitation efforts once they found him. Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle says Nilsestuen was a visionary leader who brought Wisconsin the greatest and most beneficial transformation of agriculture it has seen in generations. U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack called Nilsestuen a tireless advocate for the farmers and ranchers of Wisconsin – stating he provided steady leadership and guidance during a time of great challenge.
Nilsestuen – who grew up on a dairy farm – was head of the Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives from 1978 until 2003 – when he became Ag Secretary. Doyle says Nilsestuen leaves a legacy. He helped create Wisconsin’s Milk Marketing Board and a number of other marketing and development efforts while heading the Coops Federation. He also helped increase milk and cheese production, connect consumers and local farmers, protect farmland, promote bio-energy, grow organic farming and support investments in the state’s agriculture. According to Vilsack – this dedication of Nilsestuen to expanding economic opportunities for the people of Wisconsin will live on through the numerous programs and projects he championed.
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“USDA’s Rural Development Looking at Telemedicine”
Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager says USDA will facilitate a virtual discussion on the Power of Telemedicine. The purpose is to encourage a more widespread use and understanding of telemedicine. Rural Development is encouraging individuals, organizations and professionals in the telemedicine community to contribute feedback and ideas on a series of questions provided for discussion.
Tonsager says the Obama Administration believes that all Americans – including those in remote, rural areas – deserve quality health care. Also – every child – including those in rural America – deserves a world-class education. Tonsager says USDA Rural Development’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine program provides quality health care and access to education in communities across rural America.
The Power of Telemedicine discussion will encourage the exchange of information, innovations and success stories involving the varied uses of telemedicine. This information is essential as Rural Development examines the Distance Learning and Telemedicine program and works to improve program delivery to telemedicine practitioners, patients, institutions and others affected by this cutting-edge technology.
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“Migrating Birds to Benefit from Program”
The time is near when migratory birds will fly south for the winter – and the southern shores of eight states will be important locations for their trips. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is adversely affecting the marshes and coast-lands used by shorebirds, waterfowl and other birds. But USDA’s newly created Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative will work with farmers, ranchers and other landowners to manage portions of their land to enhance habitat for migrating birds.
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service estimates that – depending on landowner interest – this effort will help enhance habitat for migratory birds on over 100-thousand acres. The initiative includes portions of eight States including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Texas. Farmers, ranchers and other landowners are now signing up to participate in the program. Because interest by landowners to participate has been vast – NRCS is now priority ranking the applications.
Bottom line – the initiative will work to improve habitat conditions and food sources for migratory birds likely to be impacted by the conditions in the Gulf of Mexico. This initiative will be delivered through two components – private agricultural lands and Wetlands Reserve Program easement lands. NRCS will work to establish habitat and food sources as well as improve the overall habitat management on participating lands.
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“Obama Administration to Tour State Fairs”
Members of the Obama Administration will make the rounds at various state fairs this summer and fall. Top officials – including Cabinet Secretaries – will attend the fairs to discuss ongoing efforts to support job creation, improve access to health care and enhance the quality of rural education. They’ll also discuss how communities, states and the federal government can better work together to strengthen rural America. The state fair tour begins today (Friday) at the Delaware State Fair. Education Secretary Arne Duncan will meet with FFA students, tour a student ag projects exhibit by 4-H and present awards to student winners of the Health Foods Contest. The Delaware State Fair attracts more than 300-thousand attendees each year and maintains its roots in agriculture.
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“Meat Industry Hall of Fame Class Announced”
The Meat Industry Hall of Fame’s class of 2010 has been announced. The 12 individuals were selected by the Hall’s Board of Trustees and inductees from last year’s inaugural class. Dan Murphy – Executive Director and co-founder of the Hall of Fame – says these are people who are rightfully credited with fostering much of the profound change, remarkable progress and success of our North American meat industry.
The Meat Industry Hall of Fame’s 2010 class includes: Richard Bond, CEO, President and Director, Tyson Foods Inc.; Ralph Cator, Founder, Cardinal Meat Specialists Limited; Joel Johnson, Chairman, President & CEO, Hormel Foods Corporation; H. Kenneth Johnson, Vice President – Meat Science, National Live Stock & Meat Board; Dr. Roger Mandigo, Professor, Animal Science Department, University of Nebraska; Robert E. Rust, Professor Emeritus, Animal Science, Iowa State University; Dr. Jeff W. Savell, Regents Professor and E.M. “Manny” Rosenthal Chairholder in Animal Science, Texas A&M University; and Deven Scott, Vice President of Member Services, American Meat Institute and Executive Vice President, North American Meat Processors Association.
Also members of this year’s Meat Industry Hall of Fame class are the late ; William D. Farr, Farr Feeders; Ray Kroc, Founder & Chairman, McDonald’s Corporation; Colonel Harland Sanders, Founder, Kentucky Fried Chicken; and Dave Thomas, Founder, CEO, Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers.
An Induction Ceremony for the new Meat Industry Hall of Fame Members will be held October 30, 2010 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
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“ARS Researchers Learning More About Type 2 Diabetes”
Agriculture Research Service researchers – working to learn more about type 2 diabetes – have found the potential of natural compounds in the body known as “fatty acylcarnitines” to serve as diabetes biomarkers. In some instances – levels of the compounds were almost 300-percent higher in the diabetic volunteers than in those without the disease. Sean Adams with the ARS western Human Nutrition Research Center in Davis, California says apparently the higher levels result from incomplete or inefficient oxidation of fat in the diabetic women.
Incomplete oxidation of fats has already been associated with insulin resistance – a hallmark of type 2 diabetes. However – the study Adams led adds detail to what he describes as the emerging picture of abnormal fatty acylcarnitine levels in blood as potential biomarkers of type 2 diabetes.
In time – researchers believe physicians and other health care professionals might be able to use these indicators to identify – at an earlier stage – the children and adults who are at risk for developing this type of diabetes. Also – nutrition scientists would be able to use the markers to monitor the progress of experimental nutrition – and exercise-based strategies designed for prevention.
