“ARS Reports on Hunger in U.S.”
A report released by USDA’s Economic Research Service reveals that in 2008, 17-million households, or 14.6 percent, were food insecure and families had difficulty putting enough food on the table at times during the year. This is an increase from 13 million households, or 11.1 percent, in 2007. The 2008 figures represent the highest level observed since nationally representative food security surveys were initiated in 1995.
This year’s report also reveals that one third of food insecure households, or about 6.7 million households, had very low food security. That is to say that food intake of some household members was reduced and their eating patterns disrupted at times during the year. Also, according to the report, children as well as adults experienced instances of very low food security in 506-thousand households. That about 1.3 percent of households with children.
After reviewing the report, President Obama said, – it is particularly troubling that there were more than 500-thousand families in which a child experienced hunger multiple times over the course of the year. According to the President, – our children’s ability to grow, learn, and meet their full potential – and therefore our future competitiveness as a nation – depends on regular access to healthy meals.
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is quick to point out – the Department of Agriculture’s nutrition assistance programs provide a safety net that improves food access to those with critical needs, but addressing the root of hunger requires a broader strategy.
According to Senate Ag Committee Chair Blanche Lincoln – the report is a sobering reminder that there are tens of millions of Americans struggling through one of the worst economic recessions in recent memory. She says the report underscores the importance of federal food assistance programs and the need for Congress to undertake the reauthorization of federal child nutrition programs with a strong focus on increasing program access and improving nutritional quality.
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“Report Calls for Electronic Food Chain Oversight”
The Institute of Food Technologists has completed a report that recommends guidelines to establish a comprehensive electronic product tracing system to track the movement of food products effectively from farm to point of sale or service. The report, commissioned by the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition, proposes changes in current systems and practices to help track the movement of food products from farm to table to ultimately protect public health.
The IFT report creates a standard list of key data or information and the format and where along the supply chain it should be collected. It also calls for the sharing of information both internally and with partners and calls for the information to be available within 24 hours of an FDA request. Also, the report says, the information should be simple, user friendly and globally accepted, as well as have the ability to leverage existing industry systems.
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“U.S. Meat Exports Mixed Bag”
There is some good news for the U.S. pork industry but the news for the U.S. beef industry is not good. The U.S. Meat Export Federation reports that September pork plus pork variety meat exports reached nearly 154-thousand metric tons, valued at 347.8-million dollars. Based on statistics released by USDA, that’s the highest volume since April of 2009. But, September beef plus beef variety meat exports were down slightly from August, with the January-September cumulative total falling further behind last year’s pace. Beef exports continue to struggle amid market access restrictions and difficult global economic conditions.
There are some bright spots this year in pork trade – including a continued strong performance in Mexico and Japan as well as renewed strength in Canada, Russia and the Greater China region – they trail last year’s record pace by 11 percent in volume and 12 percent in value. At the same time, Mexico’s September volume surpassed last year’s by nearly 37 percent. So far this year Mexico has purchase 547.7-million dollars worth of U.S. pork.
September beef plus beef variety meat exports were down 25 percent in volume and 34 percent in value from September of 2008, bringing the cumulative total for the year to 660,459 metric tons, valued at 2.28-billion dollars. This is 12 percent below last year’s pace in volume and 17 percent lower in value. Much of the decline is attributable to the weak global market for beef variety meat. Beef exports to Japan are 22 percent higher in volume and 21 percent higher in value than last year. September exports continued to outperform 2008, but at a slightly slower pace due to the seasonal decline in availability of slaughter-ready cattle under 21 months of age.
USMEF also reports that U.S. lamb exports closed the third quarter at a very solid pace, fueled by continued strong performance in the Caribbean and a surge in exports to Mexico. January-September lamb plus lamb variety meat exports reached 8,344 metric tons, which already exceeds the volume achieved in the entire calendar year of 2008. The export value of 21.1-million dollars is 12 percent ahead of last year’s pace.
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“Plain: Pork Production Must Be Cut”
University of Missouri Extension livestock economist Dr. Ron Plain says U.S. pork producers have now lost more money than they lost in the pork price disaster of 1998-99. Speaking at the annual Swine Institute in Columbia Missouri, Plain said, during the past 24 months – the average hog was marketed at a loss of $19.18 per head. In fact he said, farmers have – lost money raising hogs in 23 of the last 25 months. The problems are moderately low market prices but record-high production costs.
Farmers have sent sows to slaughter; however, they kept more replacement gilts, defeating the potential cut in pork. Plain predicted the hog-farm price squeeze is likely to get worse before it gets better. He went on to warn, – bankers will begin forcing the issue. Under their financial rules, bankers don’t have much wiggle room. They will not be renewing many hog loans
Farmers are a victim of their own efficiencies. Plain said the dilemma of too many pigs and not enough buyers will be solved only one way – farmers must cut production 15% from the peak for prices to return to break-even.
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“Interim Agreement on Global GGH Emissions Possible”
When world leaders meet in Copenhagen next month to put together a deal to curb global greenhouse gas emission, a complete U.S. plan may not be in place, something world leaders would like to see happen. In order to get something on the table, the Obama administration is considering endorsing a limited short-term climate pact. More ambitious action would be taken by Congress next year.
An interim agreement would fall short of what many European and developing nations envisioned. Still, any agreement might be seen as an attempt to keep the U.N.-sponsored talks from being viewed as a failure. Administration and congressional officials believe a trimmed-back approach should not be viewed as a withdrawal of U.S. commitment, but rather as a first step.
Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen, says, – at the heart of the interim pact are commitments from key nations outlining their targets to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions as well as the amount of money richer countries will spend to help developing nations adapt to global warming and curb their own emissions.
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“APEC Leaders Moving on Issues”
Last week, leaders attending the 17th annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ meeting in Singapore, reaffirmed their commitment to refrain from raising new barriers to investment or to trade in goods and services. At that same meeting President Obama said his administration wants to complete an – ambitious and balanced Doha agreement – and he called on others to join the United States at the negotiating table.
Also, the President urged all APEC member economies to work together to address the shared challenge of climate change. The members called for collective action by all economies and committed to reaching an ambitious outcome in Copenhagen in December.
The APEC leaders also endorsed the G20 commitment to rationalize and phase out over the medium-term inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption. And as for food security the leaders instructed their officials to implement programs aimed at improving agricultural productivity and enhancing agricultural markets in the APEC region.
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“Ag, Interior Departments Purchase Land”
The Departments of Agriculture and Interior will acquire seven parcels of high value conservation land, totaling 5,026 acres in Colorado, Montana and Nevada for 11.7-million dollars. The largest is a 4,573-acre property within the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument in Colorado. The acquisitions are private “inholdings” purchased from willing sellers whose acreage is surrounded by or next to lands managed by Interior’s Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and the Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service.
Bureau of Land Management Director Bob Abbey says, – using revenues from Federal land sales to acquire private “inholdings” from willing sellers, is a great tool for conserving America’s signature landscapes for future generations. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar pointed out; – the properties being brought into public ownership are remarkable for their extraordinary natural, scenic, recreational, cultural, and historical value. He adds, – their acquisition will benefit the American people now and in the future.
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“Former Secretary Questions Need for Climate Change Legislation”
Former Secretary of Agriculture John Block has his doubts about climate change legislation, now being discussed in Congress. He wonders if farmers will benefit or face burdensome regulations and increase costs. Block is concerned climate change legislation is another example of the federal government telling farmers what they can grow and how they can grow it.
Mr. Block also questions who will regulate the agriculture portion of the climate change program. Will EPA be in charge, telling farmers what they can plant? According to Block, – we in agriculture don’t trust the EPA; we just don’t trust them. Current Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack says USDA would likely control parts of the program and EPA would control other parts.
Block predicts the climate change legislation will result in a negligible improvement of the global climate and put U.S. agriculture at a disadvantage compared to other nations, like China and India, who will not have to make the same adjustments.
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“Peanut Board Members Appointed”
Agriculture Secretary Thom Vilsack has appointed four members and four alternate members to serve on the National Peanut Board. All of the appointments are three-year terms that begin January 1, 2010.
The Peanut Board members are John Harrell of Whigham, Georgia, Edward Rast Jr. of Cameron, South Carolina, Francis Jordan III of Rayville, Lousiana, Bob White of Clarendon, Texas, Andy Bell of Climax, Georgia and Corrin Bowers Jr. of Estill, SouthCarolina. John Shackelford of Mer Rouge, Losiana and Peter Froese Jr. of Seminole, Texas will serve as alternate members.
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service provides oversight of the National Peanut Board in accordance with the Commodity Promotion Research, and Information Act of 1996 and the Peanut Promotion, Research, and Information Order.
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“Internet Funds Released by USDA”
The Department of Agriculture has selected 22 projects in 10 states to receive 13.4-million dollars in broadband community connect grant funds. The funds would be used to provide financial assistance to furnish broadband service in unserved, often isolated, rural communities. The grants are used to establish broadband service for critical facilities such as fire or police stations, while also providing service to residents and businesses. The project must also include a community center that provides community residents with free broadband service for the first two years.
For example, the Yurok Tribe, located on a reservation along the northwest coast of California has been selected to receive a 564-thousand dollar grant to provide wireless broadband services to the Yurok Reservation. And Nexus Systems will receive a 924-thousand dollar grant to provide wireless broadband services to Enterprise, Louisiana.
An Economic Research Service report recently supported the idea that – investment in broadband Internet access leads to a more competitive economy. The report, also notes that rural communities with broadband Internet access had greater economic growth than communities without it.
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“USDA recovery Act Funding Rebuilding Flood Protection”
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, in partnership with the Santa Clara Valley Water District in California, is re-designing a concrete canal to mimic a natural water way as a result of 18-million dollars in Recovery Act funding. Flooding in the Lower Silver Creek area has been a major problem over the past five decades. In response, a partnership of public and private organizations developed a watershed plan to alleviate the threat of flooding. Once completed, 3,800 homes and businesses along the creek will be protected from a 100-year flood event.
It is estimated that damages from a large flooding event at this location could have cost as much as 37-million dollars. Another benefit of this project will be reducing the flood insurance premiums for thousands of homeowners along the creek corridor. This will also free up money that is currently going to pay insurance premiums to help stimulate the local economy.
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“Ag Committee to Hold Two Hearings This Week”
The Senate Ag Committee holds a hearing on child nutrition reauthorization today (Tuesday). Ag Committee Chairman Blanche Lincoln says this program – fights hunger and promotes health among tens of millions of children across the country. With so many families struggling with job losses and a poor economy, Lincoln says, – ending childhood hunger and improving child health take on even more importance.
The midmorning hearing will hear from Ag secretary Tom Vilsack; Dr. Margaret Bogle, Executive Director of the Delta Obesity Prevention Research Unit; Mr. Rich Huddleston, Executive Director of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families; Ms. Rhonda Sanders, Executive Director of Arkansas Hunger Alliance and Ms. Jennifer Smith, Director, Compliance director for Walmart.
Then, Wednesday forming, the Senate Ag Committee will hold a hearing entitled “Reforming U.S. Financial Market Regulation. The hearing will examine the U.S. derivatives market and the adequacy of the current regulatory structure to address loopholes that exist under
