“U.S. and Chinese Presidents Make Energy Announcement”
President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao have announced a far-reaching package of measures to strengthen cooperation between the United States and China on clean energy. The announcement includes the establishment of the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center. The Center will facilitate joint research and development of clean energy technologies by teams of scientists and engineers from the United States and China, as well as serve as a clearinghouse to help researchers in each country.
The two Presidents also announced the launch of the U.S.-China Electric Vehicles Initiative. Building on the first-ever US-China Electric Vehicle Forum in September 2009, the initiative will include joint standards development, demonstration projects in more than a dozen cities, technical roadmapping and public education projects.
Also announced were: U.S. China Renewable Energy Partnership; 21st Century Coal; Shale Gas Initiative and the U.S. China Energy Cooperation Program. This program will leverage private sector resources for project development work in China across a broad array of clean energy projects, to the benefit of both nations.
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“Duty-Free Access Subject of Sub-Committee Hearing”
Testifying before the House Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Trade, David Hastings, chairman of Mount Vernon Mills urged the committee – to keep in mind that the United States’ manufacturing sector is hurting badly and not to take action that could potentially cause further job losses in this country.
Testifying on behalf of the National Council of Textile Organizations, Hastings specifically urged the Subcommittee – not to consider a proposal to extend duty free status to apparel imports from Bangladesh and Cambodia as a part of broad trade preference reform. If the status is extended, Hastings said, Mount Vernon’s Trion facility, one of the country’s largest producers of combat fabric, and many others, will be forced to close.
Hastings offered three solutions to the trade preference situation. They are: 1) Congress must pass Andean trade preference extension immediately; 2) take action against China; and 3) the U.S. government should do more to support manufacturing. The industry leader added, – I also do not think we should abandon our free trade and preference program partners in order to reward countries that barely pay their workers or engage in predatory and illegal subsidy schemes.
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“World Trade Leader Says Ag Negotiations are Moving”
Speaking to the World Trade Organization’s General Council this week, Director General Pascal Lamy said, – the work on agriculture is engaged, has the support of members and holds the prospect, given political will, of moving towards agreed modalities in the new year. Lamy explained, – work in agriculture is proceeding on a two-track approach. One track, template work, is advancing well, with substantive contributions from members. The other track is the Chair’s informal consultations on issues in the draft modalities and associated documentation.
Pascal Lamy also noted there have been discussions on domestic support — where again it is clear that a solution on cotton is fundamental — and on market access issues, including useful work on sensitive products, tariff cap, Tariff Rate Quota expansion and tariff simplification.
In referring to the upcoming WTO Ministerial Conference, Lamy said – it would not be a negotiating session, it would be a platform for ministers to review the functioning of this house including the Doha Round, and an occasion – to send a number of strong signals to the world with respect to the entire WTO waterfront of issues – from monitoring and surveillance to disputes, accessions, Aid for Trade, technical assistance and international governance.
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“Nutrition Program Hearing Held”
Senate Ag committee Chairman Blanche Lincoln gaveled to order her first committee hearing on the reauthorization of federal child nutrition programs. In her opening statement, Lincoln said, – we undertake this task at a difficult time. Noting the release of the Department of Agriculture’s annual report on hunger and food insecurity, she said the report talks about – families that are either hungry or a meal or two away from being hungry.
Lincoln said, – we must take steps to ensure that all children eligible for federal child nutrition programs are actually receiving them. Despite the fact that programs such as the School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs have been around for decades, there remain many children who could be participating but do not. Then, according to Lincoln, we must improve the nutritional quality of the meal benefits provided through child nutrition programs. Ensuring that children have enough to eat should be a hallmark of a fundamentally decent society.
The Ranking member of the Senate Ag Committee, Senator Saxby Chambliss, said – federal nutrition programs are not only important tools to combat hunger, but also effective in the promotion of healthy lifestyles and curbing obesity. The Senator added we need to – recognize that a one-size-fits-all approach may not be in the best interest of our schools or children.
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“Food Safety Bill Mark Up Today”
Today (Wednesday), the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee plans to mark up Senate bill 510, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. The bill requires all facilities that manufacture, process, pack or hold food to have in place risk-based preventive control plans to address identified hazards and prevent adulteration, and gives FDA access to these plans and relevant documentation.
A group of Senators, including the Chairman of the Senate HELP Committee, Tom Harkin and Ranking Member Mike Enzi, are voicing support for this bill. They have reaffirmed their commitment to enact bipartisan, comprehensive legislation that will improve the quality of all food in the United States and better protect consumers and their families.
Senator Tom Harkin calls the bill – a strong, bipartisan bill that will overhaul our current food safety system – a system that right now fails far too many American consumers. Harkin wants to see the bill come to the Senate floor – very soon. Senator Mike Enzi says – we have the tools, the expert knowledge and the innovative spirit to find better and more reliable systems to protect the public health from contaminated food.
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“NFU Supports Food Safety Modernization Act”
A coalition of agricultural interests have signed a letter regarding the Food Safety Modernization Act. Addressed in the letter are key concerns of the agricultural community, such as: traceability requirements, regulation of on-farm processing, addition of a grant program for food safety training for producers and small processors, consistency with existing organic standards, consideration of the needs of small- and medium-sized producers, and a focus on resources for proven areas of food safety risk.
Roger Johnson signed the letter on behalf of the National Farmers Union. The NFU President notes, – any food safety legislation must recognize implications for farmers and their ability to continue to provide an affordable, safe and abundant food supply.
NFU policy calls for a single food agency to oversee the U.S. food system as a whole, including imported products, and mandatory recall authority in case of a food safety outbreak.
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“MFA Releases Animal Cruelty Video”
A video released exclusively to Fox News by the animal rights group Mercy for Animals shows a string of alleged abuses at Country View Family Farms in central Pennsylvania. Footage shows employees picking up baby pigs and tossing them like footballs. Additional scenes show injured pigs going uncared for and pregnant hogs being kept in very small pens. MFA hopes this video will help create new federal and state laws to ensure better treatment for farm animals before they are slaughtered.
MFA Director of Investigation, Daniel Hauff, told Fox News, – there are no federal laws that protect animals while they are on the farm, and most state anti-cruelty statutes exempt farm animals. Hauff said, – it’s important we look at these animals the same way we look at dogs and cats because there is no difference. He said, – they feel the same pain, the same joy our beloved animals at home do.
The owners of the Pennsylvania sow farm told Fox News, – we have reviewed the video and the high standards we have for how hogs are handled appear to have been violated. Their statement continues, – although we believe this is an isolated incident, we cannot and will not condone mishandling of our farm animals, and corrective measures have already taken place. The farm has appointed a new supervisor to assume immediate, day-to-day responsibility for animal care on that farm while it investigates.
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“Reaction to MFA Video Strong”
The American Veterinary Medical Association has strongly condemned the cruelty depicted in the Mercy for Animals video and repeated its call for stricter adherence to established humane handling guidelines for food production animals. Dr. Ron DeHaven, chief executive officer of the AVMA says, these – egregious practices depicted in the video, are unacceptable. DeHaven said, – those charged with the responsibility of handling animals have a duty to do so with respect for the animal’s health, welfare and safety.
Meanwhile, pork industry officials have added their views on the video. Dr. Rodney “Butch” Baker, president of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, says – I have no patience for anyone who abuses animals or no tolerance and I don’t think anyone should, but these films really are an attack on the rural lifestyle of America. The Doctor points out that – people in rural communities depend on farms and farming for their livelihood. If you let an extremist group run the industry that’s just as bad as letting the people who didn’t care about the animals at all run the industry.
A statement from the National Pork Board says, – the pork industry condemns the abuse of any animal. America’s pork producers take their ethical responsibility for the proper care of pigs seriously and will not tolerate any mistreatment of animals.
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“Poultry Industry Cleaning Up Act”
A USDA survey indicates that cold water immersion and other antimicrobial interventions in poultry processing substantially improve the microbiological profile of raw chickens. The survey found that five percent of the raw chickens in the survey had salmonella after chilling and 11 percent had campylobacter, down from 41 percent and 71 percent, respectively, prior to evisceration. Additionally, the actual number of bacteria on each raw chicken was greatly reduced, by about 99 percent on average with respect to campylobacter and 66 percent on average for salmonella.
According to Steve Pretanik, director of science and technology for the National Chicken Council, – the USDA survey shows that the industry is doing an excellent job of reducing the presence of potentially disease-causing bacteria on raw chicken. Pretanik emphasized, – the investments made by the industry in improved technology and bacteria-fighting interventions have paid off in terms of a safer product for consumers. He noted that any remaining bacteria are destroyed by the heat of normal cooking.
USDA conducted the study from July 2007 to June 2008 at 182 broiler slaughter plants. The agency collected a total of 6,550 samples, divided equally between samples taken at the re-hang station and after the chiller. Raw chickens were processed under the available antimicrobial measures of each plant, which typically include the use of chlorinated water in processing and in the chiller.
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“Estate Tax Bill Could be Delayed”
House Democrats are expected to delay consideration of a new Federal estate tax law until after the Thanksgiving recess. Farm groups have long sought change. The current law will make the estate tax disappear on January 1, only to return in 2011 at higher rates and lower exemptions. Any further delay could make a one-year extension of current law more likely, rather than a permanent resolution of the issue.
The problem to Congress’ constituents is estate planning. Few lawmakers are eager to pass a retroactive bill that would tax people after they die and after their estates are already distributed. Democratic leaders want to move a permanent extension of the 2009 structure of the estate tax, which features a 3.5-million dollar per-person exemption and a top rate of 45 percent. Liberals don’t like the cost, estimate to be 233.6 billion dollars over 10 years and say it benefits the country’s wealthiest families.
There is an alternative piece of legislation introduced by representative Shelley Berkley of Nevada. It would gradually bring the top rate down to 35 percent, and push the exemption up to 5-million and index it for inflation. Berkley’s legislation mirrors a plan supported by a bipartisan group of senators during the budget debate earlier this year.
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“Biodiesel Tax Credit Extension Introduced in House”
North Dakota Representative Earl Pomeroy has introduced legislation to provide long-term stability to the biodiesel market. Pomeroy’s bill, H.R. 4070, will extend the one-dollar per gallon biodiesel tax credit for five years and update the credit to streamline the processing of it. The biodiesel tax credit is set to expire on December 31, 2009. Pomeroy believes that – by providing a five year extension of the tax credit we will provide the opportunity for this homegrown fuel to grow and expand its foothold in the marketplace.
Without this credit, biodiesel is at a significant competitive disadvantage with petroleum diesel. It is likely, according to Pomeroy that production and consumption of biodiesel will decrease dramatically, or possibly cease altogether, without an extension of this important credit. A multi-year extension will provide the certainty and stability needed to allow producers and investors to make long-term planning decisions about biodiesel production.
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“RFA Responds to Gore Book on Energy”
Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen has sent a letter to former Vice President Al Gore concerning some of the inaccuracies in his new book “Our Choice”. In the book, Mr. Gore expresses his – disappointment – over the progress of ethanol in the past 30 years. Yet, the facts used to support his opinion, according to Dinneen, either do not reflect the industry as it exists today or are simply inaccurate.
In his letter, Dinneen wrote, – many of your characterizations of today’s American ethanol industry are out of date or simply wrong. With 10.5 billion gallons produced and sold this year, ethanol is a major factor in America’s motor fuel supply and is helping eliminate the need for increasing environmentally damaging sources of crude oil. Dinneen urged a more complete and up to date review of biofuels to present readers with a clearer and more accurate view of the energy choices they will be forced to make.
Dinneen cocluded, – I sincerely hope that we can both agree that corn-based ethanol is not a mistake. Rather, it is providing a strong economic and environmentally sustainable foundation upon which the next generation of biofuels, including improvements in existing technologies, will be built.
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“Alternative Fertilizers May Have Greenhouse Gas Advantages”
Agricultural Research Service scientists have found that using alternative types of fertilizers can cut back on greenhouse gas emissions, at least in one part of the country. They say controlled-release fertilizers cut nitrous oxide emissions by a third, and stabilized fertilizers cut them almost in half. Those same scientists now want to know whether the alternatives offer similar benefits nationwide.
Ardell Halvorson, a soil scientist at the ARS Soil Plant Nutrient Research laboratory in Fort Collins, Colorado compared nitrous oxide emissions from corn fields treated with either a conventional nitrogen fertilizer or either of two specially formulated urea fertilizers-one with – controlled release – polymer-coated pellets, and the other with inhibitors added to – stabilize – the urea to keep more of it in the soil as ammonium for a longer period.
So far, Halvorson’s results are limited to the irrigated fields and cool, semi-arid conditions in and around Fort Collins. But nitrous oxide releases are the result of a complex interplay of conditions that vary from one area to the next, such as soil water content, soil temperatures, soil types, microbial activity, climactic conditions and rainfall patterns. So Halvorson is expanding the study, with support from the fertilizer industry and cooperation of other ARS locations, to see how the fertilizers respond at seven sites around the United States.
