“President to Attend Copenhagen Climate Talks”
The White House says President Obama will travel to Copenhagen on December 9th to participate in the United Nations Climate Change Conference. The President believes it is possible to reach a meaningful agreement in Copenhagen. The White House said, – The President’s decision to go is a sign of his continuing commitment and leadership to find a global solution to the global threat of climate change, and to lay the foundation for a new, sustainable and prosperous clean energy future.
The White House also announced, the President is prepared to put on the table a U.S. emissions reduction target in the range of 17% below 2005 levels in 2020 and ultimately in line with final U.S. energy and climate legislation. Pending legislation would entail a 30% reduction below 2005 levels in 2025 and a 42% reduction below 2005 in 2030. This provisional target is in line with current legislation in both chambers of Congress.
A host of Cabinet secretaries and other top officials from across the Administration will travel to Copenhagen for the conference. They include: Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. Along with Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley, and Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Carol Browner.
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“White House Position on Clean Energy Reaffirmed”
At least one White House official sees some progress being made during the upcoming international climate meeting in Copenhagen. Carol Browner, former EPA administrator and current Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate change, expects – there will be a real demonstration of what each individual country is willing to do, that it will be verifiable, and that it will be transparent.
Browner remains positive that – comprehensive energy reform – will come to pass based on the Waxman-Markey climate change bill which passed the House last June. The White House continues to push three goals: break our dependence on foreign oil; become a global leader in clean energy technology; and cap pollutants that contribute to global warming and climate change.
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“Poll Shows Weakening Views of Climate Change”
A new Washington Post-ABC News poll found that four out of five Americans believe global warming is happening. That’s 8 percent fewer than the previous year. The poll’s findings also show that 55 percent of respondents think the United States should curb its carbon output even if major developing nations such as China and India do less. And the poll shows that a majority of respondents still support legislation to cap emissions and trade pollution allowances, by 53 to 42 percent.
Amanda Feinberg, a retired administrative assistant living in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania says she became disenchanted with the idea of human-caused global warming when former vice president Al Gore launched a public awareness campaign with his documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth.” Feinberg, a Republican says, – he just seemed a little radical in his views. I don’t deny its happening, I just think it’s just an evolution of nature.
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“Farmland Values Continue Slump”
According to the latest AgLetter released by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, farmland values for the third quarter of 2009 were 4 percent lower than a year ago in the Seventh District. However, there was an increase of 2 percent in the value of “good” agricultural land compared with the second quarter of 2009. These numbers are based on 225 replies by agricultural bankers to the October 1 survey.
According to the Federal Reserve report, there will be no turn-around in the downward trend for district land values. More of the responding bankers expected farmland values to slide rather than gain during the fourth quarter of 2009, through 69 percent expected stable values. 27 percent anticipated decreases and only 4 percent expect increased values.
The letter states, agricultural credit conditions in the third quarter were weaker than a year ago. Loan payment rates declined compared with the July through September period of 2008, whereas loan renewals and extensions rose. Farm operating and real estate loan interest rates were a bit lower. The banks’ loan-to-deposit rations averaged 75.3 percent, the lowest level in over a year.
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“Stats Show Safety Level of School Bound Beef”
USDA reports since 2005 only one confirmed case of E. coli 0157:H7 in ground beef going into the school lunch program. AMS specifications require that all affected product be diverted from USDA contracts while testing is conducted. During the same time period, the Agricultural Marketing Service reports 36 positive findings of E. coli from tests conducted on raw product before it was ground going into the general food chain.
USDA’s Caleb Weaver points out that – USDA-provided foods represent as much as 20 percent of all food served in school meals, and USDA specifications for these foods often exceed those for commercial-grade products.
The American Meat Institute has asked USDA to require companies to control product tested by the Food Safety and Inspection Service until the test results confirm its safety. Opponents of such a measure have argued that waiting for lab results would reduce the shelf life of product. Others, mainly small independent operators, argue it would complicate their ability to fulfill same-day orders.
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“Girls Plead Case for Thanksgiving Turkey”
President Barack Obama said he was planning to – eat this sucker – but two young girls approached the President and persuaded him to pardon the White House turkey. In a public statement, Mr. Obama said, – I am pleased to announce that thanks to the interventions of Malia and Sasha “Courage” will be spared this terrible and delicious fate. Instead, the turkey, raised by Walter Pelletier, chairman of the National Turkey Federation, traveled to Disneyland to serve as grand marshal of the Disneyland Thanksgiving Day parade.
That fate was not available to what the President called, – their less fortunate brethren. Those birds joined Malia and Sasha, along with the First Lady and President Obama, at Martha’s Table, an organization that does extraordinary work to help folks in D.C. who need it the most.
The National Turkey Federation has been bringing its finest turkeys to the White House for more than 50 years and most recently, most have received Presidential pardons. The exceptions being the birds who visited Presidents Eisenhower and Johnson who actually ate their turkeys. The Presidential tradition began 20 years ago this Thanksgiving when the first President Bush issued the first official Presidential pardon for a turkey.
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“50th State to Join Backyard Weather Observer Network”
On December first, Minnesota will become the 50th state to join the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network. This network was created by Colorado State University State Climatologist Nolan Doesken following the Spring Creek Flood that devastated Fort Collins, Colorado on July 28, 1997. Doesken, now a senior research associate in the Colorado Climate Center in Colorado State’s internationally known atmospheric science department, says some 14,600 volunteers are providing scientists around the country with excellent precipitation and hail monitoring statistics for tracking weather patterns and water supplies.
The program makes use of volunteers of all ages from children on up to grandparents to document the size, intensity, duration and patterns of precipitation by taking simple measurements in their own backyards. Volunteers only need a cylindrical rain gauge, some training and an interest in weather to participate in the program. Data are used for many applications such as water resource planning, severe storm warnings, teaching earth science, predicting crop yields and for assessing hail damage.
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“More Switchgrass Populations Found”
Agricultural Research Service scientists and cooperators have collected 46 new populations of switchgrass in Florida, adding valuable new accessions to the germplasm collection of this potential bioenergy crop. These new additions could provide new genetic resources for biofuel feedstocks. Switchgrass, a perennial warm season grass used for forage and soil conservation, is now being studied as a biomass crop for ethanol.
During collection trips in 2008 and 2009, researchers discovered new switchgrass populations in many different environments–including swampy areas, oak forests, pine scrubs, weedy areas along roadsides, and dune areas along the coast. The scientific team braved alligators, spiders and other dangers while collecting switchgrass, often in areas endangered by habitat destruction.
There was significant genetic variation in the switchgrass populations found, including differences in seed maturity, foliage abundance, plant height, and panicle size. The materials will be deposited in the ARS National Plant Germplasm System, where it will be preserved and maintained for future research by plant breeders and others interested in improving this valuable grass.
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“Capitol Christmas Tree Part of Green Movement”
The Christmas tree destined for the lawn of our nation’s Capitol is greener than ever this year. The more-than-six-story-tall blue spruce is on its way from the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in Arizona to Washington, D.C. The two diesel trucks pulling it are running on B5 diesel fuel. A 5 percent biodiesel fuel mix. The approximately 125-year-old tree is being accompanied by 75 companion trees and ornaments that will be displayed throughout the Capitol.
Colleen Crowninshield, manager of the Clean Cities Program of the Pima Association of Governments, points out that – this is the first time Arizona has contributed the Capitol Christmas Tree, and it’s appropriate that we made this landmark trip with a biodiesel blend. Using biodiesel reduces emissions at the same time it cuts dependence on foreign oil. The route was specially tailored to allow for easy refueling with biodiesel blends, and public education is planned along the way about the benefits of biodiesel.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi will officially light the tree in December at a ceremony along with Arizona Senators John McCain and Jon Kyle and Governor Jan Brewer. The public will be able to view the tree on the West Front of the Capitol grounds, through January 1, 2010.
