“Non Ag Groups Interested in Cap-and-Trade Regulations”
The sectors of agriculture that would like to see the Environmental Protection Agency halt efforts to regulate greenhouse gases may have an ally. Executives and lobbyists for more than two dozen trade groups are working on the possibility of cooperating in a legal challenge, including the possibility of pooling resources to hire counsel. No consensus or definite course of action has emerged.
However, not all the participants oppose EPA efforts to regulate heat-trapping gases, they have stated their preference for legislation versus regulation to deal with climate change. EPA has yet to finalize its greenhouse gas regulations.
Representatives from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Chemistry Council, the American Petroleum Institute, the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association, the National Association of Manufacturers, the American Public Power Association, the Edison Electric Institute and more than a dozen other groups have been meeting on the issue.
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“Effort to Rein in EPA Regulations Gains Supporters”
More lawmakers on Capitol Hill are falling in line behind Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski and here resolution that would block the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions under clean air laws. In fact, the resolution now has 37 cosponsors, including a few Democrats. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Blanche Lincoln says she will co-sponsor the resolution. Lincoln noted the – heavy-handed EPA regulation, as well as the current cap and trade bills in Congress, will cost us jobs and put us at an even greater competitive disadvantage to China, India and others.
Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss, Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, is also voicing his support for the Murkowski resolution. Senator Chambliss said the EPA’s actions would hurt the U.S. agriculture economy, causing our producers to face significantly higher energy and input costs and take millions of acres of farmland out of production, just like the House and Senate cap and trade bills.
Nearly 150 agriculture and forestry groups have sent a letter of support for the resolution. American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman says support for the resolution could not have come at a better time. According to Stallman, the EPA’s proposal to regulate greenhouse gases is all about propping up seriously flawed cap-and-trade climate legislation being considered in Congress.
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“House Resolution Expected Today”
Texas Representative Joe Barton says he plans to introduce an identical resolution in the House today. But, what will happen if EPA does write rules covering greenhouse gas emissions under clean air laws? According to the groups rising in opposition to the EPA, EPA’s finding — that greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare — will trigger Clean Air Act regulatory actions such as application of National Ambient Air Quality Standards, New Source Performance Standards, and provisions of the Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Title V programs, essentially establishing greenhouse gas policy through the CAA by default.
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson recently acknowledged that unilateral actions by the United States would have no material impact on global warming. EPA’s finding puts the agricultural economy at grave risk based on allegations of a weak, indirect link to public health and welfare and despite the lack of any environmental benefit.
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“Senator-elect Speaks Out on Health Care”
Massachusetts Republican Senator-elect Scott Brown says he agrees with suggestions that Democrats should scrap their health care proposal and start over. He says, – I think people have lost confidence. He mentioned – backroom deals, people are outraged about that. Brown believes the Senate has kind of lost its way.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says there aren’t enough votes in the House to send President Obama the Senate-passed health care bill, as rank-and-file Democrats shied away from efforts to clear a comprehensive package. But, Pelosi would still like to see a health care bill that would assure affordable coverage for the middle class, accountability for private insurance companies and steps toward reducing the federal deficit.
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“Web-Based Payment Calculator Available”
USDA has unveiled a web-based 2008 crop program payment calculator to help producers calculate the financial benefits they may receive under the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments program. The calculator, designed by USDA’s Farm Service Agency, will give producers a tool to help them better understand and participate in this new crop disaster program.
The calculator provides an estimated 2008 program payment to help producers better understand what they may qualify for under SURE. The calculator collects information about farming operations, including planted acreage, actual production, insurance coverage data and other federal disaster payments. This relevant information is used to calculate an estimated payment for crop losses.
The calculator is available on the FSA website at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/sure . For more information or to apply for SURE, producers should visit their local FSA county office.
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“Organizations Plead for Quick Approval”
An ad hoc coalition of food and agricultural organizations has urged quick Senate confirmation of nominees for two key positions with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. In a letter signed by 42 organizations and delivered to each U.S. Senator, the coalition asked that the Senate vote to approve Michael Punke as deputy U.S. trade representative based in Geneva, Switzerland, and Dr. Isi Siddiqui as chief agricultural negotiator for USTR.
In their letter, the coalition stated – the U.S. needs strong leadership in these key positions, and these gentlemen are eminently qualified to provide it. The Senate Finance Committee already has approved both nominees.
Punke has served as international trade counsel for the Senate Finance Committee, followed by four years dealing with international affairs in the Clinton administration, including two years as senior policy adviser for then-USTR Ambassador Mickey Kantor.
Siddiqui served in the Clinton administration, working in USDA as deputy undersecretary and as undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs and as senior trade adviser to then-Secretary Dan Glickman. He also has worked with USTR.
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“Navy and Marines to use Alternative Fuel Sources”
Leadership from USDA and the Department of the Navy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to encourage the development of advanced biofuels and other renewable energy systems. From a strategic perspective the objective is to reduce reliance on fossil fuels from volatile areas of the world.
Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, says – tactically, on the battlefield, the costs of transporting fuel is exponentially increased; in extreme cases a gallon of gasoline could cost up to 400-dollars. Mabus continued – even more serious and sobering, we are putting our Sailors and Marines in harm’s way as fuel convoys often meet a lethal enemy.
To address this reality Mabus recently announced energy targets for the Navy and Marine Corps. Those goals include: 1/ By 2012, demonstrate a Green Strike Group powered by biofuel. 2/ By 2015 cut petroleum use in its 50-thousand non-tactical commercial fleet in half. 3/ By 2020 produce at least half of shore based installations’ energy requirements from alternative sources and 50 percent of all shore installations will be net zero energy consumers.4/ and by 2020 half of the Navy’s total energy consumption for ships, aircraft, tanks, vehicles and shore installations will come from alternative sources.
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“Report: Ethanol Production Key to Greening Chesapeake”
A report issued by the Chesapeake Bay Commission and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture shows that ethanol and other biofuels produced from plants in the Chesapeake Bay watershed can create thousands of jobs and prevent millions of pounds of runoff. The study found that production of biomass can reduce erosion, absorb excess fertilizer from idle farm fields and capture carbon dioxide as they grow.
Further, the report said, harvesting plants such as switchgrass, planting winter crops such as barley and rye on unused fields and planting fast-growing trees like willow and poplar can create more than 18-thousand jobs and 500-million gallons of fuel.
According to Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, – this report underscores the undeniable contribution of agriculture and ethanol production to strengthening our nation’s economy, greening our environment and enhancing energy security. Buis says, – expanding the sustainable production of ethanol will continue to be a powerful force for economic development while protecting our most valuable natural resources.
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“Poultry Ban Talks Extended”
The United States and Russia have agreed to extend talks on Russia’s de facto ban on U.S. poultry. The first round of discussions on the dispute was held this week in Moscow. U.S. Agriculture Undersecretary Jim Miller is being quoted by Reuters as saying – we shared information and both sides have a better understanding of each other’s positions.
The talks follow Russia’s imposition of a ban on imports of poultry treated with chlorine, which effectively barred all U.S. poultry shipments. Negotiations will continue in the coming weeks with the goal of resolution.
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“University Research Projects Funded”
13 Universities will share 4.6-million dollars for research to develop ecologically and economically rational strategies for management, control or elimination of weedy or invasive species. In making the announcement, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan said invasive plants and animals cost U.S. producers between 7-billion and 27-billion dollars per year, but by doing research on controlling and managing weedy and invasive species we help protect the productivity of America’s farmers and ranchers.
A large chunk of the funds go to the University of California, Davis, where Marie Jasieniuk is conducting research to develop economical and environmentally sound strategies for managing invasive weeds and prevent the spread of invasive weeds in agroecosystems that provide tree fruits and nuts as well as wine, table, and raisin grapes.
Other funded projects include work at Cornell University to minimize negative impacts of the European cranefly in perennial grass-based agroecosystems. Researchers at the University of Alaska will test the efficiency of activated carbon on large scale soil to restore native species. And scientists at the University of Minnesota will work to mitigate impacts of the invasion of earthworms as an invasive species.
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“Presidential Citizens Medal Offered”
For over 40 years, the Presidential Citizens Medal has recognized Americans who have – performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens. And the presentation of this award will continue this year. President Obama has announced that the American public will be invited to nominate candidates for the Citizens Medal, the nation’s second highest civilian award. Past recipients have included Colin Powell, Bob Dole and Muhammad Ali but also everyday heroes.
By asking the public to submit nominees, President Obama hopes to recognize exemplary citizens and local heroes who have significantly impacted their communities but who may not have garnered national attention.
Public nominations will be reviewed by White House staff with the recipients selected by the President. Additional awardees may be selected outside of the public nomination process. The President will award the Citizens Medal in a ceremony at the White House in late spring.
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“Rural Development Economist of Year Named”
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack as announce that USDA Rural Development agricultural economist Charles Ling has received the USDA Economists Group’s Economist of the Year award in recognition of his outstanding work to foster greater understanding and use of dairy cooperatives. Vilsack said, – the technical assistance he has provided to cooperatives has helped them improve their economic well-being and service to their members.
Ling provides the only source of comprehensive information on the marketing operations of the nation’s dairy cooperatives, information which has proven useful in policy and research analysis. Especially noteworthy is Ling’s work to calculate the cost of manufacturing cheese, butter and milk powder in cooperatively owned plants.
A database Ling created on dairy cooperatives that is updated every five years is frequently cited by the dairy industry. Ling has authored more than 22 research reports and 30 other research-related reports and conducted at least 64 technical assistance projects for farmer cooperatives during his more than 30-year tenure with USDA.
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“Food Stamp Heritage on Display”
If you have plans to visit Washington, D.C. you may wish to stop by The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Now on display are Food Stamp Program coupons and other related materials from USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service. In October 2008, Congress renamed the Food Stamp Program to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to emphasize the program’s focus on nutrition.
This acquisition showcases nearly 40 years of significant program changes, from paper coupons to today’s Electronic Benefit Transfer cards, which have been issued nationally since 2004. The donation includes individual food coupons, booklets, proof sheets, early artist designs, printer’s plates, and sample EBT cards.
According to museum director Brent Glass, – millions of Americans have relied on these coupons to sustain themselves and their families, and the museum is proud to join with USDA to document this important program.
