“Vilsack Stands Before Growers”
U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack spoke to corn, sorghum, soybean and wheat producers at Commodity Classic in Anaheim on Friday morning. He spoke about U.S.D.A.’s efforts to strengthen the agriculural economy and revtialize rural communities.
Vilsack began by relating his enjoyment of the recent Olympic games and how after reaching the top of their game, most athletes (and entertainers) are able to live off of endorsements, salaries and royalties. Then after outlining what American producers do for the world, he said farmers should be coming home to ticker-tape parades every day.
The former Iowa governor focused on ag exports referring to the State of the Union address, the President announced a National Export Initiative to coordinate federal efforts to help rebuild the economy by increasing export opportunities. The new roadmap announced today, he said, will help achieve the President’s goal of doubling all U.S. exports in the next five years.
In addition, the Secretary explained how USDA traditionally looked at agricultural trading partners by geographic region. However under the new trade strategy outlined by Vilsack, USDA looks at countries based on their position on an agricultural market continuum, which enables tailored strategies to increase exports to each individual market. The continuum goes from fragile markets/food security states, to potential growth markets, to restricted access markets, to rapid growth markets, to developed consumer markets. The new strategy will improve collaboration among USDA agencies and guide priorities for international staffing, foreign assistance, and agricultural research. The annual value of U.S. agricultural exports is rapidly increasing. 10 years ago the annual value was less than $50 billion and this year, even with the sharp global economic downturn, USDA estimates agricultural exports to reach $100 billion, the second highest level ever. USDA will continue to push hard for an open rules-based international trading system that will benefit both consumers and suppliers of agricultural products around the world.
The Secretary received a standing ovation from the more than 2,500 in attendance at the Anaheim Convention Center.
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“Herbicide-Tolerant Traits for Sorghum”
DuPont announced the release of their Inzen herbicide-tolerant traits for sorghum on Thursday at the Sorghum Industry’s General Session in Anaheim, California. The announcement was widely anticipated by the company that also owns Pioneer Hybrid Seeds. Wayne Schumaker with DuPont made the announcement saying these new tools will be non-GMO traits – thereby allowing the sorghum to continue to be used and exported by non-GMO accepting countries. GMO’s are genetically modified organisms where the best known example is that of Round-Up Ready traits in corn, cotton and soybeans.
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“Resolution to Stop EPA Gains Support”
The Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed scheme to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act is – economically harmful, legally suspect and environmentally indefensible. That’s the view of the American Farm Bureau Federation. Therefore, AFBF is urging House members to support a bipartisan resolution to disapprove EPA’s greenhouse gas proposal.
House Joint Resolution 76, introduced by Representatives Ike Skelton, Jo Ann Emerson, and House Ag Committee Chair Collin Peterson would nullify EPA’s proposal, which is built around the agency’s finding in December 2009 that greenhouse gases indirectly threaten human health and therefore could be regulated under the Clean Air Act. According to Farm Bureau, this resolution would not weaken any environmental protections, but would simply provide Congress the appropriate opportunity to debate and legislate in this area.
Farm Bureau president Bob Stallman says – U.S. farmers and ranchers will be harmed by higher energy and fertilizer costs if EPA is allowed to move forward with its proposal to regulate GHGs. Further, – it appears likely that for the first time in history, even medium- and small-sized farming operations might have to comply – with expensive permitting requirements. Stallman says – such policy decisions should be made by elected officials, not by a regulatory agency.
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“Alaska Gets First Climate Science Center”
The Department of the Interior has selected the University of Alaska to be the first of eight planned regional Climate Science Centers in the nation. In making the announcement, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar explained – Regional Climate Science Centers and their networks will provide science about climate change impacts, help land managers adapt to the impacts, and engage the public through education initiatives. In short, Climate Science Centers will better connect our scientists with land managers and the public.
In addition to the Alaska region, Climate Science Centers will be selected in seven additional regions throughout the country as directed by a 2009 Secretarial Order on climate change. Interior will be seeking grant proposals for four more Climate Science Centers in the next few weeks– including centers in the Northwest, Southeast, Southwest and North Central regions.
Interior hopes to have the new Climate Science Center at the University of Alaska formally established in Anchorage within six to eight weeks. Also on the drawing board is a network of – Landscape Conservation Cooperatives – that will engage federal agencies, local and state partners, and the public in crafting practical, landscape-level strategies for managing climate change impacts within the eight regions.
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“Russia to Reopen Ports to U.S. Pork”
Word out of Russia indicates it will gradually lift its import bans on shipments of pork from U.S. plants. This announcement follows an agreement by Washington to observe Russian food safety rules.
Moscow had taken a hard line with the United States on food safety. It accused U.S. exporters of flouting Russian rules. Some critics say the bans could be politically motivated. Meanwhile, negotiations to resume U.S. poultry shipments are ongoing.
Russia ranks among the United States’ top five markets for pork, beef and poultry. In 2008, the United States shipped more than 1.3-billion dollars worth of these products to Russia.
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“Senators: Stimulus Program Needs a Fix”
A group of Democratic Senators has called on the government to halt a federal stimulus program aimed at building wind farms and other clean-energy projects. Senators Charles Schumer, Robert Casey Jr., Sherrod Brown and Jon Tester argue that too much of the money spent so far has gone to create jobs overseas. They want the program put on hold while legislation is prepared to fix the problem.
The Administration and wind-energy advocates strongly dispute the criticism, saying that most of the jobs under the Energy Department program have been created in the United States, despite the dominance of foreign manufacturers in the green-technology sector. The American Wind Energy Association said that for the first 1-billion dollars spent on the program, 53 percent of the value of wind turbines — and 63 percent of other equipment on wind farms — came from the United States.
The lawmakers are focusing particular criticism at Cielo Wind Power of Austin, Texas, which has said it may apply for up to 450-million dollars in stimulus funding for a massive wind farm that would be powered by turbines built in China. A spokesman for the Texas project called the senators’ assumptions incorrect, saying that at least 70 percent of each turbine will be made in the United States with American steel.
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“USDA Funds to Help California Farmers”
USDA has pledged additional funding to assist California agricultural producers struggling to cope with drought-related water cutoffs. Dave White, Chief of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, told farmers in Fresno, – we are making available much-needed assistance to some of the hardest hit producers – in the state. He added, – this funding will help farmers deal with current conditions, such as preventing dust and wind erosion in fallowed areas and keeping trees and vines alive.
USDA is providing 10-million dollars through a special drought initiative under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. The EQIP funding will build on the 3-million NRCS provided to drought-stricken areas in 2009 by continuing last year’s assistance and adding the option of converting farms to highly water-efficient micro-irrigation systems.
California Counties eligible for drought assistance include: Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare. Signup for the drought initiative begins immediately and will run through April 9.
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“CFTC Chairman Notes Needs in Bills”
Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chair Gary Gensler told a House subcommittee hearing this week he would like to see two changes in the Commodity Exchange Act. Those changes include: additional authorities to oversee the over-the-counter derivative marketplace; and additional resources to best protect the American public.
Gensler told the hearing that the regulatory reform measures being considered by both the House and Senate should require swap dealers and major swap participants to register and come under certain requirements. He also said the CFTC should be able to impose position limits across both futures and OTC derivatives markets; and a clearing house should be established.
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“AFBF Supports Relief Act”
The American Farm Bureau Federation is urging the Senate to promptly pass a bill that includes many important farm-related tax relief provisions that expired at the end of 2009. The American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act also includes renewable energy tax incentives, provisions to maintain vital rural health care services and emergency disaster assistance. In a letter, AFBF President Bob Stallman added extensions of tax incentives for biodiesel, renewable diesel and for small agri-biodiesel producers to the list of areas Farm Bureau supports.
In addition, Farm Bureau supports the extension of expiring tax provisions that include the five-year depreciation for farm business machinery and equipment, bonus depreciation, the enhanced charitable deduction for donated food and the enhanced tax deduction for donating a conservation easement.
Stallman said the inclusion of ad hoc disaster assistance in the bill is needed because many agricultural disasters in 2009 occurred on farms that will not be eligible for assistance under the disaster package included in the 2008 farm bill. He emphasized, – the ad hoc disaster assistance could be the only thing that will keep some farmers on their farms.
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“Johanns Draws Parallel Between Safety of Beef and Toyotas”
Earlier this week, when Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood testified before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, he faced a scenario that hit home with LaHood and many others. Former USDA Secretary and now Senator Mike Johanns raised the parallel of the safety of US beef going into Japan to that of the safety of Toyotas coming from Japan into the United States.
Senator Johanns told LaHood there has never been a death in Japan because of the single case of a Canadian cow found with BSE in this country – and yet the Japanese have shut out US beef from their country – and the market remains mostly closed to this day – over six years later. Johanns said maybe it’s time for us to tell the Japanese to allow our beef in – or we will treat Japanese produced Toyotas in the same way.
Later, during the Bayer Crop Science sponsored Ag Issues Forum in Anaheim, California, Jim Wiesemeyer, Senior Vice President of Informa Economics said the frustration of Senator Johanns with the Japanese over the lack of progress in getting access for US beef widened resonated with many in the room – and remains a sticking point that many say should be pursued more aggressively by the Obama Administration.
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“Survey: Public Misled by HSUS”
In a survey commissioned by the nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom, researcher David Martosko found that most Americans think the Humane Society of the United States is a worthy charity. But very few Americans understand what HSUS really is. Martosko calls it – a super-rich lobbying group that puts more money into its executive pensions than in the hands of local humane societies. As an example, in 2008 HSUS distributed less than one-half of one percent of its budget to hands-on pet shelters.
The survey of 1,008 Americans revealed that 71 percent of Americans incorrectly believe the Humane Society of the United States is an – umbrella group – for America’s local humane societies. Sixty-three percent incorrectly think their local – humane society – is affiliated with HSUS. And fifty-nine percent falsely believe HSUS – contributes most of its money – to local organizations that care for cats and dogs.
Martosko, who is Director of Research for the Center for Consumer Freedom, believes – these numbers indicate that Americans don’t really know what the Humane Society of the United States is all about. He says – HSUS intentionally uses those sad dogs and cats in its TV infomercials as props in an animal rights fundraising shell game. Meanwhile, thousands of American pet shelters are underfunded and struggling.
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“Food Safety Subject of Scheduled FSIS Meeting”
USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service has scheduled a public meeting on Wednesday, March 10th to discuss and receive public input on the agency’s product tracing efforts related to E. coli O157:H7. The 4 and ½ hour meeting is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. in the USDA South building in Washington, D.C. This meeting is a follow-up to a report released by the President’s Food Safety Working Group. In that report the also called for input from the public to strengthen food safety prevention, surveillance and response and recovery efforts.
