“Pork Trade with China to Resume”
U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk announced Thursday that the U.S. and China have reached an agreement to reopen the Chinese market to U.S. pork and pork products. Vilsack says discussions during an October trip to China laid the groundwork for reopening the market and called the resolution excellent news for the nation’s hog producers. Kirk says China has affirmed that they will base their decisions on international science-based guidelines – and noted he looks forward to working to resolve additional issues – including a resumption of beef trade. Pork trade will resume immediately once export documentation is finalized by both sides.
According to USDA – 20-percent of U.S. pork production was exported in 2009. Before trade constraints tied to H1N1 – in 2008 – U.S. pork and pork variety meat exports to China were valued at nearly 275-million dollars. It was the seventh largest market for the U.S. – accounting for six-percent of U.S. pork and pork variety meat exports.
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“Ethanol Incentives Critical to Maintaining Jobs”
The Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit and the small ethanol producer tax credit both expire on December 31, 2010. A new report from the Renewable Fuels Foundation says the expiration of these tax incentives would result in the loss of 112-thousand jobs in all sectors of the economy. We can also expect; 38 percent of domestic ethanol production to be lost; increased reliance on imported motor fuels; loss of support for second-generation biofuels; and household income would be reduced by 4.2-billion dollars.
Bob Dinneen, president of the Renewable Fuels Association says – America’s ethanol industry is building a strong foundation for a robust renewable fuels industry in this country. Failure to provide the kind of assurance investors require to continue building out this industry by not extending the tax incentives would be shortsighted, relegating future generations to a reliance on both foreign oil and foreign renewable fuels. Dinneen says – the question is not whether ethanol will be used – the Renewable Fuels Standard requires it. The question is, from where will the ethanol come?
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says – Congress and the President – have every reason for concern about what could happen with ethanol this year. That industry supports 400-thousand jobs, and more than 112-thousand jobs depend on extending the tax incentives. Grassley points out – these jobs are often in rural communities where employment is hard to come by. Grassley says – Congress needs to make sure the ethanol tax incentives are extended sooner rather than later.
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“National Biodiesel Day Celebrated”
In case you missed it, Thursday was National Biodiesel Day. March 18th is set aside annually to celebrate the birthday of the man who designed the original diesel engine, Rudolph Diesel. The first diesel engine was first cranked up in the 19th century.
Biodiesel is a cleaner burning, advanced biofuel made from readily available renewable resources. National Biodiesel Board CEO Joe Jobe says – biodiesel is currently the only advanced biofuel that is commercially available in the United States; it’s the next generation of fuel, here now. According to Jobe, – Rudolf Diesel originally designed diesel engines to use sustainable fuels. Today’s biodiesel is a modern application of his innovation.
Enterprise Holdings, with three rent-a-car agencies announced earlier this year that it will be converting its airport shuttle buses to run on biodiesel as part of its overall sustainability initiatives. Lee Broughton, director of corporate identity and sustainability for Enterprise Holdings says – biodiesel’s benefits to the environment support our commitment to environmental stewardship, as well as our sustainable approach to managing our business for long-term success.
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“Relief Coming to Klamath Project Water Users”
A coordinated Obama Administration effort will allow for meaningful water deliveries to Klamath Project water users, despite ongoing drought conditions. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar says allocations of 30 to 40 percent of average annual releases – approximately 150,000 acre feet – will be made available to Upper Klamath Lake irrigators.
At the same time, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service announced that drought-impacted farmers in the Klamath Project will be eligible to apply for two-million dollars in special drought-related funding under its Environmental Quality Incentives Program. The funds will be divided evenly between Oregon and California farmers. Irrigation deliveries could begin as soon as May 15, depending upon additional precipitation in the Klamath Basin and Upper Klamath Lake levels.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar explains – the relationships developed through the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreements have made it possible for us to come together and find a way to get water to Basin farmers while honoring our Federal conservation requirements and tribal trust responsibilities. Salazar expects additional 50-thousand acre feet or more could be added through a water bank funded by the Bureau of Reclamation, boosting overall deliveries to approximately 50 percent of average annual deliveries.
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“Funds for Clean Water Released by USDA”
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says USDA is funding projects in 20 states designed to protect public health by improving water quality and public sanitation services. The projects, funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, are expected to provide construction jobs and create infrastructure needed to support community growth. In fact, the Secretary says these projects – will create urgently needed jobs when they are built and will support more job creation through rural economic development for years to come.
For example, the town of Norway, Maine, has been selected to receive a 385-thousand dollar loan and a 1.1-million dollar grant for wastewater system alterations. The project will replace ageing clay pipes, service lines and manholes. The new waste water system will reduce the waste water discharge from the Norway treatment facility into the Little Androscoggin River.
And in Pitt County, North Carolina, the town of Bethel has been selected to receive a 256-thousand dollar loan and a 2.4-million dollar grant to replace an aging water system that is constructed of iron, galvanized steel and asbestos-laden concrete pipes. The tap water has a high iron level and is discolored.
