“Bipartisan Bill to Extend Ethanol Tax Credits Long-Term Introduced”
Legislation introduced Thursday by Congressmen Earl Pomeroy and John Shimkus would extend the current Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit, the Small Ethanol Producers Tax Credit, the tariff on imported ethanol and the Cellulosic Ethanol Production Tax Credit through 2015. North Dakota Democrat Earl Pomeroy said we can’t afford to let these tax incentives expire and stymie the growth seen in the ethanol industry. He says the extension of these measures will promote economic growth and the transformation of our energy industry to one that’s based on energy grown in the farm fields of America. Illinois Republican John Shimkus says that will help the nation’s energy security.
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“Renewable Fuels Supporters Welcome Pomeroy/Shimkus Effort”
The Pomeroy/Shimkus effort to extend tax incentives critical to the U.S. ethanol industry through 2015 was welcomed by advocates of America’s renewable fuels industry Thursday. Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen says long-term extensions encourage investment in current and next generation ethanol technologies. And failure to extend the incentives – he says – is just not an option – as it would force more than 100-thousand Americans out of their jobs.
Allowing the tariff alone to lapse – according to Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis – would result in single-year high job losses of more than 160-thousand and single-year economic losses reaching a high of more than 39-billion dollars.
American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman says passage of the legislation – on the other hand – would provide needed stability and reliability in the fuel marketplace – which would foster expanded markets for corn and other crops used to make ethanol, increased earnings for farmers and the funneling of more resources into cash-strapped rural economies.
National Corn Growers Association President Darrin Ihnen also applauded the bill – saying the extension of the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit would contribute to energy independence, create and secure thousands of jobs in rural America and allow for a stronger ag sector.
All of these leaders urged swift consideration and approval of The Renewable Fuels Reinvestment Act.
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“Commodity Group Leaders Air Concerns with Vilsack, Jackson”
Leaders of the American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Sorghum Producers, USA Rice Federation and National Cotton Council had a meeting with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson Thursday. Recent court and EPA actions that could negatively affect farmers were among the items discussed.
NCGA President Darrin Ihnen characterized the meeting as a rare opportunity and clear sign that high ranking federal officials want to understand grower concerns. ASA Chairman Johnny Dodson said his group appreciates that interest and Secretary Vilsack’s efforts to facilitate Thursday’s meeting. Ihnen says these newly opened lines of communication can directly affect policies that impact growers on their farms.
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“Report Author Says UC-Davis Professor Right”
Earlier this week we reported on the University of California-Davis Professor who questioned a UN Food and Agriculture Organization report that suggested livestock are responsible for 18-percent of greenhouse gas emissions. Now one of the authors of that report is accepting that criticism – stating that Professor Frank Mitloehner has a point – that the authors factored in everything for meat emissions – but didn’t do the same thing with transport – using instead the figure from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. That group’s projections have been the center of much controversy in recent months. FAO Livestock Policy Officer Pierre Gerber says a more comprehensive analysis of emissions from food production is now underway and should be complete by the end of the year.
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“Farm Bureau Versus Army Corps of Engineers”
The American Farm Bureau Federation and U.S. Sugar Corporation have filed suit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. They say recent action by the Corps goes against a 1993 rule that excluded prior converted croplands from regulation under the Clean Water Act. Calling it an example of regulatory overreach – Farm Bureau says Corps actions would subject croplands to federal control if farmers take their prior converted cropland out of crop production and change its use.
According to Farm Bureau – there are more than 53-million acres of prior converted cropland in the U.S. currently. These lands – Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman says – are out of the realm of Clean Water Act Jurisdiction. He says that means the Corps can’t regulate them as waters of the U.S. Stallman says that’s important because the value of prior converted croplands is significantly higher than land encumbered by costly federal wetlands regulations.
Until recently – Farm Bureau says farmers could rely on the 1993 regulations and could use prior converted cropland for both agricultural and non-agricultural uses. They say many farmers use the equity in prior converted cropland as collateral for the capital needed for farm and other loans. For many farmers – the development value of the land is an important asset. Now – Stallman says the Corps is trying to arbitrarily change the rules of the game – which would have significant impacts on land values and property rights.
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“An Allendale Preview of Prospective Plantings Report”
When USDA releases its Prospective Plantings report Wednesday (March 31) – Allendale expects the department will predict the second largest corn planting since 1944 at just over 90-million acres. That compares to 86.5-million acres last spring. As for soybeans – the Allendale number is a record 79.1-million acres – up from 77.4-million last year. Wheat acreage takes a hit – predicted to be the smallest since 1970.
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“Comments Sought on Rule to Enhance Food Security”
USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service is seeking comment on a new rule to enhance food safety. The proposed rule would implement a 2008 Farm Bill provision and – according to U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack – help prevent foodborne illness and speed the response when illnesses occur. He notes those are two goals of the Food Safety Working Group.
The proposed rule would require three things of regulated establishments. To promptly notify FSIS if any unsafe, unwholesome or misbranded meat or poultry product has entered commerce. To prepare and maintain current procedures for the recall of meat and poultry products produced and shipped by the establishment. And to document each reassessment of the establishment’s process control plans or Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point plans. USDA says this supports recommendations made by the Food Safety Working Group in July.
Comments must be received by May 24th. Comments can be submitted online through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www dot regulations dot gov (www.regulations.gov).
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“Increasing SNAP Participation Goal of USDA Grants”
To improve access to and increase participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – USDA will award grants of up to five-million dollars. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the announcement Thursday – stating that breaking down barriers to SNAP participation will help the Administration deliver on its goal of reducing hunger and improving nutrition across the country. The deadline to submit grant proposal applications is June 23rd.
