“USDA Contracts to Update FSA System”
USDA has taken the first step to improve services available through the Farm Service Agency by awarding a Blanket Purchase Agreement designed to support the implementation and development of the Modernize and Innovate the Delivery of Agricultural Systems Project. USDA says the FSA MIDAS Project is a priority effort that will transform the way FSA delivers farm program services and benefits to producers, farmers and ranchers through more than 22-hundred offices throughout the United States.
In making the announcement, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said – USDA is committed to improving service delivery and addressing outdated technology issues to meet the needs of our customers. Vilsack noted, – it is important to provide dedicated state and county office employees with the tools, information and training to administer FSA farm programs. The contract was awarded to SRA, International of Fairfax, Virginia.
While no deadline for completing the needed upgrade was announced, it was pointed out that the purpose of MIDAS is to modernize USDA’s delivery of farm benefit programs and services by: (1.) streamlining farm program business processes; (2.) rapidly implementing new farm programs; (3.) moving to modern, reliable technology platforms; and most importantly, (4.) improving access and convenience for producers, ranchers and farmers.
FSA Administrator Jonathon Coppess told All Ag News that this will not replace county offices nor will it force producers to use the internet – especially in-light of the lack of reliable high-speed access across the rural areas of America.
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“Standard Reinsurance Agreement Cuts Considered”
USDA’s Risk Management Agency has reconsidered its previous proposals as the Standard Reinsurance Agreement renegotiation proceeds. But at least 30 U.S. Senators have voiced concern to the agency. In a letter they wrote – despite a modest reduction in the size of the proposed cuts between the first and second drafts, they believe RMA’s proposals may undermine the crop insurance program, reduce the quality of service and availability of the program, and harm rural America through job loss.
The Senators said, while they believe there may be some efficiencies to be identified through the SRA renegotiation process, they are concerned that the level of program cuts in the second draft will seriously—and negatively—affect several insurance companies’ ability to continue to offer much-needed risk management products in many areas of the country.
The Senators, including Ag Committee Chairman Blanche Lincoln and Ranking Member Saxby Chambliss, also noted that they remain concerned about the magnitude of the nearly 7-billion dollars in proposed cuts over the next ten years to the program. By comparison, the 2005 SRA was estimated to save 410-million over ten years and the 2008 farm bill included savings of 5.6-billion over ten years.
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”EPA Sets Timing of First Clean Air Act Permits”
The Environmental Protection Agency has taken the first step in its phased in approach to addressing Green House Gas emissions. EPA says Clean Air Act construction and operating permit requirements for the largest emitting facilities will begin when the first national rule controlling GHG takes effect. This means, no stationary sources will be required to get Clean Air Act permits that cover greenhouse gases before January 2011.
If finalized as proposed, the rule limiting GHG emissions for cars and light trucks would trigger these requirements in January 2011 – the earliest model year 2012 vehicles meeting the standards can be sold in the United States. The agency expects to issue final vehicle GHG standards shortly.
EPA administrator Lisa Jackson pointed out that this is a common sense plan for phasing in the protections of the Clean Air Act. It gives large facilities the time they need to innovate, governments the time to prepare to cut greenhouse gases and it ensures that the agency does not push this problem off to future generations.
The agency will make a decision later this spring on the amount of GHGs facilities can emit before having to include limits for these emissions in their permits.
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“Latest Health Care Poll Released”
A poll conducted by the Washington Post indicates that public opinion has changed little since passage of health care reform. Overall, 46 percent of those polled said they support the changes in the new law; 50 percent oppose them. The pollsters say that is virtually identical to the pre-vote split on the proposals and similar to the divide that has existed since last summer. President Obama’s overall approval rating is at 53 percent in the poll, about the same as it has been in Post-ABC polls in the past several months; 43 percent disapprove.
Passions remain strongest among the plan’s detractors, as 26 percent of all adults said they are angry about the changes enacted by Congress, up from 18 percent in August. Among opponents, there is near-universal support (86 percent) for efforts to cancel the changes either through a new vote in Congress or through the courts.
About half of all poll respondents said the plan creates – too much government involvement – in the health-care system, a concern that is especially pronounced among Republicans. About a quarter of all adults say they tried to contact their elected representatives in Congress about health care in recent months, including nearly half of those who say they are “angry” about the changes. In general, opponents of the measure were more than twice as likely as supporters to say they had made the effort.
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“President Makes Recess Appointments”
After months of Republican obstruction to administration nominees, the White House has announced that President Obama intends to recess appoint fifteen nominees to fill critical administration posts that have been left vacant, including key positions on the economic team and on boards that have been left with vacancies for months. In a release the White House said the appointees have waited an Average of 214 Days for Senate Confirmation without action.
The Recess Appointments include: Michael Punke: Nominee for Deputy Trade Representative – Geneva, Office of the United States Trade Representative; Islam Siddiqui: Nominee for Chief Agricultural Negotiator, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and Jill Long Thompson: Nominee for Member, Farm Credit Administration Board. Long Thompson is a former Member of the United States House of Representatives and a former Under Secretary for Rural Development at the United States Department of Agriculture.
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“Homeland Security Renews Animal Disease Efforts”
U.S. Homeland Security has renewed through 2016 efforts to protect the nation from potentially catastrophic animal diseases – some of which are transmissible to humans. Homeland Security says it will continue with a 21-million dollar package to Texas A&M University and Kansas State University. The monies will support the Homeland Security Department’s Center of Excellence for Foreign Animal and Zoonotic Disease Defense at the universities.
Since 2004 and based at Texas A&M, the National Center for Foreign Animal and Zoonotic Disease Defense has led a consortium of universities and institutions in efforts aimed at protecting American agriculture and public health. During the next six years, the center will co-lead the program with the Kansas State University’s Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases.
Texas A&M and Kansas State researchers will focus their efforts in four areas over the next six years: (1.) Development of vaccines to counter diseases that could cause catastrophic human illness or seriously impact the economy; (2.) Development of rapid diagnostic methods for identification and detection of foreign animal, emerging and/or zoonotic diseases; (3.) Development of models to simulate disease spread and impact; and (4.) Development of educational programs designed to train first responders and producers in recognition and control of these diseases.
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“House Resolution Seeks More Access for Beef Products”
Legislation has been introduced to support increased market access for exports of U.S. beef and beef products to Japan. Currently, Japan restricts access to a large number of U.S. beef products. Introduced by Representatives Jerry Moran of Kansas and Roy Blunt of Missouri, House Resolution 1196 states that Japan should immediately expand market access for U.S. beef products, and urges the Obama Administration to insist on increased market access from Japan. Nebraska Senator Mike Johanns has introduced similar legislation in the U.S. Senate.
Steve Fogelsong, President of the National Cattleman’s Beef Association, says – it’s time for the U.S. to take action. According to Fogelsong, – Japan’s unscientific trade restriction is not consistent with fair-trade practices nor with U.S. treatment of Japanese imports, and it continues to cost the U.S. beef industry—limiting us to about 25 percent of our potential market there, or one-billion dollars in lost beef exports each year.
Representative Moran said – Japan asks for fair treatment of their products and the U.S. is asking for the same fair treatment. Representative Blunt said he’s hopeful this resolution sends a signal of the expectation that the Japanese government reverse its unfair restrictions on beef from the United States.
