In response to significant feedback from the grain industry – CME Group Managing Director of Agricultural Commodities and Alternative Investments Tim Andriesen says CBOT grain and oilseed trading hours are being further amended to 5 p.m. to 2 p.m. Central time Sunday through Friday. He says it’s been communicated that these hours meet the risk management needs of this customer segment. An earlier proposal was for a 6 p.m. to 4 p.m. trading day. There was concern this would make it difficult and costly for grain companies to complete their end-of-day bookkeeping and back office functions. The revised hours are to go into effect no later than Sunday, June 3rd. It could be sooner if the CFTC grants a request for expedited approval. The Kansas City Boart of Trade has submitted a similar proposal that is set to become effective on May 31st.

Even with this change – National Farmers Union is asking CFTC to open a 30-day comment period. NFU President Roger Johnson says stakeholders in the grain and oilseeds markets need further opportunity to understand and provide input about the proposed changes. He says concerns have been voiced regarding the volatile price swings that occur when USDA reports are released. Johnson says NFU members are also uncertain about the availability of accurate and updated bids from grain purchasers after the open outcry trading day has closed with an established settlement price but electronic markets remain open. He says farmers need an explanation and answers to these reasonable questions.
==================================================

“Senators Unable to Agree to Move to Debate on Budget Proposals”

The Senate has rejected five budget resolutions this week – including the President’s budget. The proposals were not able to muster the simple majority required to advance. In fact – the President’s budget didn’t receive a single vote. According to the Washington Post – President Obama has warned Congressional leaders that he won’t tolerate a replay of last summer’s debt-ceiling fight that nearly put the country in default and led to the nation’s first credit-rating downgrade. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney says President Obama told top House and Senate leaders that he expects a serious bipartisan approach to tackling the budget and the federal deficit this year.

Nebraska Senator Mike Johanns says the President’s budget would add 6.4-trillion dollars to the national debt over the next 10 years and increase the nation’s publicly held debt to more than 76-percent of the entire economy by 2022.

Though still not enough to proceed to debate – two proposals garnered more than 40 votes in the Senate. The budget introduced by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan – which passed the House of Representatives – spends 5.3-trillion dollars less than President Obama’s budget over 10 years. The other proposal was introduced by Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey and would have balanced the budget within eight years by bringing spending to 18.3-percent of the nation’s economy.

On the House side – Speaker John Boehner has threatened to block an increase in the federal debt ceiling if there aren’t significant cuts in spending. Boehner reportedly told the President he would not allow an increase if something serious isn’t done about the debt.
==================================================

“No Decision on Opening TPP to Additional Participants”

Three countries that hope to get in on the Trans-Pacific Partnership will have to continue to wait for admission to the talks. The nine nations currently involved in the discussions – according to a U.S. trade official – are at different stages of determining if Japan, Canada and Mexico can join. Negotiators are wrapping up the latest round of talks this week in Dallas. During the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation trade ministers meeting in Russia early next month – U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk is expected to meet with his TPP counterparts to discuss progress and agree on a plan for moving forward.
==================================================

“NACD President Reinforces Need for Strong Conservation Title”

As the House Ag Committee works on its version of the next farm bill – National Association of Conservation Districts President Gene Schmidt is expressing the importance of the Conservation Title. He says producers want to do the right thing – but need the right tools and technical assistance to do it. He says farm bill conservation programs help producers implement conservation practices through voluntary, incentive-based methods and play a critical role in protecting air, land and water while supporting the nation’s long-term economic and food security. If the nation’s natural resources aren’t protected and preserved – Schmidt says we won’t have land for producing food, fuel and fiber. Because everyone eats and everyone needs clean air and water – Schmidt says the benefits of a strong Conservation Title provide value to everyone.

Schmidt says the Senate Ag Committee’s farm bill includes a strong Conservation Title that streamlines and consolidates programs for increased efficiency and ease-of-use for producers. It also maintains critical funding for all of the conservation purposes needed to implement conservation where it counts.
==================================================

“NFU Urges House Subcommittee to Include MDIS or Similar Program in Farm Bill”

The House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management met Thursday to review commodity programs for the next farm bill. National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson testified before the subcommittee and urged its members to include provisions to deal with a long-term collapse in commodity prices. Johnson says the Senate Ag Committee’s farm bill contained a number of positive aspects – but did not include a way to deal with a long-term commodity price collapse. He says the 2012 Farm Bill needs a program that helps to ensure prices don’t fall to a price where family farmers can no longer make a living – such as the Market-Driven Inventory System. Johnson also emphasized the need to look at long-term cost savings of farm bill programs rather than just short-term costs. He says lawmakers must be penny-wise – but not pound-foolish. While MDIS will have a cost – he notes a University of Tennessee study demonstrates it will save money in the long run.

Johnson says permanent disaster programs save money as well. As an example – he explained that the U.S. spent 30-billion dollars between 1996 and 2002 in emergency and ad hoc disaster programs to help farmers and ranchers when prices collapsed and the farm bill had no safety net for them. He says the cost to extend the SURE program and similar disaster assistance programs for five years – which could have replaced ad hoc disaster programs – is 8.9-billion dollars.
==================================================

“USDA Report Includes Article on Sow Housing Options”

A special article in the latest Livestock, Poultry and Dairy Outlook report from USDA takes a look at the movement to open sow housing as an alternative to gestation crates. Major U.S. companies that demand pork are asking its suppliers to transition from use of gestation crates and the USDA article says suppliers are responding – adopting business models that incorporate group sow housing in pork production. The article explores the current U.S. hog production system, group sow housing and studies that compare the two. The article is available at www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/LDP/.
==================================================

“Vilsack Announces New Pork Board Appointees”

U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced five new appointments for the National Pork Board. Two new appointees will join three reappointed members. They will serve a three-year term. Vilsack says he’s pleased these individuals have agreed to provide their time and expertise. He’s confident they will serve producers and importers well. Those newly appointed to the board include Craig Mensink of Preston, Minnesota and Carl Link of Fort Recovery, Ohio.
==================================================

“ARS Utilizing Metagenomics in Research”

Scientists with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service are searching for better ways to control viral enteric diseases in birds. They have unearthed previously known and unknown viruses in poultry using a new molecular tool called metagenomics. Unlike traditional sequencing – metagenomics detects the nucleic acid of thousands of organisms in an entire community. Using this technique – researchers discovered a new virus that could have future antimicrobial applications. A newly discovered virus is the type that naturally kills bacteria and belongs to a group that can potentially be used as alternatives to antibiotics and as tools to fight multi-drug resistant pathogens.
==================================================

According to new data presented by the Auto Alliance and Global Automakers, results from a two-year study on engine durability indicates that – E15 fuel can wreck your engine. The groups call a government study resulting in the approval of the use of a blend of 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline, – premature, because testing wasn’t finished. Also, groups representing small-engine manufacturers and power-equipment makers have said alcohol-blend fuels are bad for the engines in boats, chain saws, lawn mowers, generators and the like.

The U.S. Department of Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association say the report is fundamentally flawed. Specifically, the U.S. Department of Transportation says – we believe the choice of test engines, test cycle, limited fuel selection, and failure criteria of the CRC program resulted in unreliable and incomplete data, which severely limits the utility of the study.

Bob Dinneen President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, says – accepting the status quo in a fuel market monopolized by petroleum as the best this nation can do is unacceptable. Dinneen adds, funding research using questionable testing protocols and illegal fuels make the test – meaningless and only serve to further muddy the waters and shun the overwhelming desire of 75 percent of Americans for greater choice at the pump.
==================================================

“Restaurant Chain Pushes for Crate Free System”

Restaurant giant Denny’s has announced it will work with its suppliers to eliminate the practice of confining pigs in gestation crates for its bacon, sausage and other pork products. Greg Linford, Denny’s vice president, procurement and distribution, says – Denny’s takes its role as a responsible corporate citizen seriously, which is why we have adopted a strong position on animal welfare.

Linford adds, – we will endeavor to purchase products from companies that provide gestation crate-free pork and are committed to influencing our suppliers to share in a gestation crate-free vision for the future. Linford says – working to eliminate gestation crates is best for our company, our guests, and our continued work to improve animal welfare.

Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO for The Humane Society of the United States, says – we welcome the news that Denny’s will move its supply chain to a gestation crate-free future. Denny’s is one of the largest restaurant chains in the country, operating more than 1,650 locations across the U.S.
==================================================

“Longer Electronic Trading Hours Possible”

The CME Group and the Kansas City and Minneapolis boards of trade plan to expand daily electronic trading up to 22-hours beginning next Monday. Officials say the proposal will not affect day-time Open Outcry trading hours. The original 10-day comment period ended Wednesday. At that time commissioners of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission were split on whether or not to postpone the change by tacking on an additional 30-day comment period. Also, USDA is still considering how it will handle report releases.

As of late Wednesday, CFTC spokesperson David Gary said, if there is no extension of the comment period, – that would be, in effect, tantamount to an approval. Just go ahead and do your thing.

Only two groups, the National Grain and Feed Association and the North American Export Grain Association, have submitted comments to the CFTC. Both called for a longer window to work on the logistical issues, such as report releases, that a longer trading day raises.
==================================================

“NCBA Supports BSE Rule Proposal”

About two months ago the U.S. Department of Agriculture published in the Federal Register a comprehensive rule for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy or BSE. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has voiced its support for the rule through submitted comments. NCBA Vice President Bob McCan says the organization has been pushing for this rule since the first case of BSE was detected in the United States in December 2003.

According to McCan, – this proposed rule will show the United States is willing to talk the talk and walk the walk with regard to following international standards developed by the World Organization for Animal Health. McCan believes, – we must have an objective comprehensive rule in place for beef and cattle imports as soon as possible in order for our nation’s trade negotiators to have credibility in opening markets for U.S. beef.

As noted in NCBA’s comments, the comprehensive BSE rule will solidify the United States’ commitment to basing trade relationships on internationally-recognized, science-based standards. McCan says maintaining a healthy cattle herd is a top priority for NCBA and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
==================================================

“Moms Push for Limits on Antibiotics”

Thirty moms from across the United States were in Washington, D.C. Tuesday to lobby for greater limits on antibiotics used in food animal production. Calling themselves the “Supermoms against Superbugs”, the ladies met with House and Senate staff, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the White House Domestic Policy Council. The group is organized by the Pew Campaign on Human Health and Industrial Farming and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Each of the moms had a different story, a different reason for becoming an advocate. Some were chefs worried about quality and health, others pediatricians concerned about untreatable infections, but for many of the moms their activism began when a child or family member was sickened or killed by antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

The National Pork Producers Council took a counter-offensive stance, maintaining that farmers use antibiotics judiciously. NPPC says – antibiotics help animals grow healthier, improve animal well-being and provide safe food. Strategic use of antibiotics in animal agriculture prevents disease and produces safer food. A side benefit of this use is faster growth.
==================================================

“AFBF Leader Testifies on Farm Bill”

American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman at a hearing on Capitol Hill has reemphasized his organizations’ support of a single commodity option and a strong crop insurance program in the 2012 farm bill.  Speaking before the House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management, Stallman said he was confident AFBF’s approach could easily provide a safety net that meets regional and commodity differences, while also staying within the budget.

Stallman’s testimony was based on the premise that the House Agriculture Committee will draft farm legislation that reduces spending by 23-billion dollars over the next 10 years, with proportional cuts of 15-billion in commodity program reductions, 4-billion in conservation program reductions and 4-billion in nutrition program reductions.

In its farm bill proposal, AFBF has prioritized (1) protecting and strengthening federal crop insurance funding and not reducing funding for that program; (2) developing a commodity title that encourages producers to follow market signals rather than making planting decisions in anticipation of government payments; and (3) refraining from basing any program on cost of production. As a general farm organization, Stallman said, – we place high priority on ensuring the bill benefits all American agricultural commodity sectors in a balanced, coordinated manner.
==================================================

“See for Yourself Program Set”

The United Soybean Board/soy checkoff has selected 10 farmer-participants for the 2012 See for Yourself program, which will give attendees a firsthand look at how and where their soybeans are being used both domestically and internationally. The program will be held August 5-11 in St. Louis and Guanajuato, Mexico. The program also offers farmer participants an opportunity to evaluate specific, checkoff-funded research and promotional activities.

Participants will learn about the use of soy biodiesel at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, tour a barge-loading facility and visit a laboratory to see soy research taking place, all before heading to the number one market for U.S. soybean meal – Mexico. While south of the U.S. border, participants will get a firsthand look at a large user of U.S. soy in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato.

The participating farmers are: Cory Atkins, Seaford, Delaware; Timothy Clark, Lomira, Wisconsin; Stephanie Essick, Dickens, Iowa; Andrew Fabin, Indiana, Pennsylvania; David Foster, Fort Scott, Kansas; Jonathan Miller, Island, Kentucky; Doug Singleteary, Bogota, Tennessee; Kristina Sutton, Potosi, Missouri; Craig Williams, Oaktown, Indiana; and John Yeargin, Greenfield, Tennessee.
==================================================

“Pioneer Switching to Soybean Seed Count”

Farmers who grow Pioneer Hi-Bred soybean products can expect to purchase by seed count per unit, rather than by weight, beginning in the fall of 2012 for varieties sold throughout North America for the 2013 planting season. The number of soybean seeds per unit will be 140-thousand. The company feels that buying by seed count provides producers with a simple, convenient and more accurate means of planning their soybean crop.

Prior to this change, Pioneer sold soybean seeds by weight, 50 pounds of seed equals one unit. Soybean seeds can potentially vary in size, based on genetics and growing conditions, affecting the number of seeds per unit. Pioneer senior marketing manager for soybeans, Don Schafer says – customers will benefit because they can more easily calculate the number of units they need based on their desired planting rates because the seed quantity per unit will always be consistent.
==================================================

It was 150 years ago Tuesday when President Abraham Lincoln established the U. S. Department of Agriculture.  As the department and its 30th Secretary, Tom Vilsack, celebrated the event, many others also celebrated.  American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman pointed out that President Lincoln – understood the importance of agriculture to America. He realized science and technology played a major role in the farming industry.

From the very beginning, the federal government was involved in agriculture and dedicated to scientific progress in farming. According to Secretary Vilsack, – this commitment continues today at USDA and is shared by farmers and ranchers across the country, regardless of the methods of food and fiber production they use—organic or conventional.

Steve Wellman, President of the American Soybean Association, says – USDA has worked alongside soybean farmers for decades in the best interest of agriculture, developing international markets , fostering rural development, encouraging conservation, alleviating hunger, improving nutrition and enhancing food safety. National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson says – USDA has served the family farmers and ranchers of this country very well. With the department’s help, U.S. farmers and ranchers are able to produce the safest, most affordable, most abundant food supply in the world.

Other organizations observing USDA’s 150th Anniversary include: the National Cotton Council, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Sorghum Producers, Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, National Corn Growers Association and USA Rice.
==================================================

“Agricultural Pioneer Dies in Farming Accident”

Farming legend S.M. True died on Tuesday morning following an unknown accident on his farm in Hale County, Texas.  He was a longtime member of the Texas Farm Bureau – having served as President of the state organization for 11 years (1982-1993) – and also helped start the National Sorghum Producers.

True, 88, also served for many years on the Cotton Board and the National Meat Board.
==================================================

“LightSquared Files for Bankruptcy Protection”

LightSquared filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday. The company failed to reach a debt restructuring deal with its creditors. The company wanted to create a wireless network using satellites. Federal regulators at first championed the idea, but in recent months turned its back on the proposal after military, agriculture and others said the satellite signals could interfere with global positioning systems used broadly by airplanes, agriculture and consumers.

According to the company’s biggest investor, Philip Falcone of Harbinger Capital, LightSquared says the filing was necessary to protect the Company against creditors who were looking for a quick profit, as opposed to our goal to create long-term market competition, job creation, and the promise of wireless connectivity for every American.

According to the filing, LightSquared employed 168 people in the U.S. and Canada and generated about 30-million dollars in annual revenue from businesses who leased its airwaves. Unsecured creditors include Boeing, which is owed 7-million dollars; Alcatel-Lucent is owed 7-million; and Burson Marsteller is owed 265-thousand dollars.
==================================================

“Ag Groups Focus on Crop Insurance”

The House Agriculture Committee continues key farm bill hearings this week, and as it does a dozen farm groups have sent a letter to House Ag Chairman Frank Lucas and Ranking Member Collin Peterson on the importance of crop insurance. In their letter the groups state – Federal crop insurance provides an effective risk management tool to farmers and ranchers when they are facing losses beyond their control. They note – it reduces taxpayer risk exposure; it makes hedging possible to help mitigate market volatility; and it provides lenders with greater certainty that loans made to producers will be repaid.

One of the groups that signed the letter was the National Corn Growers Association. NCGA has previously stated that crop insurance remains the number one priority in the new farm bill as well as a market oriented, risk management tool to cover multi-year price declines.

Other groups signing the letter were: American Farm Bureau Federation; American Soybean Association; American Sugarbeet Growers Association; National Association of Wheat Growers; National Barley Growers Association; National Cotton Council; National Farmers Union; National Sorghum Producers; National Sunflower Association; U.S. Canola Association; and the USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council.
==================================================

“Senators Push for Senate Action on Farm Bill”

44 U.S. Senators have signed a letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell calling for a timely and open debate on the Senate farm bill, the ‘Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012’. According to the Senators, the bill takes steps to reduce the deficit and decrease government spending by 23-billion dollars. The letter continues, – the bill, earlier passed the Senate Ag Committee, sets an example of how Senators can come together in a bipartisan way to craft meaningful, yet fiscally responsible, policy.

The bill streamlines conservation programs and helps prevent fraud and abuse in nutrition programs. Also, the risk management, conservation, research, trade promotion and nutrition programs in the legislation impacts nearly every American. Many of these programs will expire at the end of the year if no action is taken to reauthorize the farm bill.

Those Senators signing the letter are: John Barrasso, Max Baucus, Michael Bennet, Richard Blumenthal, Roy Blunt, Scott Brown, Sherrod Brown, Maria Cantwell, Bob Casey, Dan Coats, Kent Conrad, Chris Coons, Mike Crapo, Mike Enzi, Al Franken, Kristen Gillibrand, Chuck Grassley, Kay Hagan, Tom Harkin, John Hoeven, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Daniel Inouye, Mike Johanns, Tim Johnson, John Kerry, Mark Kirk, Amy Klobuchar, Herb Kohl, Pat Leahy, Dick Lugar, Claire McCaskill, Jeff Merkley, Jerry Moran, Ben Nelson, Bill Nelson, Jim Risch, Bernie Sanders, Jeanne Shaheen, Olympia Snowe, Jon Tester, John Thune, Mark Udall, Tom Udall, and Ron Wyden.
==================================================

“Water Quality Fight Expands”

Environmental groups Waterkeeper, the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council, have demanded a court order the Environmental Protection Agency to accept a petition to develop federal nutrient water quality criteria for the 31 states whose waters flow into the Mississippi River Basin. Now, the National Pork Producers Council, six state pork producer associations and other national agricultural groups have filed a legal motion to intervene, challenging the EPA water quality standards.

A watershed-wide Total Maximum Daily Load for nutrients would be required. EPA’s TMDL for the Chesapeake Bay was the product of similar legal action by many of the same groups and was roundly criticized for its lack of scientific foundation and for singling out the region’s agricultural producers.

NPPC officials say their organization strongly opposes these additional federal regulatory burdens and will continue legal actions to defend U.S. pork producers.
==================================================

“U.S.-Colombia TPA in Force”

The U.S. – Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement is now in force. According to Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, – as of Tuesday, U.S. agricultural exporters receive duty-free access on more than half of the products we currently export to Colombia, and virtually all remaining tariffs will be eliminated within 15 years. Estimates show that the tariff reductions in the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement will expand total U.S. exports by more than 1.1-billion dollars, while increasing U.S. GDP by 2.5-billion.

For agriculture, the agreement with South America’s third-largest economy achieves two key trade objectives for the United States: it immediately provides vastly improved access to Colombia’s market, and it levels the playing field with respect to third-country competitors. Under the agreement, American farmers and ranchers can expect to see their exports grow by more than 370-million dollars, or more than one-third of the current total.

Colombia will immediately eliminate duties on wheat, barley, soybeans, soybean meal and flour, high-quality beef, bacon, almost all fruit and vegetable products, wheat, peanuts, whey, cotton, and the vast majority of processed products. The Colombia TPA also provides duty free tariff rate quotas on standard beef, chicken leg quarters, dairy products, corn, sorghum, animal feeds, rice, and soybean oil.

Steve Wellman, President of the American Soybean Association, and a soybean farmer from Syracuse, Nebraska, says – the pact expands a valuable and growing export market for American soybeans, meal, oil and products that require soy inputs like dairy, meat and poultry. The agreement also helps us regain lost market share in Central and South America’s third largest economy. Last year, the U.S. exported more than 182-million dollars in soybeans and soybean products to Colombia.
==================================================

“Ethanol Benefits Sited in Study”

According to updated research conducted by economics professors at the University of Wisconsin and Iowa State University, America’s growing use of domestically-produced ethanol reduced wholesale gasoline prices by an average of $1.09 per gallon in 2011. $1.09 is up from an average impact of 89-cents-per-gallon in 2010. The report, released by the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, also found gasoline prices have been reduced by an average of 29-cents-per-gallon, or 17 percent, from 2000-2011 thanks to  the growing use of ethanol.

According to the report there are three primary factors responsible for ethanol’s more robust price benefit at the pump in 2011. The factors are: higher oil and gasoline prices, higher ethanol inclusion, and ethanol being priced at a larger-than-normal discount to gasoline.

Based on the 29-cents-per-gallon average annual savings, ethanol has helped save American drivers and the economy more than 477-billion dollars in gasoline expenditures since 2000 – an average of 39.8-billion a year.
==================================================

“China, Japan and South Korea Considering FTA”

After a decade of discussions, China, Japan and South Korea have agreed to soon launch negotiations on a three-way free trade pact. Officials say the Japan-China-Korea FTA will be – an extremely important piece of economic cooperation. According to the official Xinhua news agency, leaders also – agreed to a three-way investment treaty – one stepping stone to the bigger and much more contentious goal of a free trade deal.

Negotiations are expected to be difficult. Standing in the way are tensions on the Korean peninsula, political distrust, trade barriers and diverging investment policies. The three nations are major traders, and together accounted for 19.6 percent of the world’s economy and 18.5 percent of its exports in 2010.
==================================================

True, 88,  also served for many years on the Cotton Board and the National Meat Board.

http://www.kcbd.com/story/18427626/local-farming-legend-killed-in-tractor-accident