11-12-09 USGC Global Update for November 12, 2009…

USGC CEO Looks Back on Three Decades – Page 1
$105 Million Worth of Ag Commodities Trade at Joint Conference – Page 1
USDA Estimates Second-Largest Corn Crop Despite Harvest Challenges – Page 2
USGC Educates Iraqis on International Grain Trade Dynamics (audio included) - Page 2
Talkin’ Trade by Mr. Yasuro Muramoto, Executive Director of Japan Foodstuff News – Page 3
Duty-Free U.S. Sorghum Best Bang for the Buck – Page 3
USGC Consultant Presents the Benefits of U.S. Feed Grains at the Global Feed Summit – Page 4
New Member – Page 4
Cromer as New USGC Asia Coordinator – Page 4
Biotech Team from South Africa Meets with USGC Reps – Page 4
USGC Talks Trade at National Association of Farm Broadcasting Convention – Page 5
Condolences – Page 5
Union of Greek Shipowners Visit USGC – Page 5
Dorr Starts CEO Position Monday – Page 5
Deadline Approaching for Harvest Photo Drawing – Page 5
New Video Posted – Page 5
New Blogs, Photos Posted Frequently – Page 5
Need Audio? Check out the USGC “Council Cast,” Updated Often – Page 6
Council Activity Calendar – Page 6

11-12-09 EPEC BIOFUELS HOLDINGS NAMES STEVEN L. VANECHANOS AS CHAIRMAN…

Former American Stock Exchange Governor & Internet entrepreneur to chair EPEC Board of Directors

November 12 2009 (Fort Lauderdale, FL)—EPEC Biofuels Holdings, Inc., a biofuels company focused on ethanol production from sweet sorghum feedstock, announced today the appointment of Steven Vanechanos to its Board of Directors. Vanechanos will also assume the position of the Chairman of the Board, replacing former Chairman Philip Herman who will remain on the Board of Directors and continue as President and CTO of the Company.

“I’m thrilled by the opportunity to help guide EPEC. In many ways, the emerging ‘green economy’ reminds me of the early days of the Internet revolution — near unlimited opportunity and potential for value creation, paired with the challenge of inventing new business models and model enabling technology,” said Steven Vanechanos, EPEC Biofuels Holdings’ Chairman of the Board.

11-12-09 FCA Board Authorizes FCS Banks to Hold Certain Rural Housing…

Mortgage-Backed Securities as Mission-Related Investments

McLEAN, Va., November 12, 2009 — The Farm Credit Administration (FCA) Board today authorized Farm Credit System (FCS or System) banks to hold certain rural housing mortgage-backed securities (RHMS) as mission-related investments. These securities must be backed by eligible rural home loans originated by System associations. The FCA Board approved a bookletter outlining this authority.

Under existing regulations, System banks are permitted to have System-originated rural home loans securitized and guaranteed by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac. This new authorization would permit the System banks to treat these RHMS as mission-related investments.

RHMS backed by eligible rural home loans originated by System associations advance the System’s mission by addressing the liquidity needs in the rural housing mortgage market.

Reports on Agricultural Credit Markets and FCA Management Services

Northern Colorado 912 & Tea Groups to host First Candidate Forum for CO 4th Congressional District Nov 13th…

This Friday, November 13th at 5:45pm the doors of The Ranch at the Budweiser Events Center (5280 Arena Circle) will open to all those who are interested in hearing the first candidate forum to be held in the 4th Congressional District. The event is hosted by the Northern Colorado 912 and Tea Party Groups – cost is $14. More information can be found at www.candidatesearch2010.com.

11-12-09 The Constitutionality of Health Care Bills…

(The BARN – Briggsdale, CO) A major concern over the Constitutionality of Health Care has surfaced in Washington. And according to Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley…111209_BAN_HealthCareBillConstitunality_1m44s_128k

SOURCE: NAFB News Service

11-12-09 RMFU Supports Growing Safe Food Act…

In a statement today, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union President Kent Peppler endorsed Senator Debbie Stabenow’s Growing Safe Food Act, S 2758, which is co-sponsored by Sen. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico.

“Grants to help small producers improve food safety benefit everybody who eats,” Peppler said. “This program will help cooperative extension services, community-based organizations, colleges and universities expand their offerings in best agricultural practices and food processing. But it’s no substitute for a real food safety bill that addresses the food handling problems in corporate industrial plants. RMFU will support a food safety bill that puts its muscle where it’s needed and doesn’t burden small producers with industrial-scale regulations. The federal government has a long history of using food regulations to bankrupt small producers and encourage the concentration of markets in the hands of a few multi-national corporations. That has to stop if Americans want beef without E. coli and peppers without salmonella.”

11-12-09 Message from CO Governor Ritter to Students, Parents and Teachers…

Message from Governor Ritter to students, parents and teachers:

Click here to watch video.

When Lt. Gov. O’Brien and I first took office, we made education our top priority.

Over the past three years, we’ve created a student-centered reform strategy that’s attracting national attention. It’s an agenda that will reduce the dropout rate, close achievement gaps and increase the number of students who earn a college degree.

11-12-09 DOE AND USDA SELECT PROJECTS FOR MORE THAN $24 MILLION IN BIOMASS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT GRANTS…

Englewood, Colorado’s GEVO, Inc awarded $1.78 million

Washington, November 12, 2009 – The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy today announced projects selected for more than $24 million in grants to research and develop technologies to produce biofuels, bioenergy and high-value biobased products. Of the $24.4 million announced today, DOE plans to invest up to $4.9 million with USDA contributing up to $19.5 million. Advanced biofuels produced through this funding are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 percent.

“The selected projects will help make bioenergy production from renewable resources more efficient, cost-effective and sustainable,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. “These advancements will benefit rural economies through creation of new processing plants and profitable crops for U.S. farmers and foresters.”

“Innovation is crucial to the advancement of alternative, renewable energy sources, and these awards will spur the research needed to make significant progress in bioenergy development,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

Projects announced today must contribute a minimum of 20 percent of matching funds for research and development projects and 50 percent of matching funds for demonstration projects. Funding is provided through USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and DOE’s Biomass Program. Selected projects are aimed at increasing the availability of alternative fuels and biobased products that are produced from a diverse group of renewable sources of biomass.

Projects selected for award today include:

11-12-09 2010 World Ag Expo Top-10 New Products Unveiled…

Tulare, Calif., (AgPR), Nov. 12, 2009  – The results are in for the highly anticipated 2010 Top-10 New Products competition, the winners of which will be showcased Feb. 9-11 during the 43rd annualWorld Ag Expo in Tulare, Calif.

“These products showed the most potential to advance ag production and have the most potential to power global agriculture,” said 2010 Chairman Bernie Cargle.A panel of agribusiness professionals from across the nation including farmers, ranchers and industry professionals selected the Top-10 New Products and 10 Honorable Mention Products from more than 70 entries. The Top-10 New Productswill be showcased inside the New Product Pavilion on Expo Lane and R Street and will be toured on Feb. 8 during World Ag Expo’s Media Day. An estimated 100,000 attendees are expected to attend World Ag Expo, which is the largest annual exposition of its kind.Attendees can find out more about the Top-10 New Products and the 10 Honorable Mention Products before the expo at worldagexpo.com.

The 2010 World Ag Expo Top-10 New Products are:

11-12-09 AGRICULTURE SECRETARY TOM VILSACK ANNOUNCES $234 MILLION TO PROMOTE U.S. FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS…

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 12, 2009-Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced yesterday that 70 U.S. trade organizations received more than $234 million in Fiscal Year 2009 to help promote American food and agricultural products overseas. Vilsack made this announcement at the annual convention of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting.

“Agricultural trade is absolutely crucial to the U.S. economy and by providing this funding to U.S. organizations during these difficult economic times will help open new global markets for American food products,” said Vilsack.

The funding was allocated under the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Development (FMD) Cooperator Program, both administered by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.

11-12-09 Consumer and Producer Need More Social Contact…

(The BARN – Briggsdale, CO) Members of The National Association of Farm Broadcasting held a joint session in Kansas City this week along with The National Agri-Marketing Association titled “Connecting with the New Ag Community. One of the speakers was Gary Baise, an experienced attorney when it comes to Ag Issues in Washington. He said at the session that he feels the Social Contract between the producer and consumer has been broken in Agriculture by a number of factors…111209_BAN_SocialContactNeededConsumersProducers_2m16s_128k

SOURCE: NAFB News Service

11-12-09 Recovery Act Reaches 10,000 Transportation Projects Nationwide…

Recovery Act Reaches 10,000 Transportation Projects Nationwide

Washington, DC – Vice President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced that the Department of Transportation has jumpstarted more than 10,000 transportation projects across America thanks to its swift allocation of Recovery Act dollars. As of this week, state agencies reported a total of 10,041 approved.

“Just nine months in, tens of thousands of people are on the job at highway, bridge, rail and airport improvement projects across the country thanks to the quick action by the Department of Transportation putting Recovery Act dollars to work,” said Vice President Biden. “These projects are not only providing new opportunities for hard-hit workers and businesses during tough economic times, but helping lay a strong foundation to support our 21st century economy. This is a significant milestone on the road to recovery, but we continue to work every day to create more jobs and drive economic growth.”

11-12-09 Organizer Didn’t Believe EPA Would Become a Religion…

(The BARN – Briggsdale, CO) The National Association of Farm Broadcasting held a joint session in Kansas City this week along with The National Agri-Marketing Association titled “Connecting with the New Ag Community. One of the speakers was Gary Baise, an experienced attorney when it comes to Ag Issues in Washington. In fact, he was part of the Nixon Administration as the EPA was being formed. Baise said on the panel that no one ever believed that Environmentalism would be a religion…111209_BAN_EPAOrganizerDisbelief_2m36s_128k

SOURCE: NAFB News Service

11-12-09 Consumers Need Explanation of What Farmers are doing…

(The BARN - Briggsdale, CO) What do consumers really think about American Agriculture and the way we produce food? The National Association of Farm Broadcasting held a joint session in Kansas City this week along with The National Agri-Marketing Association titled “Connecting with the New Ag Community. One of the speakers was Charlie Arnott with The Center for Food Integrity. He says the dynamic between the consumer and producer has definitely changed…111209_BAN_ConsumerEducation_2m27s_128k

To find out more about the panel in Kansas City, log on to www.nama.org.

SOURCE: NAFB News Service

11-12-09 Monsanto Completes U.S. Regulatory Submissions In Support Of Vistive III Soybeans That Produce Healthier Cooking Oils…

Vistive III Oil Significantly Reduces Saturated Fats and Helps Eliminate Trans Fats

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 12, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) has completed regulatory submissions to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Food and Drug Administration in support of the Vistive III soybean trait. This second-generation product builds on Monsanto’s existing Vistive product and would provide food companies with a healthier, more stable soybean oil for frying and baking that contains significantly lower levels of saturated fat and eliminates trans fats.

Research has shown that a diet low in saturated and trans fats promotes heart health.

“Vistive III is a win for farmers, food producers and consumers,” said Jerry Hjelle, vice president of regulatory for Monsanto. “This provides a glimpse into the next-generation of biotech products that can bring direct health benefits to consumers. We also expect farmers to benefit from the premium pricing opportunity the market is likely to offer for the oil once it’s commercialized. And food producers should benefit from a more stable and more healthful soybean oil to use in its food products”

11-12-09 AGRICULTURE SECRETARY VILSACK ANNOUNCES FOOD PURCHASES FOR DOMESTIC NUTRITION PROGRAMS, ASSISTS PORK, CHERRY, PLUM AND APPLE FARMERS…

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 12, 2009 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced yesterday USDA’s intention to purchase $82.6 million worth of pork, cherry, plum and apple products for federal food nutrition assistance programs. Vilsack made the announcement at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual convention.

“These purchases will assist pork, cherry, plum and apple producers, who are currently struggling due to depressed market conditions,” said Vilsack. “This will help stabilize prices and markets, stimulate the economy, and provide high quality food to Americans in need of USDA’s nutrition assistance programs.”

11-12-09 SECRETARY VILSACK ANNOUNCES ALMOST $35 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR DISTANCE LEARNING AND TELEMEDICINE PROJECTS…$200k+ for CO

Colorado: Prowers Medical Center – $147,770 & Plateau Valley Hospital District – $69,886

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 12, 2009 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that 111 projects in 35 states have been selected to receive more than $34.9 million in grants to increase educational opportunities and expand access to health care services in rural areas. The funding will be provided through USDA Rural Development’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program.

Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager made the announcement on behalf of Vilsack while attending the annual meeting of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting in Kansas City, Mo.

“The Obama Administration is working to ensure that rural citizens have access to a full range of educational opportunities and access to quality medical care,” Vilsack said. “The funding we are announcing today will deliver these opportunities by expanding telecommunications, educational resources and computer networks throughout rural communities.”

For example, Avera Health in Sioux Falls, S.D., was selected to receive a $396,693 grant to provide video-conferencing and telemedicine service to connect 16 rural hospitals and clinics with regional medical facilities in Sioux Falls, Yankton and Aberdeen.

The Association of Computer Technology Educators of Wells, Maine, was selected to receive a $498,222 grant to purchase video conferencing equipment to link 22 schools in an eight-county area with four designated hub sites – including a library and a university.

The Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program provides access to education, training and health care resources in rural areas. Funding is contingent upon the recipient meeting the conditions of the grant agreement. The following is a complete list of recipients. These funds are part of USDA’s annual budget and are not part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

11-12-09 BASF Announces Full Registration of Headline AMP Fungicide…

BASF announces full registration of Headline AMP™ fungicide

New combination fungicide gives yield-driven corn growers maximum protection and Plant Health for top yield performance

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC,

“Yield-driven corn growers constantly strive to prevent disease, improve Plant Health and increase yields,” said Nick Fassler, Technical Marketing Manager at BASF. “Headline AMP gives growers the ability to stop disease in its tracks and help achieve the yield performance that comes from applying a fungicide containing an active ingredient with proven Plant Health.”