09-19-11 Colorado Corn Works toward Passage of H.R. 872 in Senate

September 19, 2011 – Greeley, Colorado – The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) deadline of October 31, 2011, is fast approaching for implementation of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES); a system that requires a new permitting process on already regulated practices.  A vote in the Senate on H.R. 872, a bill that would eliminate excessive regulatory burdens of this type, has been stalled by Senators Boxer (D-CA) and Cardin (D-MD).  Each has placed a hold on the bill which has prevented it from moving forward even after passing the Senate Agriculture Committee with strong bipartisan support this summer.  This bill will affect every farmer in Colorado and the U.S. who applies herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides.

Doug Melcher, Holly area corn farmer and Chairman of the CCGA’s Public Policy committee appreciates the support received in the House and the need for the bill to make its way through the Senate. “Farmers are very conscientious about taking care of our land and water resources. We don’t need to add another layer of regulation on top of something we are already required to do – practice safe application methods on our farms.”

The Colorado Corn Growers Association (CCGA) supported the bipartisan passage of H.R. 872 by the House earlier this year. The bill clarifies that National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits are not required when applying pesticides according to their EPA approved label. This legislation was in response to the 2009 6^th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that pesticide users would be required to apply for a NPDES permit under the Clean Water Act if the chemical is sprayed over, near or into a body of water.

09-19-11 *US House Ag Committee* Lucas & Roberts Respond to the President’s Debt Plan

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Frank Lucas (R-OK), Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, and U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, issued the following statement in response to President Obama’s debt plan.

“The agriculture community remains willing to do its part in getting our fiscal house in order, but, in essence, President Obama’s plan for economic growth and deficit reduction is not credible. 

“The President’s policy priorities reveal a lack of knowledge of production agriculture and fail to recognize how wholesale changes to farm policy would impact the people who feed us.  For example, cutting $8 billion from the crop insurance program puts the entire program at risk. We have heard again and again from producers that crop insurance is the best risk management tool available. In jeopardizing this program, the President turns a deaf ear to America’s farmers.  Meanwhile, SURE has not worked as intended for most crops, but the President proposes extending it.  The President only proposes a $2 billion cut, roughly three percent, to conservation despite his claim that conservation spending has increased 500 percent through the years.  And, the President does nothing to address waste, fraud, abuse, and other integrity issues within nutrition programs, which account for 80 percent of USDA spending.

“Ultimately, cuts to agriculture must reflect its diversity across the country, respect the challenges producers face, and preserve the tools necessary for food production.”

 

###

USDA to Host Milestone Conservation Celebration in Sidney Sept 20th @ Cabela’s…An interview with USDA/FSA’s Juan Garcia

(The BARN – Briggsdale, CO) September 19th, 2011 - Juan Garcia, acting Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs with the Farm Service Agency at the  United States Department of Agriculuture discusses the event in Sidney & the 25th Anniversary of the Conservation Reserve Program…

091911_CRP25thNe_JuanGarcia_16m45s

In May 2011 Juan M. Garcia was selected to serve as Acting Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs. Garcia will oversee all FSA programs under the Production Emergencies and Compliance Division (PECD), Conservation and Environmental Programs Division (CEPD) and Price Support Division (PSD). Garcia has served as the State Executive Director for Texas since 2009 and previously served as the Agricultural Program Manager (APM) for the Farm Service Agency in Texas. Prior to his selection as the APM, Garcia served as a District Director in South Texas as well as East Texas, and served earlier in his career as County Executive Director in Nolan, Hidalgo and Cameron Counties. During his 34-year career with USDA, Garcia has received numerous honors and is a three-time recipient of the prestigious FSA Administrator’s Award for Service to Agriculture. A native of Lyford, Texas, Garcia was raised on his family’s 500-acre farm. Garcia received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Science from Texas A&I in Kingsville (now Texas A&M University-Kingsville) and was recognized as the College of Agriculture’s 2010 Hall of Honors Alumnus. Garcia and his wife, Belinda, have three grown children.

ORIGIANL PRESS RELEASE

(Lincoln, Neb.) – September 15, 2011 — In recognition of the 25th anniversary year of the nation’s premier, voluntary Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) draws to a close, USDA will

host a celebratory event on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 on the grounds of Cabela’s retail store at 115 Cabela Drive in Sidney. The day’s events begin at 10:00 AM (Mountain) and with conservation program updates from national and state partners in conservation and will conclude with a field tour highlighting a variety of conservation practices implemented by local agricultural producers.

Area farmers and ranchers, agribusiness representatives and outdoor recreational enthusiasts are invited to join USDA’s federal, state and local partners in conservation to celebrate the

positive impact CRP has had on Nebraska’s most environmentally sensitive land.

How successful is CRP?

09-19-11 National Beef Cook-Off Changing With the Times

The National Beef Cook-Off will be a little different this time around. Managed by the American National Cattlewomen and funded in part by the Beef Checkoff, the 2011 edition of the Cook-Off is aimed at reaching consumers directly in a huge food event coming up in Washington, DC. 

# # #

The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents per head to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to USDA approval.

09-19-11 *The White House Blog* “Someday” is Now: Direct Farm Payments and the President’s Plan for Economic Growth and Deficit Reduction

Posted by Doug McKalip on September 19, 2011 at 03:07 PM EDT

For nearly two decades, I have served in agriculture policy capacities for the federal government – most of those years with the United States Department Agriculture.  Today, I am reminded of a quote by Will Rogers.  The outspoken Oklahoman once remarked, “An onion can make people cry, but there has never been a vegetable invented to make them laugh.”  Instead, Rogers made so many Americans laugh during some of the most difficult times in the history of rural America, sometimes pointing out irony in the activities of government.

Today marks a truly historic action, as President Obama proposes dramatic, yet common sense reform to what has become over the years, a product of conventional politics and longstanding irony in the landscape of government.  As part of the President’s Plan for Economic Growth and Deficit Reduction announced today, President Obama is proposing to terminate direct farm subsidies.  At nearly $5 billion in funding per year, the Direct Payments program is certainly no laughing matter.  And if a vegetable were ever developed per the Rogers quote above, it wouldn’t qualify for direct payments, because vegetables are not deemed to be “program crops”. (more on that in a moment)

As the lead advisor on rural issues for the President’s Domestic Policy Council, some will ask me “why advocate for the reduction of an agriculture program?”  In short, I believe the President’s proposal seeks to establish new policy that has been long overdue, and takes action that conventional thinking would regard as either too difficult, or too controversial.

As the proposal goes forward, it is important to consider the following characteristics of direct farm payments:

09-19-11 NCGA Committed to Helping Reduce Federal Deficit While Strengthening Risk Management Tools

WASHINGTON (September 19, 2011) — National Corn Growers Association President Bart Schott released the following statement in response to President Obama’s Economic Growth and Deficit Reduction Plan: “NCGA strongly supports the effort to get our federal budget under control and the need for shared sacrifice in order to achieve an equitable, balanced approach. We appreciate the recognition in President Obama’s plan of how important reliable effective risk management tools are to farmers and rural communities.

While NCGA agrees the fiscal challenges before us require even greater efficiency in the delivery of farm safety net programs, we are deeply concerned by proposals that would directly undermine a farmer’s ability to purchase adequate insurance coverage at a time of heightened volatility in commodity markets. “In addition, NCGA recently unveiled the Agriculture Disaster Assistance Program (ADAP), a plan that transfers a significant portion of direct payments for deficit reduction, with the remaining funds put toward an improved risk management program that better complements federal crop insurance. “

As the Administration and members of Congress begin to prepare for the next farm bill, we also ask that decisions and writing of the legislation be made within the committees of jurisdiction.” ### Founded in 1957, the National Corn Growers Association represents 35,000 dues-paying corn farmers nationwide. NCGA and its 48 affiliated state organizations work together to create and increase opportunities for their members and their industry.

09-19-11 *US Dept of Energy News* Solar Decathalon 2011 @ the National Mall in Washington DC Sept 23-Oct 2nd…Richard King Interview

www.solardecathlon.com is the event website

Richard King - Director, Solar Decathlon, U.S. Department of Energy

(The BARN – Briggsdale, CO) Richard King – Director, Solar Decathlon, U.S. Department of Energy. Mr. King has been with DOE since 1986, working primarily in the Solar Energy Technology Program. From 1997 until 2007, he served as Team Leader of the Photovoltaic Research & Development (R&D) Program. Currently, as part of the DOE Buildings Program, he works closely with professional builders to design cost-effective highly efficient homes powered by solar energy. He has been Director of the Solar Decathlon since 1999 and is passionate about the biennial competition. King details this year’s event that will be held @ the National Mall in Washington DC September 23rd thru October 2nd…

091911_USDOE_SolarDecathalon_RichardKing_4m56s

WASHINGTON, DC – Collegiate teams featuring over 4,000 students from around the world are arriving at the National Mall’s West Potomac Park to assemble the highly energy efficient solar-powered houses they built for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011. The teams will then compete in 10 contests during 10 days that gauge each house’s performance, livability and affordability.

09-16-11 Tips on Keeping Backyard Birds Disease Free Featured in New Online Videos

USDA recently released a new video campaign aimed at helping backyard poultry owners keep their birds safe from deadly infectious diseases. The three short videos share a variety of useful tips, most especially: “Clean everything that comes in contact with your birds.”

The videos feature USDA veterinarian Dr. Kate Bowers along with Healthy Harry, the animated spokesbird for USDA’s Biosecurity for Birds campaign.

“The videos emphasize the importance of keeping birds healthy,” said Dr. Fidelis Hegngi, USDA senior staff veterinarian.  “Dr. Kate and Harry’s sense of humor and perky personality help to deliver the message that there are some simple steps all owners can and should take to protect their backyard poultry.”

The Biosecurity For Birds campaign was started in 2004 as a result of the outbreak of deadly exotic Newcastle disease (END) in 2002-2003.  It began in a backyard flock and cost the states and Federal government more than $160 million to eradicate in California and other Western states, making it one of the largest animal disease outbreaks in the United States in 30 years.

The first video, “Healthy Flocks Rock,” includes tips such as buying chicks from reputable hatcheries, separating birds that have been on exhibit at fairs and shows from the rest of the flock and checking for signs of illness such as coughing.  The second video, “Keep it Clean,” emphasizes the need to scrub and disinfect hands, tools, shoes and anything else that might come into contact with backyard poultry to guard against the spread of disease.  The final video, “Know Your Birds,” will be released in October.

09-19-11 NATIONAL FARM SAFETY AND HEALTH WEEK Sept 18-24, 2011…President’s Proclamation

CLICK HERE to learn more

A PROCLAMATION BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The food, fiber, and fuel generated by our agricultural sector are vital to America’s 21st-century economy. Farmers represent the best of the American dream — passing on proud traditions of hard work and commitment to their children. This week, we celebrate farmers’ contributions to the fabric of our Nation as they cultivate the products that sustain us, serve as stewards of our environment, and stand as the backbone of communities across our country.

The self-discipline and determination of farm communities have allowed them to persevere through drought, storms, and hard times, always emerging strong and vibrant. Each day, our farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers face multiple dangers. They work with heavy machinery, livestock, and toxic materials, and in potentially dangerous environments like grain elevators and processing facilities. Physically demanding and all-encompassing, farm work requires the resourcefulness and grit that has been essential to our Nation’s success. This week, we pay tribute to the tremendous work ethic of America’s farmers, and encourage safe farm practices for all.

Supporting farmers, ranchers, and growers is critical to creating and sustaining a thriving economy. My Administration has worked to create new markets for these products, and to provide assistance to farms, supporting jobs across our country. We continue to work to make capital more accessible and help aspiring young farmers buy land. Farms are critical to achieving our goal of doubling our exports, and American agricultural exports are now worth over $100 billion a year. They are also the source of biofuels that will help lead us to energy independence. My Administration is working to speed the development of next-generation biofuels, and their production will benefit farmers, rural communities, and Americans across our country.