USGC Global Update for November 17, 2011‏

Fallout Continues from FTA Delays - Page 1
Council Beefs Up Biotech Team – Page 1
Dual Projects Promotes DDGS, CGF, CGM - Page 2
Competing for the China Corn Market – Page 2
USDA’s Weekly Export Sales Highlights for November 4-10, 2011 – Page 3
Office Closure – Page 4
Council Activity Calendar - Page 4
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Fallout Continues from FTA Delays
While the United States has finally approved the Colombia, Panama and South Korea free trade agreements (FTAs), the long delay in achieving U.S. ratification continues to produce fallout.

In South Korea, critics say the pact could threaten South Korea’s national interests, and opposition party members are attempting to block a vote in the parliament. Opposition is coming from South Korea’s auto industry and farmers, who fear a flood of U.S. farm exports.

11-17-11 NAWG Weekly Wheat Digest

Down to the Wire for Farm Bill Proposal to Super Committee
Negotiations on a farm policy proposal for the debt-deficit super committee reached the eleventh hour this week, as Members worked to find a combination of programs that could help protect farm risk across the country.
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Conference Report Passes House with Ag Approps, Short-Term CR
The House of Representatives passed Thursday afternoon by a 298 to 121 vote the conference report of a spending bill incorporating FY2012 agriculture program funding and a four-week continuing resolution to fund much of the rest of the federal government.
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Japan Says It Intends to Join Trans-Pacific Partnership Talks
Japan said late last week it intends to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations, which could be a boon to the U.S. wheat and agricultural industries.
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11-17-11 US Congress Places Restrictions on Implementation of GIPSA Rule

— NCBA Supports Ag Appropriations Language to Provide Certainty to Cattlemen

WASHINGTON (Nov. 17, 2011) – Congress voted today, Nov. 17, 2011, on a $19.8 billion 2012 agricultural spending bill that includes language blocking the U.S. Department of Agriculture from implementing controversial reforms to livestock and poultry marketing. The so-called GIPSA rule, proposed last year by the USDA’s Grain Inspection Packers and Stockyard’s Administration, would have wreaked havoc on the U.S. cattle industry causing livestock producers to lose an estimated $169 million, according to National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Vice President of Government Affairs Colin Woodall. He said Congress barred USDA from conducting any further work this year on sections of the rule not yet finalized.

“We stand firm behind those members of Congress who were willing to listen and understand the concerns of cattlemen, leading trade organizations, economists, consumers and others. This was a vote in favor of innovative family-owned farms and ranches,” said Woodall.

11-17-11 *NREL News* CO-LABS Announces High-Impact Research Awards

Governor Hickenlooper cites pioneering work of four award winners at ceremony recognizing achievements by Colorado’s 24 federal labs and research facilities

November 17, 2011 - Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper honored scientists and researchers for their breakthrough work in renewable energy, sustainability, disease prevention, and atmospheric science at CO-LABS’ annual Governor’s Awards for High-Impact Research on November 15 in Denver.

CO-LABS is a non-profit consortium that brings the research, economic development, state and local governments and business communities together to facilitate information exchange, and helps educate the public about the scientific resources and impact of the research taking place at the state’s federal labs.

The labs work closely with Colorado’s research universities and technology companies, and play an important role in the state economy. Colorado is a global leader in natural resource management, climate science, renewable energy, photonics, materials science, astrophysics, telecommunications and earth science.

“We are intensely focused on economic development and creating jobs,” Hickenlooper said. “At the same time we are witnesses to outstanding research in Colorado that will change the quality of life for people here and all over the world.”

11-17-11 Beefing Up Your Options at Alltech’s Global Beef 500

[Lexington, KENTUCKY] – Following the success of the first Global Beef 500 last year, Alltech are proud to announce the second ever Global Beef 5, taking place December 6-8 in Lexington, Kentucky. World leaders in the beef industry will gather once again to discuss their collective future and how to brand beef better.

“We are faced with a world that is now more demanding than ever. There is a higher demand for food, fuel and other commodities, as well as a demand for transparency and sustainability. Because of this, it is now necessary to adopt new technologies and increase the focus on communication, or risk falling behind,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, president and founder of Alltech. “It is also essential that we adopt a more holistic view of nutrition, one that transcends prenatal nutrition, the animals’ genetic makeup and a focus on nutrition as a preventative measure against disease.”

The agenda for Global Beef 500 packs in everything the progressive beef producer needs to beef up options for the future, from communicating a green message to consumers, to keeping your animals healthy and disease free, to attracting the best minds of future generations. Highlights from the Global Beef 500 program are as follows:

11-17-11 U.S. TREE NUT SALES TO REMAIN STRONG IN COMING YEARS…

Study says U.S. growers will continue to benefit from healthy export market for the foreseeable future, despite record-breaking production years

FRESNO, Calif. (Nov. 17, 2011) — U.S. tree nut growers are receiving good news just in time for the holidays. A report issued today by Rabobank’s Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory group projects nut prices will remain competitive in the coming years. The information arrives as operations are wrapping up another banner harvest for most tree nut varieties.

The report credits China’s ongoing demand for almonds, walnuts, pistachios, pecans and hazelnuts as the driving force behind increasing prices and yields in the United States. As China’s once largely agrarian country transforms its economy from export-driven to consumer-driven, the country’s urban middle class finds itself with more purchasing power to afford premium products like those of U.S. tree nuts. Additionally, an expanding worldwide health and wellness movement has found fertile ground in China, where such nuts play a key role in balanced nutrition.

“The Chinese government is promoting an economy that is favorable for many U.S. exports, especially tree nuts,” said the report’s author, Karen Halliburton Barber, assistant vice president and senior agricultural analyst with the Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory group in Fresno. “As the Chinese middle class grows, so will the demand for almonds, walnuts, pistachios, pecans and hazelnuts.  This is good news for growers here in the U.S.”

The increased demand comes with risks. Those risks include the threat of a strengthening U.S. dollar that could raise the costs of the export items, some of which would be passed on to Chinese consumers who may shy away from increased prices. Barber notes that while this is a concern, premium imported tree nuts are already being purchased by higher income segments of the population who are more likely to be able to absorb the higher prices.

Additionally, the report cautions about the threat of China turning to suppliers from countries such as Turkey, India, Ukraine or South Africa to fill its tree nut needs, especially if the U.S. cannot keep pace with short-term demand. Furthermore, China is strengthening its own production of walnuts and, to a lesser extent, almonds; though increasing numbers of Chinese consumers prefer U.S. walnuts to Chinese-grown, due to taste differences resulting from harvesting and storage practices. Overall, the report signals a good outlook for growers despite these risks; however, U.S. processors face a different set of circumstances.

11-17-11 VA Celebrates National Rural Health Day TODAY November 17th

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Rural Health (ORH) is joining the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) and other state and national rural stakeholders in celebrating the first-ever National Rural Health Day today.

“National Rural Health Day provides an excellent opportunity to bring attention to the health of rural Americans and the challenges they face in accessing health care,” said Dr. Robert A. Petzel, VA under secretary for health.  “It is also a great time to raise awareness about the health care needs of Veterans living in rural areas and VA initiatives designed to serve this unique population.”

NOSORH created National Rural Health Day to showcase rural America; increase awareness of rural health-related issues; and promote the efforts of NOSORH, state offices of rural health, and others in addressing those issues. Plans call for National Rural Health Day to become an annual celebration on the third Thursday of each November.

Rural and frontier communities face unique health care needs. “Today more than ever, rural communities must tackle accessibility issues, a lack of health care providers, the needs of an aging population suffering from a greater number of chronic conditions, and larger percentages of un- and underinsured citizens,” said NOSORH Director Teryl Eisinger.

11-17-11 *CSP News* MADD COLORADO ANNOUNCES RED RIBBON CAMPAIGN IN ADVANCE OF ANNUAL HOLIDAY DRUNK DRIVING CRACKDOWN

~Thanksgiving Heat Is On DUI Enforcement, Nov. 22-28~

Denver, Colorado (November 17, 2011) – Today, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Colorado, the Colorado State Patrol, the Colorado Department of Transportation, and the law firm of Bachus & Schanker are kicking off the 2011 holiday crackdown on drunk driving by calling on Colorado residents to Tie One On For Safety®.

MADD’s annual Tie One On For Safety campaign calls for motorists to display a red ribbon on their cars in support of law enforcement crackdown efforts and as a pledge to drive safe and sober. The campaign runs now through New Year’s Day—one of the most dangerous times of the year on U.S. roads and highways. Last holiday season in Colorado, 48 people were killed in traffic crashes.  More than half of those killed were not wearing seat belts, and 18 died in alcohol-related crashes.

“My heart goes out to all those whose loved ones have been killed or injured by this senseless and utterly preventable crime,” says Emily Tompkins, MADD Colorado’s State Executive Director. “During this time of year when drunk driving crashes are most prevalent, we urge Colorado residents to be extra vigilant about planning ahead for a safe way home when holiday festivities include alcohol.”

11-17-11 *CDA News* CDA Reminder: Properly Dispose of Pesticides…

CLICK HERE to learn more...

LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The leaves are falling and thoughts are turning to cool fall nights.  But before you lock up your shed for the season, the Colorado Department of Agriculture reminds agricultural producers and homeowners to properly dispose of pesticide waste.

“This is the time of year when many residents are putting away their lawn mowers and preparing for the cool weather but it’s important to remember that pesticides are a chemical and must be handled properly.  Don’t toss out your unused pesticide; instead, it must be disposed of properly,” said Rob Wawrzynski, CDA’s Agricultural Chemicals & Groundwater Protection Program manager.

While pesticides have beneficial uses to homeowners and agricultural producers, over the years, some pesticides have been banned or suspended due to the risks to human health and the environment.  Many of these and other unwanted pesticides are stored on-site, often in deteriorating containers and present the potential for contamination of the environment. Therefore, appropriate disposal methods must be utilized.

Most counties have pesticide disposal programs in place.  To find your local program, visit www.colorado.gov/ag/pw.

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11-17-11 Monsanto Receives U.S. Registration for Genuity® VT Double PRO® RIB Complete™

Convenient, single-bag refuge option will join Genuity® SmartStax® as RIB Complete product broadly available to farmers in 2012

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — U.S. farmers in the Corn Belt now have a new single-bag option for managing above-ground pests. Monsanto’s Genuity® VT Double PRO® RIB Complete™ has received registration from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), completing federal regulatory authorization in the United States. Commercialization is pending individual state authorizations and notifications, as required.  Monsanto was the first in the industry to offer farmers a single-bag refuge solution with Genuity® SmartStax® RIB Complete™, and this approval adds another single-bag product to the Genuity reduced-refuge family of products.

Genuity VT Double PRO RIB Complete is a blend of 95 percent Genuity VT Double PRO and 5 percent refuge (non-Bt) seed, delivering the lowest refuge in the corn-growing area for above-ground insect protection. The single-bag solution of Genuity VT Double PRO RIB Complete helps farmers simplify the planting process while delivering peace of mind for refuge compliance.

“Based on farmer feedback, Monsanto continues to move toward single-bag refuge options making corn production and refuge compliance synonymous,” said Brett Begemann, executive vice president and chief commercial officer. “Genuity VT Double PRO RIB Complete offers the simplest, most convenient refuge implementation option available to farmers needing above-ground protection for pests. We expect demand for the product to be high. In 2012, this product will be offered by Monsanto brands and licensees across the corn-growing area, providing farmers the broadest choices in the industry.”

11-17-11 *NCGA News of the Day* Webinar Offers Tips on Making the Most of Social Media…

The National Corn Growers Association hosted a webinar today that helped agvocates already using social media explore new strategies and tools to maximize the impact of their efforts.  This session, the eleventh in a year-long series co-sponsored by Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont Business, presented attendees with the latest research data on what makes some social media users more effective than others and offered simple tips that yield real results.

The session began with remarks from NCGA Grower Services Action Team Chair Brandon Hunnicutt, an active social media user and advocate.  Noting the importance of reaching consumers where they feel comfortable, Hunnicutt highlighted both the importance of fostering an active community of farmers with a noticeable social media presence and the noticeable effect that incorporating even a few new strategies into a routine can have.

“For me, using social media to talk about what I do on my farm was as natural as it would be for anyone with a job and young family,” Hunnicutt, a Nebraska farmer, said.  “This year though, I have tried out some of the tips that I picked up from the webinar series and have really seen an increase in the depth of my online conversations about agriculture, the number of people that I am reaching and the closeness of the online community in which I participate.  I haven’t invested more time or effort, but I am seeing great results.”

11-17-11 What is the AgChat Foundation All About?

LEARN MORE – CLICK HERE

11-17-11 #FoodThanks Returns for Thanksgiving

CLICK HERE to visit

MINNEAPOLIS—November 17, 2011—This Thanksgiving season, people throughout the food system will be using social media to show their thanks for food and raise awareness of agriculture through the AgChat Foundation’s #foodthanks campaign. Last year, more than 800 people participated in the campaign by blogging, adding the #foodthanks twibbon to their avatar photo, and sharing more than 2,000 Twitter posts.

“For many of us, this month is when we take time to give thanks for the food on our tables,” says Darin Grimm, president of the AgChat Foundation, a 100 percent volunteer organization that aims to empower farmers and ranchers to “agvocate” via social media platforms. “The #foodthanks campaign provides tools and inspiration for people to take their personal expressions of gratitude beyond the dinner table to friends, family and followers within their social networks.”

Grimm encourages members of the ag and food communities to tweet, post and blog about #foodthanks this month and especially on November 23 as Thanksgiving becomes top of mind for much of the country.

11-17-11 This Month Inside the Colorado Department of Agriculture…Deputy Ag Commissioner Jim Miller

(The BARN – Sterling, CO) Find out what the latest news is from the Colorado Department of Agriculture this month from CDA Deputy Agriculture Commissioner Jim Miller, when he was a guest on Crosstalk with guest host Ben Blecha…JIM MILLER NOVEMBER 17

THE INTERVIEW IS COURTESY OF BEN BLECHA, Am 1230 KSTC & FM 104.7 KNNG out of Sterling…

11-09-11 RMFU Annual Convention Coming to Cheyenne, Nov. 18-19

RMFU’s Annual Convention Coming to Cheyenne, Nov. 18-19

This year,the RMFU Annual Convention will be at Cheyenne Little America.

The convention opens at 8 a.m. on Friday, November 18,and continues through Saturday afternoon when election results will be announced.

This year’s convention program features keynote speaker Bill Patrie,an internationally recognized leader on cooperative development,who will speak Friday morning on the convention theme,The Power of Cooperation. In keeping with the theme and in recognition of the approaching International Year of Cooperatives ~ 2012,RMFU will present its first Cooperative Achievement Award to James B. Dean, distinguished attorney and advocate for cooperative businesses.

Friday afternoon panels will address forming state Health CO-OPS in accordance with the Affordable HealthCare Act, producer strategies for direct marketing of local foods, conservation challenges in estate transition planning,and the successes and plans of the RMFU Foundation,home of the Cooperative Development Center,the Renewable Energy Center and the RMFU Education Center.

All events are open to registrants and the press.

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11-17-11 *CHSAA News* National High School Sports Record Book Moves Online

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (November 17, 2011) — After 32 years as a print publication, the National High School Sports Record Book has officially moved online and can be accessed on the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Web site at www.nfhs.org/recordbook.

The Record Book contains all-time records for boys and girls in 16 high school sports. Visitors to the site can select from the menu of sports, and will have the option to search for specific records across all sports in the Record Book.

In addition, new entries will be posted in the Record Book on an ongoing basis once the record performances are verified. Previously, records were updated annually with the printing of the book.

“The National High School Sports Record Book is a one-of-a-kind publication and has become a tremendous resource for many individuals across the country,” said Bob Gardner, NFHS executive director. “At this point in time, given the advances in technology, we felt that we could reach thousands and thousands of individuals by moving this valuable publication online. Also, the option of daily updates makes this publication even more useful.”

11-17-11 House Ag Member Says Senate Inaction Saddled Farmers with More Regulations

Colorado 3rd District Congressman Scott Tipton

(The BARN – Briggsdale, CO) According to Colorado 3rd District Congressman Scott Tipton – the Senate’s failure to pass H.R. 872 – the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act – has unleashed a new regulatory blitz on farmers, ranchers and small businesses. He notes family farmers and ranchers have been facing a mountain of onerous new federal regulations. He says the current administration has forced businesses to pay almost 273-million dollars in compliance costs for these new regulations. With the nation’s farmers expected to increase food production to feed a growing population – Tipton says unnecessary regulations are placing increased burdens on American agriculture that can make production more costly and challenging…111711_BAN_TiptonMoreREgulations_1m20s

SOURCE: NAFB News Service