US Wheat Associates December 1st Wheat Letter

December 1, 2011

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) is the industry’s market development organization working in more than 100 countries. Its mission is to “develop, maintain, and expand international markets to enhance the profitability of U.S. wheat producers.” The activities of USW are made possible by producer checkoff dollars managed by 19 state wheat commissions and through cost-share funding provided by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. For more information, visit www.uswheat.org or contact your state wheat commission. Original articles from Wheat Letter may be reprinted without permission; source attribution is requested.

In This Issue:
1. IGC Report Confirms a More Competitive Global Wheat Market
2. The Long and Short of the Wheat Market
3. Crop Quality Results, Seminars Demonstrate Transparency
4. Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations Expand Opportunity for Wheat Buyers
5. USW Customers Get Hands-On Experience at IGP Buhler Milling Course
6. One Step Closer to an Open Market for Canadian Wheat
7. Wheat Industry News

USGC Global Update for December the 1st

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Sorghum Food Symposium Kicks off Japan Initiative - Page 1
Changes in India’s Growth Outlook  – Page 2
Ukraine Competes for Taiwan Grain Sales - Page 2
Council Activity Calendar - Page 2
USDA’s Weekly Export Sales Highlights for November 18-24, 2011 - Page 3
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Sorghum Food Symposium Kicks off Japan Initiative

12-02-11 *WSGA News* Environmental Stewardship Award Finalists Announced

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Stock Growers Association (WSGA) recently announced the finalists for the 2012 Environmental Stewardship Award: the LU Ranch in Worland [WORE-LAND], the Padlock Ranch in Dayton and the Sommers [SUMM-ERS] Ranch in Pinedale. The award recognizes agriculturists for outstanding contributions to the land.

Applicants are judged based on their demonstration of improved resource conditions, stewardship innovations, long-term commitment to stewardship, sustained economic viability, community and civic leadership and multiple use benefits.

“Our applicants and award winners are families carrying on a legacy of generations providing food and fiber while nurturing and caring for the land that provides this bounty,” WSGA Program Coordinator Kosha [KOH-SHA] Olsen said.

12-01-11 The 2011 Ag Water Summit…Missed It? Watch it again on iHigh.com

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

12-01-11 RMFU Urges Careful Consideration of New Child Labor Regulations

Rocky Mountain Farmers Union posted a comment with the Department of Labor urging that proposed new federal regulations on child labor avoid unintended hardships to family farms and ranches. “We are concerned that the regulations do not clearly exempt family operations that have incorporated,” said Kent Peppler, a Mead, Colorado, farmer and President of RMFU. “We support regulations to improve the safety of young farm workers, but the regulations shouldn’t place unnecessary burdens on farm and ranch families whose children participate in the family work.”

As a grassroots organization working to protect family farmers, ranchers and their rural communities, RMFU advocates for safe agricultural workplaces and supports programs that encourage young people to get experience and training that will lead them to a fulfilling life in agriculture. “We value the health and safety of all farm workers, whether family or hired help,” the comment asserted, “and we support the student-learner programs of rural schools, which offer hands-on training in a safe environment.”

12-01-11 NORAD is ready to track Santa’s flight

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - The North American Aerospace Defense Command is getting ready to track Santa’s yuletide journey!  The NORAD Tracks Santa website, www.noradsanta.org, went live today featuring a Countdown Calendar, a Kid’s Countdown Village complete with holiday games and activities that change daily, and video messages from students and troops from around the world.  With the addition of Brazilian Portuguese, the website is now available in eight languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, and Chinese.

This year, using free apps in the Apple iTunes Store and in the Android Market, parents and children can countdown the days until Santa’s take off on their smart phones!  Tracking opportunities are also offered on Facebook, Google+, YouTube, and Twitter.  Santa followers just need to type “@noradsanta” into each search engine to get started.

Also on the website, fans can go to the Operation Good Will page and watch the live stream of the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, presented by the National Park Foundation and National Park Service, on Dec. 1 beginning at 4:30 p.m. EST by clicking on the http://www.thenationaltree.org link.

Starting at 12:00 a.m. MST on Dec. 24, website visitors can watch Santa as he makes all the preparations for his flight.  Then, at 4:00 a.m. MST (6:00 a.m. EST), trackers worldwide can talk to a live phone operator to inquire about Santa’s whereabouts by dialing the toll-free number 1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) or by sending an email to noradtrackssanta@gmail.com.  NORAD’s “Santa Cams” will also stream videos as Santa makes his way over various locations worldwide.

12-01-11 Former Secretary of State, U.S. Election Assistance Commission chair to head Colorado County Clerks Association

DENVER_ The Colorado County Clerks Association announced Thursday the Honorable Donetta Davidson, a former Colorado Secretary of State and current U.S. Election Assistance Commissioner, will be the organization’s first executive director.

Davidson brings the expertise of more than 30 years in the administration of elections at the local, state and federal levels. She served Colorado as the secretary of state, the state’s director of elections, and as a clerk and recorder in both Arapahoe and Bent counties. She is currently a commissioner on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and served as chair in 2010 and 2007.

“Donetta gives the Clerks Association an authoritative voice on all matters facing our local officials in this state,” said Scott Doyle, the Clerk and Recorder in Larimer County and the outgoing president of the Clerks Association. “No one in Colorado knows more about our elections or the challenges our clerks face. She has worked on our issues as a clerk and recorder in both a rural and metro county, and I am so pleased to know that Colorado voters will have someone with her impeccable qualifications working on their behalf.”

*CSU News* Upcoming Livestock/Producer Events…

Upcoming Range/Livestock Producer Events

[Jan. 7 - 22] National Western Stock Show. Denver, Colorado

[Jan. 29 - Feb. 3] SRM 65th Annual Meeting. Spokane, Washington

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from CSU Extension!

12-01-11 *CCA ALERT* Protecting Children in the Workplace…LAST DAY TO COMMENT TO THE US DOL

Could it eliminate children from working on family ranches?

ARVADA, Colo. – December 1, 2011 – This week the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) asking them to reconsider the prohibitions set on youth as outlined below. At the very least we are asking them to allow for expanded learner programs so that youth can still be involved on the family ranch.

“I can’t express how significant the proposed rule could be on the daily activities of my family ranch,” stated David Mendenhall, CCA president. “Being able to raise my daughter on a ranch where she learns work ethics, how to respect the animals and equipment…overall life experiences that would be taken away from her.”

While CCA fully supports the efforts of the DOL to protect children in the workplace, this particular regulation will adversely affect family farms and ranches. These proposed regulations will also hamper youth activities such as 4-H and the Future Farmers of America (FFA). At a time when the agriculture industry needs workers, the DOL will be creating a barrier to young people entering agricultural careers. “I have always thought FFA was a great organization for teaching kids life skills, communication skills, leadership skills and the like,” commented TroyMarshall, CCA board member.

READ the NAFB’s National Ag News as heard inside the BARN for December 1st

CLICK HERE to listen to TODAY's BARN Morning Ag News with Brian Allmer...

Sponsored by the American Farm Bureau Federation

“Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act Passes Committee”

The Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011 has passed the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, with bipartisan support, by a vote of 33 to 16. H.R. 1633 now moves to the full House of Representatives for consideration.  Ashley Lyon, Deputy Environmental Counsel for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, predicts – this “commonsense” legislation is gaining momentum and will receive bipartisan support when brought to a vote in the coming days.

Lyon says – the bill will do multiple things to ensure clean air while also providing regulatory certainty for farm and ranch families. She says the legislation recognizes that dust from agricultural activities has never been shown to have a health impact at ambient levels. The bill would exempt farm dust from the Clean Air Act unless the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency can prove it is a significant problem and that applying the standard is worth the costs. It also gives states and localities the rightful authority in regulating dust, which is a local issue.

According to Lyon, – we have to bring some accountability to regulatory agencies. They must be aware of the economic impact their actions are having on farm and ranch families throughout the country. If H.R. 1633 passes the House, it will move to the Senate, where it was introduced by Senators Mike Johanns of Nebraska and Charles Grassley of Iowa and has support from 26 bipartisan senators.

**************READ MORE NAFB AG NEWS BELOW****************************

“Preliminary Plans for Farm Bill Hearings Announced”

Agri-Pulse is reporting that Senate Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow has outlined the next steps for the farm bill.  Farm Bill hearings will resume at the end of January or the beginning of February. Stabenow says the Senate Agriculture Committee will keep working with its counterparts in the House to continue fine-tuning farm bill negotiations, while using as its foundation the 23-billion in deficit reduction outline prepared for the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction.

12-01-11 *NWS ALERT* Winter Weather Advisory for Northeast Weld County‏

Issued at: 5:35 AM MST 12/1/11, expires at: 2:00 PM MST 12/1/11

Winter weather advisory remains in effect until 2 pm mst this afternoon,
A winter weather advisory remains in effect until 2 pm mst this afternoon.
Timing, snow will continue through early afternoon, then decrease.
Accumulation/wind, 2 to 5 inches with the lightest amounts near the Wyoming and Nebraska borders. North to northeast winds of 20 to 35 mph.
Main impact, roads will become icy and snowpacked. Visibilities may be significantly reduced by blowing snow especially in open areas.
Other impacts, wind chills will be near zero.
Precautionary/preparedness actions,
Roads will become icy and snowpacked with hazardous travel conditions. If traveling allow extra time to reach your destination. Be alert to changing road conditions.

SOURCE: National Weather Service