12-06-11 LMA’S Comments on USDA’s Proposed Animal Disease Traceability Rule Available Now…

     Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) on Dec. 6 filed its formal comments on USDA’s proposed Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) rule.

     LMA President David Macedo notes in the comments that America’s livestock marketing businesses “take pride in the role they play in protecting the health” of the nation’s livestock, and consequently, “the financial investment of hundreds of thousands of livestock operations selling and buying livestock through our facilities.”

Because of the millions of cattle and calves, hogs and pigs and sheep and lambs that go through America’s markets annually, Macedo says these markets have “long been considered a pivotal point in the identification and tracking of livestock for animal disease surveillance and control.”

LMA’s comments, he continues, address “the unique character and needs of the livestock marketing sector as it relates to animal disease traceability,” and “conscientious consideration” of those comments “would be greatly appreciated.”

The complete text of LMA’s comments can be found at www.LMAWEB.com; under Hot Topics, click on LMA Final ADT Comments – Dec. 2011.

12-06-11 US Forest Service Unveils Integrated New Approach to Invasive Species

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6, 2011 – The U.S. Forest Service announced on Monday the publication of its first-ever national-level direction on the management of invasive species across aquatic and terrestrial areas of the National Forest System.

 “Invasive species cost the American public an estimated $138 billion each year. They deplete water supplies, destroy recreation opportunities and damage landscapes across the country.” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “We are taking this bold approach to better protect our nation’s forest and water resources from the threat of invasive species.”

While the Forest Service has long had a Forest Service Invasive Species Program, this new policy adds requirements for agency-wide integration of invasive species prevention, early detection and rapid response, control, restoration, and collaborative activities across all National Forest System lands.  

CCALT & Colorado Gives Day is Tuesday, December 6th…GET INVOLVED – MAKE A DONATION!

Join CCALT in celebrating Colorado Gives Day where 100% of your donation will come to us. When you give online any time on December 6, the value of your donation will be increased by the FirstBank Incentive Fund. Details are below!

Did you know?

In Colorado, land trusts protect 1,141,000 acres of easements. To date, CCALT holds 370,497 acres under conservation easement. This is more than 32% of the statewide total!

CCALT alone has protected more land with easements than has been protected in Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma COMBINED!

If you are interested in supporting our exciting work in Colorado, be sure to donate today!

Don’t Forget Colorado Gives Day 12 – 6 – 2011!

CCALT is participating in Colorado Gives Day on Tuesday, December 6, 2011! The value of any donation made will be increased by the FirstBank Incentive Fund. All you have to do is make an online donation at www.givingfirst.org/CCALT anytime on December 6th starting at 12:00 a.m.

Not going to be around on December 6th? Don’t worry! You can visit www.givingfirst.org/CCALT today and schedule your donation to occur on Colorado Gives Day!

* 100% of your donation will come to CCALT if you place your donation on www.givingfirst.org/CCALT!

* The Incentive Fund increases the value

of every dollar donated!

* You have 24 hours to give where you live!

The Board and staff at CCALT would like to thank all of you for your support. It is because of people like you that allow us to celebrate over 16 years of conservation success!

12-06-11 US Interior Releases First-of-its-Kind Regional Study as Part of National Assessment of Carbon Storage in U.S. Ecosystems

Report evaluates amount of carbon absorbed by wetlands, grasslands and forests in the Great Plains region

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of the Interior today released the first in a series of regional studies measuring the amount of carbon stored in U.S. ecosystems. Published by Interior’s U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the study examines the current and projected future carbon storage in the Great Plains region, as part of a nation-wide assessment.

“This is truly groundbreaking research that, for the first time, takes a landscape-level look at how our lands naturally store carbon and explores how we can encourage this capability in ways that enhance our stewardship of natural resources,” said Deputy Secretary of the Interior David J. Hayes. “Our landscapes are helping us to absorb carbon emissions that would otherwise contribute to atmospheric warming.”

This is the first regional report applying a comprehensive methodology designed by the USGS in 2010 to assess how much carbon is stored in various ecosystems, such as wetlands, forests and rangelands. The study covers an area of the United States that includes parts of fourteen states from eastern Montana to southern Texasand eastern Iowa.

Following the Great Plains study, the USGS is expected to release studies on the western, eastern, Alaskan and Hawaiian regions. The full national assessment is expected to be completed around 2013.

A key finding in the Great Plains study is that the region is currently an overall “carbon sink,” meaning it takes up more carbon than it emits. In addition, the amount of carbon sequestered offsets most of the emissions of nitrous oxide and methane from this region.

12-06-11 Bent-Prowers Cattle & Horse Growers Association News…Annual Meeting, Banquet & Dance set for March 21st, 2012 in Lamar

SPRINGFIELD  – The multi-county cattlemen’s group heard updates and set the date for the Bent-Prowers Cattle & Horse Growers annual festivities during its board meeting here.

The cattlemen’s group, which serves Baca, Bent, Crowley, Kiowa, Otero & Prowers counties, will hold its annual meeting, banquet and dance on Saturday, March 31, 2012 in Lamar.

Also during the Nov. 21 board meeting, pending legislative action was monitored and industry issues discussed. Reports included Steve Wooten and Bob Patterson, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association southeast reps, and Glen Marciniak, the Governor’s Community Energy Coordinator.

Bent-Prowers Cattle & Horse Growers Association -  Serving Baca, Bent, Kiowa, Otero & Prowers counties  u Organized in 1870

12-06-11 *NRCS/CSU Extension* Small Acreage Landowner Newsletter for December

CLICK HERE to view the latest Edition

Please find the Fall edition of Small Acreage Landowner E-Newsletter attached.

This issue, as well as past issues, can be found at http://www.ext.colostate.edu/sam/nl.html<http://www.ext.colostate.edu/sam/newsletters>

Inside this issue:

• Resources to Consider when Buying or Designing a New Property
• Winter Plant Protection
• Windbreaks for Snow Deposition: CSP On-Farm Pilot Project
• Improving Land for Pheasant and Other Grassland Birds
• Grow Hops in Colorado
• Funding Assistance for Farm Practices
• Upcoming Events

Submitted by: Jennifer Cook
Small Acreage Management Coordinator
NRCS/CSU Extension
57 West Bromley Lane
Brighton, CO 80601
303-659-7004 ext.3
jennifer.cook@colostate.edu
Small Acreage Website:  www.ext.colostate.edu/sam

12-06-11 NCBA’s BeltWay Beef Audio…CattleFax Market Analyst Lance Zimmerman on Auction Market Research

CLICK HERE to listen to today's Beltway Beef courtesy of the NCBA...

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) Beltway Beef weekly audio is ready. CattleFax Market Analyst Lance Zimmerman has taken auction market research to a new level by focusing on video auction markets and the premiums and discounts producers receive for cattle raised using value added management practices. He’ll share the findings of that research with producers at Cattlemen’s College in February.

Zimmerman says producers need to be aware of the return on investment they can see from these management practices. He says the information will help producers as they assess different practices and participation in value added programs.

Zimmerman encourages producers to attend his session at Cattlemen’s College. Even if they believe they’ve heard it all before – he says this research highlights new management practices that haven’t had much coverage before. The 19th annual Cattlemen’s College will be held February 1^st in conjunction with the 2012 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show inNashville, Tenn. For details and registration, visit www.beefusa.org.

This weekly commentary features NCBA members, leaders, staff and more week after week. Click here to download this week’s segment of Beltway Beef. Click here for all previous clips.

Be sure to read about this and more on NCBA’s blog, Beltway Beef. Follow Beltway Beef on Twitter, like us on Facebook, watch video on YouTube and download pictures from Flickr.

12-06-11 *USCA News* US Congress Takes Initial Step Toward Ensuring the Humane Treatment of Horses

USCA (December 6, 2011) - The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) applauds the recent passage of the “Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012″ (H.R. 2112), which passed the House 298:121 and the Senate 70:30. President Obama signed the bill into law on November 18, 2011. The comprehensive spending package contains the 2012 Agriculture Appropriations bill, which does not include any riders prohibiting funding to be allocated for inspection of horse processing plants. While the absence of the rider does not ensure reinstatement of horse slaughtering in the U.S., it is a step in the right direction toward that ultimate goal. USCA is pleased to see this action and urges all producers to voice their collective support for those who have worked on this issue ever since the processing of horses was banned in the United States in 2006.

USCA President Jon Wooster commented on the bill’s passage, “As ranchers, many of us spend much of our time surrounded by and using horses in our operations.  Neglect or abandonment of horses is the last thing that the public and our industry want, yet this has been a consequence of the removal of funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) horse plant inspections. The Government Accountability (GAO) Report, commissioned by Congress and issued in June, confirms what many in the agriculture arena have stated since the initial ban of U.S. horse processing took place.  The report states that the number of abandoned and neglected horses has increased while the economic revenue accumulated through the equine industry has drastically decreased. The report concludes with the suggested action of reopening horse slaughter plants. The passage of H.R. 2112 is a step in the right direction, and our membership is encouraged that this is a sign that Congress is ready to listen to reason, and not the misconstrued emotional rhetoric surrounding this issue.”

12-06-11 Inside the Wyoming Stock Growers Assn with Liz Lauck…Celebrating 140th in 2012 & MUCH MORE!

Liz Lauck, WSGA Communications & Publications Director

(The BARN – Briggsdale, CO) The Wyoming Stock Growers Association will soon be celebrating their 140th year in existence, and joining the BARN by telephone is Liz Lauck, Communications & Publications Director to discuss their rich tradition within Wyoming but also several events & the WSGA’s positions within the social media sector promoting Wyoming’s Agriculture Industry…120611_WSGA_LizLauck_15m57s

TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• RealRanchers.com - A virtual visit to Wyoming’s working ag lands, hosted by the WSGA
• 2011 Winter Roundup – Dec 12th & 13th in Casper, WY - CLICK HERE for details & registration information - AGENDA
• “Making a Plan Workshop” – Dec 12-13th in Casper, WY - CLICK HERE for more details & registration information - FLYER
• WSGA Announces 2011 Environmental Stewardship Award Nominees - CLICK HERE to read the Press Release inside the BARN

Since 1872, the Wyoming Stock Growers Association has served the livestock business and families of Wyoming by protecting their economic, legislative, regulatory, judicial, environmental, custom and cultural interests. We promote the role of the cattle industry in resource stewardship, animal care and the production of high-quality, safe and nutritious beef. Learn more and join at www.wysga.org or call 307-638-3942.

WSGA: Shaping and Living the Code of the West Since 1872

12-06-11 *CDA News* Bovine Trichomoniasis Update Talk to Your Veterinarian, Test Your Herd

LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The Colorado Department of Agriculture reminds cattle owners to test their herd for Bovine Trichomoniasis.

“Testing and monitoring herds for trichomoniasis is the best method of controlling this infection,” said State Veterinarian, Dr. Keith Roehr.  “Cattle owners should talk to their veterinarian to determine the best management practices for their herd.”

12-06-11 *Monsanto / Dekalb News* EXCLUSIVE PRODUCTS, ADVANCED BREEDING PROGRAM DRIVE DEKALB® CORN PRODUCT LINEUP FOR 2012

Visit them on Facebook

 ST. LOUIS (December 6, 2011) – Industry-leading breeding has been a constant throughout the DEKALB® brand’s 100 year history, helping deliver the best products with strong roots, strong stalks and the strong yield potential farmers expect. DEKALB corn’s 2012 lineup delivers that same high-performance and innovation in the form of 47 new products derived from Monsanto’s advanced breeding program.

Jason Hoag, DEKALB Marketing Lead, said DEKALB will provide a full launch of Genuity® SmartStax® RIB Complete™ and Genuity® VT Double PRO® RIB Complete™ blended corn products in 2012, offering farmers the convenience and time savings of a single-bag refuge management solution with the lowest refuge, at 5 percent, in the Corn-Growing Area for higher whole farm yield potential. DEKALB will also continue to offer a portfolio of top-performing products featuring Genuity® VT Triple PRO® trait technology.

“Farmers can plant with confidence knowing that the combination of DEKALB industry leading genetics and innovations from Monsanto’s breeding program are combined with the latest Genuity trait innovations on the market,” said Hoag. “We are pleased to be able to offer 47 new products to enable farmers to maximize their yield and profit potential in 2012.”

Some of the new DEKALB products for 2012 include:

• DKC43-10RIB brand blend- Genuity VT Double PRO RIB Complete – 93 RPM - a product with top-end yield potential across different environments. This product also has seedling vigor for early planting along with excellent roots that support very good stalks.
• DKC46-20 brand – Genuity VT Triple PRO- 96 RPM - features exciting agronomics and top-end yield potential. It also has excellent seedling vigor with impressive standability supported by great stalks and roots. Additionally, it has excellent drought tolerance.
• DKC50-77 brand –Genuity VT Triple PRO – 100 RPM - features exciting yield potential with strong agronomics. This product also combines excellent greensnap tolerance, staygreen and intactness with an outstanding test weight.
• DKC55-09RIB brand blend –Genuity SmartStax RIB Complete – 105 RPM - has excellent stalks and roots and very good tolerance to greensnap and drought. It also features excellent emergence and good early-season vigor, making it a great fit for reduced-tillage and early planting.
• DKC61-88 brand – Genuity VT Triple PRO – 112 RPM - features good stalks, roots and drought tolerance. It is an offensive product with exceptional top-end yield potential across environments. Also has very good drydown and test weight.
• DKC67-57 brand – Genuity VT Triple PRO – 117 RPM – a product with excellent yield potential, stalks and drought tolerance. Also complimented by very good staygreen and overall plant health.

For more information about DEKALB, farmers can contact their local DEKALB Dealer, visit http://www.DEKALB.com and follow its business on http://www.facebook.com/DEKALB.

About Monsanto Company

Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world’s natural resources such as water and energy. To learn more about our business and our commitments, please visit: www.monsanto.com. Follow our business on Twitter^® at www.twitter.com/MonsantoCo, on Facebook^® at www.facebook.com/MonsantoCo, or subscribe to our News Release RSS Feed.

 

SmartStax® multi-event technology developed by Monsanto Company and Dow AgroSciences.

 

Monsanto Company is a member of Excellence Through Stewardship® (ETS). Monsanto products are commercialized in accordance with ETS Product Launch Stewardship Guidance, and in compliance with Monsanto’s Policy for Commercialization of Biotechnology-Derived Plant Products in Commodity Crops. Commercial product(s) has been approved for import into key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Growers should talk to their grain handler or product purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product. Excellence Through Stewardship® is a registered trademark of Biotechnology Industry Organization.

B.t. products may not yet be registered in all states. Check with your Monsanto representative for the registration status in your state.

IMPORTANT IRM INFORMATION: RIB Complete™ corn does not require the planting of a structured refuge except in the Cotton-Growing Area where corn earworm is a significant pest. Genuity® SmartStax® RIB Complete™ and Genuity® VT Double PRO® RIB Complete™ corn are blended seed corn products. See the IRM/Grower Guide for additional information. Always read and follow IRM requirements.

Individual results may vary, and performance may vary from location to location and from year to year. This result may not be an indicator of results you may obtain as local growing, soil and weather conditions may vary. Growers should evaluate data from multiple locations and years whenever possible.

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Roundup Ready® crops contain genes that confer tolerance to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides. Roundup® brand agricultural herbicides will kill crops that are not tolerant to glyphosate. DEKALB®, Genuity and Design®, Genuity Icons, Genuity®, RIB Complete and Design™, RIB Complete™, Roundup Ready 2 Technology and Design®, Roundup Ready®, Roundup®, SmartStax®, VT Double PRO®, and VT Triple PRO® are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC. Ignite® and LibertyLink® and the Water Droplet Design® are registered trademarks of Bayer. Herculex® is a registered trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC. Respect the Refuge and Corn Design® and Respect the Refuge® are registered trademarks of National Corn Growers Association. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2011 Monsanto Company.

12-06-11 USDA Announces New Tactics to Combat Fraud and Enhance SNAP Program Integrity

Obama Administration Initiates Unprecedented Efforts to Protect Taxpayer Dollars

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6, 2011 –USDA Under Secretary Kevin Concannon today announced a new range of aggressive tactics to further improve program integrity of USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – formerly known as food stamps. The announcement is part of the Obama Administration’s ongoing Campaign to Cut Waste which highlights efforts to root out waste, fraud and abuse so that federal dollars are invested wisely. The tactics announced by USDA underscore an unprecedented approach to combat trafficking – the use of SNAP benefits for anything other than the purchase of food from authorized retailers, including the sale or exchange of benefits in SNAP.

“SNAP has never been more important as hardworking families turn to the program for assistance while they get back on their feet,” said Concannon. “This Administration is committed to meeting the highest standards when it comes to protecting taxpayer dollars and enhancing the integrity of the program to ensure those dollars are invested wisely so the American people can have confidence in overall program performance as it serves as an important safety net for those in need.”

Although the trafficking rate has been driven down significantly over the last two decades – from about 4 cents on the dollar in 1993 to about 1 cent in 2006-08 – USDA has increased its efforts to reduce trafficking by working with state agencies and state-of-the-art technologies. USDA awarded a ten-year contract to SRA International, Inc. to develop the next generation of its fraud detection system.

Actions USDA announced today to further reduce SNAP fraud include:

12-06-11 *K-State News* K-State Crops Team Claims Third Straight National Championship…including Scherrer from Matheson, CO

MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Kansas State University Crops Team has captured the title of national champion for the third year in a row. K-State teams have now won the championship in 10 of the past 13 years.

To win the 2011 national championship, the team won both the Kansas City Board of Trade and Chicago CME Group Collegiate Crops Contests. K-State placed first at both contests in the plant and seed identification and seed analysis components of the competition. The team was first in Chicago and second in Kansas City in the grain grading component. The Kansas City and Chicago contests took place on November 15 and 19, respectively.

Students competing at both contests included Scott Henry, senior, Goff; Levi Larkins, senior, Belvue; Chelsea Ahlquist, sophomore, Onaga; and Kim Kerschen, senior,Garden Plain, who was the alternate. Also competing as alternates in Kansas City were Michael Welch, sophomore, Haddam; Andrew Scherrer, sophomore, Matheson, Colo.; Neal Kaiser, sophomore, Lehigh; and Hannah Christen, junior, Oregon, Ill. All are agronomy majors at K-State.

12-06-11 Vegh Presented With Inaugural National Farm-City Council Charles Eastin Award

 

CHARLES EASTON AWARD - The first annual Charles Eastin Outstanding Service Award from the National Farm-City Council was awarded to Ferenc X. Vegh, Jr., (right) Shelby County, Ky., for activities as an advocate for accurate communications between rural and urban audiences. The award was presented to Vegh recently at a banquet at the Locust Trace AgriScience Farm outside of Lexington, Ky. Presenting the award to Vegh was Charles Eastin II (left), son of the award's namesake, and Al Pell (center), AgDay, past president of the National Farm-City Council.

 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Dec. 6, 2011 - Ferenc X. Vegh, Jr., Shelby County, Ky., has been awarded the first annual Charles Eastin Outstanding Service Award from the National Farm-City^® Council. The award is presented to an outstanding individual who has contributed to Farm-City activities as an advocate for accurate communications between rural and urban audiences.
The award was presented to Vegh on November 17 at the annual National Farm-City Week^® Kick-Off Luncheon held at the Locust Trace AgriScience Farm outside of Lexington, Ky.
The National Farm-City Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing links between farm families and urban residents. The award is in honor of Charles “Charlie” Eastin, DVM, who passed away earlier this year and played a fundamental role in Farm-City activities. A National Farm-City Council board member for many years, Charlie was especially active in planning and initiating Farm-City events in the Lexington, Ky., region.
Vegh, a Shelby County businessman, farmer and Kiwanis club member, was recognized for reviving the Shelby County Farm-City Banquet, one of the oldest such gatherings in the nation, and making it a major event that brings together urban/suburban and rural communities. Several years ago, the event was dying due to lack of leadership and interest. Vegh helped revive the banquet, and it now attracts 200 to 250 people each year to promote recognition of farming efforts among urban audiences. The Shelby County banquet is sponsored by the local Kiwanis Club.
“Ferenc Vegh, Jr.’s passion and enthusiasm has helped make the banquet a premier event in Shelby County, attracting attendance from all areas of the county, including business representatives, those from agribusinesses and farmers,” says Hugh Whaley, chairman of the National Farm-City Council. “This is exactly the sort of active effort the Farm-City Council wants to recognize and support.”
Those interested in nominating candidates for the 2012 Charles Eastin Outstanding Service Award can do so by going to the National Farm-City Council website at www.farmcity.org for nomination rules and the application form. Candidates can be any person over 25 who has actively supported national, state or local Farm-City initiatives. He or she can be nominated by anyone active in a Farm-City program.
Those completing the nomination should describe how this nominee has contributed to the success of Farm-City activities and provide evidence on the impact of this individual’s actions in organizing Farm-City events. A three-member committee, including at least one member of the National Farm-City Council, will judge the applications and select the recipient.
The National Farm-City Council works with local organizations with educational programs about people who grow their food. For those interested in organizing a local Farm-City event, go to the National Farm-City website atwww.farmcity.org or call 202.406.3706. The National Farm-City Council is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization under the Internal Revenue Service Cod

12-06-11 BASF and NAAA award two agricultural aviation scholarships

 BASF expands commitment to aerial applicators through scholarship fund and partnership with NAAA

LAS VEGAS, NV, December 6, 2011 – BASF and the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) congratulated two scholarship winners during the 45th Annual NAAA Convention and Exposition kickoff breakfast in Las Vegas. The scholarship program is helping to build the future of agricultural aviation, and is an integral part of the BASF partnership with NAAA.

“BASF supports sustaining and growing the aerial application industry,” said Gary Fellows, Ph.D., BASF Plant Health Technical Services Manager and member of the NAAREF (National Agricultural Aviation Research & Education Foundation) PAASS (Professional Aerial Applicators’ Support System) Program Development Committee. “The industry is always in need of a steady supply of qualified applicators. This scholarship not only helps NAAA operators get new pilots into the field, but it helps those pilots get the education they need to become successful aerial applicators.”

The two 2011 Agricultural Aviation Scholarship winners are seeking careers in agricultural aviation. This year’s winners are Jordan Loewen of Park River, North Dakota, and Brad Taylor of Walnut, Mississippi. Loewen has been involved in aviation since he was a junior in high school, while Taylor is pursuing agricultural aviation after working in his family’s heating and air conditioning business.

To be eligible for the scholarship, each applicant had to be sponsored by an NAAA member operator. Glen Wharam, of Park River, North Dakota-based Valley Sprayers Inc., sponsored Loewen. Taylor was sponsored by Dennie Stokes of Stokes Flying Service, which is based in Parkin, Arkansas.

Stewardship

12-06-11 *USDA TV News* Testing Meals for US Combat Troops…MRE’s

USDA plays a role in determining what our fighting men and women eat.

SOURCE: USDA

READ the NAFB’s National Ag News as heard inside the BARN for December 6th

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

Sponsored by the American Farm Bureau Federation

“CFTC Adopts Rule on How to Use Customer Funds”

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has approved a new rule that would put tighter limits on how commodity firms can use customer funds. The rule, approved unanimously on a 5-0 vote, would place greater restrictions on the type of transactions that are alleged to have contributed to the collapse of MF Global. Global filed for bankruptcy in October and is still missing an estimated 1.2-billion dollars in customer funds.

Senate Ag committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow calls this a “common sense” rule, saying it recognizes the fundamental principle of commodities trading: customer money must be held separate from the firm’s money. Stabenow says the Commission needs to restore faith in our commodity markets, which are so important to America’s farmers and ranchers.

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

 “USTR Reports on FTA Implementation”

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative reports that U.S. and Korean working-level officials are meeting in Washington, DC to discuss implementation issues regarding the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement. This meeting is part of ongoing implementation work with Korea that to date has included videoconferences and exchanges of information on laws and regulations.