12-07-11 STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY H.R. 1633 – Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act

CLICK HERE TO READ IT FOR YOURSELF

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/legislative/sap/112/saphr1633r_20111207.pdf

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503

STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY

H.R. 1633 – Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act

(Rep. Noem, R-SD, and 121 cosponsors)

  December 7, 2011 -  (House Rules) The Administration strongly opposes H.R. 1633.  As drafted, this bill would create serious problems for implementing Clean Air Act (CAA) public health protections that have been in place for years while adding uncertainty for businesses and States.  The bill therefore, goes far beyond its stated intent of prohibiting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from tightening national standards for coarse particles, which the Administration has repeatedly explained that it has no intention of doing.

This ambiguously written bill would create high levels of regulatory uncertainty regarding emission control requirements that have been in place for years.  Specifically, the bill’s exclusion from the entire CAA of a new class of air pollutants called “nuisance dust” (an imprecise and scientifically-undefined term) could be used to roll back existing public health protection limiting pollution from mining operations, industrial activities, and possibly other sources.  The bill also raises serious issues about whether EPA could continue to implement the existing health-based fine and coarse particle programs, which play a vital, ongoing role in preventing adverse health effects of air pollution including premature deaths, childhood asthma attacks and other respiratory problems.

Further, this bill is unnecessary, as it purports to address a problem that does not exist.  Responding to false claims that EPA intended to tighten regulation of coarse particles EPA has repeatedly explained that it plans to retain the existing coarse particulate standard, which originally went into effect in 1987 and remains adequately protective of public health.

This Administration remains committed to commonsense approaches to improving air quality across the country and preserving the competitiveness of every economic sector.  Because H.R. 1633 is not only unnecessary, but also could have significant adverse public health consequences, the Administration strongly opposes the bill.

If H.R. 1633 were presented to the President, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill.

* * * * * * *

12-07-11 CME Group Inc. Declares Quarterly Dividend

CHICAGO, Dec. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — CME Group, the world’s leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, today declared a fourth-quarter dividend of $1.40 per share, payable December 29, 2011, to shareholders of record December 19, 2011.

As the world’s leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, CME Group (www.cmegroup.com) is where the world comes to manage risk.  CME Group exchanges offer the widest range of global benchmark products across all major asset classes, including futures and options based on interest rates, equity indexes, foreign exchange, energy, agricultural commodities, metals, weather and real estate.  CME Group brings buyers and sellers together through its CME Globex^® electronic trading platform and its trading facilities in New York and Chicago.  CME Group also operates CME Clearing, one of the world’s leading central counterparty clearing providers, which offers clearing and settlement services for exchange-traded contracts, as well as for over-the-counter derivatives transactions through CME ClearPort^®. These products and services ensure that businesses everywhere can substantially mitigate counterparty credit risk in both listed and over-the-counter derivatives markets.

12-07-11 US Rep Gardner votes to give Congress more oversight of major regulations

WASHINGTON DC – Rep. Cory Gardner (R-CO) voted in favor of the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act Wednesday and reiterated the need to rein in federal regulators.

“With the cost of new regulations skyrocketing, the REINS Act will provide a much needed check on the Administration’s ability to impose rules that hurt small business and stifle job growth,” Gardner said.  “As I travel around Colorado’s 4^th Congressional District, one of the chief grievances I hear from job creators is that they’re being crushed by the costs associated with regulatory compliance.  How can we expect job creators to start hiring when the federal government just keeps piling on?”

The REINS Act, H.R. 10, was introduced by Rep. Geoff Davis (R-KY) and would require proposed regulations that would have an economic impact of $100 million or more to be approved by Congress before implementation. Currently, the Obama Administration estimates that there are more than 200 regulations coming down the pipe that fall into this category.  The cost of new regulatory burdens just this year is $67.4 billion, which is on top of $1.75 trillion annually.

According to the Competitive Enterprise Institute, in America today, small businesses spend an estimated $10,500 per employee to comply with federal regulations.  Compliance leads to higher consumer costs, reduced wages, and even reduced hiring. 

CO Governor Hickenlooper orders flags lowered Wednesday to observe National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day…December 7th

DENVER — Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011 — Gov. John Hickenlooper today ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff on all public buildings statewideon Wednesday, Dec. 7, in recognition of anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor and as proclaimed by President Barack Obama. Flags should be lowered from sunrise to sunset.

The full text of the proclamation:

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release December 6, 2011

NATIONAL PEARL HARBOR REMEMBRANCE DAY, 2011

- – - – - – -

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION
On a serene Sunday morning 70 years ago, the skies above Pearl Harbor were darkened by the bombs of Japanese forces in a surprise attack that tested the resilience of our Armed Forces and the will of our Nation. As explosions sounded and battleships burned, brave service members fought back fiercely with everything they could find. Unbeknownst to these selfless individuals, the sacrifices endured on that infamous day would galvanize America and come to symbolize the mettle of a generation.

In the wake of the bombing of our harbor and the crippling of our Pacific Fleet, there were those who declared the United States had been reduced to a third-class power. But rather than break the spirit of our Nation, the attack brought Americans together and fortified our resolve. Patriots across our country answered the call to defend our way of life at home and abroad. They crossed oceans and stormed beaches, freeing millions from the grip of tyranny and proving that our military is the greatest force for liberty and security the world has ever known. On the home front, dedicated civilians supported the war effort by repairing wrecked battleships, working in factories, and joining civilian defense organizations to help with salvage programs and plant Victory gardens. At this time of great strife, we reminded the world there is no challenge we cannot meet; there is no challenge we cannot overcome.

On National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, we honor the more than 3,500 Americans killed or wounded during that deadly attack and pay tribute to the heroes whose courage ensured our Nation would recover from this vicious blow. Their tenacity helped define the Greatest Generation and their valor fortified all who served during World War II. As a Nation, we look to December 7, 1941, to draw strength from the example set by these patriots and to honor all who have sacrificed for our freedoms.

The Congress, by Public Law 103-308, as amended, has designated December 7 of each year as “National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.”

12-07-11 CSU Board of Governors Approves $124.5 Million Bond Package for Animal Sciences, Student Center Renovations, Housing Development

FORT COLLINS - The Board of Governors of the Colorado State University System on Wednesday approved a $124.5 million bond package that includes upgrades to classroom and learning facilities for students in agriculture; a new, state-of-the-art undergraduate housing facility that will accommodate more than 600 students; and renovation of the 50-year-old Lory Student Center.

Students have voted to increase their fees to pay for the majority of the Lory Student Center renovation, and students who live in the new housing development will pay for that facility.

The total bond package approved Wednesday includes:

• $7.5 million for a partial renovation of the Animal Sciences Building to prepare the building for future expansion and facility enhancement;
• $60 million for the student center renovation; and
• $57 million for the new housing development and renovation of the existing Durrell Center.

Bonds are expected to be issued in the spring. Design work is just beginning, but construction on the housing and Animal Science projects is expected to start immediately after graduation in May, said Amy Parsons, vice president for University Operations. Construction will begin on the Lory Student Center renovation in May 2013.

“These will be state-of-the-art facilities that will enhance the college experience for future students as well as improve our campus community for everyone,” Parsons said.

12-07-11 CSU Chancellor Joe Blake Honored by Board of Governors

Blake to Step Down at Year’s End

Campus Presidents, Board Chair Will Take on Chancellor Duties During Interim

FORT COLLINS - The Colorado State University System Board of Governors today recognized Chancellor Joe Blake for his distinguished service to the System and state of Colorado.

Blake will step down as chancellor on Dec. 31. He will continue to work for the university in the CSU Denver Center office and focus on ambassador functions, donor and alumni relations, guest lecturing and special assignments.

“Joe has been a tremendous leader for the CSU System, and all of us on the Board of Governors are certainly pleased that he will continue to serve CSU and wish him the very best as he transitions into this new role,” board Chair Joe Zimlich said. “I’d like to formally thank him for the service he has provided to the CSU System and to the state of Colorado.”

“I want to thank the board members for accommodating my desire to move into a new transitional opportunity,” said Blake, who joined the board in 2005 and was named chancellor in May 2009. “This is the last board meeting that I will attend, and it is a wonderful opportunity for me to look back and say what an amazing and wonderful institution Colorado State is. It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve.”

Joe Blake was the first stand-alone chancellor of the CSU System, which includes the CSU campus in Fort Collins, CSU-Pueblo and the CSU-Global Campus, a fully accredited, 100 percent online university. During his tenure at the CSU System, Blake helped spearhead expanded relationships with the Colorado business community and played a leadership role in developing a variety of innovative programs. Key achievements include:

12-07-11 CME Group to Develop New Gulf Coast Crude Oil Futures Contract at Enterprise Terminal

NEW YORK and CHICAGO, Dec. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — CME Group, the world’s leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, today announced it will work with oil market participants to discuss developing a new Gulf Coast crude oil futures contract at the ECHO Terminal, a storage facility being developed by Enterprise Products Partners L.P., to be listed on the NYMEX exchange. Connected to multiple facilities along the Houston Ship Channel, the ECHO Terminal is expected to begin service during the second quarter of 2012. The ECHO Terminal will be the destination of Enterprise’s Eagle Ford Crude pipeline, as well as the Seaway pipeline following the reversal project announced November 16, 2011 by Enbridge Inc. and Enterprise.  Once the process of changing the flow direction has been completed, Seaway will transport crude from Cushing, Oklahoma to the Houston refining market. The Seaway pipeline will accommodate growing domestic crude oil production supplies from the Cushing hub and Canada.

“The recent announcement to reverse the Seaway pipeline represents a major development for the North American crude oil market, and will be an important logistical solution for the vital Cushing marketplace,” said Bryan Durkin, chief operating officer and managing director, products & services at CME Group. “We believe this new project will make the NYMEX Light Sweet Crude Oil (WTI) benchmark more accessible to global markets, bringing 150,000 barrels a day to the Gulf from Cushing by the second quarter of 2012 and approximately 400,000 barrels a day by 2013. This is a significant milestone, and we look forward to working with our oil industry customers to explore the development of a new physically-delivered crude oil futures contract at Enterprise’s ECHO terminal.”

12-07-11 U.S. Forest Service encourages safe Christmas tree-cutting practices this holiday season

WASHINGTON, December 7, 2011 – The Forest Service is reminding those who trek through national forests in search of a perfect holiday tree to put safety as the first item on their Christmas lists.

“The best gift to give yourself and your family is a safe quest for your holiday tree in our national forests,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell.  “When setting out to find your tree, be aware of all changing weather conditions, dress accordingly, and always adhere to safe tree cutting practices.”

Each year, local Forest Service offices sell permits that allow individuals to cut one fresh tree on national forest lands. Fees for the permits vary dependent on location.  The permit program helps the agency thin stands that have a concentration of small diameter trees.

Reminders and tips for cutting your tree:

12-07-11 *NCBA News* Livestock, Poultry Coalition Requests Hearing on the Renewable Fuel Standard’s Impact on Economy

WASHINGTON (Dec. 7, 2011) – In a letter to the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, a coalition of the U.S. livestock and poultry industry associations, including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the American Meat Institute, the National Chicken Council, the National Meat Association, the National Pork Producers Council and the National Turkey Federation, requested a hearing to discuss the Renewable Fuel Standard’s (RFS) impact on the economy. The groups cited ongoing pressure on domestic feed grain supplies and a discovery of $9 million of fraudulent renewable identification numbers as justifications for a hearing.

“In light of the ongoing pressures that the RFS is placing on the domestic feed grain supplies, something must be done to protect livestock and poultry producers from excessively high corn prices because of the rigid RFS compliance system,” the groups told Committee Chair Barbara Boxer (D- Calif.) and Ranking Member James Inhofe (R-Okla.). “Therefore, we request that the Senate hold a hearing to examine the continued pressure on grain supplies and the impact that it is having on the bottom line of livestock and poultry producers.”

READ the NAFB’s National Ag News as heard inside the BARN for December 7th

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

Sponsored by the American Farm Bureau Federation

“CFTC Head Recuses Self from MF Global Situation”

Republican Senators are questioning a top regulator’s decision to recuse himself from an investigation into the collapse of MF Global Holdings Ltd. Commodity Futures Trading commission Chairman Gary Gensler argues that by recusing himself, he is keeping his ties to former MF Global Chairman Jon Corzine from becoming a distraction from the agency’s investigation. But Republican Senators believe the decision appears to reflect an attempt to avoid congressional accountability for his agency having missed apparent rule violations at the company.

Senator Mike Johanns says he didn’t believe Gensler’s argument. Gensler worked at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. while Mr. Corzine was running the investment bank in the 1990s. Johanns said – to me, it looks like you’re ducking the responsibilities of your job. When this got uncomfortable, because money isn’t there that should be there, and for whatever reason you folks didn’t discover that until it looks like it’s too late, you don’t want to come up here and answer questions.

Mr. Corzine, a former U.S. Senator and Governor of New Jersey, is expected to testify before the House Agriculture Committee on Thursday. The CFTC is leading the regulatory probe into the missing money. Senator Charles Grassley urged the CFTC head to recuse himself from the agency’s investigation last month, saying it was difficult to believe he could be – completely objective. But Senator Bob Corker charges that his recusal – was more about a career-enhancing situation to avoid accountability.

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

“Senate Ag Committee Issues Subpoena”

Meanwhile, like the House Ag Committee, the Senate Ag Committee has voted unanimously to subpoena former MF Global CEO Jon Corzine to testify at a December 13 hearing on the collapse of MF Global and the whereabouts of the estimated 1.2-billion dollars in missing customer funds.

11-02-11 Agriculture Energy Expo to be held in Yuma, Colorado December 7th…REGISTRATION STILL OPEN!

CLICK HERE for the agenda & registration information from Golden Plains Extension

CLICK HERE to hear more...

(The BARN – Briggsdale, CO) November 18th, 2011 - Joining me inside the BARN to discuss this event is Rich Mullaney, Community Energy Coordinator with CSU Extension…111811_CSUExt_EnergyExpo2011_Mullaney_7m26s

CLICK HERE to download the AGENDA & REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Fifteen percent of agricultural production costs are energy related, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and as energy prices rise, these costs claim an ever bigger portion of farm budgets. The quickest, cheapest and cleanest way to lower these costs, as well as cut non-renewable energy consumption, is by improving energy efficiency.  Conserving energy and improving energy efficiency is not only good for the environment–it reduces dependence on fossil fuels and curbs greenhouse gas emissions–but also for the pocketbook, saving farmers money according to Extension.org website article on Farm Energy.

In the past few years energy in agriculture production has increased dramatically.  This is due to unstable fuel prices and marginal net profits in framing. CSU and CSU Extension have been working with producers to complete numerous energy audits across Colorado.  There are many factors that are considered during an energy audit.  According to Rich Mullaney, Community Energy Coordinator with CSU Extension, “information will be shared with attendees regarding the agriculture energy audits and there will be discussion concerning ways for producers to start looking more closely at how energy is being used on their operation.”

The Agriculture Energy Expo will be held at the Concession Building on the Yuma County Fairgrounds on December 7, 2011 with registration opening at 8:30 AM.  The agenda will include:

12-07-11 New Farmer Leadership Takes Soybean Checkoff into the Future…

Vanessa Kummer Elected to Lead United Soybean Board

ST. LOUIS (Dec. 6, 2011) – The national soybean checkoff just wrapped up its first 20 years, but the work doesn’t end there. As the United Soybean Board (USB) launches into the next 20 years, new U.S. soybean farmer-leaders take the reins and plan to continue the focus on creating profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers.

USB farmer-directors elected Vanessa Kummer (Koo-mer) as chairperson on Dec. 6, during the checkoff’s annual meeting. The Colfax, N.D., soybean farmer will have a busy agenda leading the soybean checkoff’s implementation of a new strategic plan. Kummer looks at addressing recommendations from a farmer-driven assessment of USB and help lead the U.S. soybean industry. She will continue to shepherd the checkoff as it looks to increase soybean farmers’ profitability in an ever-evolving industry.

“It is our vision to make U.S. soybeans the leader in the global oilseed industry,” says Kummer. “We plan to create and maintain partnerships to keep U.S. soybean farmers profitable.”  Kummer is the first woman elected to chair the national soybean checkoff.

The team set to lead USB and help the soybean checkoff meet global customer demands with Kummer includes the following officers: