01-17-12 *CSF News* Colorado State Fair Audit Complete

Changes in Store to Assist in Generating & Managing Fair Dollars

PUEBLO, Colo. – The Office of the State Auditor has completed its performance and financial audit of the Colorado State Fair.  The report highlights three recommendations in light of a $380,000 lost for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2011.

“Overall, we’re pleased with the results of the audit,” said Colorado State Fair General Manager, Chris Wiseman.  “Every year we strive to provide educational opportunities to the half-million fans that attend the Fair, but that doesn’t always provide a high revenue stream; we are constantly working to balance our mission to support youth and agriculture with the need for a positive bottom line.”

Colorado State Fair Audit

The report outlines the results of a financial and compliance audit and evaluates progress in implementing prior audit recommendations.  The audit also looked at those items recommended from the prior audit.  Of those five recommendations, the first three have been implemented and the final two are ongoing.  (page 10)

The Office of the State Auditor serves as the government watchdog for the citizens of Colorado.  Audits focus on reducing costs, increasing efficiency, improving the quality of services, and ensuring the accuracy and integrity of financial information.

01-17-12 Deadline Extended for Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

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Center for Rural Affairs Offers Farm Bill Help Line to Assist Producers

Lyons, NE - USDA’s National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently announced  that the deadline for producer applications for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) has been extended to January 27, 2012.

While CSP is a continuous sign-up program and producers can apply to enroll at any time of the year, NRCS applies a cut-off date for applications to be considered during a particular fiscal year.  Once the cut-off date is past, producers may continue to apply for the program, but they will not be considered for entry until the spring of the following year, in this case spring of 2013. In order to enroll in 2012 applications must filed by January 27.

The Conservation Stewardship Program is a voluntary stewardship incentives program, administered by USDA’s NRCS, designed to reward farmers, ranchers, and forestry producers to maintain existing conservation on working lands, as well as for the adoption of additional conservation measures that provide multiple environmental benefits that run beyond the farm or ranch. This program pays producers for clean water, better soil management, improved habitat, energy efficiency, and other natural resource benefits.

“We hope more farmers and ranchers will take advantage of this extension for the CSP application deadline. To meet this deadline, they just need to submit the basic application form to their local NRCS office,” said Traci Bruckner, Assistant Director of Rural Policy at the Center for Rural Affairs.

CSP is one of the most popular conservation programs. In 2010 alone, nearly 21,000 applicants enrolled in CSP, putting additional conservation on 25.2 million acres, about the size of the state of Kentucky. Farmers and ranchers interested in applying should contact their local NRCS office as soon as possible to meet the deadline.

To sign up, producers should visit their NRCS local service center (http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?agency=nrcs).

01-17-12 Ranchers raise resources to feed steaks to soldiers

(Left to right) Red Angus breeders Barry Horsley and Cheramie Viator presented a check to National Guard Sgt. Dave Callahan who represented all the soldiers who benefit from the All American Beef Battalion steak feeds. Jim Odle (right), purchased possession of the bull, 21 Gun Salute.

Cattle producers across the nation pooled their resources to help the All American Beef Battalion (AABB) feed steaks to our soldiers. During the Mile High Classic Red Angus Sale on Sunday, Jan. 8, in Denver, Colo., joint owners of the bull, Crs Diamnd 21 Gun Salute, donated him back to the cause and raised another $24,250 for AABB – totaling nearly $37,000 raised for the project including the bull’s original sale and donations.

Cross Diamond Cattle Co. of Bertrand, Neb., sold the bull as Lot 21 in their December sale with all proceeds benefiting AABB. Arcadia Land and Cattle Co. of Stringtown, Okla., Silver Spur Ranches of Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska and New Mexico, and Horsley Red Angus of Stringtown, Okla., purchased the bull, and along with donations, raised $12,500 prior to the Denver event.

At the Mile High Sale, the bull sold for over $12,000 to a group of Red Angus breeders and state affiliates, and donations from the seats exceeded $7,000. The group promptly donated 21 Gun Salute back for the actual sale. Jim Odle, Odle Livestock of Brush, Colo., purchased him for $4,750. That evening, $24,250 was generated, but according to Barry Horsley who headed up the project, more money continues to come in.

“Through our joint efforts, we raised an unbelievable donation to help AABB honor our service men and women by feeding them steaks, but the awareness of their good work is just as important,” he said. “I had people come up to me the next day to contribute.”

Meyer Natural Angus also sponsored a drawing for $100 worth of beef to each of five veterans in attendance whose ticket was drawn from the hat.

To learn more about AABB’s work to honor our service men and women, visit www.steaksfortroops.com.

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“Ag Secretary Holds Business Roundtable”

Speaking during a business roundtable meeting in Chicago Monday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the United States is particularly well positioned to transition to a broader bioeconomy, which includes production of aviation fuel in commercial quantities. He also pointed out that the American farmer has logged substantial productivity gains over time to meet growing demands for food and fiber and now biomass.

The Secretary also said a robust rural economy will result by implementing the Obama Administration’s vision for renewable fuel development which creates sustainable jobs by combining new markets, new technologies and better use of available natural resources. The roundtable was attended by representative of United Continental Holdings and Honeywell.

The Secretary said the FAA and the aviation industry have invested more than 80-million dollars in research focused on developing aviation biofuels. And to encourage the production of advanced biofuels from non-food sources, USDA has made payments to 235 companies already producing biofuels from non-corn feedstocks in 42 states.

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“Pipeline Decisions Still Being Made”

We are still a month or so away from a decision by President Obama on the Keystone XL Pipeline but the effort to establish the public’s mind-set in Washington has already begun. Campaigns have been established on both sides of the pipeline issue. The pipeline has been under review for more than three years because it requires a federal permit from the State Department because it crosses an international border.