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“President Addresses Domestic Energy Needs”

Energy was on President Obama’s mind Tuesday evening as he presented his State of the Union Address. Calling it his “blueprint” the President said my administration will open more than 75 percent of our potential offshore oil and gas resources. He also said we’ve subsidized oil companies – long enough.  It’s time to end taxpayer giveaways to this profitable industry. And he said it is time to – double-down on a clean energy industry that never has been more promising.  Pass clean energy tax credits.  Create these jobs.

Despite the division on Capitol Hill, the President said – there’s no reason why Congress shouldn’t at least set a clean energy standard that creates a market for innovation. I’m directing my administration to allow the development of clean energy on enough public land to power 3 million homes. Also, he said – so much of America needs to be rebuilt.  We’ve got crumbling roads and bridges; a power grid that wastes too much energy; and an incomplete high-speed broadband network.

In response to the President’s speech, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley pointed out – the President’s decision last week, to deny the Keystone pipeline project, prevents energy-related infrastructure development that creates jobs, in this case as many as 20-thousand jobs.  The decision also stymies an energy partnership with a friendly neighbor, and whether or not the United States approves the Keystone project, the oil will be produced, and if it doesn’t come here, China likely will get it.  The result of this decision is just the opposite of what our national priority ought to be and that’s opportunity.

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“Obama’s Address Receives Positive Responses” 

During his State of the Union Address, President Obama renewed the administration’s pledge to United States’ energy independence and Roger Johnson, President of the National Farmers Union has expressed his pleasure with Mr. Obama’s position. As the President said, we need to seek – a future where we’re in control of our own energy, and our security and prosperity aren’t so tied to unstable parts of the world.

Bart Schott of the National Corn Growers was also pleased to hear President Obama’s continued commitment to the nation’s energy independence. Schott points out that the American ethanol industry – answered the call nearly 30 years ago to provide feedstock for a domestically produced renewable energy source.  Today, that same feedstock constitutes more than 10% of the nation’s fuel and continues to provide a bountiful supply of corn to our long term customers.

NFU’s Johnson was also encouraged by the President’s announcement of the formation of a trade enforcement unit. Trade is a necessity for U.S. agriculture, but we must all play by the same rules. Johnson says – this group will be critical to farmers and ranchers, ensuring that they have a level playing field in marketing their products.

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“More State of Union Responses”

American Soybean Association President Steve Wellman says his organization cheers the President’s commitment to domestic energy production, but we hope that both the administration and Congress will recognize the vast potential of biodiesel. ASA calls on Washington to continue the biodiesel success story by immediately renewing the biodiesel tax incentive and continuing the commitment to the RFS.

While the President recognized the need for repairs on America’s interstates and highways, ASA urges the administration not to forget the nation’s waterways. As for federal oversight, ASA urges the administration to require that agencies review existing regulations look for ways to reduce the regulatory burdens on farmers.

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“New School Meal Standards Announced”

First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack have unveiled new standards for school meals that will result in healthier meals for kids across the nation. The new meal requirements will raise standards for the first time in more than fifteen years and improve the health and nutrition of nearly 32-million kids that participate in school meal programs every school day.

The final standards include: Ensuring students are offered both fruits and vegetables every day of the week; Substantially increasing offerings of whole grain-rich foods; Offering only fat-free or low-fat milk varieties; Limiting calories based on the age of children being served to ensure proper portion size; and Increasing the focus on reducing the amounts of saturated fat, trans fats and sodium.

Dr. Lorelei DiSorga, vice president of nutrition and health for the United Fresh Produce Association, says – we are very excited that fruits and vegetables will be the stars of healthier school meals. Children like fresh fruits and vegetables and they will be eating more next school year when this regulation takes effect. According to United President Tom Stenzel, – our members are partnering with schools across the country to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables in school meals.

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“USDA Working to Clean up Past”

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced improvements to a process announced last February to resolve the claims of Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers who assert they were discriminated against when seeking USDA farm loans. The updated process increases the maximum cash recovery to 250-thousand dollars instead of 50-thousand. The process offers a streamlined alternative to litigation for each individual who can prove that USDA denied their loan or loan servicing for discriminatory reasons for certain time periods between 1981 and 2000.

This updated process comes as part of USDA’s efforts to ensure that all its customers have equal access to its programs, and follows the Obama Administration’s settlement of longstanding litigation brought by African American and Native American farmers. There are no filing fees or other costs to claimants to participate in the program. Participation is voluntary, and the program does not preclude individuals who opt not to participate from pursuing their cases in court.

Individuals interested in participating in the claims process may register to receive a claims package, or may obtain more information, by visiting www.farmerclaims.gov. Individuals can also call the Farmer and Rancher Call Center at 1-888-508-4429.

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“Legislation Restricting Antibiotics Use Opposed”

Saying that antibiotic use in animals does not pose a serious public health threat, the American Farm Bureau Federation is urging members of Congress to oppose legislation that would restrict the use of antibiotics in livestock and poultry. In letters to Senate and House members, AFBF said the legislation would handicap veterinarians and farmers in their efforts to maintain animal health and protect the nation’s food supply.

Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman says – proponents of the bill suggest that antibiotic use could constitute a public health threat through antibiotic-resistant bacteria in animals being passed along, creating a similar resistance in humans. However, in more than 40 years of antibiotics being used to treat animals, such a public health threat has not arisen, and recent government data shows the potential that one might occur is declining.

Increased use of improved food safety technologies over the past several years has contributed to decreased bacteria survival in food processing/handling and in food-borne illnesses. Stallman says – Farm Bureau members use antibiotics carefully, judiciously and according to label instructions to treat, prevent and control disease in their flocks and herds. These products are critically important to the health and welfare of the animals and to the safety of the food produced from these animals.

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“Concerns Surface Over Trade Consolidation Plan”

Over 80 U.S. business groups are raising concerns about President Obama’s plan to create a new department of trade. The plan would consolidate the relatively small office of the U.S. Trade Representative with five other agencies, including key parts of the Commerce Department, the U.S. Export-Import Bank, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the Small Business Administration.

In a letter to the President, the groups, including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, say – we believe that such a move will weaken the ability of USTR and the United States to pursue effectively a strong trade policy that is responsive to Congress, business and other stakeholders.

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“FTA Between U.S. and EU Finds Support”

A Free Trade Agreement between the United States and the European Union is a likely option to be considered by ajoint international working group on jobs and growth chaired by USTR Ambassador Ron Kirk and EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht.  A coalition of nearly 50 food and agricultural organizations led by the National Pork Producers Council has expressed its support. In a letter to the USTR, the coalition wrote – carried out properly, such an agreement would indeed generate economic growth and create many thousands of new jobs on both sides of the Atlantic.

The coalition warned – this would require the EU to be prepared to negotiate and implement the type of high-standard, 21st-century agreement that is central to the administration’s trade policy efforts. Free trade deals negotiated by the EU with other countries do not meet those standards.

One concern is that EU regulatory measures often conflict with the interests of the United States and with World Trade Organization rules, including regulations on “genetically modified” crop approval and labels, which restrict U.S. corn, soy and refined corn product exports and restrictions on production methods in poultry and pork.

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“Association Supports TPP Trade Talks”

The International Dairy Foods Association is encouraging the U.S. Trade Representative to accept Canada, Japan and Mexico as partners in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade negotiations. IDFA warned, however, that current protectionist domestic policies and potential restrictive trade agreements between these countries and the European Union go against the goals of the partnership and would have to be abandoned.

IDFA believes Japan, the fourth-largest export market overall for U.S. dairy products, is taking positive steps to enter into new trade agreements, indicating that it’s serious about becoming a TPP partner. As for Mexico joining the talks, IDFA believes that would offer no new market access, but having Mexico participate would improve the North American regulatory environment and make trade more efficient.

The same can be said for Canada, although a number of the country’s current policies are designed to restrict market access for imported dairy products. Canada has operated under a supply control systems since 1970. More recently, Canada implemented compositional standards for cheese that effectively limit imports of cheese and related ingredients, such as casein and whey protein concentrate.

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 “Is It Time to Eliminate Certain Seed Technology”

Do we need to keep planting Bt Corn?  That question was posed by Dr. Jonathan Lundgren, the lead entomologist at the USDA-ARS lab in Brookings, South Dakota during the 2012 Winter Conference of No Till on the Plains in Salina, Kansas.  Lundgren noted that several of the insecticides that are being used by the vast majority of soybean and corn producers in the United States may be unneeded on many farms, costing farmers millions of dollars annually.

According to Lundgren, – Bt corn have worked extremely well and they have been adopted by U.S. farmers – extremely well. Bt corn was developed to control the European corn borer and that pest is no longer a problem. That’s the reason Lundgren questions if producers should continue to pay high technology fees for each bag of corn they plant, if the pest that would be controlled by the technology is no longer a problem.

Likewise, Lundgren questioned the need for insecticide treatment on soybean seed to control soybean aphids. According to the USDA scientist, the protection provided by the seed treatment breaks down quickly after germination – and by the time the aphids could potentially be a problem – there is no protection left from the seed treatment. Lundgren believes that – without the treatment, producers could watch their soybeans midsummer when aphids could be a threat and respond with a spray treatment as needed.

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“Fungicide Use Survey Says”

By definition, a preventative fungicide application involves applying a fungicide product to a crop before any disease incidence has been spotted. A recent survey by BASF shows that 83 percent of corn and soybean growers, primarily located in the Midwest, agreed that preventative fungicide application is necessary because once disease is present, yield is already lost. However, 57 percent of those surveyed who used a fungicide in 2011 said they make their fungicide application decision in-season, based on weather and/or disease pressure.

Additionally, the BASF grower survey* showed several interesting results regarding grower perceptions of fungicides, including: 65 percent of growers surveyed used a fungicide in 2011 and 87 percent those growers said they used a fungicide preventatively, regardless of disease pressure. Larger growers, those with more than 1,000 acres, were more likely to use a fungicide product in 2011, compared to smaller growers. However, smaller operations were more likely to use a fungicide product on a larger percentage of their acres

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“Corn Leaders in Training”

The second session of the National Corn Growers Association’s Leadership Academy met in Washington, D.C. this week.  At the meeting, sponsored by Syngenta, participants got an up-close look at NCGA from Chairman Bart Schott, also a Leadership Academy alumnus. And NCGA staff in Washington provided briefings on current issues facing corn farmers on Capitol Hill.

Schott notes, – as a Leadership Academy graduate, I have a deep appreciation for the expertise attendees develop in such a short time, and of the ability of Syngenta and other presenters to hone in on what is most needed. Schott continued, – when these volunteers come together, you can feel their passion for the industry. It is heartening to know that such strong leaders will carry on our mission well into the future.

In addition to Leadership Academy, NCGA continues its more personalized advanced leadership training program in September. Advanced Leadership Academy, a two-part program with classes in September and March, provides intensive leadership training to a handful of well-qualified applicants.

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“Beef Leaders Institute Application Available”

American Angus Association^® members interested in becoming more effective leaders in the agriculture industry are encouraged to apply for the fifth annual Beef Leaders Institute scheduled for June 17-20, 2012 in St. Joseph, Missouri. Shelia Stannard, director of activities and events for the American Angus Association says this is – an excellent opportunity to develop leaders and advocates for the beef industry. She says – it is also a chance to network with fellow breeders from across the country.

Funded through the Angus Foundation, the institute is designed for association members 25-45 years old. Cory Poser, a 2011 participant from Denton, Montana, said the experience he gained by attending BLI will allow his family to continue their farming tradition.

During the three-day event, BLI participants will tour a beef harvesting and packing facility, retailer, fabricator, feedlots and other industry segments, including the Association. To apply, contact the American Angus Association at 816-383-5100. Information can also be found on www.angus.org. Applications are due March 1.

SOURCE: NAFB News Service

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