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“Anti-Dumping Investigation Against U.S. DDGS Terminated”

China’s Ministry of Commerce has announced that the anti-dumping investigation against U.S. DDGS exports to the country has been terminated. The anti-dumping petition was filed in December of 2010. According to the Ministry of Commerce – the applicants in the case withdrew their petition on May 10th. As a result – no anti-dumping tariffs will be imposed.

U.S. Grains Council President and CEO Tom Dorr says the Council immediately began to organize a response with U.S. stakeholders when the Chinese initiated the investigation. After determining the best approach to the situation – the Grains Council filed a brief indicating there were no injuries to China. Dorr says the investigation has had an effect on the markets. In 2010 – Dorr says the U.S. exported 2.3-million tons of DDGS to China – exports fell to 1.6-million metric tons after the imposition of the investigation.

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“Congress Trying to Get a Feel for the Impact of Sequestration”

The Senate will require the Office of Management and Budget and the Pentagon to detail how agencies would implement automatic budget cuts in January. The request was actually included as an amendment to the farm bill. The goal is to find out from federal agencies just how damaging the automatic cut will be to the military and key domestic programs. Last summer – Congress agreed the budget would automatically be cut by 1.2-trillion dollars over 10 years if a special supercommittee was unable to find the same level of deficit reduction in a more targeted manner.

Republicans are concerned with the potential harm to national security. Senator John McCain has promised to amend every bill that the Senate approves in coming weeks with language requiring the Pentagon to detail impacts of the defense cuts. He says the American people need to know the effects of sequestration.

Democrats have insisted the only way they will agree to put the automatic cuts aside is if Republicans agree to a deal to deficit reduction bill that would both raise tax revenues and cut spending. Washington Democratic Senator Patty Murray – who chaired the supercommittee – said last week that she is still hopeful a balanced and bipartisan deal can be achieved to replace the automatic cuts responsibly and fairly. But as that goal is pursued – Murray says it’s important to know exactly how the Administration would enact sequestration if a deal isn’t reached.

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“NFU Wants to See Administration Follow Through with Antitrust Enforcement”

National Farmers Union is encouraging the Department of Justice to follow through on a recent pledge to provide vigorous antitrust enforcement in the agricultural sector. A DOJ report on the findings stemming from joint workshops held by the Justice Department and USDA in 2010 stated that a healthy agricultural sector requires competition and enforcement of antitrust laws. NFU President Roger Johnson says his group is pleased DOJ has taken some action as a result of the 2010 workshops. He says competition and fair markets have been long-term priorities for NFU. Johnson says the proceedings in 2010 offered hope that the current administration would reverse the decades of under-enforcement of antitrust laws. Given that economic studies have shown the top four beef and pork packers dominate their sectors – Johnson says it’s clear oversight is needed to make our markets competitive.

The DOJ competition and agriculture report summarizes the discussion that took place at the five workshops held around the country. It also highlights some of the enforcement actions that have taken place in recent years to address continued consolidation of agriculture. As a result of the workshops – according to the report – the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department has redoubled its efforts to prevent anticompetitive agricultural mergers and conduct. The report goes on to state that the workshops have enhanced the Division’s efforts to enforce antitrust laws.

Johnson says more work remains to be done to ensure family farmers and ranchers have an opportunity to succeed in the marketplace. He says he looks forward to the Antitrust Division of DOJ following through on the statements in the report.

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“TPP Gains Predicted by Peterson Institute”

According to the Peterson Institute for International Economics – the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement could yield annual global income gains of 295-billion dollars – including 78-billion for the U.S. They add that the agreement offers a pathway to free trade in the Asia-Pacific with potential gains of 1.9-trillion dollars.

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“Grains Council Pleased with New TPP Invitations, Would Like to See Another Addition”

The U.S. Grains Council says the inclusion of our current North American Free Trade Agreement partners in the Trans Pacific Partnership negotiations will build on the successful expansion of trade under the existing agreement and create substantially greater opportunities for economic growth, new jobs and increases in trade and investment flows in the future. Grains Council Chairman Dr. Wendell Shauman says U.S. producers and grain exporters and the thousands of Americans they employ stand to benefit greatly from stronger North American representation in the talks. He says including Canada and Mexico will add economic geopolitical strength to the TPP and increase the interest of other countries in joining the talks. The Council would also like to see Japan included in the negotiations. Shauman says their entry would considerably increase the economic significance of the proposed agreement. He says the Grains Council believes their participation would provide mutual long-term economic benefits.

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“Growers Advised: Be on the Lookout for Goss’s Wilt”

Pioneer Hi-Bred experts are urging growers to keep a watchful eye on Goss’s wilt this year – particularly if they experienced light to heavy infections last year. Pioneer Research Scientist Scott Heuchelin says Goss’s wilt has a long history of wreaking havoc in corn fields in the western Corn Belt and is expanding its boundaries north and eastward. Agronomists and researchers say the yield-robbing disease is spreading as far north as Canada and east across the Midwest into Indiana. Once the bacterium infects the field – it may persist year after year – making it crucial for growers to identify the disease. If Goss’s wilt is present – Pioneer notes there is no chemical cure. Growers are encouraged to minimize their risk by selecting resistance hybrids in the coming planting seasons.

According to Heuchelin – growers should learn to correctly identify Goss’s wilt to prevent recurring disease issues in future years. He says the disease can easily be confused with environmental conditions like drought stress or sun scald – as well as other leaf blights or nutrient deficiencies. The first step is scouting for the distinguishing characteristics of Goss’s wilt – which can occur at any growth stage. In the seedling stage – early infection can be systemic and result in discolored vascular tissue with slimy stalk rot; a buildup of bacteria in the vascular bundles inhibiting the plant’s ability to transfer water; and stunted growth where the plant eventually wilts and dies as if drought stressed. The midseason signs and symptoms include distinct dark green to black ‘freckles’ within or just outside of leaf lesions; shiny or glistening patches of dried bacterial ooze on the lesions – similar to a thin layer of varnish; and Water-soaked streaks – along with tan to gray lesions that run lengthwise on the leaves.

Because in-season management options of Goss’s wilt are very limited – Heuchelin says the best strategy is prevention in the off-season with genetic resistance. He says choosing a hybrid with high levels of Goss’s wilt tolerance is the best line of defense – especially if the field has a history of previous infection.

SOURCE: NAFB News Service