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“NFU President Asks for Five-Year Farm Bill as Part of Effort to Avoid Fiscal Cliff”

National Farmers Union is urging Congress and President Obama to reach a balanced agreement to reduce the federal deficit that includes a five-year farm bill and an extension of the Production Tax Credit for renewable energy. NFU President Roger Johnson says besides increasing some taxes – strategic cuts should be made to government spending. Among them – he says – should be the inclusion of a five-year farm bill. He notes both Agriculture Committees and the full Senate passed bipartisan versions of the farm bill that will save between 23-billion and 35-billion dollars. Johnson says a compromise version of this five-year farm bill is a smart way to cut spending that Republicans and Democrats can agree to.

The Production Tax Credit is set to expire on December 31st. The PTC provides an income tax credit for the production of electricity from renewable sources of energy. Johnson called for an extension of the credit – noting the benefits to rural development are enormous and will give farmers and ranchers the chance to diversify their operations by receiving lease payments. He says an extension will also save 37-thousand jobs and increase energy security by continuing to diversify our energy supply.

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“NFU Working with USDA, USTR to Ensure WTO Compliance of COOL Rules”

The U.S. has until May 23rd to bring its Country-of-Origin Labeling rules into compliance with a WTO ruling. National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson says NFU will work with USDA and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to ensure new COOL rules fit with the WTO’s ruling and with consumer demand for more information about the origins of their food. Johnson says consumers want and have the right to know where their meat comes from. He says NFU will vigorously defend the COOL law.

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“ASA Urges Yes Vote on Russia PNTR Bill”

A Senate vote on the Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanki Repeal Act of 2012 could come as early as today (Wednesday). The American Soybean Association is encouraging all senators to vote yes on the House-passed version of the bill without amendment. If passed by the Senate and signed into law by the President – the bill would establish permanent normal trade relations with the world’s ninth-largest economy. ASA President Steve Wellman says American soybean farmers can reap the benefits of more than 140-million consumers and a fast-growing economy – which last year imported more than 770-million dollars in American meat, poultry, egg and dairy products. Until the U.S. graduates Russia from the Jackson-Vanik Amendment and establishes PNTR – he says we will not be able to fully access the Russian market without penalty.

The House version of the legislation – H.R. 6156 was passed on November 16th.

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“Exports of U.S. Soy Still Strong”

According to U.S. Census Bureau figures – U.S. soybean farmers exported more than 1.8-billion bushels of U.S. soy valued at 23-billion dollars during the 2011-12 marketing year. That compares to two-billion bushels in 2010-11. The 2012 export numbers include 1.3-billion bushels of whole soybeans, meal from more than 404-million bushels of soybeans and the oil from 126.5-million bushels of soybeans. With U.S. farmers harvesting 3.05-billion bushels of soybeans last year – the exports represent about 55-percent of production.

The largest importer of U.S. soy – China – bought almost 850-million bushels of whole soybeans – or more than one out of every four rows U.S. farmers grew. Illinois soybean farmer Sharon Covert leads USB’s International Marketing program. Covert says the main concern of our international customers has been whether we would be a reliable supplier. She says the checkoff continues to assure them that while we may not have as many bushels per acre – we are a reliable supplier of high-quality soybeans. Covert says conversations with international customers on quality and crop conditions – as well as other industry issues – proved to be especially important with the summer’s conditions.

Covert says it’s also important for customers of U.S. soy to know that farmers provide this supply of soy in a sustainable manner. In addition to the importance of production practices such as no-till or low-till to many soy buyers – they help soil retain water in dry years like this past production year.

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“Grain Sorghum Approved as Eligible Feedstock Under RFS”

The Environmental Protection Agency has approved grain sorghum as an eligible feedstock under the Renewable Fuel Standard. Sorghum checkoff chairman Bill Kubecka says this is a significant step forward for the sorghum industry. He says this will make sorghum a more profitable biofuel feedstock for the renewables industry – thus increasing the value and demand for sorghum. The checkoff says the ruling further affirms their belief that grain sorghum is perfectly suited for starch-based ethanol production. Sorghum Checkoff Renewables Director John Duff says this new opportunity to produce advanced biofuel will increase demand for the crop and lead to greater profitability for producers across the nation.

According to the EPA – ethanol produced from grain sorghum emits 32-percent less greenhouse gas than the baseline petroleum it replaces and uses one-third less water than some other biofuel feedstocks. Sorghum also produces the same amount of ethanol per bushel and has 34-percent protein content.

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“Time for Faces of Farming and Ranching Voting Drawing to a Close”

There are now only twelve days left to choose the next faces of agriculture. The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance announced the finalists of its Faces of Farming and Ranching program in November. The nationwide search was launched earlier this summer to help put real faces on agriculture. Nine individuals were selected as finalists and now it’s up to consumers and other farmers to vote online for their favorites to help choose the winners. The winners will become the face of agriculture and will be tapped to share stories and experiences on a national stage to help shift conversations about food production and set the record straight about the way we feed our nation.

People can visit www dot fooddialogues dot com (www.fooddialogues.com) to watch a short video of each finalist’s farm or ranch. The online voting will conclude on December 15th. The votes will help determine the Faces of Farming and Ranching winners. The winners will be announced in early January.

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“National Ag Day Essay Contest Entries Due February 1st”

The Agriculture Council of America is calling on ninth and 12th-grade students to submit a 450-word essay or two-minute video essay on the importance of agriculture through the theme American Agriculture – Nourishing Opportunities. This year’s theme is an opportunity for students to address how the ag industry is an endless source of opportunity for growth and development. The national written essay winner receives a 1,000-dollar prize and round-trip ticket to D.C. to be recognized at the Celebration of Ag Dinner on March 19th. The video essay winner also receives a 1,000-cash prize – and the video will play during the Celebration of Ag Dinner. All written entries must be sent through the mail or emailed to essay@agday.org by February 1st. Video essays may be mailed in or uploaded at http://agday.leapfile.net.-

SOURCE: NAFB News Service