National News

‘Senate passes federal funding bill’

(Farm progress) Over the weekend the Senate passed a package of spending bills that include support that enables the Army Corps of Engineers to repair levees along the Missouri River damaged by flooding. Senator Mike Johanns, R-Neb., says he voted to ensure this disaster funding didn't add to the debt, but unfortunately the legislation offsetting the cost of the relief did not pass. According to Johanns most people would agree that Washington spends too much money and rarely stops to think about how to pay the bill. The Nebraska Senator called on Congress to make tough choices like reducing annual discretionary spending. He says that much more needs to be done to get our debt under control, but setting priorities and adhering to budget constraints is a step in the right direction.

Another part of the federal funding package includes the Keystone XL Pipeline project, a 36 inch pipeline running 1,600 miles from Canada to Texas. It would transport oil from supply fields in Alberta and North Dakota to refineries on the Gulf Coast.

For more on this story, please visit: http://farmprogress.com/nebraska-farmer-story-senate-passes-federal-funding-bill-8-55781
 

 

‘South Korea FTA could take effect by February’

(My Central Nebraska) The free trade agreement between South Korea and the United States may take effect by February of next year despite more time needed for preparation. That’s the word from Seoul's top trade official. South Korean Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon says - both sides are working to advance the implementation of the trade pact, but it will take more time to complete procedures, and it is impossible to meet the agreed-upon date. The trade ministry had previously stated that the exact time table for the implementation would be determined in mid-December.

The South Korean government has effectively accepted 13 extra measures agreed upon by ruling and opposition parties to limit possible fallout.

For more on this story, please visit: http://www.mycentralnebraska.com/pages/8308213.php
 

 

‘WTO approves Russian membership’

(Farm Futures) After nearly two decades of trying, Russia gained approval Friday to join the World Trade Organization, a move likely to boost its economy and that of its biggest trading partner, the European Union, at a time of global financial turmoil.

The vote by international trade ministers also provides a measure of victory for Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who faces popular discontent after allegations of fraud in the recent parliamentary elections.

Russia has been the only member of the Group of 20 leading world economies still outside the 153-nation WTO. Once it formally joins - presumably early next year after ratification from the Russian Duma - Moscow will be subject to the Geneva-based body's rules for international trade and settling disputes.

For more on this story, please visit: http://farmfutures.com/story.aspx/wto-approves-russian-membership-17-55749
 

 

‘Rep. Slaughter calls for federal action on antibiotic use’

(USAgNet) Congresswoman Louise Slaughter has once again called for swift action to end the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics in livestock production.

The move from the New York congresswoman, who is a Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee and the only microbiologist in Congress, follows an incident where 14 people across the Northeast of the U.S. were infected with an antibiotic-resistant strain of Salmonella, prompting a recall of ground beef by Hannaford, a grocery chain based in Maine.

The strain, Salmonella typhimurium, is resistant to multiple antibiotics important for human health including beta-lactams, animoglycosides, and cephalosporins.

For more on this story, please visit: http://www.usagnet.com/story-national.php?Id=2676&yr=2011
 

 

‘Fortenberry measure would protect detasseling’

(My Central Nebraska) Congressman Jeff Fortenberry today introduced a bill that would exempt detasseling from proposed federal Department of Labor rules limiting youth involvement in certain agricultural work. Congressman Lee Terry is a cosponsor.

“We all believe in ensuring the safety of young people,” Fortenberry said. “But this proposed rule could go as far as keeping teenagers from detasseling, a rite of passage in Nebraska and other Heartland states. In the process, it would threaten a vital industry and an important economic opportunity for many Nebraskans. This bill would exempt detasseling and related work from the new rules should they go into effect.”

For more on this story, please visit: http://www.mycentralnebraska.com/pages/8308213.php
 

 

‘Crop insurance payouts 2nd highest’

(Brownfield) Crop insurance companies have paid out more than $7.1 billion so far in 2011. According to a release from National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS) that is second only to 2008 when the total value of indemnities paid to farmers totaled $8.6 billion. Widespread agricultural losses in 2011 came from a combination of flooding in the Central US, droughts in the southern plains, a tropical storm in the Northeast and a freeze in Florida.

As of 2010, approximately 80 percent of eligible farmland; covering more than 256 million acres, valued at almost $80 billion were protected by private crop insurance policies.

For more on this story, please visit: http://brownfieldagnews.com/2011/12/19/crop-insurance-payouts-2nd-highest/
 

 

‘CME recommits to Chicago after receiving tax relief’

(Farm Progress) CME Group Inc. announced Friday that it will not relocate but will remain headquartered in Chicago, Ill., after the Illinois General Assembly approved and Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation adjusting corporate tax laws to reduce CME's taxes.

In particular, the legislation, which passed with bi-partisan support, reduces taxes on CME trades to just 27.54% of electronic trades. Previously, CME was taxed on all electronic trades even though most of them are executed outside of Illinois.

CME paid $108 million in taxes in 2010 and will pay $158 million in taxes this year. The new law cuts its taxes in half.

For more on this story, please visit: http://farmprogress.com/nebraska-farmer-story-cme-recommits-chicago-after-receiving-tax-relief-8-55782
 

 

‘REAP to reduce energy costs for producers, small businesses’

(Nebraska Ag Connection) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Wednesday announced loans and grants for agricultural producers and rural small businesses across the country to implement renewable energy and energy efficiency measures in their operations. The funding is provided through USDA Rural Development's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager made the announcement on behalf of Secretary Vilsack while attending an energy efficiency conference in New Orleans Wednesday.

"Stable energy costs create an environment for job growth in rural America," Vilsack said. "The Obama Administration is helping agricultural producers and business owners reduce their energy costs and consumption -- and by doing so is helping preserve our natural resources, protect the environment and strengthen the bottom line for businesses, ranchers and farm operations."

For more on this story, please visit: http://www.nebraskaagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=962&yr=2011
 

 

‘My Plate has a long way to go, study says’

(Brownfield) Some new research says the average American diet is vastly different from the USDA’s ideal diet displayed in the new “My Plate” icon. The NPD group, a leading market research company, found that for the average consumer only about seven days out of each year came close to the USDA dietary guidelines. And, it found that to achieve those seven days of the recommended amounts of dairy, fruit, grains, proteins and vegetables – consumers often were overeating, having more than three meals a day.

The NPD drew its conclusions from its ongoing tracking of eating and drinking habits of U.S. consumers, that it’s been doing for more than 30 years.

For more on this story, please visit: http://brownfieldagnews.com/2011/12/19/my-plate-has-a-long-way-to-go-study-says/
 

 

‘Humane Society in battle for funds with new similarly named group’

(Agweek.com)The Humane Society of the United States says it's under attack by a new group that's trying to starve it of funding by urging donors to send money to local animal shelters instead.

The society has long been a thorn in the side of some in agriculture with its undercover investigations and campaigns against animal cruelty. It claims the new group is the brainchild of conservative public relations executive Rick Berman, who spearheaded an earlier campaign against it, and that it's supported by big agricultural interests.

The new group announced itself two weeks ago with full-page ads in USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and New York Times. They show a sad-eyed dog and ask, "Please help shelter pets by donating locally, not to HSUS," and direct people to HumaneForPets.com, where they can find links to local shelters and more information.

For more on this story, please visit: http://www.agweek.com/event/article/id/224358/publisher_ID/40/
 

 

‘Checkoff helps promote whole wheat foods in Asia’

(KNEB) Whether they live in New York or Beijing, consumers are eating more whole wheat foods. Yet whole wheat products are still relatively new to Asian consumers - and to the flour millers and bakers who serve them.
By sharing expertise and experience with milling and baking whole wheat flour, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) is helping an industry with strong growth potential overcome challenges while promoting U.S. wheat as the ideal source for high-quality, tasty whole wheat products.

Wheat farmers support the U.S. Wheat Associates through state wheat checkoff collections, of which some of the funds are used for international market development. Kansas wheat producers Jay Armstrong, Muscotah and Ron Suppes, Dighton, serve on the U.S. Wheat board of directors.

For more on this story, please visit: http://kneb.com/news/agricultural/index.php?more=n8gdxbhm
 

 

‘Analysts look for expansion in upcoming H&P report’

(Pork Network) Market analysts expect to see expansion by U.S. pork producers as record-high hog prices and robust export markets put the industry on track for a second consecutive year of profits.

USDA releases its December Hogs & Pigs Report on Dec. 23. Analyst Dan Vaught looks for the breeding herd number to be 0.8 percent higher than for Dec. 1 2010.

Farrowing from December through February will probably rise about 0.6 percent from the year-earlier period, and farrowing intentions for March through May are expected to rise 0.8 percent, Vaught said in report he made on Dec. 15.

For more on this story, please visit: http://www.porknetwork.com/pork-news/latest/Analysts-look-for-expansion-in-upcoming-HP-Report--135805943.html
 

 

‘Winter farmers markets growing in popularity’

(KNEB) According to the updated National Farmers Market Directory, since 2010, the number of winter farmers markets has increased 38 percent, from 886 to 1,225. These winter markets account for nearly 17 percent of the nation's 7,222 operating farmers markets. Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan says - consumers are looking for more ways to buy locally grown food throughout the year and through winter markets, American farmers are able to meet this need and bring in additional income to support their families and businesses.
Farmers markets operating at least once between November and March are considered winter farmers markets. New York has the most winter farmers markets registered with 180. Second is California with 153. Third is Pennsylvania, followed by: North Carolina, Ohio, Maryland, Florida, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Michigan.
For more on this story, please visit: http://kneb.com/news/agricultural/index.php?more=ef2zxpsk
 

 

State News

‘New Asian trade alliance could benefit Nebraska agriculture’

(Grand Island Independent) What is being described as an "ambitious and comprehensive" agreement in the Asia-Pacific region would allow farmers, ranchers, and other businesses in Nebraska to gain the opportunity to expand, generate jobs, invest in new technology and grow the economy, said Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb.

Smith, a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, participated in a hearing Wednesday on the U.S. joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

According to Smith, in September 2008, then-U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab notified Congress of President Bush's intent to launch negotiations for the United States to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Subsequently, on Dec. 14, 2009, he said, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk notified Congress of President Obama's intent to enter the TPP negotiations.

For more on this story, please visit: http://www.theindependent.com/articles/2011/12/18/news/ag/14303307.txt
 

 

‘Nebraskans caught up in MF Global distress’

(Lincoln Journal Star)The bankruptcy of MF Global in a New York courtroom may seem like a distant din, just some more faraway ugliness on a pile of other big financial failures.

But this one reaches into the heart of Nebraska agriculture's recent prosperity and threatens to undermine the faith in and financing of the agriculture and food industry's day-to-day risk management.
MF Global, a futures contract clearing merchant that's been in bankruptcy since Oct. 31, is missing $1.2 billion, money that belonged in the margin trading accounts of businesses, including some in Nebraska. Margin accounts are those kept by futures customers who must maintain a certain balance to be able to trade on credit.

For more on this story, please visit: http://journalstar.com/business/local/nebraskans-caught-up-in-mf-global-distress/article_75d6c6ba-0429-5088-bce7-2f1561305dec.html#ixzz1h5RqOeNp
 

 

‘Kansas City firm to re-open Mead ethanol plant’

(Lincoln Journal Star) Spectrum Business Ventures of Kansas City aims to bring a closed ethanol plant near Mead out of mothball status in the next few months.
The former E3 Biofuels plant attracted widespread attention in 2006 as the previous management tried to pull together a project they described as a closed-loop system. That means the plant would operate with energy largely produced on site.
The idea for the $25 million venture was to feed the grain byproducts from ethanol production to 30,000 cattle in an adjoining feedlot and then to use their manure and methane digesters as an energy source to operate the plant.

For more on this story, please visit: http://journalstar.com/business/agriculture/kansas-city-firm-to-re-open-mead-ethanol-plant/article_32386b71-aaa0-5cc8-8981-2f66628fe14b.html#ixzz1h5zjyBaJ
 

 

‘Tri-Basin directors: Task force goal should be storing excess Republican water, not Platte transfers’
(Kearney Hub) An integrated water management plan for the Tri-Basin Natural Resources District's part of the Republican Basin should be ready for board action in January or February.

The plan was reviewed Tuesday morning at a special meeting of the board. At the regular meeting in the afternoon, General Manager John Thorburn said, "I think we are very close to having a final version of the Republican Basin IMP."
Director Dick Helms of Arapahoe said he hopes the plan is finished by April 1. It is being written by and must be approved by Tri-Basin and the state Department of Natural Resources. The other three Republican Basin NRDs already have plans in place.
The focus is water conservation and meeting Nebraska's responsibilities for streamflows to Kansas under the 1943 Republican River Compact.

Tri-Basin Director Phyllis Johnson of Bertrand said that at Monday's meeting of the Republican Basin Water Sustainability Task Force in McCook, much of the conversation remained focused on options to divert Platte River floodwaters to the Republican Basin.

"Financially, I don't know if they can do it," she said. "And if we have water in the Platte, we should probably use it in the Platte."

For more on this story, please visit: http://kearneyhub.agnet.net/85/nws/6896


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The Nebraska Department of Agriculture’s “Ag Update” features stories on a variety of agriculture-related topics, as reported by media from around the world, and selected by Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) staff. Readers wishing to view the full article should see the news source referenced at the beginning of the each news item or click on the web links, if provided. NDA is not a news organization and does not have reporters on its staff. Posting of these stories should not be interpreted as an endorsement of a particular viewpoint, but as a summary of news reported by legitimate news-gathering organizations or from press releases sent out by agriculture organizations.



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Nebraska Department of Agriculture
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