Nebraska Department of Agriculture
Ag Update – January 19, 2012

National News

‘Focusing on food safety consolidations’

(KNEB) If Congress gives the Obama Administration the green light to reorganize the government, a single federal food safety agency is likely. If that happens, Office of Management and Budget Director for Management Jeff Zients believes the first proposal will be to merge the six business-oriented agencies, folding together the Commerce Department's core business and trade functions, the Small Business Administration, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Export-Import Bank, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.

Following that a consolidation is expected of USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service with the food safety unit at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Obama administration officials are believed to be in favor of the merger because it would make food safety independent of USDA, which primarily exists to market and promote American farm products. In all, 12 agencies are involved in food safety.
For more on this story, please visit: http://kneb.com/news/agricultural/index.php?more=79efas4c
 

 

‘Transforming the U.S. Grains Council begins in Panama’

(Farm Futures) Panama Canal modernization isn't the only fresh, new development to be explored at the U.S. Grains Council's February membership meeting. Transforming the Council itself will be part of the agenda, as the Council debuts its newly approved strategic plan for 2012 to 2016.

"This will be more than a report," said Tom Sleight, Vice President of Operations and Membership. "From hallway discussions to working sessions, members can expect to see and be part of applying this plan to guide the Council's work."

Sleight, who called the plan "transformational," also promises it is highly comprehensive. "It offers a very strategic analysis of the Council's strengths and weaknesses and of the opportunities and threats we face," he commented. "It goes beyond strategic goals to outline the actions we must take, how we will measure performance, and the next steps in that process.

For more on this story, please visit: http://farmfutures.com/story.aspx/transforming-grains-council-begins-panama-17-56410
 

 

‘Fuel Up to Play 60, Let's Move! takes aim at childhood obesity’

(Farm Progress) Fuel Up to Play 60, an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by the National Dairy Council and the National Football League, is working to support Let’s Move!, First Lady Michelle Obama’s initiative dedicated to solving childhood obesity in a generation, to strengthen each program’s efforts to improve the overall health of our nation’s youth.

Fuel Up to Play 60 and Let’s Move!, along with the Ad Council, have produced a public service announcement encouraging youth to join the Fuel Up to Play 60 movement. The programs also rally schools to meet the USDA Healthier US School Challenge through participation in Fuel Up to Play 60. In addition, both programs promote the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition’s Presidential Active Lifestyle Award, given to students who perform 60 minutes of physical activity five days a week for six weeks and make healthy eating habits.

For more on this story, please visit: http://farmprogress.com/nebraska-farmer-story-fuel-play-60-lets-move-takes-aim-childhood-obesity-25-56411
 

 

‘Vilsack reports on rural development’

(My Central Nebraska) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack reports that during fiscal year 2011, Rural Development investments created or saved about 440-thousand jobs. These facts come from the Secretary’s report on USDA Rural Development fiscal year 2011 investments in job-creating businesses, infrastructure and housing for Americans living in rural communities across the nation.

In the federal fiscal year that ended on September 30, Vilsack said Rural Development, through its Business, Cooperative, Utilities and Housing programs provided housing opportunities for over 143-thousand families, upgraded community facilities, boosted the reliability of the electric grid, funded renewable energy projects, and supported efforts to provide affordable, reliable Internet service to rural homes.

For more on this story, please visit: http://www.mycentralnebraska.com/pages/12029317.php?
 

 

‘New RMA rule flexible for cover crop termination’

(USAgNet) Farmers have been given more time to terminate their cover crops after the excessively wet spring of last year prevented many of them from doing that in time to meet a crop insurance deadline.

In order for grain farmers to insure their main crop, they previously had to terminate cover crops by May 15 and before the crop headed or budded. In December, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Risk Management Agency changed those rules so that producers now must terminate cover crops by June 5 and regardless of the growth stage.

"Last year, with a very wet spring, the May 15 deadline was really problematic," said Eileen Kladivko, Purdue University professor of agronomy. "There was a lot of effort on the parts of land-grant universities, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and partners like the National Wildlife Federation to get that changed because of the conservation benefits of cover crops. The new rule gives us an extra three weeks, and it doesn't matter the stage of the cover crop.

For more on this story, please visit: http://www.usagnet.com/story-national.php?Id=141&yr=2012
 

 

‘NACD reacts to EPA reporting proposal’

(KNEB) In comments submitted to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, National Association of Conservation Districts President Gene Schmidt has expressed concern with the proposed National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation Reporting Rule. Specifically, Schmidt says - NACD is concerned about EPA's recommended options for gathering information under the rule; the potential for the disclosure of private information to the public; and the agency's potential engagement in regulatory overreach in light of current law.

Schmidt is quick to point out that - as conservationists, we believe that locally-led, voluntary efforts are the best approach to protecting our nation's water, air and land. He says - NACD is opposed to the proposed options for obtaining information from CAFOs. Schmidt believes - the best way to advance conservation is by working directly with established partnerships at the local level and through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

For more on this story, please visit: http://kneb.com/news/agricultural/index.php?more=urw39x9u
 

 

‘LightSquared network fails test’

(KNEB) A key federal committee charged with testing the LightSquared network, says there would be significant interference with global positioning systems from the mobile broadband carrier. The National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Executive Committee, which is made up of nine federal agencies, unanimously agreed that none of LightSquared's proposals to combat GPS interference would work.

Under an agreement with the FCC, weaker satellite signal frequencies were used, while the company attempted to resolve the problems. But after testing earlier last year and then again in November, after LightSquared modified its proposal, the committee concluded that neither the original or modified proposals would work.

For more on this story, please visit: http://kneb.com/news/agricultural/index.php?more=wxfzenq4
 

 

‘New produce transportation guide released’

(KNEB) The North American Produce Transportation Working Group has announced the availability of the new North American Produce Transportation Guidelines. The document integrates multiple existing transportation guidelines into one best practices document which can be used throughout North America to ensure the ongoing vitality of the carrier sector.

These best practice guidelines were agreed to by various stakeholders in the produce supply chain and were reviewed and endorsed by the Blue Book and the Dispute Resolution Corporation to ensure compliance with industry trading guidelines for North America. The NAPTWG aims to provide necessary guidance for seamless product movement and to ensure that the produce industry continues to have sufficient access to carriers to meet the needs of the produce industry in North America.

For more on this story, please visit: http://kneb.com/news/agricultural/index.php?more=jkaf7f92
 

 

‘Deadline extended for Conservation Stewardship Program’

(Farm Progress) USDA's National Resources Conservation Service recently announced that the deadline for producer applications for the Conservation Stewardship Program has been extended to Jan. 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 file by Jan. 27, 2012.

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.

For more on this story, please visit: http://farmprogress.com/nebraska-farmer-story-deadline-extended-conservation-stewardship-program-8-56529
 

 

‘National FFA organization seeks student travelers’

(Farm Futures) The National FFA Organization is now accepting applications for its 2012 International Collegiate Agricultural Leadership program. FFA will take 12 students to Southeast Asia this spring; the tentative program dates are May 19-June 1.

This conference allows students the opportunity to study global agriculture and international marketing. Students will learn about current international trade and cultural issues and gain awareness of how international markets for agricultural products operate. Upon completion of the program, students will give educational presentations to local groups and organizations about their experiences.

For more on this story, please visit: http://farmfutures.com/story.aspx/national-ffa-organization-seeks-student-travelers-17/56538
 

 

‘Study sheds new positive light on ethanol’

(KNEB) A new study reveals that ethanol provides the higher-octane today's high-efficiency automobile engines require while remaining both affordable and environmentally friendly. The study was conducted by AVL and funded in part by the National Corn Growers Association's Ethanol Committee and Research and Business Development Action Team. The goal of this research was to explore the role corn ethanol could play in meeting the new Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards enacted by the U.S. federal government.
Quantifying the octane benefits derived from ethanol has been inconsistent in most testing performed up to this point. However, this inconsistency was the result of the variability of the gasoline used in the blend. The new data illustrates the level of performance which can actually be achieved simply by adding ethanol to gasoline and shows the value of using intermediate blends in meeting the new fuel efficiency standards.

For more on this story, please visit: http://kneb.com/news/agricultural/index.php?more=px9zxpvd
 

 

‘ConAgra Foods agrees to acquire Del Monte Canada’

(Nebraska Ag Connection) ConAgra Foods, Inc., Omaha, announced that it has agreed to acquire Toronto-based Del Monte Canada Inc., a leading provider and marketer of packaged fruits, fruit snacks and vegetables in Canada, from an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners. The agreement includes the acquisition of all Del Monte branded packaged fruit, fruit snacks and vegetable products in Canada, as well as Aylmer tomato products. Del Monte fresh produce, juices, and Aylmer soups will remain under separate ownership.

"It will grow our position in North American tomato products, expand our vegetable product line and add packaged fruit and fruit snacks to our portfolio." The agreement also includes a manufacturing facility in Dresden, Ontario, and headquarters offices in Toronto, Ontario. Del Monte Canada has 190 employees and fiscal 2011 revenue of approximately $150 million. The transaction is subject to the satisfaction of closing conditions as well as applicable regulatory reviews. Financial terms were not disclosed.

For more on this story, please visit: http://nebraskaagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=38&yr=2012
 

 

State News

‘Nebraska gets $10.6M in farm-flood recovery funds’

(Sacramento Bee) Nebraska will receive $10.6 million in disaster funds to help farmers recover from flooding along the Missouri River.

The funds were part of $310 million in USDA funding announced Wednesday by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

About 100,000 acres of Nebraska farmland were affected by last summer's Missouri River flooding. The aid from two programs will help remove debris and sand left behind when the waters receded.

Dan Steinkruger, the executive director of the USDA's Farm Service Agency in Nebraska, says it could take some farmers years to restore their land.

For more on this story, please visit: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/18/4197261/nebraska-gets-106m-in-farm-flood.html#storylink=cpy
 

 

‘Changes sought to Nebraska wheat checkoff’

(Brownfield) A bill introduced in the Nebraska Unicameral would modify the structure of the state’s wheat checkoff.

The legislation, introduced by ag committee chair Tom Carlson of Holdrege, would allow the checkoff to be based on a percentage of total value rather than the current per bushel flat rate.

If implemented, the wheat checkoff would be set—at least initially—at one-half of one percent of the total value.

Nebraska Wheat Growers Association president Dayton Christensen of Big Springs says that would be a big improvement over the current one and one-quarter cents per bushel rate, where it’s been since 1989.
We’re the second lowest checkoff of all the states,” Christensen explains. “Over the last 20 years, we’ve had a steady decrease in acres planted (to wheat).”

For more on this story, please visit: http://brownfieldagnews.com/2012/01/18/changes-sought-to-nebraska-wheat-checkoff/
 

 

‘Governor's Ag Conference registration deadline nears’

(My Central Nebraska) Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) Director Greg Ibach is reminding all Nebraskans about the upcoming registration deadline for the 24th Annual Governor’s Ag Conference.

The Conference, scheduled for February 15-16, will be held at the Holiday Inn and Convention Center in Kearney. Early registration for the conference ends February 1.

“I encourage farmers, ranchers and agribusiness professionals to attend this informative event,” Ibach said. “It’s a great opportunity to get an outlook on the future of our industry.”

Speakers at this year’s Conference include a panel that will discuss connecting consumers with farmers and ranchers to share information about agricultural production. That panel consists of Willow Holoubek from the Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (A-FAN), Dawn Caldwell from Common Ground Nebraska and Pete McClymont with We Support Agriculture. Other featured speakers include Bruce Knight of Strategic Conservation Solutions, who will provide an update on the federal Farm Bill reauthorization. Dr. Archie Clutter with the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska will explain how the University is positioning itself to be a part of meeting the challenge of providing food to a growing world population. Bill Holbrook from The ProExporter Network will discuss the opportunities and challenges farmers will face in meeting that food production demand. This year’s keynote presentation will be delivered by John Doggett, senior lecturer of International Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainability as well as a senior research fellow at the University of Texas at Austin. He will discuss the role of Nebraska agriculture in the future global economy.

For more on this story, please visit: http://www.mycentralnebraska.com/pages/12030628.php?
 

 

‘Holdrege chamber wants support for ag’

(Kearney Hub) The Holdrege Area Chamber of Commerce wants Phelps County’s support to fight organizations that want to shut down livestock operations.

Chamber Director Michele Ehresman urged the Phelps County Board of Commissioners to sign a resolution supporting local farmers and ranchers at Tuesday’s regular meeting. Ehresman said one in three jobs in the state are tied to the agricultural industry. She also said that as of 2007, Phelps County was fourth in the state when ranking counties’ agricultural sales.

For more on this story, please visit: http://kearneyhub.com/news/local/article_4505a826-41fe-11e1-8e0b-0019bb2963f4.html


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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
PO Box 94947
Lincoln, NE 68509