News Update
October 31, 2014
Country of Origin Labeling Reform Coalition Sends Letter to Congress Asking for Immediate Action
To the members of the United States Congress:
“The undersigned stakeholders are gravely concerned about the negative impact that the existing U.S. mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) rule for muscle cuts of meat will have on the U.S. economy. On Oct. 20, 2014, a World Trade Organization (WTO) Compliance Panel released a report determining that the rule violates obligations the United States has undertaken as a member of the WTO with regard to our two largest export markets, Canada and Mexico. While there is an opportunity for the United States to appeal this decision, final adjudication should occur in early 2015. At that time, if the Compliance Panel’s original findings are found to be valid, both Canada and Mexico could subject an array of U.S. exports to retaliatory tariffs. A finding of non-compliance would surely result in serious economic harm to U.S. firms and farmers that export to our neighbors.
“Canada has already issued a preliminary retaliation list targeting a broad spectrum of commodities and manufactured products that will affect every state in the country. Mexico has not yet announced a preliminary retaliation list, but has implemented retaliatory tariffs in the past, which may be indicative of future tariff opportunities. It is expected that U.S. industries would suffer billions in lost sales if retaliation is allowed. We invite you to review the state-by-state retaliatory analysis available at www.COOLReform.com.
“Given the negative impact on the U.S. manufacturing and agriculture economies, we respectfully submit that it would be intolerable for the United States to maintain, even briefly, a rule that has been deemed non-compliant by the WTO. With little potential for quick Congressional action after a WTO final adjudication, we request that Congress immediately authorize and direct the Secretary of Agriculture to rescind elements of COOL that have been determined to be non-compliant with international trade obligations by a final WTO adjudication. Such action by Congress would not undermine COOL to the extent COOL is consistent with international trade obligations nor would it weaken the U.S. defense of COOL in WTO litigation.
“Thank you for your attention to this very important matter and for protecting American food production, agriculture and manufacturing from economic harm.”
New Midwest Cover Crops Guide Available to
Help Growers Improve Water Quality, Soil Quality
Soil researchers and educators from the Ohio State University (OSU) College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences have collaborated on a newly updated Midwest Cover Crops Guide that can help growers learn how to improve the state’s water quality while improving soil health, increasing yields, lowering input costs and earning higher farm income.
Adding cover crops to field-crop production can not only improve soil health, it can also benefit the environment, increase water quality and lower production costs, said Jim Hoorman, an OSU Extension educator and an assistant professor studying cover crops, soil health and water quality issues.
Hoorman, along with OSU Extension educators Rafiq Islam, Alan Sundermeier, Curtis Young, Sarah Noggle and Randall Reeder and researchers from the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, assisted agronomists and researchers with the Midwest Cover Crops Council in revising the cover crops guide. The Midwest Cover Crops Council also includes members from several universities, including Ohio State, Hoorman said.
With all the increased interest in the impact of nitrogen and phosphorus on watersheds that drain into Lake Erie, this guide can offer really good insight to farmers on some of the benefits of using cover crops and how to grow them, Hoorman said.
The question of whether agriculture can significantly reduce off-site movement of soluble nutrients can be addressed through the use of cover crops, Hoorman said.
Experts say soluble phosphorus runoff from farms is an important cause of harmful algal blooms plaguing Lake Erie and other lakes in recent years. In August, a toxic bloom in western Lake Erie led to a two-day drinking-water ban in Toledo.
“Cover-crop roots improve water infiltration and reduce nutrient and water runoff,” he said. “Growers who plant cover crops and vegetative systems in agriculture will also find that it can tie up phosphorus in a stable phosphorus form that remains in the soil, which can increase phosphorus use efficiency.”
Ohio soil test data using phosphorus speciation shows that phosphorus is tied up by calcium, magnesium, iron oxides and aluminum oxides, Hoorman said.
The Midwest Cover Crops Guide, second edition, is now available for $5 and can be purchased from OSU Extension county offices and through the Midwest Cover Crops Council at www.mccc.msu.edu.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Farm Bill Informational Programs to be
Nov. 10 and 17 in South Central Texas
Farmers and landowners in South Central Texas will have an opportunity to learn more about the 2014 Farm Bill during informational programs to be presented by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Nov. 10 and 17.
The programs are free and open to the public. Both will take place from 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m. with registration beginning at 6 p.m.
The Nov. 10 meeting will be hosted at Lubianski Grain and Store, 13636 Farm-to-Market Road in St. Hedwig. The Nov. 17 meeting will be hosted at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 15825 Bexar St. in La Coste.
“At the meetings, AgriLife Extension specialists will discuss the economic implications of the farm bill and demonstrate an online decision-aid tool developed by the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University to help producers evaluate program choices,” said Roy Flora, AgriLife Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources, Bexar County.
Flora said Brian Hanson, USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) executive director in Bexar County, will discuss current and upcoming programs at both the St. Hedwig and La Coste programs.
Robert Hogan, AgriLife Extension economist based in Uvalde, will explain general farm program provisions, including producers’ selection of the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) or Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC.) The presentation will also cover any base reallocation and yield options available, plus identify the data needed to complete the decision-making process. It will also provide attendees with deadlines and other pertinent information.
“Sign-up is already underway for base reallocation and yield updates, and sign-up for PLC and ARC starts soon,” Flora said. “These decisions need to be taken seriously because they will affect producers’ operations for at least the next five years.”
Attendees are asked to preregister for these programs by contacting Angel Torres at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office in Bexar County at 210-467-6575 or matorres@ag.tamu.edu.
“The decision aid simplifies the analysis needed to choose between the PLC and ARC coverages, as well as providing insight into complementary crop insurance alternatives,” Flora said. “This Farm Bill requires that producers obtain and assess a good amount data in order to make educated decisions.”
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
Online Registration Open for AFBF’s 96th
Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show
Online registration is now open for the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) 96th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show, which will be hosted Jan. 10-14, 2015, in San Diego.
Before registering online at http://bit.ly/1teZWw4, farmer and rancher members should check with their state Farm Bureau office to see if they have already been registered. The full Farm Bureau member registration fee is $100 and includes the IDEAg Trade Show and Young Farmer & Rancher competitive events (Saturday, Jan. 10 through Monday, Jan. 12), general sessions, workshops and the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture Silent Auction.
Nonmembers may pay $10 in advance for a one-day registration to attend the IDEAg Trade Show and Foundation Silent Auction on Saturday, Jan. 10.
“The 96th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show offers a preview of the future of agriculture,” said John Hawkins, AFBF’s senior director of conventions and events. “The IDEAg Interconnectivity Conference, thought-provoking educational workshops, and precision agriculture and technology displays will provide exciting opportunities for attendees to get a sneak peek at what’s next in agriculture.”
About 7,000 Farm Bureau members from across the nation are expected to gather for the convention, where they will hear from distinguished leaders and participate in a grassroots policy-setting process that will guide the AFBF through 2015.
AFBF President Bob Stallman will give his annual “State of Farm Bureau” address to members at the opening general session of the convention on Jan. 11. On Jan. 12, Commander Rorke Denver will give the general session keynote address, and acclaimed late night TV host Jay Leno will give the closing session keynote address.
Visit http://annualconvention.fb.org for news and updates.
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