News Update
December 15, 2014
Joint Statement by NCBA and PLC on Senate Passage of Funding Bill
The $1.1 trillion omnibus package passed by the Senate Dec. 13 had several strong wins for the cattle industry. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Bob McCan and Public Lands Council (PLC) President Brenda Richards remarked on Senate Passage of 2015 Funding Legislation:
“We greatly appreciate Congress’ passage of this important legislation, which contained a number of critical provisions that will support the viability of our industry for the year to come. The bill made a major step in addressing over-burdensome regulation from the EPA by withdrawing the Interpretative Rule as part of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) proposed regulation. The rule, which attempts to clarify farming and ranching provisions under the Clean Water (Act), adds uncertainty rather than explanation for landowners and threatens fines of up to $37,500 per day. While not a complete fix, this is a critical step in addressing the strong concerns farmers and ranchers have with this regulation.
“Viable public lands and the ranchers who lease those acres are critical not only to the cattle industry, but to the preservation of those lands for multiple use, wildlife habitat, and wildfire prevention and suppression. The bill kept ranchers in the West on the land, holding budgets for the BLM and Forest Service level, despite the president’s request to cut funding for federal grazing and range programs.
“There is language included that prevents the Interior Department from listing the sage grouse under the Endangered Species Act for the fiscal year and the additional funding to continue sage grouse conservation efforts is important to prevent a future listing of the bird. Listing the sage grouse would take the most successful natural resource stewards — ranchers — off the land.
“The bill also contained continued assurance on a number of environmental regulations. Specifically, the bill prevents funding for the EPA to require cattle producers to obtain greenhouse gas permits for livestock and to prevent mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from manure management systems.
“The passage by both the House and Senate is a clear message that Congress supports our industry and is willing to put a stop [to] the overzealous Administration and their attempt to take production agriculture off the land.”
Beermann to Lead Animal Science Department at Iowa State University
Animal scientist Donald Beermann has been named the chair of the Department of Animal Science at Iowa State University (ISU).
Beermann, a former animal science professor at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL), will begin his new duties Jan. 5. His last position at UNL was interim director of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and interim associate dean of the professional program in veterinary medicine, and he led the UNL animal science department from 1999 to 2007. Last year he was inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement.
“Dr. Beermann’s experiences have prepared him well for this role. I look forward to working with him to further advance the Department of Animal Science,” said Wendy Wintersteen, endowed dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Beermann grew up on a farm near Denison, and is an Iowa State alumnus, earning a bachelor’s degree in animal science in 1971. Beermann went on to earn a master’s degree in meat and animal science and a doctorate in muscle biology and human physiology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1974 and 1976.
Beermann succeeds Maynard Hogberg, who has served as chair since 2003. Hogberg announced his retirement in 2013, and continued to serve as chair.
“Since his retirement announcement, Maynard has received numerous awards recognizing his great success as department chair and his leadership to the livestock and poultry industry in Iowa. I thank Dr. Hogberg for his leadership and service to the department, the college, ISU and Iowa,” Wintersteen said.
USDA Seeks Public Comment on New Environmental Quality Incentives Program Rule
The USDA is publishing a rule that outlines how it will improve the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), one of USDA’s largest conservation programs. The interim final rule includes program changes authorized by Congress in the 2014 Farm Bill.
USDA has established a 60-day comment period for the rule. The rule is expected to be available in the Federal Register and www.regulations.gov on Friday, Dec. 12. Beginning Friday, public comments can be submitted through http://regulations.gov or by mailing them. Comments are due by Feb. 10, 2015. Full details are in the Federal Register notice.
“This interim final rule provides a roadmap to help streamline and simplify EQIP for farmers and ranchers,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. “We strongly encourage agricultural producers, private forest landowners and stakeholders to provide comments on our implementation processes. This feedback will help us improve our operation and deliver technical and financial assistance more efficiently to our nation’s agricultural producers and forest landowners.”
The changes are intended to simplify the EQIP regulation regarding conservation practice scheduling, payment limitations and other administrative actions. Vilsack said USDA has enhanced EQIP by streamlining the delivery of technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers and forest landowners nationwide.
Highlights of program changes in this rule include the following:
- Requires at least 5% of available EQIP funds be targeted for conservation practices that promote wildlife habitat;
- Establishes EQIP as a contributing program for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program;
- Increases the advanced payment from 30% to 50% for eligible historically underserved producers, including beginning farmers, to help purchase material or contract services;
- Targets assistance to veteran farmers and ranchers including eligibility for the new 50% advance payment and up to 90% of the cost to implement EQIP conservation practices;
- Increases the payment limitation for EQIP from $300,000 to a maximum of $450,000 for benefits received during 2014-2018 and removes the option for a waiver to exceed payment limitations;
- Eliminates the requirement for a program contract to remain in place for one year after the last practice has been implemented, allowing practices to be scheduled through the tenth year of a contract;
- Includes an option to waive the irrigation history requirement under certain conditions;
- Incorporates the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program functions into EQIP.
This rule follows the publication of the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) interim final rule in the Federal Register on November 5. USDA is also seeking comments for the CSP rule.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Texas A&M Introduces Master’s of Agriculture Degree with Emphasis on Meat Industry
Students seeking a master’s degree of agriculture in animal science at Texas A&M University now have the ability to choose to follow a curriculum specifically designed to emphasize the meat industry, according to officials.
The new emphasis for the degree plan provides students who have a bachelor’s degree in supplemental coursework and practical experience through internships to prepare for a variety of careers in, and for future leadership of, the U.S. meat industry.
“The meat science program at Texas A&M is one of the leading programs of its kind in the nation. As such, we have a proven record of success focusing on the preparation of young scientists to conduct research, perform food-quality safety functions, and initiate product-development efforts,” said Russell Cross, head of animal science.
“By expanding the existing master’s of agriculture in animal science to include an emphasis on the meat industry, the meat science program is broadening and enhancing the knowledge of young people who wish to enter the professional workforce of the U.S. meat production, processing and sales industry as supervisory or middle-management personnel.”
The master of agriculture with an emphasis on the meat industry program will focus on the process of accelerating the climb up the corporate management ladder by exposing students to the tutelage of veteran industry experts with records of previous industry success, said Gary Smith, visiting professor and chair of the new degree program’s executive committee.
Students will be required to complete 36 hours of coursework in meat science, management, marketing, communication and leadership, and two short-term professional internships within the meat industry customized to meet specific student career interests. Students can complete a graduate certificate in meat science as a component of this degree plan.
“Through collaboration with our colleagues in the departments of agricultural economics, agricultural leadership, management, marketing and poultry science, students will be fundamentally exposed to interpersonal communication and employee management skills development. This will enhance their ability to relate to and supervise employees under their direction upon achieving full-time employment.”
For more information, please view the full release here.
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