News Update

News Update
Aug. 9, 2006

U.S. Beef Returns to Japan

More than five tons of U.S. beef passed inspection at Tokyo’s Narita airport yesterday, marking the first shipment of its kind since Japan halted U.S. beef imports Jan. 20 due to a shipment containing banned material.

According to Reuters, the 340 boxes of beef produced by Cargill Meat Solutions in Fort Morgan, Colo., arrived in Tokyo Monday and was expected to line store shelves this week.

Both the Japanese Health Ministry and Agriculture Ministry inspected the shipment, finding no violation of import requirements.

Japan announced July 27 it would resume imports of U.S. beef from cattle 20 months of age and younger. However, several news organizations report Japanese consumers remain weary of U.S. product.

Government Funds Project for Bioenergy Fuels Research

Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman and Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) have awarded nine grants totaling $5.7 million for biobased fuels research that will accelerate the development of alternative fuel resources.

USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) and DOE’s Office of Biological and Environmental Research (OBER) awarded the grants. The research projects will focus on poplar, alfalfa, sorghum, wheat and other grasses.

This is the first year CSREES and OBER have solicited competitive grants in this joint program. DOE is funding six projects for a total of nearly $3.9 million. USDA granted more than $1.8 million to fund three projects. Initial funding will support research projects for up to three years.

Awards have been given to Purdue University, Indiana, $1.4 million; The Noble Foundation, Oklahoma, $800,000; Texas A&M University, $800,000; USDA-Agricultural Research Service (ARS), University of Wisconsin, $333,000; Carnegie Institute of Washington, $359,100; Brookhaven National Laboratory, New York, $300,000; North Carolina State University, $700,000; Kansas State University, $700,000; and the University of Georgia, $445,000.

Visit www.csrees.usda.gov for more information.

Second Series of Listening Sessions Planned

The Secretaries of Agriculture, Interior and Commerce; the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); and the Chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality yesterday announced the dates and locations of the second set of listening sessions on cooperative conservation and environmental partnerships.

These sessions are scheduled at the following locations:

Omaha, Neb., 1 p.m., Aug. 24, Qwest Center Omaha-Convention Center Junior Ballroom. Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service Dale Hall will attend.
Muncie, Ind., 10 a.m., Aug. 26, Horizon Convention Center Exhibition Hall. Deputy Secretary of the Interior Lynn Scarlett will attend.
Fairbanks, Alaska, 10 a.m., Aug. 28, The Carlson Center. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne will attend.
Colorado Springs, Colo., 9 a.m., Sept. 15, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, the Gymnasium. USDA Undersecretary, Natural Resources and Environment, Mark Rey will attend.
Brewer, Maine, 4 p.m., Sept. 20, Jeff’s Catering Banquet and Convention Center. Kempthorne will attend.
Brunswick, Ga., 1 p.m., Sept. 21, Coastal Georgia Community College, Southeast Georgia Conference Center. Hall will attend.
Colton, Calif., 10 a.m., Sept. 28, Colton High School Auditorium. Kempthorne will attend.

The listening sessions will give citizens an opportunity to exchange ideas on incentives, partnership programs, and regulations that can improve results and promote cooperative conservation and environmental partnerships.

The meetings will include discussion topics such as:How can the federal government enhance wildlife habitat, species protection, and other conservation outcomes through regulatory and voluntary conservation programs?
How can the federal government enhance cooperation among federal agencies and with states, tribes and local communities in the application of environmental protection and conservation laws?
How can the federal government work with states, tribes and other public- and private-sector partners to improve science used in environmental protection and conservation?
How can the federal government work cooperatively with businesses and landowners to protect the environment and promote conservation?
How can the federal government better respect the interests of people with ownership in land, water, and other natural resources?

— compiled by Crystal Albers, associate editor, Angus Productions Inc.