News Update

News Update
April 5, 2007

Johanns Discusses 2007 Farm Bill Proposals

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today discussed details of several proposed 2007 farm bill changes that he says will streamline U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Rural Development programs and expand funding for rural health care and community facilities.

“During the Farm Bill Forums, our rural development programs got top grades across the country, but we think we can do even better,” Johanns said.

USDA is proposing funding to support a $1.6 billion loan program to help rehabilitate as well as update facilities and equipment at Rural Critical Access Hospitals. There are more than 1,200 such hospitals, located in exceedingly rural areas where hospital care is desperately needed because of distances between population centers.

To enhance basic rural infrastructure, the administration proposes infusing an additional $500 million to reduce the backlog of applications for rural development water and waste disposal grants and loans, emergency community water assistance grants, community facilities loan and grant programs that assist rural first responders, broadband access loans, and distance learning and telemedicine grants.

The administration also proposes consolidating several rural development legislative authorities to increase flexibility and efficiency.

These proposals represent the final phase of a nearly two-year process. To access the farm bill proposals, go to www.USDA.gov/farmbill.

— Release adapted from USDA.

ERS Releases Data

Rising fossil fuel prices and policy changes, including the passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, have created an environment where research development and investment in renewable energy sources have gained new momentum. Among renewable energy sources, bioenergy derived from plant materials has been one of the most rapidly growing sectors. In the United States at this time, ethanol (produced mainly from corn) is the largest source of bioenergy used as a fuel additive or substitute for petroleum fuel, while biodiesel (made from vegetable oils and fats) provides a smaller share of bioenergy. USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) has released information on related topics, including current estimates and projections of commodity supply, demand, and retail food prices. Further information and analyses describe conditions of the U.S. agricultural system, land use, rural communities, and the environment, and the impacts that bioenergy development may have on these areas.

Visit www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/Bioenergy/ for further information.

ERS has also released data analyzing turnover rates of farming operations. According to ERS, farming, like other businesses, exhibits high turnover, with many thousands of existing farms going out of business each year. As in other industries, new farm businesses enter at a high rate and new entrants subsequently exit at high rates, irrespective of the size of the farm or the age of the operator. Exit rates fall as businesses age to 5-9 years old, and then fall again, although modestly, for more experienced farm businesses. Experience seems to provide an important advantage to well-established businesses that can learn quickly and efficiently.

Visit www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/April07/Features/Experience.htm to view the report in its entirety.

— Information provided by ERS.

RFD-TV Broadcasts Liver Fluke Roundtable

RFD-TV will show a special one-hour broadcast featuring a panel of industry experts gathered to discuss the spread of liver flukes, the risk flukes pose and the impact on the industry. The roundtable will be broadcast live, Monday, April 23, at 8 p.m. Eastern time, 7 p.m. Central time.

Experts will share diverse experiences and offer producers tips on how to minimize the risk. The panel members will include Dr. Clint Krehbiel, ruminant nutritionist, Oklahoma State University; Dr. Doug Kirkpatrick, Southwest Veterinary Clinic, Elgin, Okla.; and Dr. James Hawkins, Parasitologist and Associate Director Merial Veterinary Professional Services.

Questions will be fielded by the panel of experts; to ask a question during the live broadcast call 1-866-547-9696.

RFD-TV is carried by DIRECTV, Channel 379; Dish Network, Channel 231; and Mediacom, Channel 78. The program will be rebroadcast Tuesday, April 24, at 4 a.m. Eastern time and 12 p.m. Eastern time; and Sunday, April 29, at 3 a.m. Eastern time.

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