News Update

News Update
May 9, 2008

Farm Bill Makes Debut Amid a Likely Veto

The Farm Bill Conference Committee, consisting of members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, debuted its version of the Farm Bill late Thursday, allocating $300 billion toward the legislation.

Although specific Farm Bill language may not be available until Monday morning, both the House and Senate said they expect to move the bill to floor votes Wednesday, May 14, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) reported. Once it reaches the floor, it cannot be amended and can only be voted upon, according to NCBA.

Of Farm Bill funds, 73% would go to nutrition programs; 16% toward commodity programs, crop insurance and disaster programs; and 7% would go toward conservation programs.

According to NCBA, conservation programs received additional funding, with a total of $4.4 billion dedicated to the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The Wetlands Reserve Program will also get an additional $1.3 million.

The committee put an adjusted gross income cap on who could receive conservation funding, drawing the line at those who make $1 million who are not considered farmers. For those who derive at least two-thirds of their income from farming activities, there is no conservation program income cap.

The commodity programs, however, feature an income cap for all commodity payments of $500,000 for non-farmers and $750,000 for farmers.

NCBA reports that the energy title boasted a blenders’ credit for ethanol, set at 45¢ per gallon, and additional energy funds were included for cellulose and other biomass energy development. The 54¢-per-gallon tariff on imported ethanol was extended for another two years.

Meanwhile, Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer expressed his displeasure with the proposal, saying the President will veto the bill since the House and Senate version fails to include much-needed reform and increases spending by almost $20 billion.

“For a year and a half, the Administration has been consistently clear that Congress needs to move forward with a good Farm Bill that the President can sign. They have failed to do so,” Schafer said in a statement Thursday. “This legislation lacks meaningful farm program reform and expands the size and scope of government. I have visited face to face with our President and he was direct and plain. The President will veto this bill.”

Schafer said, “At a time of record farm income, Congress decided to further increase farm subsidy rates, qualify more people for taxpayer support, and move programs toward more government control.”

AVMA Releases Animal Welfare Brochure

Amidst animal welfare violations, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has released a new brochure describing its philosophy regarding animal welfare.

The brochure, titled “Animal welfare: Seeing the forest and the trees,” is geared primarily for veterinary students and is available at www.avma.org/issues. It states that science and ethics should be the basis of decision about animal welfare as well as a whole-system approach and careful consideration of the consequences of decisions.”

The brochure encourages veterinary students to seek out additional information about animal welfare from sources such as the AVMA web site, serve on organization entities, and participate in Intercollegiate Animal Welfare Judging and Assessment Competition.

— Adapted from an AVMA release.

Hurricane preparation exercise set May 13

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in coordination with local partners, is hosting a hurricane preparation and response exercise May 13 in the New Orleans, La., area. The exercise is designed to rehearse the Corps’ response plan and improve coordination.

Behind-the-scenes emergency response teams will also be faced with various simulated emergencies to practice reactions to unforeseen crises and refine response times.

Live Webcast Available May 16

Farmers, ranchers and others interested in adding to the bottom line by implementing certain manure management practices are invited to be part of a live online presentation May 16. The program, viewable at http://connect.extension.iastate.edu/lpelc/ will begin at 1:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time.

The web meeting room opens 15 minutes before the start time. Three presenters will give an overview of market-based conservation and experiences from two programs.

One program generates carbon credit revenue with methane capture covers on manure lagoons and storage facilities. The other is the New York City watershed program, where upstate farmers are paid to implement best management practices to protect the New York City water supply.

The webcast will end with a discussion of what is needed to promote market-based conservation in the United States. The webcast is produced by eXtension, an educational partnership of cooperative Extension services throughout the United States of which Kansas State University (K-State) Research and Extension is a part.

All information, including archived monthly webcasts from the past year, is on www.eXtension.org under the resource area animal manure management. Another webcast will be available June 20 on nutrient management for small-scale farms. The webcasts are approved for one continuing education unit [(CEU), each] as part of the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) program. To receive CEUs, view a live or archived webcast, complete an evaluation (if available) and contact ARPAS at 217-356-5390.

— Release provided by K-State Research & Extension.

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