News Update

News Update
May 16, 2008

House and Senate pass Farm Bill by wide margin

The House of Representatives late Wednesday passed the 2007 Farm Bill by a 318-to-106 vote, indicating the possibility of enough congressional support to garner the two-thirds majority needed to override a presidential veto.

“The House passage of the Farm Bill conference report on a strong, bipartisan basis demonstrates support for core Farm Bill initiatives,” Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) said in a statement.

The House passed the measure with the two-thirds majority needed to override a presidential veto, so did the Senate on an 81-to-15 vote on Thursday.

Strong bi-partisan support that fueled the wide-margin passage by both houses of Congress fairly ensures enactment, regardless of veto threats by President Bush.

The legislation includes a livestock title that puts mandatory country-of-origin labeling (sometimes referred to as COL or COOL) into effect on Sept. 30, 2008.

Among other things, it also gives swine and poultry producers the ability to litigate contract disputes locally and allows some state-inspected meat to cross state lines.

Vote results posted on the Senate web site showed that four senators did not vote, including all three presidential candidates.

— Article provided by Meatingplace.com.

Statement by Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer on House Passage of the Farm Bill Conference Report

“For over a year, Congress has had the opportunity to work with the Administration to craft a farm bill that delivers reform to outdated, costly farm programs while strengthening the safety net and adhering to fiscal discipline in a time of nationwide economic challenge. Instead, Congress chose a different path, and today they passed a bloated, earmark-laden bill that spends nearly $20 billion over its original cost and continues to balance subsidy payments to the wealthy on the backs of the middle class taxpayer.

“The bill passed [Wednesday] is a farm bill in name only. It does not target help for the farmers who really need it, and it increases the size and cost of government while jeopardizing the future of legitimate farm programs by damaging the credibility of farm bills in general. At a time of record-setting income for farmers, it sends the wrong message to the rest of the country who are not experiencing the boom of the agriculture sector. This bill is loaded with taxpayer-funded pet projects at a time when Americans are struggling to buy groceries and afford gas to get to work.

“Eight months behind schedule, Congress will send a bill to the President that is trade-distorting and fails to provide meaningful reform to the adjusted gross income limit, beneficial interest or the international food aid program. However it is better late than never for the beneficiaries of the massive earmarks in this bill, like the $170 million for the salmon fishermen on the West Coast, or $250 million for a single entity land buy in Montana, just to name a few.

“Reckless spending like this is not what farm bills should be about. Congress had a real chance to implement reform and strengthen farm programs for the next decade. This reform could have allowed for savings to be reinvested in future agriculture needs, such as energy and research. Instead, they decided to spend billions upon billions of taxpayer dollars to grow government and invest in the tired status quo.”

— Release provided by USDA.

Weis Markets goes local with Pennsylvania beef offering

Weis Markets on Wednesday introduced its new Pennsylvania Proud Choice Angus Beef program, sourcing from Angus producers throughout Pennsylvania.

The Sunbury, Pa.-based company said it is the nation’s first locally raised beef program offered by a supermarket chain, as well as the first branded Pennsylvania Angus program.

“Buying local is one of the hottest trends in food today, but it’s been a hot trend for us since 1912,” Weis Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Norman Rich said in a statement. “Our Pennsylvania Proud Choice Angus Beef is the logical extension of our commitment to buying and selling Pennsylvania’s best products.”

Pennsylvania Proud Choice Angus beef is grain-fed, hand-carved and aged a minimum of 20 days. The program features a full line of roasts, steaks, tenderloins and ground beef.

Weis operates 157 stores in five states, including Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and West Virginia.

May proclaimed Missouri Beef Month

Governor Matt Blunt issued a proclamation Wednesday that May is Missouri Beef Month. Missouri Beef Industry Council executive director John Kleibocher says it’s a great time to be thinking about our state’s largest agricultural industry — beef production, “The grass is beginning to grow, a lot of brand new baby calves are on the ground so, if you will, we’re actually starting a new year in beef production here in Missouri. On the other side of the business is that May, which includes Memorial Day coming up in a couple of weeks, is typically the month where summer grilling starts.” He says that’s the time when Americans begin consuming the bulk of their beef for the year.

The state’s beef industry, Kleibocher adds, has been challenged in recent years by droughts and ice storms, and, like all of agriculture, is affected by higher input costs. Kleibocher says the effects are noticeable, “What we’re beginning to see is a downturn in terms of cow numbers. It’s already beginning to cause people to liquidate their herds and not keep replacement heifers back. So, we’re watching that very, very closely as a trend.”

But, he says, the Missouri beef industry is still strong — in fact, every county of the state has cattle and so does one of our larger cities. “There’s not a lot — but there are a handful of cattle that are actually documented in the city of Saint Louis.” Saint Louis is incorporated and is not part of Saint Louis County.

— Release provided by Brownfield Network

— compiled by Mathew Elliott, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.