News Update
Dec. 31, 2008

Mexico Reinstates Five More U.S. Meat Plants

Mexico has agreed to resume imports from five more U.S. meat plants, bringing to 25 the number of reinstated plants out of 30 that were delisted last week, a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) spokeswoman confirmed to Meatingplace.com.

Mexico relisted the plants after approving their corrective action plans. Product from these plants harvested, cut, processed or packed before Dec. 23 and after Dec. 26 are now eligible for export:

• Tyson Fresh Meats plant in Columbus Junction, Iowa
  
• Moyer Packing Co. plant in Souderton, Penn.
  
• Trim-Rite Food plant in Carpenterville, Ill.
  
• John Morrell and Co. plant in Sioux City, Iowa
  
• Seaboard Foods plant in Guymon, Okla.
  

USDA spokeswoman Laura Reiser said USDA is in the process of submitting corrective action plans for two more of the delisted plants, which it anticipates Mexico will approve.

— Release provided by Meatingplace.com.

American Agri-Women has Two College Scholarships Available

American Agri-Women (AAW) provides two scholarships for farm, ranch or agribusiness women or their daughters, to pursue accredited courses in ag leadership, communications, rural sociology, medicine or any other courses directly related to agriculture.

• The Jean Ibendahl Scholarship was initiated in 1991 by AAW member and educator Jean Ibendahl. It is available to high school graduates and women aged 18-23.
• The Sister Thomas More Bertels Scholarship was begun in 1991 to honor a founding mother of AAW. It is available to women who are returning students in agriculture and are 24 years old or older.

Each scholarship is for $500, to be used for tuition. An applicant must be a farmer, rancher or be the wife, daughter or other close relative of a farmer, rancher or other person employed in agriculture. She must have knowledge of or work experience in agriculture and show an economic or financial need. Grade Point Average (GPA) or placement scores on tests are considered.

Applications for each of the scholarships are due by June 1 of each year. A copy of the applications and the submission information may be found on the AAW web site, www.americanagriwomen.org. For more information, contact Marcie Williams, president, at president@americanagriwomen.org.

— Release provided by AAW.

USDA Proposes to Require Five-Year Terms for Registration

The USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) proposes to amend the regulations under the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act regarding the registration of market agencies and dealers.  Under the proposed rule, persons registered as dealers or market agencies under the P&S Act would be registered for five-year terms. Upon expiration of the five-year term, registrants would be required to renew their registration. Under the proposed regulation, a registration that is not renewed in a timely manner would expire after five years.

The proposed rule will allow GIPSA to maintain more accurate records and be more effective and efficient in enforcing the P&S Act. When applying for registration, the applicant must certify that its financial condition meets the P&S Act’s requirements, list its type of business organization, whether it will operate on a calendar year or fiscal year basis, and identify the character of its business and the species of livestock it will handle. Under current regulations, if a registration is granted it is effective indefinitely. Requiring registration renewal would give GIPSA periodic updates on whether entities are still operating and the type of operation being conducted. This will enable GIPSA to better manage the oversight of its pool of regulated entities.

The proposed rule was published in the Dec. 16, 2008, Federal Register. GIPSA is accepting public comments received by Feb. 17, 2009.  Additional information is available in GIPSA’s Federal Register notice.

The P&S Act is a fair trade practice and payment protection law that promotes fair and competitive marketing environments for the livestock, meat, and poultry industries.

— Release provided by GIPSA.

New Winter Wheat Ready for Prime Time

Anton, a hard white winter wheat cultivar developed by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) scientists, is now available for production in the Northern Plains region as a source of high-quality flour for bread, noodles and other baked goods.

Anton is the product of 15 years of selective breeding and evaluation by scientists with ARS’ Grain, Forage and Bioenergy Research Unit and UNL’s Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station (NAES), both at Lincoln, Neb.

It has reduced levels of the enzyme polyphenol oxidase (PPO). Low PPO levels in wheat correlate to improved end-use quality, especially color in noodles. White wheat flour also has a milder flavor than red wheat flour, such as in whole-grain breads.

During 2007 trials conducted by NAES, Anton averaged 50 bushels per acre compared to 57, 53 and 54 bushels for, respectively, Millennium, Jagalene and Wesley, Nebraska’s top three winter wheats. Anton’s lower PPO levels also meant noodles made from its flour sustained fewer color and brightness changes during a 24-hour evaluation period.

Anton grows to about 31 inches tall. It is somewhat resistant to stem and leaf rust diseases, moderately susceptible to stripe rust, and tolerates wheat soilborne mosaic virus.

UNL’s Foundation Seed Division is handling requests for seeds of Anton. ARS is a scientific research agency of the USDA.

— Release provided by ARS.

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