News Update
Sept. 24, 2009

Senators Defend Biofuels from EPA Regulation

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) this week introduced legislation that would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from proceeding with regulations limiting the production and use of biofuels required by Congress’ 2007 energy bill, according to Meatingplace.com.

The EPA regulations would calculate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions created by biofuels, including changes in land use in other countries, such as clearing land for crops caused by increased production of biofuels in the United States.

The proposed amendment would prohibit the EPA, for one year, from spending funds to include international indirect land use, change emissions in calculations to implement the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS).

The senators argue that data and analytic methodologies for credibly calculating international indirect land use change emissions do not exist and that including them in the EPA’s rule would put an unjust burden on the biofuels industry.

The public comment period ends Sept. 25 on the EPA rules.

— Information provided by Meatingplace.com.

Ag Secretary Vilsack Announces Major Initiative for Mississippi River Basin

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a new initiative to improve water quality and the overall health of the Mississippi River Basin. The Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI) will provide approximately $320 million over the next four years for voluntary projects in priority watersheds located in 12 key states. Participation in this initiative, which will be managed by U.S. Department Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), will be made available through a competitive process for potential partners at the local, State and national levels.

Secretary Vilsack’s announcement can be viewed online at www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Rwi5rJ3eNE.

For information about the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative, including eligibility requirements, please visit www.nrcs.usda.gov or your USDA Service Center.

Animal Welfare Symposium Takes Shape Oct. 16

As animal agriculture comes under scrutiny and animal welfare issues are hotly debated, the time to become educated to proactively address animal welfare issues is now.

To better understand and proactively address farm animal welfare issues, the Department of Animal Sciences and the College of Veterinary Medicine are holding an Animal Welfare Symposium, “Building Partnerships to Address Animal Agriculture,” on Friday, Oct. 16, at the university’s Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Dr., Columbus, Ohio 43210. Well-known animal welfare experts and social scientists from around the world will discuss the scientific, ethical, legal and social contexts embedded in the animal welfare debate.

The event is designed for food animal producers, consumers, veterinarians, and anyone with an interest in food animal production and products or sustainable animal agriculture.

More event details and registration information is available online at http://vet.osu.edu/AnimalWelfareSymposium.

For more information, contact Melissa Weber, director of communications and marketing for the College of Veterinary Medicine, at 614-292-3752 or weber.254@osu.edu.

Ammoniated straw: Still a good source of feed for stock cows?

Rick Rasby, University of Nebraska Lincoln (UNL) professor, says ammoniated straw remains a good feed source, but the price of ammoniation has not been economical. “The ammoniation process is a temperature-dependent process and when done in July, the straw needs to be sealed for about a week. This time of year, the straw will need to be air-tight for three to four weeks. That poses some challenges. Read more.

Study Shows Americans Most Concerned about Economy, but Food Safety Earns Rank

Economic issues continue to top the list of consumer concerns according to the most recent consumer survey by the Center for Food Integrity (CFI). The U.S. economy, rising energy costs, rising cost of food, rising health care costs and personal financial situation rated the highest level of concern among 11 current issues. Concern about global warming received the lowest rating.

Food safety was the highest rated non-economic issue for the second consecutive year, and again rated higher than consumer concern over military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Complete survey results will be released at the CFI 2009 Food System Summit, Oct. 6-7 in Kansas City. The Summit is open to the public. Registration information is available at www.foodintegrity.org.

A total of 2,018 consumer surveys (sampling error at 95% confidence level +/- 2.2%) were collected via a web survey in August and September 2009.

— compiled by Crystal Albers, Angus Productions Inc.