News Update
Sept. 15, 2010

Vilsack Talks Trade, Death Tax, Environment and Antibiotics with NCBA Producers

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack addressed U.S. cattle producers from across the country in Washington, D.C., today (Sept. 15, 2010) as part of the 2010 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Legislative Conference. Secretary Vilsack reinforced the importance of U.S. agriculture to eradicating global hunger and providing one out of every 12 jobs in the United States. The Secretary quickly illustrated the importance the export market plays in sustaining U.S. agriculture in terms of profitability and jobs. USDA projects a $31 billion trade surplus next year, compared to a current $27 billion surplus. He said every $1 billion in surplus is equivalent to 8,000-9,000 jobs. Secretary Vilsack said many new opportunities for U.S. exports need to be identified, and existing trade barriers need to be resolved.

“We (USDA) are focused on developing new markets, especially where the middleclass population is expanding. We also need to break down unscientific trade barriers,” he said. “We also need to finalize these pending free trade agreements (Colombia, South Korea and Panama). “Hopefully, South Korea will be approved quickly.”

Many cattle producers expressed concern to the Secretary about the fact that less than 16 legislative days are left on the Congressional calendar until the estate tax reverts back to its staggering pre-2001 levels. If Congress doesn’t act, starting Jan. 1, 2011, farm estates worth $1 million will be taxed at a rate of 55%.

“We have to make sure the vast majority of agriculture is not impacted by the estate tax,” said Secretary Vilsack. “I believe that is the intent of Congress, although they haven’t done it yet. We will continue to push for that.”

The issue of unprecedented environmental regulations on dust proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was also an issue of concern for cattle producers. The Secretary said he accepts full responsibility for USDA but can’t speak for EPA. He said EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson is doing a tour of rural America and meeting with producers at his request.

“I told her you’ve got to get out and talk to producers. A lot of folks in this town have never been on a farm but assume they know the impact of regulations on agriculture. They really don’t know. They have to get out in the country,” said Secretary Vilsack. “They have to visit farms and ranches to understand modern agriculture. They have to make decisions that make sense.”

Perhaps the boldest statements made by the Secretary were in regards to antibiotics. The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) draft guidance document, “The Judicious Use of Medically Important Antimicrobial Drugs in Food-Producing Animals,” concerns cattle producers due to the lack of science. Cattle producers also expressed concerns over U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter’s (D-NY) Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act (PAMTA), which would phase out the use of some antibiotics in the livestock industry. The Secretary also expressed concerns.

“I’ve communicated to Rep. Slaughter, my support of the judicious use of antibiotics. The vast majority of producers do not abuse the use of antibiotics in livestock production. I told her you can not ban this. It doesn’t make sense,” Secretary Vilsack said. “USDA’s public position is, and always has been, that antibiotics need to be used judiciously, and we believe they already are.”

The 2010 Legislative Conference is sponsored by Elanco.

— Release by NCBA.

U.S. House Approves Agriculture Committee Passed Bills

The U.S. House of Representatives today approved The Mandatory Price Reporting Act of 2010 (S. 3656) and The Veterinary Services Investment Act (H.R. 3519).

The Mandatory Price Reporting Act of 2010 will reauthorize mandatory price reporting programs run by the USDA for five years. The Act requires livestock sales information to be reported and published in a timely fashion, allowing buyers and sellers to make more informed decisions.

“The transparent, timely and accurate market information provided by mandatory price reporting programs is a vital and necessary tool for agriculture producers,” Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson said.

The House Agriculture Committee passed mandatory price reporting legislation (H.R. 585 2) July 28. To ensure timely implementation, the House approved the identical Senate-passed bill. The Act now goes to the President’s desk for his signature.

The Veterinary Services Investment Act would establish a competitive grant program at USDA to support efforts to increase access to veterinary care in underserved areas.

“Rural areas are facing a critical and growing shortage of large animal veterinarians. These veterinarians are the first lines of defense against animal disease and a crucial player in ensuring the safety of our food. This bill will encourage veterinarians to serve these areas where their skills are needed,” Peterson said.

The Veterinary Services Investment Act now moves to the Senate for consideration.

— Release by U.S. House Committee on Agriculture.

New AgriLife Food Safety Initiative Announced

A new food safety initiative by Texas A&M AgriLife will address several key areas involving research, education and teaching.

“Our initial goal will be to enhance the visibility of our excellent food safety faculty and programs,” said Mark Hussey, vice chancellor and dean for agriculture and life sciences at Texas A&M University. “This increased emphasis will assess and prioritize our current programs, ultimately leveraging our existing strengths and interests to achieve greater impact nationally and beyond in food safety research, prevention and education.”

Core areas that will be addressed include prevention, intervention, economic analysis, policy and risk, training and communication, Hussey said.

The initiative follows work being done at the national level with the recent creation of the federal Food Safety Working Group, support from industry partners and heightened interest in food production and handling, Hussey said.

“With a growing worldwide population, food production must increase to meet these new demands,” Hussey said. “We must continue to look at how we guard against foodborne illness and other potential new threats through dedicated research programs.”

Gary Acuff has been appointed director for the Center for Food Safety, based at Texas A&M University in College Station, to lead the expanded food safety efforts.

“We have numerous scientists with excellent research programs in food safety but who also contribute to undergraduate and graduate courses in various areas of this discipline,” Acuff said. “We are already on the map with work being done in food safety, and with this new emphasis we have the potential for greater growth and new discoveries.”

Acuff currently is chairman of a 10-member committee for the National Research Council, which evaluates food safety requirements for the Federal Purchase Ground Beef Program.

Russell Cross will serve as interim department head for animal science at Texas A&M. He has held a number of administrative roles in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, including deputy vice chancellor and associate dean.

For more information about Texas A&M AgriLife, visit http://agrilife.tamu.edu/about/.

— Release by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.

Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board Public Listening Session Planned for Farm Science Review

The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s (ODA’s) Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board will hold a special listening session at Farm Science Review Sept. 21.

The session, open to the public, will be from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. in the Tobin Building on Beef Street of the exhibitor grounds. The purpose of the meeting is to provide educational outreach and seek input for the creation of livestock care standards.

Farm Science Review will take place Sept. 21-23 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center in London, Ohio.

The event is sponsored by the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, Ohio State University (OSU) Extension, and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. It attracts upwards of 140,000 visitors from all over the country and Canada, who come for three days to peruse 4,000 product lines from 600 commercial exhibitors, and learn the latest in agricultural research, conservation, family and nutrition, and gardening and landscape.

Farm Science Review pre-show tickets are now on sale for $5 at all OSU Extension county offices. Tickets will also be available at local agribusinesses. Tickets are $8 at the gate. Children 5 and younger are admitted free. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 21-22 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 23.

For more information, log on to http://fsr.osu.edu. For the latest news and updates, follow Farm Science Review on Twitter (www.twitter.com/OhioStateFSR), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/FarmScienceReview), and Ning (http://fsrosu.ning.com).

For additional information on the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board public listening session, contact Megumi Robinson, ODA public information officer at 614-387-0911. Visit www.ohiolivestockcarestandardsboard.org/ to learn more about the board.

— Release by OSU Extension.

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