News Update
December 14, 2011
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack Makes
Statement to Clarify DOL Child Labor Proposal
Recently, there has been some concern and confusion in rural America over the Department of Labor (DOL) proposed regulations on child labor, and I’d like to help clarify how this regulation will impact our farmers. We all know that kids benefit from good, old-fashioned farm work. It’s a longtime way of life that has helped make this country strong, and it teaches kids lessons that last a lifetime.
However, statistics show that while only 4% of working youth are in the agriculture sector, 40% of fatalities of working kids are associated with machines, equipment or facilities related to agriculture. That’s way too high. We don’t want to blur the line between teaching kids about a good day’s hard work, and putting them in situations more safely handled by adults.
First, it is important to know that DOL is not proposing any changes to how a son or daughter can help on their family farm. There is nothing in the proposed rule that affects the ability of parents and families to assign chores and tasks to their children. Further, the proposed rule respects the various ways that farms are structured in rural America, including partnerships and LLC’s. DOL is looking at possible approaches to simply protect the safety of children hired to work on a farm.
DOL announced their proposal Sept. 2 to start a conversation about how to keep kids out of harm’s way and solicited comments from the agricultural community to ensure everyone had an opportunity to provide input. USDA worked with DOL to extend the comment period through Dec. 1 to give the farming community additional time to prepare and submit comments to help avoid unintended consequences that impact farmers and ranchers.
We want to ensure that children of farm families maintain their ability to help with the family farm, while working to prevent unnecessary child injuries or deaths.
In the months ahead, we will continue to work with DOL on how to find a commonsense approach to strengthening our agricultural economy and keeping our farm kids safe.
Click here to learn more about DOL’s proposed rule.
USMEF Unveils Animated Beef Cutting Guide
An animated cutting guide that provides detailed directions on preparing beef cuts to match different international cuisines is now available through the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) website (www.usmef.org), and in five different languages through USMEF websites around the world. Developed in collaboration with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) with support from the Beef Checkoff, the animated guides are designed to help meat buyers, processors and chefs better understand how different beef muscles can be separated and sliced so that they are perfect for dishes ranging from Chinese hot pot and Mexican milanesa to Korean barbecue and Japanese sukiyaki.
The guide, which can be viewed online or downloaded, also provides information on the culinary attributes of individual beef muscles and answers frequently asked questions
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“This animated cutting guide goes hand-in-hand with our goal of greater carcass utilization,” said Paul Clayton, USMEF senior vice president of technical services. “It is an excellent educational tool to help those in the meat trade in key export markets better understand how to maximize their return on investment on U.S. beef and how to utilize it effectively in local cuisine.”
The animated guide originally was developed for use domestically, but USMEF worked with NCBA to adapt and extend it to address international cuisine. USMEF’s international staff members have translated the English-language version into Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Spanish. USMEF websites in Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Mexico provide links to the cutting guide, while the USMEF-U.S. website offers all four translations plus English. The guides can be viewed at www.usmef.org/downloads/flash/beef-cut-animations/usmef_selectlanguage/.
Register Now for Annual Beginning Farmer Conference
The 2nd Annual Beginning Farmer and Rancher Conference will take place Feb. 18-20, 2012, in Grand Rapids, Mich., at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel & DeVos Place Convention Center. The conference is presented by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and Start2Farm.gov.
Beginning farmers and ranchers interested in all types of agriculture are encouraged to attend. Farm Bureau membership is not required. The conference provides an opportunity for attendees to network with other farmers from around the country and learn from experts about how to start and maintain a thriving farm or ranch business.
AFBF President Bob Stallman said beginning and young farmers and ranchers are integral to U.S. agriculture’s future.
“America’s farmers recognize that providing food that satisfies the tastes and preferences of today’s consumers is more important than ever before,” said Stallman. “We welcome into our ranks and extend a helping hand to beginning farmers who are just starting their careers as food producers,” he said.
The “early bird” rate of $200 per person applies for all conference registrations received by Dec. 15. (The regular registration rate of $250 per person for the conference will apply Dec. 16-Jan. 17.) The registration fee includes conference materials, farm tours and meals for Saturday lunch, Sunday lunch and dinner, and Monday lunch and dinner. Attendees are responsible for their own hotel reservations.
The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Conference will be held in conjunction with the annual American Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Conference. Attendees at both conferences will have the opportunity to attend sessions at the other meeting. For more information, including online registration and hotel information, visit http://2012bfrconference.eventbrite.com or email questions to info@start2farm.gov.
The Start2Farm website and program are a project of the National Agricultural Library in partnership with AFBF. Start2Farm is funded through a Beginning Farming and Ranching Development Program grant funded by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, to assist people new to farming or ranching and those who have less than 10 years experience.
Michigan Cattlemen’s 2012 Annual Conference at MSU: “Preparing for the Future”
If you work in the cattle industry, you will want to attend the Michigan Cattlemen’s Association (MCA) Annual conference at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing, Jan. 21, 2012. “Preparing for the Future” will be the theme throughout the day. The conference challenges beef producers to analyze the issues, look for answers and plan for the future. Educational sessions and sponsors will be providing the latest information in agriculture.
“If we are not planning for change, we are simply stagnating,” says Kathleen Hawkins, MCA executive vice president. “Change doesn’t have to be bad; it’s just got to be right. I am confident that both cow-calf producers and cattle feeders will learn something new at this one-day event. Attendees will hear a variety of speakers from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Foster Swift, Pfizer and Michigan State University (MSU).”
The event kicks off with the membership annual business meeting starting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning, where issues will be discussed and board elections will take place. Prior to lunch, Pfizer’s “Cattlemen’s College” will be in session. Forrest Roberts, CEO of NCBA, will focus his comments on “How the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance is Working to Change the Perception of Modern Farming.” Consumers are interested in food production but they are conflicted when it comes to modern agriculture.
The afternoon session starts with a presentation by Foster Swift’s agriculture attorney Todd Hoppe. He will be discussing “Estate and Succession Planning for Family Agri-Businesses.” The big two certainties in life — death and taxes — will influence what future generations can do with the family farm.
Later, Dan Buskirk, associate professor in the MSU Animal Science Department, will answer the question “Where’s the Beef?” He and his team of colleagues are focused on boosting the amount of locally produced food on campus and creating a system of tracking beef from the farm to the plate.
John Chennault, associate director of veterinary clinical research at Pfizer Animal Health, will complete the 2012 Cattlemen’s College with his presentation on “Advancements to Improve Reproductive Performance.”
For more information about the 2012 MCA Annual Meeting and Conference, including program and registration, call 517-347-8117 or visit the web site at www.micattlemen.org.
Missouri State Fair Youth in
Agriculture Scholarship Application Now Available
Applications for a Missouri State Fair Youth in Agriculture Scholarship are now available online at www.mostatefair.com for Missouri high school seniors graduating in 2012. Applications submitted to the Missouri State Fair must be postmarked by Feb. 1, 2012.
“The Youth in Agriculture committee is offering twenty-four $1,000 scholarships and one $2,500 supreme scholarship sponsored by Sydenstricker John Deere of Missouri/Sydenstricker Angus Genetics,” said Youth in Agriculture Committee Chairman Wayne Yokley. “We are happy to award scholarships to youth who have participated at the fair and appreciate the support of companies and individuals whose contributions make these scholarships possible,” he said.
To be eligible, scholarship applicants must plan to enroll in an accredited Missouri college or university, with the ambition to acquire a degree in agriculture. Applicants must also be high school seniors and active members of 4-H or FFA. While the applicants must have participated at least once as a 4-H or FFA exhibitor at the Missouri State Fair, applicants cannot have sold livestock in any past Missouri State Fair Sale of Champions Auction.
The Missouri State Fair scholarships are funded through the generosity of Youth in Agriculture sponsors and buyers of the livestock sold during the annual Sale of Champions, with a portion of each animal’s sale price allocated to the scholarship program.
For more information please call the Missouri State Fair at 1-800-422-FAIR (3247) or e-mail questions to mostatefair@mda.mo.gov.
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