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Angus Journal

News Update

January 11, 2012

Conservation Stewardship Program
Sign-Up Extended Until Jan. 27, 2012

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced that the fiscal year (FY) 2012 ranking period cut-off for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) has been extended to Jan. 27, 2012. Interested farmers and ranchers have until then to complete the initial application form to compete for a spot in the 2012 enrollment class for the program.

To sign up, producers should visit their NRCS local service center.

While CSP is a continuous sign-up program and producers can apply to enroll at any time of the year, NRCS applies a cut-off date for applications to be considered during a particular fiscal year. Once the cut-off date is past, producers may continue to apply for the program, but they will not be considered for entry until the spring of the following year, in this case spring 2013.

The application form, available at local NRCS offices, is fairly short and simple. Producers will also need to fill out the NRCS-CPA-1200 form. It is the same short, generic two-page form that is used for all the NRCS conservation programs offering financial assistance to farmers and ranchers.

Prior to submitting the CSP application you must have a farm record number established with the Farm Service Agency (FSA). If you do not have one, go to FSA first to establish your farm record.

All producers who have submitted their completed short conservation program application form by Jan. 27 will then have until early to mid March 2012 to sit down with their local NRCS staff person and fill out the CSP Conservation Measurement Tool (CMT), which will be used to determine program eligibility, environmental benefits ranking, and CSP payment amounts.

NRCS expects to complete the ranking process in March. Farmers and ranchers with the highest environmental benefits scores on the CMT will be chosen for enrollment. NRCS will then schedule on-farm verification visits and develop a CSP plan and contract for each enrollee. The agency currently expects that process to last through mid- to late April. The first annual payments for five-year contracts awarded in this round will be made on or after Oct. 1, 2012, and then every Oct. 1 thereafter.

For detailed background information on CSP, visit the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) webpage.

— Release by National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.

Ag Shouldn’t Be Harmed by Climate Change

Record yields for staple crops in the United States and globally in recent years seem to contradict fears that agriculture will be negatively affected by increasing climate temperatures, according to James Taylor, senior fellow for the Heartland Institute and managing editor of Environment and Climate News. Taylor spoke at an issues conference at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 93rd Annual Meeting.

Beyond debating the issue of whether global climate change is actually taking place and who is to blame, Taylor addressed the issue of any potential effects on agriculture and what effect any legislation or regulation could have.

“Since 2007 we’ve seen record yields in production per acre in edible beans, cotton, alfalfa, sweet potatoes, canola, corn, hops, rice, wheat and more,” said Taylor. “This is a long-term trend, and it applies globally, too, as global grain harvests have nearly tripled since 1961. Climate is not the only factor, but even if we accept global warming as a problem, it’s clearly not inhibiting crop production.”

According to data presented by Taylor, computer models have incorrectly accounted for certain climate patterns over recent decades, and data has shown fewer and less severe periods of drought and less severe flooding on a global scale. Taylor conceded that there would certainly be regional exceptions, but on a larger scale, climate patterns could prove to be quite suitable for agriculture.

Referencing research done by the International Journal of Climatology, Taylor explained that increases in precipitation would occur more frequently during the hotter and drier seasons of the year — rather than during the spring — thus avoiding the time of year more prone to flooding.

While potential increases in temperature were not believed to be detrimental to crops, Taylor suggested that the greater threat to agriculture could come in the form of federal or state regulations regarding livestock production.

— Release by American Farm Bureau Federation.

Workshop to Boost Women’s Farm Commodity Marketing Skills

Marketing expert Naomi Blohm will present a workshop in Winona Lake, Ind., to introduce women to the sometimes complex world of farm commodity marketing.

The Jan. 25 workshop, “Women to Women: Educating Women about Farm Commodity Marketing,” will feature basic introductions to cash marketing tools, put and call options and futures contracts.

Blohm is a marketing coach with the commodity marketing company Stewart-Peterson Inc., based in West Bend, Wis. Her presentation is being sponsored, in part, by members of Purdue University’s Women in Agriculture who have heard her speak and want to share her expertise with other women, said Kelly Heckaman, Extension educator in Kosciusko County.

“Whenever we do a presentation with Women in Agriculture, there are a few topics that are highly requested, and commodity marketing is always at the top of the list,” Heckaman said. “This is a topic that we’ve addressed before, and now we’re getting another perspective. Women want more information.”

Blohm will help participants create step-by-step examples of futures contracts and discuss their application, as well as provide strategies for participants’ farms.

The workshop will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Boathouse Restaurant, 700 Park Ave., Winona Lake, Ind. Those interested are encouraged to register early because registration is limited to 50 participants. Registration costs $30 per person, including meal, refreshments and materials, and is due by Jan. 19. Registration forms are available at http://www.ag.purdue.edu/counties/kosciusko/
Documents/2012%20WIA%20Farm%20Marketing.pdf. For more information, contact Kelly Heckaman at kheckaman@purdue.edu.

The workshop is co-sponsored by several regional and local businesses.

— Release by Purdue University Extension and Ohio State Extension.

Mike Miller Named to New NCBA
Global Marketing and Research Post

Mike Miller has been appointed senior vice president of global marketing and research at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). Most recently Miller was COO of CattleFax.

In his new role Miller will be responsible for staff leadership of NCBA departments focused on developing and executing the plan of work funded with Beef Checkoff dollars. Those departments include Planning and Evaluation; Market Research; Research, Education and Innovation; Issues Management; Consumer Marketing; and Channel Marketing. Miller will take over his new responsibilities Jan. 30.

“Limited checkoff dollars, as well as the shrinking buying power of each dollar, require an even more highly coordinated plan of work to assure the effectiveness beef producers have come to expect from their checkoff program,” said Miller. “This is a great opportunity to help facilitate the work of Checkoff programs managed by the staff at NCBA.”

— Adapted from release by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Beef Cattle Registrations

The National Pedigreed Livestock Council (NPLC) has released the most recent annual registry numbers of their member beef breed associations, reports Stephen Hammack, professor and extension beef cattle specialist emeritus in his January Beef Cattle Browsing newsletter. Referencing NPLC’s 2011-2012 Annual report (available at www.nplc.net), Hammack reported the following annual registrations:

— Compiled by Katie Gazda, intern, Angus Productions Inc.

 
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