News Update
June 13, 2012
Ag Secretary Vilsack: Farm Exports are Creating Jobs and Growing the Rural Economy
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack met June 12 with business and community leaders to discuss how continuing demand for American food and agricultural products abroad has led to the three best consecutive years for U.S. farm exports in our nation's history. Vilsack said the success of American agriculture is a positive economic story that is creating jobs in rural America and benefitting people around the world. Vilsack also highlighted a report released this week by the White House Rural Council and the USDA that notes progress that has been made in the ag economy and details steps the Obama Administration has taken to help strengthen the farm economy and support jobs in rural America.
"In 2010, President Obama committed to doubling U.S. exports in five years, and just two years later, we are on pace to meet that goal," said Vilsack. "Meanwhile, people around the world continue to demand U.S. food and agricultural products, boosting American businesses and supporting our rural communities. To ensure these successes continue, USDA has aggressively worked to expand export opportunities and reduce barriers to trade. Less restrictions abroad, stronger trade deals for U.S. agriculture, and greater export assistance for U.S. businesses supports more than 1 million Americans' jobs in industries from packing and shipping, to food processing, to transportation. This is an American-made success story worth sharing with our friends, family and neighbors."
For more information and the full release, visit http://1.usa.gov/MNxxaM.
Enter T-shirt Design Contest
Just in time for the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS), the American Angus Auxiliary is adding items to the Angus Gift Barn. Help the Auxiliary design a new summer T-shirt for women and girls and win a free shirt. Send your design idea as a jpg or PDF file to alampe@wbsnet.org by Monday, June 18. The design should appeal to teens and women and work on a V-neck tee. Entries will be posted on the @American Angus Auxiliary Facebook page. "Like" vote for your favorite.
PNTR for Russia Legislation Introduced
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) applauds the introduction of legislation to establish Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with Russia. Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.), along with Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), John Kerry (D-Mass.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.), unveiled legislation today that will allow U.S. agriculture to participate in Russia's upcoming World Trade Organization (WTO) membership.
"Russia PNTR is a critical step towards ensuring the U.S. benefits from Russia's accession to the WTO and remains competitive in that market," said AFBF President Bob Stallman. "U.S. farmers will have more certain and predictable market access as a result of Russia's commitment not to raise tariffs on any products above the negotiated rates and to apply international food safety standards in a uniform and transparent manner."
Long negotiations on Russia joining the WTO resulted in the country being able to enact many trade-related reforms. Russia is expected to complete the adoption of the measures and formally join the WTO this summer. PNTR for Russia must be enacted by Congress in order to guarantee U.S. access to the market opening and legal aspects that are part of the Russia WTO agreement. Russia's membership in the WTO will provide significant commercial opportunities for U.S. agriculture.
Farm Bureau urges the Senate to support the extension of PNTR to Russia.
NCBA Opposes Federal Mandate on Animal Agriculture
Tom Talbot, chairman of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) Cattle Health and Wellbeing Committee, said despite challenges cattlemen and women face, raising healthy cattle is and always has been a top priority. Talbot, who is a veterinarian and California cattle rancher, said he is appalled that animal care could be taken out of the hands of experts and placed in the control of the federal government. Specifically, Talbot is referring to amendment 2252 to the 2012 Farm Bill offered by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). The amendment, which would mandate on-farm production practices, was also introduced as legislation, Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012 (S. 3239 and H.R. 3298), by Sen. Feinstein and Congressman Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.).
"The U.S. beef community has changed through the years, but the one thing that remains the same is our commitment to raising healthy cattle and providing our animals the best care possible," Talbot said. "NCBA's Cattle Health and Wellbeing Committee relies on the latest information from government officials, veterinarians and cattle health experts to ensure our policies reflect the latest science and ensure effective cattle care practices on cattle operations throughout the country."
For more information and the full release, visit http://www.beefusa.org/newsreleases1.aspx?newsid=2510.
USDA's Agricultural Research Service
Announces Scientist of the Year Awards
Edward Buckler has been named Distinguished Senior Research Scientist of 2011 by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the USDA for conducting landmark studies of corn that have placed him at the forefront of plant genetics, improved the crop's nutritional value, and led to the development of molecular tools now being used to study the genetic underpinnings of a wide range of plants and diseases.
Buckler is a geneticist and senior scientist at the ARS Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health in Ithaca, N.Y. He and other ARS researchers were honored June 12 at a ceremony in Beltsville, Md.
"By taking such a comprehensive approach to the study of the natural variation found in cereal crops, Dr. Buckler has enhanced the value of a major U.S. commodity and is addressing nutritional problems that plague many parts of the world," said Edward Knipling, ARS administrator.
For more information and the full release, http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/
2012/120612.htm.
Multi-county West Texas Livestock and
Range Conference Is July 17 in Garden City
The Texas AgriLife Extension Service will conduct the multi-county 2012 West Texas Livestock and Range Conference July 17 in Garden City.
The program starts at 8 a.m. at the Glasscock County Community Center, 117 S. Myrl Street, then departs on a tour of the McDowell Ranch at 8:50 a.m. and returns to the center at 11:45 a.m. for lunch and the remainder of the program.
Counties involved with the program are Glasscock, Howard, Midland, Martin, Upton, Reagan and Ector.
For more information and the full release, visit http://today.agrilife.org/2012/06/08/
multi-county-west-texas-livestock-and-range-conference-set-for-july-17-in-garden-city/?utm_source=subscribe2&utm_medium=listserv.
Grant County Extension to Offer Drought,
Marketing Workshop for Area Cattle Growers
In spite of some much-needed rain here and there, it has been a dry New Mexico spring so far, and cattle growers continue to struggle to survive in the drought conditions that still prevail in much of the state. Selling off part or all of their herds is an option many have chosen and others are considering.
To help producers fully understand the issues and make optimal herd management decisions, the New Mexico State University Grant County Cooperative Extension Service office will host a drought and marketing workshop from 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 26. The event will take place at the Extension meeting room at 2610 N. Silver St. in Silver City.
For more information and the full release, visit http://newscenter.nmsu.edu/
news/article/8677/.
For tips on how to manage cattle during drought and links to resources on the web, visit www.angusjournal.com/drought.
Unified Equine Missouri LLC to Open
Meat Processing Facility at Rockville, Mo.
A Missouri-based company is on track to re-open an existing meat processing plant in Rockville, Mo., by summer's end. Rockville is in Bates County in western Missouri, a rural area hard-hit by job losses when the plant closed almost a year ago.
The Rockville facility is currently being renovated and re-equipped in order to humanely process horses. The facility will be regulated and inspected by the USDA to ensure all horses are humanely transported and slaughtered under federal humane slaughter regulations, which provide one of the highest standards in the world. USDA will oversee and verify the food safety of all products.
For the full release, visit http://bit.ly/M3Ln40.
FFA Agricultural Career Network
Connects Students with Employers
The National FFA Organization has announced a first-of-its-kind formation of partnerships to assist its members' efforts toward career success. Through the Agricultural Career Network (AgCN), FFA will work in collaboration with Career Cruising, a provider of age-appropriate career planners, assessments and other resources; and AgCareers.com, a leading provider of Human Resources services to agricultural companies. These partnerships will provide valuable tools and assistance for students in their pursuits of more than 300 careers in agriculture.
Launched last December, AgCN is a nationwide system designed to help FFA members document their educational achievements, create robust portfolios and pursue award, scholarship, internship and employment opportunities. The network will provide a database of students who are interested in particular career fields within the industry.
For more information and the full release, visit http://bit.ly/K2ph23.
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