News Update
August 29, 2012
NAMA, Grandin Developing New Ways to Monitor High-risk Animals at Slaughter
The North American Meat Association (NAMA) and animal welfare expert Temple Grandin are working on a new approach to monitoring animal handling at slaughter facilities and using that data to coach employees in the aftermath of last week's animal handling problems at Central Valley Meat.
In a note to NAMA members, the association explained that after reviewing the undercover video shot at Central Valley Meat, NAMA and Grandin are working with a remote video auditing (RVA) services provider to design a cost-effective new plant process that will be accompanied with additional remote video services to better address the animal handling practices of the higher-risk animals after they arrive at plants.
Since the current use of RVA services is typically focused on a relatively small number of designated pens, an innovation is needed to more actively segregate and then audit the handling of those animals that have a higher likelihood of being handled over-aggressively, the note explained.
For the full story, click here.
NSAC Releases Applicant Resource Guide for Value-Added Producer Grants
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition released a Farmers' Guide to Value-Added Producer Grant Funding. This guide is being released on the heels of the USDA announcement of $14 million in available funds for fiscal year 2012 for Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG). Applications for the competitive grants program are due at USDA State Rural Development offices by Oct. 15, 2012.
VAPG awards funding to producers to help them develop farm-related businesses that add value to basic ag products through processing, product differentiation, commodity segregation, on-farm energy production, labeling and certification, and local and regional food marketing.
"This program is one of the best USDA programs for boosting farm income, creating new job opportunities, and aiding rural economic renewal," said Helen Dombalis, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) Policy Associate. "We know farmers and ranchers across the country have been anxiously waiting for this year's VAPG funding announcement and are confident that NSAC's resource guide will be useful in assisting first-time and seasoned applicants alike."
The Guide, available for free download online, includes clear information on new program rules and contains a step-by-step description of the application and ranking processes, with helpful hints to improve a producer's chances of obtaining funding from the highly competitive program. It also describes the program priorities for small and medium-sized family farms, beginning farmers and ranchers, socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, and mid-tier value chains (regional supply networks with active farmer participation).
For more information and the full release, click here.
Agriculture Leaders Announced as Rally Emcees
American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Bob Stallman and Roger Johnson, president of the National Farmers Union (NFU), have been announced as the masters of ceremony for the upcoming "Farm Bill Now" rally.
The event, hosted by AFBF, NFU and a coalition of other agricultural organizations, will take place Sept. 12 at 11 a.m. in Washington, D.C., at Union Square by the Capitol Reflecting Pool. AFBF and NFU represent the two largest general farm groups in the United States.
"We appreciate all of the work done to date by Congress and look forward to working with the House to get a farm bill passed and into conference as soon as possible," said Stallman. "In light of the drought, it is imperative for America's farmers that a farm bill is passed this year."
The Farm Bill Now rally is being held in an effort to raise public awareness of the need for Congress to pass a new, comprehensive, five-year farm bill before current farm programs expire Sept. 30.
"With only eight days remaining on the legislative calendar before the current farm bill's expiration, the rally aims to send a strong, unified message to Congress that they must act, and they must act now on the 2012 Farm Bill to ensure the well-being and livelihood of all Americans who benefit from this important piece of legislation," said Johnson.
Leaders from major farm and commodity groups, rural development, livestock, conservation, hunger, consumer and energy organizations will be on hand to address the crowd.
AFBF, NFU and the sponsoring organizations are calling on their members in the agricultural community, media and all supporters of the agriculture sector to join in this event on Capitol Hill.
For more information, click here.
Spider Mite Damage to Corn Affected by Irrigation Level
Spider mite infestations on corn and the damage done will vary under different irrigation levels and could dictate slight changes in management practices, according to a Texas AgriLife Extension Service specialist.
Ed Bynum, AgriLife Extension entomologist in Amarillo, is wrapping up the first year of a two-year study on spider mite infestations under different irrigation levels and with different corn hybrids at the North Plains Research Field near Etter.
"As producers begin to use drought-tolerant corn hybrids, one of the questions they have is whether drought tolerance will provide some level of protection against spider mites or if the added stress from spider mites will break down the drought tolerance," Bynum said.
The study was designed with three irrigation levels: 100% evapotranspiration, 75% and 50%; and four corn hybrids: two non-drought-tolerant commercial corn hybrids and two drought-tolerant corn hybrids.
Drought Can Create Conservation Plan Compliance Issues
As one of the worst droughts in more than 30 years continues to grip Nebraska, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) reminds producers to work with the local NRCS office to remain in compliance with their current conservation plan on highly erodible land.
Drought conditions affect yield, which can, in turn, affect the amount of cover left on a field following harvest. Producers who have a conservation plan on their highly erodible cropland need to maintain a certain level of crop residue to remain in compliance with their conservation plan. The drought could make meeting that requirement difficult for some producers.
According to State Conservationist Craig Derickson, NRCS is providing some flexibility in its program requirements to assist producers affected by drought. Producers unable to meet residue requirements due to drought conditions may be eligible for what NRCS calls a "conservation compliance variance."
"NRCS understands that yields are down all across the state. For this reason, no-till producers who continue to do no tillage prior to planting a row crop next spring on highly erodible fields will not be found out of compliance due to a lack of crop residue. Producers who use conventional tillage operations will also be eligible for this variance if they agree to plant a cover crop following the fall or spring tillage operation," Derickson said.
For the full release, click here.
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