News Update
September 12, 2013
Tune in to ‘Angus Talk’
on SiriusXM Radio
In the cab of a truck or stuck in city traffic, cattle producers everywhere have a chance to stay connected with their agricultural interests with the American Angus Association’s newly launched radio program, Angus Talk.
A 30-minute SiriusXM Satellite Radio program, Angus Talk airs 11 a.m. EST (10 a.m. CST) every Saturday morning exclusively on Rural Radio, Channel 80. The show is hosted by Doug Medlock, the voice of I Am Angus®, and features timely discussion and commentary on topics of importance to cattle producers.
“Talk radio remains one of the most valuable sources of information for many in agriculture,” says Eric Grant, Association director of communications and public relations. “The Angus Talk format will allow us to explore topics of interest to cattle producers in an in-depth and entertaining way."
Rural Radio on SiriusXM, Channel 80 is the first 24/7 international radio channel devoted to serving agribusiness and the western lifestyle. The channel launched in July with its broadcast operations based in Nashville, Tenn. In addition to Angus Talk, the station’s program schedule provides a wide variety of original productions focused on agriculture, equine sports and living the country life.
"We're very excited to be on Rural Radio, Channel 80 because it provides us with a unique communications platform to reach a wide audience about the Angus breed and what it offers rural Americans," Grant says.
Listeners can tune in to Rural Radio, Channel 80 at 11 a.m. EST every Saturday to catch the show.
MCA Calls SB 9 Override Victory for Agriculture
The General Assembly stood firm for Missouri’s farm and ranch families on Sept. 11 by overriding the governor’s veto of S. B. 9. Missouri Cattlemen’s Association (MCA) President Chuck Massengill said this vote is a victory for more than 52,000 Missouri cattle farms and ranches.
“The success Missouri agriculture has seen this past year has been great. Many farm families will benefit from the passage of S.B. 9,” said Massengill. “This bill is a step in the right direction and will help producers protect their business and livelihood.”
The legislation will toughen penalties for cattle rustling. The new language will make penalties for cattle rustling tougher by making the first offense a felony in most cases.
The bill will also fix the current animal-abuse-and-neglect law. The past animal-abuse-and-neglect law allowed a farmer to receive a hefty fine or even imprisonment because their livestock got out of their confines.
“Having the support of our elected leaders on this issue shows how strong of an agricultural base we have in Missouri,” said Massengill. “This paves the way for future success and will only allow agriculture in Missouri to prosper.”
An Extension is Not the Answer to Stalled Farm Bill
National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued the following statement amid talks of an extension to the 2008 Farm Bill:
“There has been discussion on Capitol Hill that an extension would be a solution to farm program legislation as we approach the Sept. 30 expiration of the one-year extension already passed last year to the 2008 Farm Bill. This is not an acceptable solution.
“An extension will not solve the issue of uncertainty that U.S. family farmers and ranchers are facing each day that we continue to not have a new farm bill. If Congress again extends current law, indefensible policies such as direct payments to farmers regardless of commodity prices will continue, costing $8-$10 billion over the next two years.
“We need the U.S. House of Representatives to name its members to the conference committee so that the group can begin work to put the final pieces of a five-year, comprehensive bill together. The final bill must include nutrition programs, which were stripped from the House version of the bill passed earlier this year. It must also include an adequate safety net to protect in times of need, a strong energy title, and provisions for beginning farmer and rancher programs, among other things. The conference committee must also reinstate existing permanent law fallback provisions.
“Organizations calling for an extension at this time do not have the interests of family farmers, ranchers, fisherman and hungry Americans in mind. NFU will continue to work with members of Congress to urge swift action so that we do not continue in this environment of inaction and uncertainty.”
Public Comment Period Extended for
National Delisting of Gray Wolf
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) extended the public comment period until Oct. 28 on two proposed rules to remove the gray wolf from the List of Threatened and Endangered species.
“It is imperative that we as conservationists, outdoorsmen and women let our government know that wolves are no longer threatened or endangered. They are clearly recovered and need to be delisted,” said David Allen, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation president and CEO. “Wolves surpassed minimum recovery objectives more than a decade ago in the Northern Rockies, thrive in the Great Lakes, and number well into the thousands in Canada and Alaska.”
The proposals also maintain protection and expand recovery efforts for the Mexican wolf.
An FWS comprehensive review determined that the current listing for the gray wolf, developed 35 years ago, erroneously included large geographical areas outside the species’ historical range. In addition, the review found that the current gray wolf listing does not reasonably represent the range of the only remaining population of wolves in the lower 48 states and Mexico that requires the protections of the Endangered Species Act — the Mexican wolf population in the Southwest.
“There are some who claim wolves remain threatened if they do not occupy their entire native range. That does not mean they are endangered. The best available scientific research shows the gray wolf is recovered well beyond the point that it needs to be delisted. There are many such species, like elk, that do not cover their historic range. That does not mean they are endangered,” added Allen.
For more information, please view the full release here.
NFU Participates in Climate Change and Agriculture Forum
National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson spoke Sept. 12 at the Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change’s forum on climate change and agriculture.
“According to the USDA, the U.S. agriculture sector is responsible for 6.1% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, while it sequesters enough carbon to offset about 13% of the nation’s emissions,” said Johnson. “Instead of penalizing farmers through direct regulation, programs need to incentivize more sustainable agricultural practices that reduce emissions.”
NFU policy supports a national mandatory carbon emission cap-and-trade system to reduce non-farm greenhouse gas emissions, and includes a carbon-offset provision that will minimize the negative effects to agriculture such as increased input costs and elevated electricity costs.
“On-farm energy production has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create an additional revenue stream for farmers and ranchers,” said Johnson. “Government policies such as the Renewable Fuel Standard and farm bill energy programs must be in place to encourage on-farm energy production.”
National Farmers Union has been working since 1902 to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership.
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