News Update
October 15, 2013
NFU Issues Priorities for Farm Bill Conference Committee
National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson sent a letter Oct.15 to the members of Congress recently named to the 2013 Farm Bill conference committee outlining NFU’s priorities for the final version of the legislation.
“NFU is pleased to see the farm bill process move forward with the appointment of conferees,” said Johnson. “As you and other conferees begin formulating your positions on important farm bill conference issues, I urge you to consider the priorities of U.S. family farmers, ranchers, rural communities and hungry Americans.”
The letter outlined key issues such as maintaining farm bill permanent law, as enacted in 1938 and 1949, which provide a regular requirement for Congress to update and review farm and related policy.
“Rescinding permanent law would remove the incentive to update and reauthorize the farm bill, leaving conservation, renewable energy, rural development, research, trade and other provisions without authority to continue,” said Johnson.
Further high priorities for NFU include establishing fixed reference prices for commodity programs, enacting an inventory-management tool as part of the dairy safety net, providing $900 million in mandatory funding for renewable energy efforts, opposition to adverse amendments to country-of-origin labeling (COOL), and including adequate funding levels for the Farmers’ Market and Local Foods Promotion Program.
The letter also highlighted 18 other important farm bill issues on which NFU has taken a position.
“I urge the conference committee to take swift action so that we can ensure certainty for all Americans with a new farm bill signed into law before the end of the year,” said Johnson.
For more information, please view the letter here.
Donate to the South Dakota Rancher Relief Fund
South Dakota and portions of Wyoming and Nebraska were hit earlier this month with what is being called one of the most devastating blizzards in history. The storm resulted in the death of tens of thousands of head of livestock. For some ranchers, reported herd losses are 50-90% or more.
To provide relief for producers affected by the blizzard, the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDGA), South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association (SDCA) and the South Dakota Sheep Growers Association have established the South Dakota Rancher Relief Fund.
“While we’re heartened at the outpouring of support coming from around the country and offers of cattle donations, we are encouraging folks to consider financial donations at this time,” says Jodie Anderson, executive director for the SDCA. “With winter bearing down, those affected are struggling with cleanup operations in addition to the normal fall roundup, weaning and prewinter preparations. Our focus at present is financial, physical and psychological support for producers slogging through the gruesome cleanup process.”
“This is going to be a long road to recovery for ranchers who were in the impacted area,” Anderson says. “The next monumental task will be carcass removal before winter comes. Beyond that, it’s trying to help determine what ranchers’ financial and emotional hurdles are, and how we can help get them back on their feet.”
There are two different ways to help. To find out more, please view the full release here.
Novus International at the World Conference on Animal Production
The World Conference on Animal Production (WCAP), organized by the World Association of Animal Production, is hosted once every five years, so it is with great anticipation that the 11th WCAP kicks off in Beijing, China, Oct. 15. Novus is honored to once again participate in this important event, dubbed the “Olympics” of animal science by the industry. In addition to Diamond sponsorship of the six-day conference, Novus is hosting an informative half-day seminar entitled, “Gut Health: Creating New Value for Food Safety.”
“Good gut health builds a strong foundation for animal performance and food safety,” notes Chris Knight, senior vice president, research and development for Novus. “When infections occur in the intestinal tract, the intestinal barrier against pathogens and the nutrient absorption process is greatly impaired. Animal performance and producers’ profitability are reduced, while consumers are left worrying about the resulting product quality. Novus’s health and nutritional solutions are designed to help producers manage animal gut health and add new value to food safety.”
Novus’s Gut Health seminar will take place Friday, Oct. 18, from 8:30 a.m. until noon at No. 2 Convention Hall, and will feature key industry experts from Novus and leading international universities discussing the importance and relevance of animal gut health and its impact on food safety. To see a complete agenda please visit www.novusint.com/wcap2013.
Also, Novus has organized two speakers at the plenary session Saturday, Oct. 19. The first, “Is the rising demand for animal protein fueling climate change?” will be led by Frank Mitloehner of the University of California–Davis, and the second, “Structural integrity challenges in production animals,” will be led by Mercedes Vazquez-Anon, director, nutrition research for Novus.
AgriLife Extension Multi-County Estate Planning Seminar Set for Nov. 14 in Baird, Texas
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service offices in Callahan, Shackleford and Taylor counties will conduct the Multi-County Estate Planning Seminar beginning at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14 in the Baird Activity Center, 208 Walnut Street in Baird.
Jerry Warren, AgriLife Extension agent in Callahan County, said the program’s main speaker will be Mark Zachary of McMahon Surovik Suttle Attorneys of Abilene.
“The program will include a presentation on estate tax laws in 2013,” Warren said. “Other topics will address estate planning for farmers and ranchers, and the use of family limited partnerships in estate and asset protection planning.”
Individual registration is $10 due upon arrival. Those planning to attend should RSVP to any of the participating AgriLife Extension offices: Callahan, 325-854-5835; Shackelford, 325-762-2232, Ext. 7; or Taylor 325-672-6048.
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