News Update
October 29, 2013
Payments for Popular Conservation Program Ready Following Shutdown Delay
Farmers waiting for their Conservation Security or Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) payments should receive them in the coming days. The shutdown of the federal government delayed some of the $907 million in payments from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to CSP participants who have enrolled millions of acres to improve the overall conservation performance of their operations.
“Farmers and ranchers are stewards of our natural resources, and their efforts show the value of conservation — working farms, ranches and forests can provide food and fiber, as well as clean water and valuable wildlife habitat,” NRCS Chief Jason Weller said. “We're happy to have our staff back in the field where they can continue working with farmers and ranchers to put conservation practices on the ground.”
The payments are part of a financial-assistance program for producers who are already established conservation stewards and are implementing additional conservation activities for higher, farm-level benefits on their property. This work leads to cleaner water and air, healthier soil and enhanced wildlife habitat, while also supporting rural economies.
The Conservation Stewardship Program, now in its fifth year, replaced the former Conservation Security Program. To date, farmers, ranchers and forestland owners have enrolled about 60 million acres into the programs.
Funding for other farm bill programs expired Sept. 30, including the Conservation Reserve Program, Grassland Reserve Program, Wetland Reserve Program, Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative and Healthy Forests Reserve Program. NRCS is not accepting applications for these programs at this time.
AFBF and 250-plus Groups Urge Congress to Pass Farm Bill
More than 250 organizations, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, sent a letter today to House and Senate agriculture committee members and leadership advocating passage of a five-year farm bill as soon as possible. The groups are urging Congress to move forward on a unified farm bill that preserves a five-year authorization for all programs, while continuing the partnership between the nutrition and farm communities.
In the letter, the groups cautioned against ending provisions that would reinstate permanent farm law from last century. “For decades, the threat of reinstatement of the long-outdated policies of the 1938 and 1949 acts have served as strong motivation for Congress to enact new farm bills,” said the letter. “Repealing those acts and making the 2013 Farm Bill commodity title permanent law could make it difficult to generate sufficient political pressure to adjust the commodity safety net provisions should conditions in production agriculture change.”
The groups said they are also concerned that if Title I of the 2013 Farm Bill is made permanent, other important farm and rural programs covered in other titles would risk not being reauthorized if the bill expires after five years.
“If this should occur and we revert to permanent law, then programs covering conservation, forestry, research, energy, rural development, horticulture, trade, etc., could be left to the will of the appropriations process, likely with limited funding and little opportunity to update or adjust to meet changing needs in agriculture and rural communities,” said the letter.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Stockmen's Association Elects Leaders
North Dakota Stockmen's Association (NDSA) members tapped Jason Zahn and Steve Brooks for their second respective terms as president and vice president of the 84-year-old cattlemen’s trade organization during its recent convention in Bismarck, N.D.
Zahn, his wife Jenny and their children, Shelby, Lexi and Wyatt, own a commercial Red Angus and Simmental operation near Towner, N.D. Before being elected as the NDSA’s president and vice president, Zahn served two terms as an NDSA director, as well as the chairman of the NDSA Brand Board. He also represented the state at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Young Cattlemen's Conference (YCC). In addition, Zahn serves on the Denbigh Township and Eaton Irrigation boards.
Brooks and his wife April own a registered Angus ranch and diversified farm near Bowman, N.D., and have three daughters, Calli, Cassi and Skeeter. Before being elected as NDSA vice president, Brooks served as a District 5 director and the Brand Board chairman. He also was the NDSA’s representative at the inaugural YCC. Brooks has also served as the president of the American Angus Association, chairman of Certified Angus Beef and the North Dakota Beef Commission and a director of the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Beef Improvement Federation
to Host Genetic Prediction Workshop
The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) will host a Genetic Prediction Workshop in Kansas City, Mo., Dec. 12-13 at the Holiday Inn KCI Airport and KCI Expo Center, 11728 NW Ambassador Drive.
The conference is designed to give academic, allied industry, breed association staff and cattle producers a forum to learn about and discuss the latest developments in beef cattle genetic evaluation strategies. The implementation of genomics technologies in national cattle evaluation systems will be the focus of discussion. Speakers will highlight the experiences and current status of technology deployment at several major U.S. breed associations, experiences developing genomic predictions of genetic merit and alternate strategies for computation of genomically enabled EPDs. The conference will also feature discussion of planned modifications to the system used to compute the Across-breed EPD adjustment factors at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center.
A USDA multi-state project (NCERA-225) focused on implementation and strategies for national beef cattle genetic evaluation will meet prior to the Genetic Prediction Workshop. This meeting will feature station reports and research updates from a number of committee members.
Registration for the BIF Genetic Prediction Workshop is $100 and includes a buffet breakfast, lunch, dinner and breaks during the conference. For NCERA committee members, an additional registration of $25 is required and includes a breakfast and break for this portion of agenda. Attendees must preregister for the events by Dec. 1. Online registration and full agenda is available at www.ksubeef.org in the Upcoming Beef Events section.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal’s Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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