News Update
February 26, 2015
Farm to School Act of
2015 Introduced in Congress
On Feb. 25, 2015, members of Congress took the first step toward a major win for local economies, farm families and the health of our nation’s children. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Representatives Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) and Marcia Fudge (D-OH) introduced the bipartisan Farm to School Act of 2015 to expand the highly successful USDA Farm to School Grant Program. The two identical bills will improve access to healthy local foods in schools and experiential food and agriculture education for students, while boosting economic opportunities for family farmers. The bills are aimed for inclusion in the upcoming reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act.
“Research shows that kids eat what they know, and today, more than 23 million students are learning about healthy food and local farms in the classroom and cafeteria,” said Helen Dombalis, policy and strategic partnerships director with the National Farm to School Network. “With the introduction of this bill, we are building on the positive momentum of farm-fresh food in school meals, school gardens and farm to school education across the curriculum, such as cooking classes, taste tests, hands-on science classes and farm field trips.”
“Along with supporting healthy kids, farm-to-school initiatives open new market opportunities for farmers, fishers, ranchers and food entrepreneurs, supporting a stronger local and regional food system,” said Eugene Kim, policy specialist with the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. “In 2011-2012, U.S. schools spent $385 million on local food. Expanding farm-to-school activities through this bill will multiply the economic impact for producers and new, emerging local food businesses.”
Administered by USDA, the Farm to School Grant Program provides funds on a competitive basis to schools, nonprofits, farmers, and local, state and tribal government entities to help schools procure local foods and to support farm-to-school activities in cafeterias, classrooms and communities. The program was originally funded as part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.
In its first three years, the program received more than 1,000 applications totaling more than $78 million but was only able to fund less than 20% of requests from the $15 million allocated. The bipartisan Farm to School Act of 2015 proposes an increase in annual mandatory program funding from $5 million to $15 million and greater support for preschools, summer food-service sites, after-school programs, and tribal schools and producers. The proposed legislation also aims to improve program participation from beginning, veteran, and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
For more information, please view the full release here.
NFU Supports GHG and Climate Change
Considerations in NEPA Reviews
National Farms Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson submitted comments Feb. 23, 2015, highlighting why the Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) efforts to mitigate and learn more about climate change are important to America’s family farmers and ranchers.
“Family farmers and ranchers across the U.S. are already feeling the impact of increasing weather volatility,” noted Johnson in the comments submitted to the CEQ on the Revised Draft Guidance for Federal Departments and Agencies on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions and the Effects of Climate Change in National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Reviews. “A compilation of the economic impact of extreme events with an economic impact in excess of $1 billion shows an increase in this extent of economic damage over the last 30 years,” he said.
Johnson noted that family farmers are good stewards and seek opportunities to work to mitigate climate change, as demonstrated by NFU’s policies supporting acknowledgment of carbon sequestration and emission reductions through agricultural practices, biofuels and renewable energy. “The CEQ revised draft guidance will encourage assessment and discussion on GHG emissions, potentially leading to decisions that will mitigate climate change or increase climate resilience.”
Johnson commended CEQ for assisting agencies in making decisions when considering climate change implications, and contributing to cost-effectiveness and efficiency in government.
“Offering agencies guidance on when and how to consider the climate change implications of their actions makes it easier for them to make such assessments, increasing the likelihood of agencies carrying out these assessments,” said Johnson. “The guidance is also likely to increase cost-effectiveness and efficiency in the federal government by instructing them to consider what impact climate change might have on agency actions, helping to avoid projects that might become prohibitively expensive or obsolete as weather patterns change.”
Johnson noted that any GHG emission reductions the guidance fosters could contribute to climate change mitigation, reducing some of the hazards climate change poses to agriculture. “Any reduction in GHG emissions as a product of the guidance could assist family farmers and ranchers in the fight against climate change.
“Family agriculture in the U.S. has much to offer in the fight against climate change, but our farmers and ranchers need policy support from the federal government in order to make their best contributions. NFU stands ready to offer any support and assistance CEQ may find helpful on this or related matters,” he said.
Beef Improvement Federation Scholarship
The Roy A. Wallace Beef Improvement Federation Memorial Scholarship is now available to undergraduate and graduate students studying a beef-related field. The application is attached to this email. For more information please contact Joe Cassady at 605-651-7034 or jpcassad@gmail.com.
NFU Voices Strong Opposition to Fast Track,
Says Trade Deals Should Be Transparent
NFU President Johnson urged members of Congress to oppose trade promotion authority — also known as fast track — noting that trade agreements should be fair to all parties involved, and the process should be transparent.
“Trade promotion authority (‘fast track’) would remove an important constitutional check on the president’s power to negotiate trade agreements,” noted Johnson in a letter sent to all members of Congress Feb. 25, 2015. “Trade agreements must be fair for all parties involved and should therefore be subjected to review by the Congress — not conducted secretly.”
Johnson reminded members of Congress that the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was negotiated behind closed doors with little input from the public or Congress. “Congress should have full opportunity to review the provisions of a trade agreement, consistent with the authority and power endowed by the U.S. Constitution,” he said. “The lack of transparency in negotiating TPP is particularly egregious, considering its expansive scope.”
Johnson pointed out that past trade agreements have served to increase, not decrease, the trade deficit. “For 30 years and after several free trade agreements, including the North American Free Trade Agreement and the U.S.-Korea Trade Agreement, the U.S. has grown a significant trade deficit,” he said.
Last year, the trade deficit increased to $505 billion, representing nearly 3% of GDP and slowing growth, Johnson noted. He said that while the positive trade balance of U.S. agriculture trade is good news, “it is massively overshadowed by the alarming overall U.S. trade deficit.”.
Accelerated Genetics Tailors Conference for Emerging Leaders
Accelerated Genetics is excited to host its annual Leadership Conference March 20-22, 2015. This event is designed for farm owners, herdspeople or employees looking to enhance their leadership and communication skills.
This year’s conference titled “Surviving the Jungle: A lesson in Leadership,” is specifically tailored for emerging agricultural leaders who are positioned to lead the farm business and agricultural industry in the future.
Speakers Jolene Brown, Tom Thibodeau, and Stan Erwine will be featured at the conference, along with educational and fun sessions created to help producers manage and lead their family, farm and cooperative in the future.
Any dairy or beef farm owners, herdspeople or employees are eligible for this conference, and the event is designed for persons who have not previously attended. Accelerated Genetics believes in educating producers, so they can help cultivate food production for the growing global demand.
This year’s event will be hosted at the Three Bears Lodge in Warrens, Wis. To register for the Leadership Conference call 1-800-451-9275 or email ProducerProgram@accelgen.com.
The registration deadline is March 12, 2015.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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