News Update
June 10, 2015
Sustainability in Beef Production
Food chains and retail stores like McDonalds and Walmart are changing the way they are sourcing food and marketing it to their customers, and it’s all based on sustainability.
Global Sustainability Lead for Elanco Roger Cady, who also works with the Global Roundtable on Sustainable Beef, says sustainability is here, to stay and beef producers have a fantastic sustainability story to tell.
“Ruminants have a special place in the food chain because ruminants are able to consume feedstuffs that other animals, like chickens and hogs, cannot. They graze on land that’s not croppable, so they’re part of the renewing process,” he states.
Cady adds that in order to feed 9 billion people, ranchers will need to become more public about sharing their story, “Because we don’t want other people telling it for us.”
To learn Cady’s definition of sustainability, tune in to this week’s The Angus Report.
Vilsack Announces Additional 800,000 Acres
Dedicated to CRP Wildlife Habitat and Wetlands
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced May 29, that an additional 800,000 acres of highly environmentally sensitive land may be enrolled in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) under certain wetland and wildlife initiatives that provide multiple benefits on the same land.
The USDA will accept new offers to participate in CRP under a general signup to be open Dec. 1, 2015, through Feb. 26, 2016. Eligible existing program participants with contracts expiring Sept. 30, 2015, will be granted an option for one-year extensions. Farmers and ranchers interested in removing sensitive land from agricultural production and planting grasses or trees to reduce soil erosion, improve water quality and restore wildlife habitat are encouraged to enroll. Vilsack made the announcement during a speech delivered at the Ducks Unlimited National Convention in Milwaukee, Wis.
The voluntary CRP allows USDA to contract with agricultural producers so that environmentally sensitive land is conserved. Participants establish long-term, resource-conserving plant species to control soil erosion, improve water quality and develop wildlife habitat. In return, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides participants with rental payments and cost-share assistance. Contract duration is between 10 and 15 years.
For more information on the CRP, read the full release online.
Kansas Net Farm Income Slipped Further in 2014
Lower prices paid to farmers for their crops in 2014 pulled average net farm income in Kansas below previous year levels and well below the five-year average, according to the Kansas Farm Management Association (KFMA).
Net farm income across 1,175 KFMA member farms averaged $122,190, down from $140,356 the previous year and below the five-year average of $149,114, KFMA’s annual PROFITLINK Analysis showed. An executive summary of the report is available online at www.agmanager.info/kfma/.
“Average net farm income for the state was down about $18,000 in 2014 compared with 2013,” said Kevin Herbel, KFMA program administrator, adding that most of the pressure came from lower crop prices.
KFMA divides the state into six regions. Net income last year was down in four of the six regions while southeast Kansas and northwest Kansas farms had higher income than the previous year. South central Kansas farms had the lowest at $52,996, a sharp drop from $151,464 a year earlier. Southeast Kansas farms had the highest net income last year at $183,899.
While crop prices were down in 2014, livestock prices were higher, which aided producers who raise cattle, particularly.
For more information, please view the full release.
Yamaha Introduces 2016 Grizzly EPS 4x4 ATV
Yamaha Motor Corp. USA announces the all-new 2016 Grizzly EPS 4x4 ATV boasting superior handling, comfort and performance. The 2016 Yamaha Grizzly is assembled in the USA at Yamaha’s factory in Newnan, Ga.
The 2016 Grizzly is designed to be the most comfortable, off-road capable and durable big bore ATV for riding enthusiasts who enjoy recreational trails and technical terrain. Aggressive new styling and a new chassis incorporate redesigned front and rear fenders, an all-new handlebar mounted work light, new 26-inch tires, twin-piston four-wheel disc brakes, new suspension and Yamaha’s proven core drivetrain technologies.
The 2016 Grizzly delivers optimized engine character for recreational riding featuring Yamaha’s new DOHC, 708cc engine with 6% more power and 9% more torque than the previous model Grizzly 700. The Mikuni® fuel injection with 44-milimeter bore and throttle position sensor makes for easy electric starting and flawless fuel delivery in nearly any condition.
For more information on the new Yamaha Grizzly, please view the full release.
American Farm Bureau To Outline Analysis
of EPA Water Rule
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers recently completed the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rulemaking for the Clean Water Act, and now the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) has finished its detailed analysis of the rule. AFBF President Bob Stallman and AFBF General Counsel Ellen Steen will discuss what they found in the new rule and what it means for agriculture.
Farmers and ranchers are facing the largest federal overreach in memory. EPA’s Waters of the United States rule gives federal agencies the new power to regulate much normal farming and business activity. EPA largely ignored farmers’ and ranchers’ public comments and concerns and instead crafted a rule that creates uncertainty rather than clarity.
We have read the fine print, and what we’ve found is alarming. The final rule is significantly worse than even the original proposal.
Farmers and ranchers are invited to participate in a conference call Thursday, June 11, 2015, at 11 a.m. EDT. They will hear from Bob Stallman, AFBF president and Ellen Steen, AFBF general counsel.
Call-in number is 1-800-763-5728.
Please RSVP to Jessica Wharton, jessicaw@fb.org.
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