News Update
December 21, 2015
Industry Responds to President’s
State of the Union Address Statement by American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman
“The president this evening (Jan. 20, 2015) held out a glimmer of hope that he and the Republican Congress might still work together. His words were reassuring, yet recent history has been anything but. So many good things can be accomplished, so once again, we ask leaders of both parties: Please work together.
“We strongly support President Obama’s efforts to normalize trade and other relations with Cuba. Cuba remains off-limits to almost all American trade — a self-imposed tactic that has repeatedly failed to secure reforms. American agriculture needs the same access to Cuban markets that so many other countries have. Easing trade-financing restrictions is a strong beginning to U.S. food and fiber being accessible to Cuba’s 11 million consumers. It’s also something most Americans know is right.
“Farm Bureau is also encouraged by the president’s strong support for Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), which would give Congress the responsibly to vote yes or no on foreign-trade treaties without deal-killing amendments. Congress must pass bi-partisan TPA legislation to strengthen U.S. negotiating positions in future trade agreements.
“We remain resolute that tax laws must protect the family farm. Our members grow America’s food and fiber for rates of return that are already miniscule compared to almost any other investment they could make. We need to continue to have tax policies that do not punish capital-intensive businesses like farms and ranches and that do not hinder sons and daughters from following the agricultural legacy of their parents.
“America needs to move forward. We can do that only when both parties do what our founders did when they wrote the Constitution: compromise.”
NFU applauds president’s leadership on climate change, tax reform, opening of Cuba;
urges administration to reconsider massive trade agreements
National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson applauded President Obama’s leadership on climate change, tax reform and reopening trade with Cuba, while encouraging the president to reconsider his support for trade agreements that export U.S. jobs and add to our deficits. “Clearly, climate change is happening right before our very eyes, increasing the occurrence and severity of volatile weather events, requiring better risk-management tools for farmers today and legislative action by the federal government to address this issue,” said Johnson. “Farmers are in a position to help mitigate many aspects of climate change.” According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, approximately 6% of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions originating in the United States come from agricultural activities, although carbon sequestration by forests and agricultural lands offsets approximately 12% of annual GHG emissions with the capacity to offset 20% of GHG emissions from all sectors of the economy. “Family farmers are ready to do our part to address climate change,” he said.
Johnson also applauded the president’s vow to revisit the tax code, making it more fair for all and easier to understand. “NFU has always supported a more progressive tax code, and the need to retain tax provisions that make it possible for American family farmers to continue to produce the best, most abundant and most plentiful food, fuel, fiber and feed on the planet,” he added.
Johnson also praised the administration’s move to reopen relations with Cuba, noting that it had been a major goal of NFU for years. “The trade embargo has failed for decades to bring about meaningful change in Cuba,” said Johnson. “Lifting the embargo not only opens new markets for U.S. agriculture products, but also gives new hope of economic prosperity to the good people of Cuba.”
Johnson also urged the president to reconsider moving forward with the massive trade agreements currently moving in Congress, noting that free trade agreements have historically been a very lopsided proposal for the United States. “Free trade agreements are not only exporting American jobs, they are contributing to an increasing trade deficit that has become a major drag on the economy,” he said. “For 2014, the U.S. trade deficit is expected to total about $500 billion and these agreements are likely to add to that number,” he said. “The U.S. government needs to clearly direct our trade negotiators to conclude trade agreements that will erase our trade deficit and lead to more balanced trade in the future.”
New Options for Submitting AHIR Data
Inside AAA Login, the spreadsheet tab now has options to download spreadsheets for submitting data on Pulmonary Arterial Pressure (PAP) and Feed Intake. These spreadsheets will include prefilled columns related to animal ID and pedigree, and allow for the quickest upload and processing times once the additional required fields have been submitted.
Beef Checkoff Launches MBA 2.0
The beef checkoff’s Masters of Beef Advocacy (MBA) program has launched MBA 2.0, an opportunity for beef and dairy producers to step up and be true leaders — “Agvocates,” if you will — for the industry and all of agriculture. Building on the success of the original MBA courses, with nearly 6,000 graduates to date, the program hinges on the importance for consumers to hear directly from those growing and delivering their food to them.
Each course, which has all-new content based on consumer research about questions regarding the beef industry and end product, takes about an hour to complete and follows the beef lifecycle:
- 1. The Beef Community — all about the people involved in producing beef, from pasture to plate;
- 2. Raising Cattle on Grass — covering the cow-calf and stocker/backgrounder stages of production;
- 3. Life in the Feedyard — what goes into ensuring cattle receive proper care and a healthy diet in the finishing phase;
- 4. From Cattle to Beef — how cattle are humanely slaughtered and processed into beef products; and
- 5. Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner. — consumer information about how to properly store, handle and cook beef to ensure a safe and enjoyable eating experience.
“When I found out about the MBA program, I jumped at the chance to complete the courses. For me, it turned out to be a great teaching tool to help me become an informed advocate — not just for my own family’s benefit, but for the good of the entire industry,” says Joan Ruskamp, Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) member from Dodge, Neb.
Those individuals who completed the original MBA courses will remain enrolled in the program and can take the 2.0 classes to update their certificate. MBA grads then have the opportunity to join the private Facebook group where they can have interaction and dialogue about emerging industry issues.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Where Food Comes From Inc. Names
James Riva Vice President of Global Alliances
Where Food Comes From Inc. (dba IMI Global Inc.) announced Jan. 20, 2015, that former USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) executive James Riva has joined the company as vice president of global alliances.
“We are pleased to welcome James to Where Food Comes From,” said Leann Saunders, president. “Having spent virtually his entire career in various branches of the USDA, he brings a wealth of experience and relationships in areas that are critical to our success going forward. This includes a deep understanding of food labeling standards and government’s regulatory relationship with food producers throughout North America and abroad. In his new role with Where Food Comes From, James will leverage his experience to help us develop new business relationships and verification programs and to stay on the leading edge of the increasingly complex world of food labeling standards.”
For more information, please view the full release here.
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