WASHINGTON, April 17, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the re-establishment of the Forestry Research Advisory Council and is seeking nominations for new members.

"This council will play a critical role as USDA continues to lead the way in forest conservation efforts," said Vilsack. "We base our forest conservation policies and decisions on the best available science, and this group will bring the expertise and experience to help us continue that practice."

The council's many responsibilities include providing advice to Secretary Vilsack on national and regional research planning projects and on coordination of forestry research within federal and state agencies, forestry schools and forest industries. In addition, the council will provide advice to the U.S. Forest Service's Research and Development program—the world's largest forestry-research organization.

The Forestry Research Advisory Council has 10 current and upcoming vacancies. Nominations are sought to immediately fill six vacancies on the council and additional vacancies that will occur when current appointments expire in December 2013. Vacancies are open in the following categories:

• Forestry schools
• State and Federal agencies
• Forest industries
• Voluntary organizations

Nominations must be received by April 29, 2013. The announcement appeared in the Federal Register and is available here, along with the required nomination form and more background information.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

SPRINGFIELD – Lt. Governor Sheila Simon will preside over the quarterly meeting of the Governor’s Rural Affairs Council (GRAC) tomorrow in Springfield. The meeting will feature updates about Illinois’ EBT Wireless Project, which enables farmers’ markets to accept Illinois Link, debit and credit cards wirelessly for the first time.

To date, 31 markets have received the wireless grants coordinated by Simon’s office, and most of the markets will start accepting Link cards this spring. One of the newest recipients, EP!C Market, of Peoria, will discuss its expansion plans during the GRAC meeting Wednesday.

“Our wireless project is not only making locally-grown, healthy food available to low-income residents, it is helping us create job opportunities for those in need and supporting farmers,” Simon said.

EP!C Market provides employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. Currently, approximately 40 individuals work in the greenhouse, and plants are sold at local retailers. The organization looks forward to adding an outdoor garden, doubling the number of workers. EP!C will hold its first outdoor farmers’ market in May. 

Applications for the EBT wireless project are still being accepted. For more information, please click here. 

Wednesday, April 17

EVENT: Governor’s Rural Affairs Council (GRAC) quarterly meeting

TIME: 2 p.m.

PLACE: Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Lakeview Rooms B and C, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield

NOTE: Media availability will take place prior to the meeting’s start.

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“Grain, Gridlock and Globalization: Meeting the Economic Challenges in Today’s Agriculture”

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA – April 15, 2013 – Compared to a year ago, Iowa farmers are facing entirely new challenges from nature as well as global markets, farm policy and soaring land prices.  Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF), the state’s largest grassroots farm organization, is once again bringing economic, marketing and nationally-respected financial experts to Iowa to help Iowa’s crop and livestock farmers weather these new cycles of change.  The second annual IFBF Economic Summit will take place July 22-23 at the Iowa State Center Scheman Building on the Iowa State University campus in Ames, Iowa.

“The timing of this Economic Summit is at such a critical juncture; with regards to policy, weather and many other factors which impact farming sustainability and profitability,” said Craig Hill, IFBF president. “While it’s true that Iowa’s thriving farm sector served to insulate much of our state from the worst of the recession, we have to be realistic. Fifteen percent of farmers are more leveraged today than they were before the Farm Crisis of the 1980’s.  There are many things in flux: record land prices and cash rent prices for farmland, an uncertain political climate, no new Farm Bill, global market competition and trade challenges.  Corn exports are down 50 percent from just three years ago and there are many other signs which point towards an inevitable ‘bubble’ burst.”

“Brazil will pass the U.S. in soybean production for the first time in 2013 and they’re emerging as a strong beef exporter.  Ukraine just signed a MOU with China to become a soybean supplier, so you can quickly see that our ‘first-in–the- nation-leading-food-exporter’ status is facing new competition thanks to a drought cycle and uncertain political climate,” said Dave Miller, IFBF director of research and commodity services.

“Today, our market strength depends largely on global markets, trade and things we can’t predict, such as political uncertainty and climate change,” Miller added.

National experts ranging from Daniel Mitchell with the D.C. think tank The CATO Institute, economist Mike Boehlje with Purdue University, American Farm Bureau economist Bob Young and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack are among many nationally-recognized monetary, policy, trade and economic experts tapped for the July IFBF Economic Summit.

For a complete listing of the panelists and schedule, click here: www.iowafarmbureau.com.

The price of the two-day summit is $50 for Iowa Farm Bureau members and $150 for non-members.  Information about the summit, lodging, online registration forms or to join IFBF can be found at www.iowafarmbureau.com.

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About Iowa Farm Bureau

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is a grassroots, statewide organization dedicated to enhancing the People, Progress and Pride of Iowa.  More than 153,000 families in Iowa are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve farm and rural prosperity.  For more information about Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit the online Newsroom page at www.iowafarmbureau.com.

AMES, Iowa -- Understanding and using some simple tools can help cattle producers make the right selection for new herd bulls during upcoming bull sales. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef program specialist Denise Schwab said that’s why a bull selection clinic is scheduled prior to the Friday, May 3, bull sale held by Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) at the Tama Livestock Auction, Tama. There’s no cost to attend and no preregistration is necessary.

“Sorting through performance measures and expected progeny differences doesn’t have to be a chore or a mystery,” Schwab said. “Staff from the Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State have scheduled the clinic so attendees can make use of the information they receive at the bull sale immediately following the clinic.” The clinic will start at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 3.

The sale will feature bulls that have been through ICA’s Bull Evaluation Program, according to ICA seedstock manager Kellie Carolan. She said bulls that go through this 112-day test are evaluated for growth, carcass traits, yearling weight, disposition and scrotal circumference, and are some of the breed’s best pedigrees for calving ease, performance and carcass merit. The Tama sale will also include a group of replacement heifers for sale starting at 6 pm.

Schwab said Iowa Beef Center staff will break down the process of bull selection into simple steps and assist those attending with interpreting the EPD numbers in the catalog. Dr. Patrick Gunn, the newest addition to the ISU Extension beef team and statewide cow-calf specialist, will also present at this clinic.

“We can help you evaluate your cow herd and determine the economically relevant traits that you want to emphasize,” she said. “With that information, you can use the index EPDs and visually appraise the bulls to identify some options that will help you get the most benefit from your cow herd.”

To learn more about ICA’s Bull & Heifer Program, including a listing of bulls that will be offered at the May 3 sale, go to http://www.iacattlemen.org/bullheifer.aspx

For more information on the bull clinics, contact your Iowa State beef specialist at www.extension.iastate.edu/ag/beef

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