WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2013-Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today reported progress on a number of trade issues with China as a result of the 24th U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT), which wrapped up today in Beijing.

The JCCT is the highest level bilateral forum for the resolution of trade and investment issues between the United States and China.  Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman co-chaired the JCCT with China's Vice Premier Wang Yang.

"My discussions with Premier Li Keqiang and other Chinese leaders laid the groundwork for future cooperation related to our shared interests in food security, food safety, and sustainability, as well as the expansion of export opportunities for American farmers and ranchers," Vilsack said.

At the JCCT, a number of high-priority issues for agriculture were discussed, including access for beef and horticultural products, the approval process for biotechnology products, and import suspensions for four states related to avian influenza.

On beef access, the United States and China reached consensus to continued dialogue, with the intention to restore market access by the middle of 2014.

On horticulture, the Secretary re-affirmed a pathway for re-opening China's market for Washington apples and California citrus.

On biotechnology, the Secretary conveyed a need to streamline China's biotech approval process, and gave his commitment to begin implementation of a pilot program on the review of biotechnology products.  China also agreed to discuss U.S. concerns regarding China's requirement for the use of viable seed in applications for biotechnology approvals.

On avian influenza, the Secretary raised lifting bans on poultry due to avian influenza.  China responded that they were analyzing information provided by USDA.

In his separate discussions with Agriculture Minister Han Changfu, the Secretary shared a proposal for a revised Memorandum of Understanding focused on science and technology cooperation in the field of agriculture.

The two countries also committed to hold a second High Level Agricultural Symposium in 2014, with support from the U.S.-China Agriculture and Food Partnership (AFP).  The recently formed AFP also organized a kick-off reception in honor of Secretary Vilsack's visit, including a broad range of U.S. and Chinese agribusiness leaders and high-level Chinese government officials.

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DES MOINES, IA (12/23/2013)(readMedia)-- The Iowa State Fair brought home numerous honors in the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) agricultural, competitive exhibit and communication competitions, presented earlier this month at the 123rd annual IAFE Convention in Las Vegas.

In Agricultural Awards competition, the Fair collected two top honors, including Overall Program for Competitive Agricultural Exhibitors and Agriculture Photo. The Fair collected three top finishes in the Competitive Exhibit Awards competition, including honors for Participatory Contest, General Display Photo and General Display Photo Series.

In the Communication Awards category, the Fair earned five first-place honors recognizing their newspaper and magazine advertising, television commercial, electronic newsletter and website.

In addition to the 10 first-place awards, the Fair also earned two second-place and three third-place honors for fairs with attendance of one million or more.

There are a total of 13 Agriculture, eight Competitive Exhibit and 19 Communication Award categories, each divided into five divisions based on attendance. The entries are evaluated and judged by a team of industry leaders selected from the membership of IAFE, which represents more than 1,100 fairs around the world and more than 900 members from allied fields.

"Nothing Compares" to the 2014 Iowa State Fair, August 7-17. The Fairgrounds are located at East 30th and East University Avenue, just 10 minutes east of downtown Des Moines. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit iowastatefair.org.

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"Hero Miles" Program Helps Injured Troops Connect with Family

HINES - Governor Pat Quinn today was joined by the Fisher House Foundation to encourage people across Illinois to help injured servicemembers overseas connect with their families through Operation Hero Miles. The program uses frequent flyer miles donated by passengers to provide airfare that will connect wounded, injured or ill service members to their families. Today's announcement is part of Governor Quinn's commitment to honor, protect and support the men and women who have served our nation.

"Everyone wants to spend the holidays with the ones they love," Governor Quinn said. "Operation Hero Miles gives our wounded warriors and their families the opportunity to spend the holidays together despite the difficulties our veterans face on the long road to recovery. Donating your frequent flyer miles in support of those who have sacrificed so much for us is a great way to give back this holiday season."

Administered by the Fisher House Foundation, Operation Hero Miles uses donated frequent flyer miles to provide free round-trip airline tickets to military families flying to visit a service member receiving medical treatment. The program also enables wounded or ill service members with approved leave to fly home at no cost. To date, Operation Hero Miles has issued more than 40,000 donated tickets, saving servicemembers and their families nearly $63 million. A list of major airline partners that help support the Hero Miles program include : Airtran Airlines, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Frontier Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways. To donate airline miles, visit http://fisherhouse.org/.

The Governor recently returned from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., his ninth annual trip to visit wounded Illinois troops and share holiday cards from students across Illinois. For the previous eight years, Governor Quinn traveled to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, which is the largest American hospital outside of the United States. Governor Quinn visited Walter Reed this year since many service members have returned home since the drawdown of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Governor Quinn has made commitment to veterans, servicemembers and their families a top priority throughout his career in public service. He has led the Illinois Warrior Assistance Program that helps veterans transition back to their daily lives, and the Welcome Home Heroes program which help supports Illinois servicemembers seeking home ownership. Also, as Lieutenant Governor, Governor Quinn championed the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund Act, which established a fund to provide grants to families of Illinois National Guard members and Illinois residents serving in the U.S. Armed Forces Reserve components who were called to active duty as a result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. These grants help servicemembers and their families with the costs of food, housing, utilities, medical services and other expenses they struggle to afford because a wage-earner has temporarily left civilian employment to be placed on active military duty. The fund has distributed more than $15.1 million to 29,625 Illinois military families to assist with the financial burden at home when a loved one is deployed overseas.

For more information about these and other programs for our Veterans, visit http://operationhomefront.org/ or call the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs at (217) 782-6641 or (312) 814-2460.

Crowdfunding campaign will use funds to purchase the theater as a nonprofit; kickoff event Dec. 28

TIPTON, Iowa?The Hardacre Theater Preservation Association (HTPA) has launched a fundraising campaign to purchase the theater using the crowdfunding website Indiegogo. The campaign's goal is to raise $60,500 before Jan. 30, 2014.

The HTPA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is using Indiegogo to fund Phase 1 of its fundraising campaign, with the goal of purchasing the theater on Jan. 31, 2014. Phase 2, which will begin after the purchase, will involve raising funds to renovate and rehabilitate the theater.

The "Save the Hardacre" Indiegogo campaign will use a "flexible funding" option, meaning the campaign must reach its goal to receive the total funds donated. If the fundraising goal is not met, the HTPA will only receive 91% of the money raised.

"This is why it's incredibly important to meet our fundraising goal of $60,500," said Greg Brown, HTPA president. "While this is less severe than the all-or-nothing crowdfunding campaign we originally planned to use, meeting our goal will mean the difference between making the purchase deadline or failing to make it."

To access the campaign, go to indiegogo.com and search for "Hardacre Theater" or find the link at the HTPA website at thehardacre.org. Donors can give via credit card.

"Crowdfunding sites like Indiegogo are used to fund projects big and small and have a worldwide reach in terms of potential donors," said Brown. "This opens our donor pool considerably, but we need donations from local community members to really pull this off."

The purchase price for the theater is its assessed value, $96,100. One donor has pledged a $40,000 matching donation toward the purchase price. The Indiegogo campaign is designed to raise the remaining amount, in addition to $4,400 in campaign fees.

Campaign donations are tax deductible, and donors can choose from a variety of donor rewards, depending on their level of giving. Those rewards include free tickets to post-renovation Hardacre movies, T-shirts and art prints of the theater designed by local artists, and invitations to the Hardacre's post-renovation grand opening event.

Donors will also get special perks from local businesses throughout the campaign, including freebies and discounted items from local businesses.

Kickoff pizza party Dec. 28

There will also be a campaign kickoff pizza party Dec. 28. The event will be held at noon Saturday, Dec. 28, at A Place to Land, 523 Cedar St., in Tipton. The public is invited to attend and learn about the Indiegogo fundraising drive.

In addition to food and drinks, a "donation station" will be set up for participants to join the funding drive. HTPA board members will be on hand to answer questions and thank donors and those interested in volunteering to save the Hardacre.

"This event is our way of thanking community members for the incredible support we've received in the past year," said Brown. "We want to bring as many people together in the community as possible and thank them for joining our cause."

For more information, go to thehardacre.org.

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