19 Dec 2013

EPA Administrator pressed on proposed reduction in Renewable Fuel Standard

By Grassley Press

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today participated in a bipartisan senators' meeting with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy to discuss the Obama Administration's proposed reduction in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).  Grassley made the following comment after the meeting.

"I'm glad Administrator McCarthy listened to senators' concerns.  I tried to impress upon her that while President Obama and his administration have claimed to be in favor of domestic biofuels, this proposal is a step backward and will harm our efforts to further diversify our fuel supply.  The fact is, the blend wall is a result of Big Oil's obstruction to higher ethanol blends, and EPA's proposal rewards its obstruction.  The Administrator heard a lot about the harm this proposal would do to the environment, our national and energy security, and our rural economies.  I also personally relayed the request of the entire Iowa delegation to host a field hearing in Iowa to hear directly from farmers and biofuels producers about the benefits of the RFS."

The bipartisan letter requesting a field hearing in Iowa is available here.

More on Grassley's views on the proposed reduction is available here.
18 Dec 2013

A One-Stop Shop for Organics at usda.gov, with Lots in Store!

By USDA Office of Communications
Announcement December 18, 2013
Greetings!

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is pleased to announce a new one-stop shop for organics at usda.gov!

We are also pleased to highlight grants to support organic-focused research, education and extension programs.
One-Stop Shop for Organics at usda.gov

Looking for USDA programs and services that support the growing organic sector? USDA has created a centralized web resource center at USDA.gov for all the programs, services, and data we have that support organic agriculture.

Visit (and bookmark) the organic web resource center to access:

  • Conservation programs, flexible microloans, and other financial resources for farmers and ranchers.
  • Organic price reports, cost/revenue comparisons, and other economic and market data.
  • Improved crop and livestock insurance and other programs tailored to the organic sector.
  • Production and conservation assistance and research on organic agriculture.
  • Benefits of organic certification and how to get certified.
  • USDA staff at your local field offices and much more!

USDA is committed to helping organic agriculture grow and thrive by removing obstacles for organic farmers and businesses.

Earlier this year, Secretary Vilsack instructed all USDA agencies to incorporate the needs of the organic sector into their programs and services, and asked AMS to lead this effort.

This one-stop shop for organic-related programs and services at USDA.gov is one way we are meeting those needs.

USDA Blog: A One-Stop Shop for Organics, with Lots in Store
By Mark Lipson, USDA Organic Policy Advisor

Organic Resource Center at USDA.gov
USDA Grants Support Organic Ag Research

Last week, Secretary Vilsack announced that the following universities received a combined total of $3 million to support research, education and Extension programs that will improve the competitiveness of organic livestock and crop producers:

  • University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., $675,719. This project focuses on developing sustainable wholefarm systems for organic pecan production in the Southeast.
  • Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., $464,482. This project will develop alternatives to antibiotics for fire blight control in organic crops.
  • University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn., $718,225. This project will create a series of online, interactive educational modules with a focus on the fundamentals of organic agriculture and how to transition to organic farming.
  • University of Texas Pan American. Edinburg, Texas, $746,973. This project focuses on launching an innovative new academic program that engages students in rigorous, well-designed research projects designed to address real-world problems faced by organic farmers in south Texas.
  • Washington State University, Pullman, Wash., $749,661. This project examines whether, over time, the adoption of organic farming improves natural pest control.

The flagship program to fund organic production, the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative, currently remains unauthorized to continue until a new Farm Bill is passed by Congress.

USDA is funding these efforts through its Organic Transitions Program, which is an essential part of our commitment to the organic farm sector. USDA also provided $847,637 in continuation awards to previous Organic Transitions Program grantees.

Press Release

About the Organic Transitions Program
About the Agricultural Marketing Service

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) facilitates the competitive and efficient marketing of agricultural products. Through its National Organic Program, AMS facilitates trade and ensures the integrity of organic agricultural products by consistently implementing organic standards and enforcing compliance with the regulations throughout the world. Learn more.
About the USDA Organic Insider

The USDA Organic Insider informs the organic community on a wide range of functions, including regulatory updates, requests for public comments, and USDA programs and services.

You are receiving this email because you elected to receive selected updates from the Agricultural Marketing Service. You may manage your profile to receive additional updates or unsubscribe at any time by using the links below.
18 Dec 2013

Statement from Michael T. Scuse, Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

By USDA Office of Communications

WASHINGTON, December 18, 2013 - The United States Department of Agriculture and the Brazil Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food made a joint statement today:

The United States and Brazil are two of the world's largest agricultural producers and exporters. Over the last 20 years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Supply (MAPA) have collaborated on many agriculture issues and currently have some 100 agricultural cooperative activities. As global leaders in the use of innovative agricultural production technologies, both countries share a keen interest in exploring further agricultural cooperation.

Both Brazil and the United States maintain a strong commitment to science-based rulemaking. USDA and MAPA recently agreed to a path forward to amend rules that currently limit bilateral beef trade. Bilateral trade of all beef and beef products could occur once each exporting country meets the importing country's equivalence and technical requirements for animal health and food safety.

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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).


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16 Dec 2013

Donnelly, Grassley Lead Bipartisan Effort to Address Barriers to U.S. Pork Exports

By Grassley Press

December 13, 2013

Washington, D.C. - Senators Joe Donnelly (D-IN) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) today led a group of 31 senators in writing a letter to United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Michael Froman, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack about the importance of addressing barriers to market access for American pork producers in the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

The senators noted the importance of exports to the economic well-being of U.S. pork producers and the U.S. economy as a whole, writing, "U.S. pork production supports an estimated 550,000 domestic jobs, around 110,000 of which are the direct result of exports. Pork exports now make an annual surplus contribution of nearly $5 billion to the overall U.S. trade balance."

Currently, there are numerous market access barriers for U.S. pork in countries participating in the TPP, such as Japan's complex system of tariffs.  These barriers limit the contributions U.S. pork exports can make to the U.S. economy.  The senators insisted to Ambassador Froman and Secretary Vilsack that, as part of the TPP agreement, all tariffs and non-tariff barriers on pork in TPP partner nations be eliminated.

A signed copy of the letter is available by clicking here. Full text of the letter follows.

 

December 13, 2013

 

Ambassador Michael Froman

Office of the United States Trade Representative

600 17th Street NW

Washington, DC 20508

 

Secretary Tom Vilsack

United States Department of Agriculture

1400 Independence Avenue SW

Washington, DC 20250

 

Dear Ambassador Froman and Secretary Vilsack:

We write to emphasize the importance of addressing market access barriers to U.S. pork exports in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

We know that you are both well aware how important exports are to the economic well-being of U.S. pork producers and the U.S. economy as a whole. U.S. pork production supports an estimated 550,000 domestic jobs, around 110,000 of which are the direct result of exports. Pork exports now make an annual surplus contribution of nearly $5 billion to the overall U.S. trade balance.

Around the world, however, numerous market access barriers exist that prevent pork exports from contributing even more to the domestic economy. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiation presents an important opportunity to open new markets to U.S. pork in the Asia-Pacific region, to expand several existing markets, and to establish a standard for all future trade agreements involving pork. The participants in the TPP negotiations represent significant markets for increased U.S. pork exports with the successful removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers.

Currently, U.S. pork producers encounter highly restrictive trade barriers that slow the growth of U.S. exports into a number of TPP participant countries. Japan, for example, maintains a complex system of tariffs that reduces the price and quality advantages of U.S. pork. Vietnam, in addition to burdensome administrative requirements, continues a reference price scheme on imported pork that raises the cost to import certain pork cuts above the market price. Furthermore, despite an existing bilateral trade agreement, Australia still uses non-tariff barriers to limit U.S. exports to either processed pork or frozen, boneless pork for further processing.

It is estimated that if tariffs and all non-tariff barriers are eliminated in each TPP nation, U.S. pork exports will grow by over 50 percent within 10 years of implementation. We strongly urge you to insist that all tariffs and non-tariff barriers on pork in TPP partner nations be eliminated as part of the TPP agreement.

Sincerely,

U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer

U.S. Senator Tom Harkin
U.S. Senator Roy Blunt

U.S. Senator Carl Levin
U.S. Senator Pat Roberts

U.S. Senator Tim Johnson
U.S. Senator Mike Johanns

U.S. Senator Robert Casey
U.S. Senator Richard Burr

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin
U.S. Senator Rob Portman

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow
U.S. Senator Mark Kirk

U.S. Senator Mark Udall
U.S. Senator John Thune

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill
U.S. Senator John Barrasso

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown
U.S. Senator James Inhofe

U.S. Senator Richard Durbin
U.S. Senator John Cornyn

U.S. Senator Michael Bennet
U.S. Senator Tom Coburn

U.S. Senator Mark Pryor
U.S. Senator Patrick Toomey
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran
U.S. Senator Ron Johnson
U.S. Senator Mike Lee

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13 Dec 2013

Grassley Joins Iowa Governor, Congressional Delegation in Seeking Iowa Hearing on Proposed Reductions to the Renewable Fuel Standard

By Grassley Press

Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013

 

WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today joined the Iowa governor, lieutenant governor, Iowa secretary of agriculture and the entire state congressional delegation in expressing strong opposition to the Obama Administration's proposed reduction in the Renewable Fuel Standard and seeking a federal hearing in Iowa to allow federal officials to hear directly from Iowans on the proposed change.

"Too often, federal agencies make major policy changes without considering the people and the economies affected," Grassley said.  "The Environmental Protection Agency regularly falls in that category.  Now, supporters of clean, homegrown, green energy and forward-thinking energy policy are united in letting the Obama Administration know that its proposal is short-sighted and irresponsible, and that the Administration should hear from Midwesterners before making such a sweeping policy change."

The bipartisan letter to President Obama, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and U.S. Department of Agriculture Sec. Tom Vilsack was signed by Grassley, Gov. Terry Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, Sen. Tom Harkin, Congressmen Tom Latham, Steve King, Dave Loebsack and Bruce Braley, and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey.  The letter is available here.

More on Grassley's views on the proposed reduction is available here.

-30-
13 Dec 2013

Iowa Elected Leaders Ask for Iowa Hearing on Proposed Changes to RFS

By Tim Albrecht

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today joined Sens. Charles Grassley and Tom Harkin, Congressmen Tom Latham, Steve King, Dave Loebsack and Bruce Braley, and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey in sending a letter expressing strong opposition to the EPA's proposal that would negatively lower levels in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to President Barack Obama, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and U.S. Department of Agriculture Sec. Tom Vilsack.  The Iowa elected leaders also urged the federal government to host a hearing in Iowa to hear directly from Iowans on the EPA's proposal, which would have a harmful effect on the agriculture, agri-business and biofuels industries in Iowa.

The letter is found here: https://governor.iowa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Letter-from-Iowa-Elected-Officials-Regarding-RFS-12-12-13.pdf

In the bipartisan letter, the leaders noted:

As elected officials from a leading agricultural and biofuels state, we write to express our strong opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposal to reduce renewable fuel volume obligations and weaken the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), and we request further opportunities for citizens from rural America to inform your decisions. Biofuels have diversified America's energy portfolio, strengthened our national security by reducing reliance on foreign oil, reduced transportation fuel emissions, given consumers lower cost options, and energized rural America by increasing family farm incomes and creating high-skilled, rewarding careers.

# # #
13 Dec 2013

USDA Creates Multi-Agency Emergency Response Framework to Combat Devastating Citrus Disease

By USDA Office of Communications
USDA Providing $1 million to Jump Start Citrus Response Framework

WASHINGTON, December 12, 2013 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the creation of a new, unified emergency response framework to address Huanglongbing (HLB), a serious disease of citrus that affects several U.S. states and territories. This new framework will allow USDA and its many partners to better coordinate HLB resources, share information and develop operational strategies to maximize effectiveness.

"USDA listened to the citrus industry's request for more urgency and greater coordination on the response to HLB and is implementing an emergency response structure," said Secretary Tom Vilsack. "To jump start this initiative and affirm our commitment to industry, USDA is also providing $1 million to be used in support of research projects that can bring practical and short-term solutions to the growers in their efforts to combat this disease. Through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative of the Farm Bill, USDA has provided $9 million in research to blocking the ability of insects to spread HLB to healthy trees. We need Congress to quickly pass a new Farm, Food, and Jobs Bill that continues to support this kind of research to protect a crop worth more than $3 billion in the last harvest."

The new framework will bring together USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), along with state departments of agriculture and the citrus industry into a Multi-Agency Coordination (MAC) Group for HLB. It will provide industry with a single contact for all the federal and state entities that work on citrus issues and better enable the collective to collaborate on policy decisions, establish priorities, allocate critical resources, and collect, analyze, and disseminate information.

The HLB MAC Group will also help coordinate Federal research with industry's efforts to complement and fill research gaps, reduce unnecessary duplication, speed progress and more quickly provide practical tools for citrus growers to use.

HLB, also known as citrus greening, is named for the green, misshapen, and bitter-tasting fruit it causes. While this bacterial disease poses no danger to humans or animals, it has devastated millions of acres of citrus crops throughout the United States and abroad. In the United States, the entire States of Florida and Georgia are under quarantine for HLB, and portions of California, Louisiana, South Carolina and Texas are also under quarantine for the disease. The U.S. Territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are under HLB quarantines as well.

You can find more information about HLB and the HLB MAC Group on USDA's Multi-Agency Response to Devastating Citrus Disease website.

#

Note to Reporters: USDA news releases, program announcements and media advisories are available on the Internet and through Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds. Go to the APHIS news release page at www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom and click on the RSS feed link.

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).

#
12 Dec 2013

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack to Join University of Florida Official, Urge Passage of a Food Farm and Jobs Bill to Continue Groundbreaking Agricultural Research

By USDA Office of Communications

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 2013 - TOMORROW, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will join Dr. Jack Payne, Senior Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Florida, to highlight the need for a new Food, Farm and Jobs Bill to advance agricultural research across the nation.

 

The Obama Administration has called for Congress to pass a five-year farm bill that promotes rural development, preserves a strong farm safety net, maintains nutrition programs, encourages the development of local and regional markets, enhances conservation, honors our international trade commitments, and advances agricultural research.

 

PRESS CONFERENCE PARTICIPANT ACCESS:

DATE: December 12, 2013

TIME: 3:15-3:45 p.m. Eastern Standard Time                          

Audio Bridge Number: 888-282-9574

PASSCODE: FARMBILL (Given Verbally)

Trouble number: (202) 720-8560

 

All callers using the above passcode will be placed in listen only mode.  To join the Q&A portion of the meeting, these callers are instructed to press *1 on their touch tone phone.

 

#

 

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).

10 Dec 2013

U.S. Soy Exports Hit Record for Value in 2013

By United Soybean Board
Shipments of whole soybeans, meal, oil hold steady to meet customer needs

ST. LOUIS (December 10, 2013) - The U.S. soy industry has done it again, exporting an eye-popping 1.7 billion bushels of U.S. soy to customers around the world in the 2012-13 marketing year, which ended Sept. 30. The value of these exports comes to a record of more than $28 billion, a 19 percent increase from 2011-2012.

The final figures show farmers continue to meet customer demand for a reliable supply of quality products. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, this total includes more than 1.3 billion bushels of whole U.S. soybeans, meal from 454 million bushels of U.S. soybeans and oil from 186 million bushels, which represents 56 percent of U.S. soybean production from last year.

"The reliability and quality of the U.S. soy supply are just a few reasons that customers keep buying U.S. soybeans, meal and oil," says Jared Hagert, soybean farmer from Emerado, N.D., and United Soybean Board (USB) farmer-leader. "Continuing to meet our customers' needs is very important to U.S. soybean farmers, and these numbers prove we are doing that."

Soy exports for the 2013-2014 marketing year are off to a good start with 87 percent of the total 2014 export forecasts already sold.

Top buyers of whole U.S. soybeans in 2013 include :

  • China: 772 million bushels of U.S. soybeans
  • Mexico: 98 million bushels of U.S. soybeans
  • Japan: 63 million bushels of U.S. soybeans

Top buyers of U.S. soybean meal in 2013 include :

  • Mexico: meal from 59 million bushels of U.S. soybeans
  • Philippines: meal from 47 million bushels of U.S. soybeans
  • Canada: meal from 43 million bushels of U.S. soybeans

Top buyers of U.S. soybean oil in 2013 include :

  • China: oil from 37 million bushels of U.S. soybeans
  • Mexico: oil from 35 million bushels of U.S. soybeans
  • India: oil from 21 million bushels of U.S. soybeans

The 70 farmer-directors of USB oversee the investments of the soy checkoff to maximize profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds to increase the value of U.S. soy meal and oil, to ensure U.S. soybean farmers and their customers have the freedom and infrastructure to operate, and to meet the needs of U.S. soy's customers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.

For more information on the United Soybean Board, visit www.unitedsoybean.org
Visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/UnitedSoybeanBoard
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/unitedsoy
View our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/UnitedSoybeanBoard

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10 Dec 2013

IOWA FARM BUREAU, IOWA DEPARMENT OF AGRICULTURE SAY RECORD APPLICANTS EXPECTED FOR 2014 CONSERVATION FARMER OF THE YEAR

By Laurie Johns

Winner to Receive a Year of Free Use of a John Deere 6D Tractor

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - December 10, 2013 - For the first time the winner of the 2014 Conservation Farmer of the Year award, sponsored by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), will have the free use of a John Deere 6D Series utility tractor for 12 months (up to a maximum of 200 hours), courtesy of Van Wall Equipment.

With increased attention on efforts to remove nutrients from Iowa's watersheds, IFBF and IDALS are proud to announce the addition of Van Wall as a new partner in an award which highlights the 'best of the best' in conservation.

"For more than 30 years, IFBF and IDALS have encouraged and celebrated conservation efforts through the annual Conservation Farmer of the Year Award.  While more work must continue to make progress in conservation, we are always looking for ways to show how today's responsible farmers are making improvements on their farm to protect the soil and water.  Van Wall's support will significantly raise the visibility of the Conservation Farmer of the Year Award and all the conservation efforts of Iowa farmers.  We also believe it will increase farmer participation in the award application process because we know there are many farmers out there with great examples to share," says Craig Hill, Iowa Farm Bureau president.

"We are so proud to be a part of this effort to encourage conservation, because Van Wall believes in farmers and believes in doing the right thing.   Our mission statement has common values with responsible farmers of today, to support Iowa families and communities," says Mark See, Territory Manager of Van Wall Group, Nevada. The Van Wall Group is comprised of 13 dealer locations in Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska.

"In the last 30 years, voluntary conservation measures have reduced soil erosion in the U.S. by 43 percent, according to the USDA's National Resources Inventory report.  Iowa's erosion rate was down 33 percent, thanks to a combination of practices being put in place, such as buffer strips, terraces, no-till, cover crops, restoring wetlands, installing bio-filters and grassy waterways in fields," says Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey. "We believe Iowa farmers will just continue that positive trend through the Iowa Water Quality Initiative."

Learn more about how today's responsible farmers embrace new conservation methods, by visiting the Conservation Counts website (www.iowafarmbureau.com/conservationcounts).  The website is an online resource where consumers can see how farmers use conservation practices on their farm and the progress that statewide voluntary measures have brought in the last 30 years and where farmers can learn more about the latest conservation practices.

Next year's Iowa Conservation Farmer of the Year winner will be presented an award plaque and keys to their tractor at a luncheon during the Conservation Districts of Iowa annual meeting in the Des Moines area September 3 & 4, 2014.

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