Grants extend production season and income opportunities for America's Farmers

WASHINGTON, Nov. 25, 2013 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the availability of nearly $10.5 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grants to help agricultural producers enter into value-added activities designed to give them a competitive business edge.

"U.S. agriculture is connected to one in 12 American jobs, and value-added products from homegrown sources are one important way that agriculture generates economic growth," Vilsack said. "Supporting producers and businesses to create value-added products strengthens rural economies, helps fuel innovation, and strengthens marketing opportunities for producers - especially at the local and regional level."

The funding is being made available through the Value-Added Producer Grant program. Grants are available to help agricultural producers create new products, expand marketing opportunities, support further processing of existing products or goods, or to develop specialty and niche products. They may be used for working capital and planning activities. The maximum working capital grant is $200,000; the maximum planning grant is $75,000.

Eligible applicants include independent producers, farmer and rancher cooperatives, and agricultural producer groups. Funding priority is given to socially disadvantaged and beginning farmers or ranchers, and to small- to medium-size family farms, or farmer/rancher cooperatives.

The Value-Added Producer Grant program is one of many USDA programs that support the development of strong local and regional food systems as part of the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative. Launched in 2009, the initiative strengthens ties between agricultural producers and their local communities, helping meet growing consumer demand and creating opportunities for small business development. Initiatives like this create new income opportunities for farmers, generate wealth that will stay in rural communities, and increase access to healthy, local foods in underserved communities. All of these actions boost local economies.

Today's announcement comes as more than 1,400 communities nationwide gear up to support Small Business Saturday, a day dedicated to championing small businesses on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. This year's Small Business Saturday is Nov. 30.

Rural Development is encouraging applications from Tribal organizations as well as applications that support regional food hubs. Applications supporting value-added activities related to bio-based products are also encouraged.

Since 2009, the Obama Administration has provided agricultural producers with almost $80 million in Value Added Producer Grant assistance that has supported more than 600 innovative, value-added projects.

In Fiscal year 2012, for example, the Mississippi Delta Southern Rural Black Women in Agriculture Association received a $44,000 working capital grant to provide a variety of services in the Delta region. The cooperative delivered oven-bakeable sweet potato fries to local Head Start programs and schools; cut, washed and bagged greens for local restaurants; and delivered sustainably grown and heirloom sweet potatoes to local and specialty grocers regionally and nationwide. The sweet potatoes are processed at the vegetable facility at Alcorn State University, in Lorman, Miss.

The project is supplying emerging markets with locally grown produce to enhance production, marketing and distribution infrastructure among women and minority landowners in persistently poor rural communities.

Additional examples of how VAPGs assist local and regional food producers are available on the USDA Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass, which is searchable by zip code and key word.

Grant applications are due by Feb. 24, 2014. More information about how to apply is available on page 70260 of the November 25 Federal Register, or by contacting any USDA Rural Development state office.

Secretary Vilsack said that today's announcement is another reminder of the importance of USDA programs such as the Value-Added Producer Grant program for rural America. A comprehensive new Food, Farm and Jobs Bill would further expand the rural economy, Vilsack added, saying that's just one reason why Congress must get a comprehensive Bill done as soon as possible.

President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way - strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities. USDA's investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values.

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NEW USB LEADERSHIP TO BE CHOSEN AT ANNUAL MEETING

A new fiscal year means new leadership for the United Soybean Board (USB). USB will hold its annual meeting Dec. 5-6 in St. Louis, where a new chairman and vice chairman will be named, along with other new officers and executive committee members.

In addition, activities at USB's annual meeting may include :
  • Swearing in newly appointed USB directors
  • Evaluating progress on marketing, promotion and research projects and framing strategies for the FY15 fiscal year
  • Updates from soy-checkoff partners
Media are invited to attend the news conference in person or participate via teleconference on Friday, Dec. 6.

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You can view the full report HERE.

In June of 2010, the Obama Administration began providing input to Congress regarding the prospective features and policy of contents for a reauthorized farm bill. Over a period of more than three years, the Administration has supported reauthorization efforts aimed to help build a better safety net for farmers and families, and to build a better farm, food, and energy policy for the nation.

However, 43 months later and despite the best efforts of many in Congress, work on reauthorization on the Farm Bill remains incomplete. While some programs have been simply extended, others remain either unfunded, unauthorized, or without enactment of needed reforms.

The Administration has made clear that passing a comprehensive farm bill is a priority, and of importance for every American. The White House today is releasing a new report, which explains what is at stake in this debate. You can read the full report HERE.

Today's report outlines the many benefits of a new Farm Bill for all Americans. Passage of a Food, Farm and Jobs Bill would:

  • Build on recent momentum of the U.S. agriculture economy, a key engine of economic growth.
  • Promote development in communities across the country, by expanding new opportunities for American agriculture, increasing manufacturing potential and supporting businesses across rural America.
  • Protect our vital food assistance programs, which benefit millions of families and individuals - in rural, suburban and urban areas alike
  • Create a reliable safety net for our farmers and ranchers, including a strong crop insurance program, a long term extension of disaster programs and retroactive assistance for livestock producers.
  • Continue federal conservation efforts, working alongside a record number of farmers and ranchers to conserve our soil and protect our water.
  • Promote new markets for U.S. producers abroad and at home, honor our trade commitments and assist our farmers and ranchers to export a record amount of product around the world.
  • Support research, and ensuring that our long history of agricultural innovation continues.
  • And reduce the deficit, by enacting reforms saving billions of dollars in the coming decade.

The report highlights the economic benefits - for the domestic agriculture sector, its workforce, rural American communities, and families and businesses across the country - that would result from these changes, and the imperative to passing a comprehensive Food, Farm, and Jobs bill as soon as possible.

A Comprehensive Farm Bill Will Build On Recent Momentum Of The U.S. Agriculture Economy

The U.S. agriculture sector is a key engine of economic growth. Not only does it put food on the table of American families at affordable prices and provide raw material for a range of vital purposes?it also supports millions of jobs and is a key economic driver in many rural communities.

In recent years, the agriculture sector has seen strong growth, with farm income and agriculture exports both reaching historical highs not witnessed in decades.

  • After adjusting for inflation, net farm income - at $120 billion for 2013 - now stands at its second-highest level since 1973.
  • Farm asset values are expected to rise 7.1 percent in 2013, as farmland values are expected to continue rising; farm equity is expected to increase by 7.6 percent in 2013.

Since the President took office, agriculture exports have had the strongest five-year period of growth in our nation's history, and hit a record level in the last fiscal year:

  • In the 2013 fiscal year, exports reached over $140 billion -- exceeding the previous high of $137 in FY2011, and setting a new record.
  • The average volume of bulk commodities exported increased by nearly four million tons per year over the past five years.
  • U.S. farm exports have supported about one million American jobs.

Between 1948 and 2011, total farm production more than doubled, and U.S. total agricultural output grew at an average annual rate of 1.49 percent over this period. Almost all of this growth in U.S. agricultural output was due to increased productivity growth.

The Farm Bill offers an opportunity to build on this progress, providing long-term certainty about the next five years of U.S. farm policy for America's farmers, ranchers and producers.

A Comprehensive Farm Bill Will Invest In Rural Development

The Farm Bill authorizes and directs the work of USDA-Rural Development, with a mission of improving the quality of life in rural America by financing long-term investments in the future of rural communities through loans, loan guarantees, grants, and technical assistance.

While there is a vibrant agricultural economy today, rural America continues to face a number of unique challenges:

  • Eighty-five percent of persistent poverty counties in America?counties where poverty has been high for at least 30 years?are in rural areas.
  • Additionally, rural America faces a growing demographic challenge due, in part, to lowering birth rates and an aging population: between 2010 and 2012, rural areas experienced the first recorded period of population loss.

A comprehensive Farm Bill with funding for water and wastewater investments would help tackle the $2.1 billion backlog of shovel-ready water/wastewater infrastructure projects in small towns across the country

  • Since 2009, Farm Bill rural development programs have financed 3,898 rural water and wastewater projects, putting people to work and providing clean water for nearly 14 million rural Americans.
  • During the same period of time, investments that farm bill programs authorize have supported improvements to 276 hospital and medical clinics, 166 schools and 401 libraries in rural America; the agency has awarded 15,727 grants and loans to aid 65,636 businesses expand opportunity and create jobs.
  • The Farm Bill also will help keep rural communities safe and connected, through the expansion of 911 access and by supporting access to broadband telecommunications services in rural areas through project loan guarantees.
  • Between 2009 and 2012, Farm Bill authorized programs helped create new market opportunities for rural producers and businesses by supporting over 800 local and regional food projects, including new product development and critical infrastructure like food hubs.

A comprehensive farm bill will allow USDA-Rural Development to work in partnership with local governments and organizations to align public investments, leverage private dollars, and respond to local priorities.

A Comprehensive Farm Bill Will Invest In The Bioeconomy And Clean Energy

  • The Farm Bill also is a key opportunity to advance the bioeconomy through continued investment in the next generation of advanced biofuels, construction of advanced biorefineries, top-notch research, support for farmers establishing new biofuel crops, and the manufacture of biobased industrial products.
  • A strong bioeconomy means producing manufactured goods, fuels, and power using plant materials, rather than petroleum, chemicals, or other extracted materials as the fundamental building block. More than 3,000 companies produce bio-based industrial products - everything from chemicals, to auto parts and beverage bottles - from homegrown, plant-based materials.
  • The Farm Bill includes several energy programs that correspond with the various components of the energy chain?from the field and the research lab to the factory and the generator. A comprehensive Farm Bill would:
  • Reauthorize and fund the Renewable Energy for America program, which provides grants and guaranteed loans to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for the purchase of renewable energy systems and the implementation of energy efficiency projects. Since 2009, 9,166 awards have been made through this program, saving or generating a total of over 9.8 million megawatt hours of energy
  • Jumpstart the production of the next generation of advanced biofuels by helping communities and companies invest in building advanced biorefineries, funding regional research, and continuing to help farmers to establish those biofuel crops.
  • Continue USDA's BioPreferred program, which has helped to create thousands of new jobs in rural communities and added jobs across the value chain even in larger manufacturing cities by using agricultural and forestry commodities as the base feed stock for everyday products.
  • Support domestic investment, development, and production in the emerging bio-based industrial products industry through expanded eligibility for loan programs and directed research.
  • A strong bio-based economy will improve the bottom line for farmers while creating good manufacturing jobs in rural America. At the same time, these investments reduce our use of foreign oil, reduce the trade deficit by replacing imported crude oil with home-grown, fuel, and contribute to a healthier planet by reducing emissions.

A Comprehensive Farm Bill Will Support Vulnerable Families By Protecting Our Vital Food And Nutritional Assistance Programs

  • For the past 40 years, the Farm Bill also has authorized the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), one of our nation's strongest defenses against hunger and poverty. SNAP helps families and seniors put food on the table, while also benefitting farm and rural economies.
  • In 2012, SNAP kept nearly 5 million people, including 2.2 million children, above the poverty line.
  • SNAP benefits led to an average annual decline of 4.4 percent in the prevalence of poverty from 2000 to 2009, and led to even greater reductions in the depth and severity of poverty.
  • Program benefits are targeted to those most in need: the vast majority of SNAP participants are children, the elderly, or people with disabilities.
  • Over 91 percent of SNAP benefits go to households with income below the poverty line, and 55 percent go to households with income of less than half of the poverty line (about $9,500 for a family of three).
  • Most SNAP recipients who can work do so. Among SNAP households with at least one working-age, non-disabled adult, more than half work - and more than 80% work in the year before or after receiving SNAP.
  • Administrative costs for the program are very low: about 95 percent of federal spending on SNAP goes directly to helping eligible households purchase food.
  • In addition to helping American families during tough economic times, SNAP provides a fiscal boost to the economy during economic downturns.
  • The independent Congressional Budget Office estimates that every SNAP dollar generates up to $1.80 in economic activity.
  • Every $5 in SNAP benefits generates as much as $9 of economic activity for the over 230,000 retail food outlets - supermarkets, grocers and farmers' markets - that participate in the program
  • In addition, reforming our largest international food aid program would provide a much greater impact without additional budgetary resources, helping up to 4 million more people each year in emergency food crises abroad.

A Comprehensive Farm Bill Will Provide A Safety Net For Producers To Manage Risk

  • The Farm Bill represents a key opportunity to further reform and improve farm programs to provide assistance to those that need it and to restore much needed disaster funding for livestock producers, while also providing deficit reduction for the American taxpayer.
  • While crop insurance is a critical component of the farm safety net, the Government's cost of providing crop insurance has increased dramatically over the past decade as the subsidies for crop insurance and the prices of commodities have increased.
  • In 2012, farmers paid about $4.3 billion to insure almost 282 million acres through the Federal crop insurance program.
  • Elimination of direct farm subsidies, as proposed by the Administration, would save taxpayers $5 billion per year.
  • The Farm Bill also is an opportunity to reform adjusted gross income limit provisions to prevent producers that do not need assistance from receiving aid.
  • Due to Congressional inaction on the Farm Bill, some of the programs that could have helped mitigate the impacts of the severe drought conditions in 2012 and more recently during the South Dakota blizzard this past October are expired or currently have no funding - particularly safety net programs for livestock producers.
  • In 2012, had Congress acted to reauthorize the Farm Bill, the Livestock Forage Program (LFP) payments alone could have totaled between $500-$600 million, double the 2011 levels. A new Farm Bill would retroactively extend LFP payments to producers to cover those losses.
  • Continued delay of the Farm Bill not only leaves these producers on their own to cover their losses from the 2012 drought, but also renders essential programs unavailable to USDA in its work to provide assistance for new disasters, such as the October blizzard in South Dakota, Nebraska, North Dakota and Wyoming, which killed a large number of livestock.
  • Because Congress has not acted to reauthorize the Farm Bill, USDA is unable to assist producers and can only ask producers to keep accurate records for when a Farm Bill reauthorizes the LIP program.
  • Lack of action on a Farm Bill ultimately would result in the U.S. reverting back to dairy policy from the New Deal era, leading to the potential for milk prices to double for domestic consumers. This also would carry significant cost for the federal government of at least $12 billion per year.

A Comprehensive Farm Bill Will Enhance Conservation

  • The future of food and fiber production in the U.S. depends upon the availability of productive farm and ranch land and abundance of healthy natural resources. Towards this end, the Farm Bill represents the nation's largest investment supporting the voluntary and successful conservation, restoration and management of America's working lands.
  • Conservation compliance and sound conservation practices to commodity programs has been a successful tool in reducing soil erosion by more than 40 percent and preventing impairment of natural resources.
  • A comprehensive Farm Bill will improve, simplify, and strengthen key land conservation, protection, and wildlife habitat enhancement. The Farm Bill authorizes or makes changes to:
  • Working-land programs that provide technical and financial assistance to farmers who install or maintain conservation practices on land in production. These programs have enrolled 60 million acres of agricultural and non-industrial private forestland (through the Conservation Stewardship Program) and obligated nearly $1 billion in financial assistance for over 44,000 active and completed contracts (Environmental Quality Incentives Program).
  • Comprehensive conservation and habitat programs that help farmers, ranchers and private landowners protect and conserve environmentally sensitive land and produce wildlife habitat from agricultural production in exchange for rental or easement payments.
  • Agricultural land acquisition programs like the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program, which provide assistance to cooperating partners to purchase land rights, helping sustain the ranching and farming way of life and their surrounding rural communities.
  • Linking crop insurance participation to conservation compliance, as supported by the Administration, could bring an additional 17 million acres into compliance practices, and ensure an additional 141 million acres remain in a conservation practices.
  • A comprehensive Farm Bill also supports the restoration of our nation's forests and ecosystems, for example by authorizing critical forest management tools, and providing funding for local governments to install high-efficiency, biomass-fueled heating systems that reduce energy costs, support rural income and employment opportunities, and address the risks of severe wildfire.

A Comprehensive Farm Bill Will Promote Markets At Home And Abroad While Meeting Our Global Trade Commitments

  • The agriculture sector and farm exports have been one of the brightest points for the U.S. economy.
  • The current value of U.S. exports is more than $140 billion, with the past five years representing the highest agriculture sales levels in the nation's history.
  • U.S. agricultural exports have out-paced U.S. agricultural imports since 1960, generating a surplus in U.S. agricultural trade.
  • Trade promotion provisions in a new Farm Bill and continued commitment to developing markets at home and abroad will be key to maintaining strong farm incomes over the next 5 years.
  • The Farm Bill authorized USDA's trade promotion efforts, which are estimated to generate a return of $35 in economic benefits for every one dollar invested. These programs help approximately 70 U.S. agricultural producer organizations, each representing hundreds or thousands of producers, expand commercial export markets for their goods abroad.
  • The Farm Bill also facilitates export financing of U.S. agricultural exports, which helped generate sales of more than $4.1 billion of U.S. agricultural exports in 2012 - including high-valued products like port, forest products, almonds, fish and fresh fruit.
  • A comprehensive Farm Bill will support the growth of global and domestic organic market opportunities by providing critical data, research and program supports for organic farming, sales of which doubled from 2002-2012. These investments also provide valuable information about drought-resistant and soil-conserving practices, which benefit all U.S. agriculture
  • Farm Bill-authorized programs support the development of physical infrastructure and technical assistance to locally-based organizations engaged in marketing, food safety and production research and training. Between 2009 and 2012, USDA supported over 2,600 projects nationwide to build new market opportunities in local and regional foods.
  • Passage of comprehensive Farm Bill also is necessary to resolve the Brazil WTO dispute, which if not resolved is likely to result in trade retaliation against the United States.

A Comprehensive Farm Bill Will Promote Innovation And Productivity By Supporting Key Research Initiatives

  • Agricultural research and development generates high payoffs for farmers and the public: research shows that investing in agricultural R&D generates social rates of return of 20-60% annually.
  • Between 1948 to 2011, U.S. agricultural output grew at an average annual rate of 1.5 percent, and total farm production more than doubled- with innovation-driven productivity growth accounting for most of this growth.
  • Research programs today address a broad array of problems facing U.S. agriculture including food supply and security, bio-energy development, increased climate variability, plant and animal health, water availability and quality, food safety, and nutrition and childhood obesity.
  • A comprehensive Farm Bill provides the opportunity to recommit to targeted public sector investments in agricultural R&D, as supported by groups across the spectrum including the American Enterprise Institute and the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology
  • The Farm Bill supports competitive grants programs as well as funds research, education, and extension activities that provide science-based solutions to address major agricultural challenges of national, regional, and multi- state importance.
  • With the help of one such grant, University of Illinois scientists combined ultrasound and chlorine washing treatments to reduce the number of E. coli 0157:H7 in spinach to 99.99 percent.
  • Another funded projected produced power and chemical products from an existing pulp and paper mill, protecting at least 100 jobs in North and South Carolina.
  • The Farm Bill would also help identify priority areas for new and continuing USDA research. A comprehensive bill specifically would support the study of Colony Collapse Disorder, which threatens the health of honey bees and the economic stability of commercial beekeeping and pollination operations in the United States.

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Iowa RFS Coalition Event to Urge Iowans to Take Action on RFS Proposal

 

(DES MONIES) - The Iowa RFS Coalition will host a "Defend the RFS" event at Lincolnway Energy to highlight the negative impact of EPA's proposal to radically reduce Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) levels for 2014. Iowa consumers, farmers and renewable fuels producers will be harmed if the proposal moves forward.  Iowans will be urged to demand the EPA modify the proposal to uphold the letter and spirit of the bipartisan RFS law.

 

"Why the Obama administration would side with the big oil companies over Iowa's homegrown renewable fuels is baffling," said Iowa Governor Terry Branstad. "The EPA has turned its back on rural America, and our economy and family farms will suffer as a result. Corn prices have already dropped to the cost of production, and this will likely further squeeze corn producers and negatively impact income growth in rural America. We have more than 50 ethanol and biodiesel plants in Iowa, and these EPA reductions would negatively impact thousands of Iowa jobs. This debate isn't over. I will lock arms with our agricultural groups, our family farmers, leaders from both parties, and Iowans in fighting for Iowa's homegrown, reliable, and safe renewable fuels. I encourage Iowans to officially comment to the EPA."

 

WHAT: "Defend the RFS" Event

WHEN: Friday, November 22, 2013

TIME: 1:00 - 2:00 PM CST

WHERE: Lincolnway Energy, 59511 W. Lincoln Highway, Nevada, Iowa

WHO:  Governor Terry Branstad

Congressman Steve King

IDALS Secretary Bill Northey

Lincolnway Energy CEO Erik Hakmiller

Absolute Energy CEO Rick Schwarck

REG VP of Sales and Marketing Gary Haer

DuPont Industrial Biosciences Regional Business Leader for Americas Troy Wilson

Iowa Corn Growers President and Lynnville farmer Roger Zylstra

NOTE: A bus will provide speakers and media a brief driving tour of Lincolnway Energy and the neighboring DuPont Nevada Site Cellulosic Ethanol facility (under construction).

 

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Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa released the following statement regarding the ongoing farm and nutrition bill negotiations between the House and the Senate.

"We are coming to a critical time in the farm and nutrition bill conference committee negotiations.   Current negotiations include possible changes to the actively engaged criteria and requiring the use of planted acres or base acres in commodity programs.

"There's no question that the current actively engaged law isn't working.  The non-partisan Government Accountability Office wrote in a report this fall that changes needed to be made and the legislative language in the Senate passed farm bill would be an appropriate fix.

"Besides, the actively engaged provisions are the same in both the House and Senate bills.  So, we have the two bills with the exact same language and a scathing report from the GAO.  There is no reason for these provisions to even be a part of the discussion.  We need to close loopholes that have allowed non-farmers to game the system.  The longer we let this happen, the easier it will be for opponents of farm programs to argue for no farm bill.  And, quite honestly, I don't understand how anyone can promote closing loopholes for food stamps if they don't also support closing the loopholes non-farmers, many of whom have other significant income, are using.

"Another issue I'm surprised is still being debated is the use of planted acres vs. base acres for the commodity title.  The House bill uses extremely high target prices for some crops that are then coupled with planted acres.  I assume this is to drive up acreages for certain crops.  The press has reported that Ranking Member Peterson has made it no secret that was his exact intent for Barley, and the reason he insisted it have a high target price.

"Enacting the House commodity title will take us backwards to a time when farmers planted for the government instead of the market.  And, if anyone thinks we're immune to World Trade Organization challenges, I would remind them that U.S. taxpayers have sent the citizens of Brazil $146 million for the last several years because our cotton program was considered too market distorting.

"Yet, even with the statement by Ranking Member Peterson, possible WTO challenges, and concerns with the government picking winners and losers in the commodity program, I'm hearing Chairman Lucas and his staff are trying to convince people that there is no reason to be troubled about any of these concerns with regard to planted acres.

"I want to get a farm bill done, but I also want to vote for a good bill that is defensible."
From the farm fields of the Midwest to baseball fields in New York City, green products are popping up like fly balls, displaying a soybean farmer's dedication to providing a sustainably produced product for an environmentally conscious metropolitan area. New York City is just one of many cities that has committed to reducing their environmental impact, and because of this, the market potential for products made from sustainable U.S. soy, such as biodiesel, Bioheat® and soy-backed AstroTurf, continues to expand.

Watch the video to hear from United Soybean Board farmer-leaders Sharon Covert and Lewis Bainbridge as they discuss how their focus on sustainability on the farm has set soy oil up for market growth and success in the city.
High oleic soy's innovation proves successful in multiple locations

ST. LOUIS (Nov. 15, 2013) - High oleic soybeans deliver innovation in every pod harvested. It's innovation that provides solutions to some of U.S. soy's biggest customers and helps build demand for U.S. soybean oil. But, these varieties don't stop there - they also perform in farmers' fields.

Just ask Russell Stevens and Jack Leslie. These farmers grew high oleic soybeans this year and saw them meet expectations.

Many years ago, the soybean industry had the foresight to prepare soybean-oil solutions that eliminate trans fats, especially timely with the Food and Drug Administration's recent trans-fat-ban announcement. Stevens grew high oleic soybeans because they help protect soybean-oil demand and have the potential to expand markets for U.S. soybean farmers.

"The benefits for our end-use customers really attracted me to these varieties," says Stevens, who farms in Hurlock, Md., on the Delmarva Peninsula. "These varieties help provide the oil our food customers need and help create sustainable demand for U.S. farmers."

High oleic soybean oil provides much needed functionality for some food customers, without trans fats. It also adds demand from potential industrial markets.

"These varieties open up markets in lubricants and engine oils that weren't previously available," adds Jack Leslie, who farms in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. "As soybean farmers, we have to try new things and open new markets to increase our profitability."

Both Stevens and Leslie were excited about the market opportunities for their soybeans, but needed to see the varieties perform on their farms to believe in their long-term potential. Consider them believers. The varieties were bred with proven genetics so they performed under regional conditions.

"Agronomically, these varieties offer similar pest and disease packages as my other varieties," says Leslie. "And, we saw them perform comparably with other varieties on our farm and in our area."

Stevens had similar experiences.

"I tried these varieties first in plots last year and saw them yield really well," adds Stevens. "They have a good pod set, yielded well and we continue to grow them."

High oleic soybean varieties are currently being bred to move into expanded soybean growing regions. Farmers in areas of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia can grow them now. To find out more about high oleic soybeans, visit www.SoyInnovation.com.

The 69 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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Midwestern farmers are continually challenged by the need to feed a growing world while protecting and conserving our natural resources. However, the Midwest has an advantage compared to other regions of the United States due to our good soils, adequate rainfall, and intensive animal production systems. Livestock manure not only provides nutrients for crop production, but also helps to improve soil quality.

The most overlooked value of manure is its ability to improve soil bulk density, aggregation, organic matter, and biological activity. "The increase in soil microbial activity provides the foundation for the increase in organic matter in the soil," says Dr. Jerry Hatfield, Director of the Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment at ISU. "Organic matter increases are necessary for any improvement in soil quality and continual soil biological activity is needed as the sustaining factor in providing the mechanism for incorporating manure into a valuable soil resource."

Hatfield's team used on-farm evaluations of manure management to demonstrate that the combination of reducing tillage by utilizing strip tillage systems as a method of incorporating liquid manure greatly improved soil quality. The increased aggregate stability increases the infiltration rate of rainfall into the soil and also decreases the potential for soil erosion.

The value of manure cannot be overlooked and Midwestern agricultural systems have the potential to become more efficient in the utilization of the natural resources, e.g., water, nutrients, and light, with the incorporation of manure as part of the management system. Improvement of soil quality provides the foundation for enhanced crop production and resilience to climate variability.

Hatfield's project will be featured at the upcoming Driftless Region Beef conference Jan. 30 and 31, 2014, in Dubuque, Iowa. Several of the speakers will focus on the competitive advantage of integrating beef production and cropping systems in the upper Midwest.

The conference will begin at 1 p.m. on Jan. 30 and continue through 11:45 a.m. on Jan.31. Thursday's afternoon program will focus on the competitive advantage of grain and beef production systems, with an evening discussion focused on extending the grazing season with cover crops and annuals. Friday morning's program includes three breakout sessions for feedlot operations and three for cow-calf producers.

Registration for the conference is $80 before Jan. 15 or $100 after Jan. 15. Additional information about the conference is available at www.aep.iastate.edu/beef . Registration will open for the conference on Dec. 1.

The Driftless Region Beef Conference is sponsored by the University of Illinois Extension, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, the University of Minnesota Extension, and University of Wisconsin Extension. The planning team strives to deliver the latest in research-based information regarding the beef cattle industry. For more information or to receive a brochure, contact Denise Schwab at 319-721-9624.

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INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013/National FFA Organization) - Steven Brockshus of Iowa was to say at least an active high school student.

At Sibley-Ocheyedan High School in Sibley, Iowa, he was active in concert, marching and jazz bands. He was a choir member and performed as lead in several high school plays and musicals. Brockshus was a member of the varsity football, wrestling and track teams. And he belonged to groups including Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society, 4-H and more.

"I joined so many activities in high school to find out where I belonged," he said. "While I didn't feel out of place in any of them, I found something special in FFA."

FFA inspired Brockshus, he recalls. "The organization itself is empty without people. FFA creates an atmosphere in which anyone can find their place, regardless of background, family structure, age, skin color, language or accent."

Brockshus was elected to the 2013-14 National FFA Officer team as Central Region vice president at the 86th National FFA Convention & Expo.

Other members of the team are Brian Walsh of Virginia as president, Mitch Baker of Tennessee as secretary, Jackson Harris of Alabama as Southern Region vice president, Wes Davis of West Virginia as Eastern Region vice president and Jason Wetzler of Oregon as Western Region vice president.

Originally from Sibley, Iowa, and today an agricultural education and global resource systems major at Iowa State University, Brockshus previously served as Iowa FFA Association president and northwest state vice president. In high school, he served as his FFA chapter's reporter and secretary.

Each year at the National FFA Convention & Expo, six students are elected by delegates to represent the organization as National FFA officers. Delegates elect a president, secretary and vice presidents representing the central, southern, eastern and western regions of the country.

National officers commit to a year of service to the National FFA Organization. Each travels more than 100,000 national and international miles to interact with business and industry leaders, thousands of FFA members and teachers, corporate sponsors, government and education officials, state FFA leaders, the general public and more. The team will lead personal growth and leadership training seminars for FFA members throughout the country and help set policies that will guide the future of FFA and promote agricultural literacy.

After graduation from Iowa State, Brockshus hopes to develop agriculture, teach and be involved in missionary work in a third-world country to encourage community development, spur innovation and motivate people in need.

"I am excited to help members find their belonging by serving as a role model, unconditionally loving every person I meet," he said. "I want to make every interaction a moment of positive influence by being vulnerable and sharing my passion.

"I hope to foster an atmosphere of belonging in every member I come in contact with while serving as a national officer. I want to empower members by creating opportunities for self-discovery and express the value of living in the moment with every interaction."

The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to 579,678 student members in grades seven through 12 who belong to one of 7,570 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

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About National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is a national youth organization of 579,678 student members as part of 7,570 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. The National FFA Organization operates under a federal charter granted by the 81st United States Congress and it is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture. The U.S. Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction for FFA as a service to state and local agricultural education programs. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at www.FFA.org, on Facebook, Twitter and the official National FFA Organization blog.

Iowa Fertilizer Company named Second-best "Deal of the Year"

(DES MOINES) - Site Selection Magazine and the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Association today named Gov. Terry Branstad as the "Foreign Direct Investment Politician of the Year" during the 10th Annual World Forum for Foreign Direct Investment in Shanghai, China.

Additionally, the Iowa Fertilizer Company was named the Second-best "Deal of the Year," joining several FDI wins for the state. Since January 2011, IEDA has assisted FDI projects in projects that are expected to create and retain nearly 1,000 jobs and result in capital investment in Iowa of almost $2 billion. The top five FDI projects include the Iowa Fertilizer Company, Valent Biosciences, CJ Bio America, Danisco US Inc., Bridgestone Americas Tires and Hipra USA.

According to the FDI Association, the governor's international award "present(s) accolades for achievement and excellence in the FDI arena in 2012/13." Gov. Branstad's success with foreign direct investment results from his administration's efforts in recruiting businesses to locate in a state or area to grow jobs and strengthen the economy.

"As the governor of Iowa, I have the tremendous opportunity to promote our state, our people and our strong resources to a world market," said Branstad. "This award gives Iowa a prominent place on the world stage, and is an honor in which all Iowans can take pride. The hardworking, sincere people of Iowa are proud of the safe and reliable products they produce for a growing world population. Lt. Governor Reynolds and I have worked tirelessly to grow jobs in our state and improve our economy - and these efforts are being noticed around the world."

Attending the World Forum on Foreign Direct Investment in Shanghai, China, Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds was the featured speaker on the opening panel of the forum to promote the state of Iowa and the opportunities for direct economic investment to an audience of international leaders.

"This forum is a tremendous opportunity to meet face-to-face with key economic and industry leaders to have an open dialogue on economic prospects that would benefit the state and people of Iowa," said Reynolds. "As I talk to business leaders from Europe or from Asia, they have all heard of the great things we are doing in Iowa, and they want to learn more about the steps we are taking as a state to recruit companies, grow our state economy and create careers for Iowans."

In this award category, second place was given to Frank Jensen, Lord Mayor from Copenhagen, Denmark, third place was presented to the Honorable Zafer Ça?layan, Minister of Economy, Turkey, fourth place was presented to Henk Kool, Vice Mayor, The Hague, Holland and fifth place was presented to Noureddine Zekri, General Manager, FIPA Tunisia.

Award winners were determined based on data collected by the Conway Data New Plant Report and by an independent panel of consultants from around the world, including Andreas Dressler, Managing Director, TERRAIN Global, Jason Hickey, President, Hickey & Associates, Yin Hong, National Director & Head of Manufacturing Services, China, Jones Lang LaSalle, Roel Spee, Global Leader, Plant Location International (PLI) Global Location Strategies, IBM Global Business Services, Shirar O'Connor, Principal, The Pont Group, Robert Pittman, Senior Principal, Janus Economics and David East, Director, fDi Intelligence.

Governor Branstad's leadership in bringing foreign direct investment projects to the state is clear. In addition to the Governor's receipt of the FDI Politician of the Year, Iowa was recognized with a second place FDI Deal of the Year honor for Iowa Fertilizer Company's (IFCo) $1.4 billion project in Lee County.

"Governor Branstad has really elevated our position in the international marketplace," said Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority. "And that has helped us to bring in some very significant business locations to Iowa."

In this category, the top four finishers are as follows:

1)      Sasol North America Inc., Lake Charles, Louisiana ($21B)

2)      Iowa Fertilizer Company LLC, Weaver, Iowa ($1.8B)

3)      Masisa-MDF, Durango, Mexico ($132M)

4)      Yanfeng USA, Riverside, Missouri ($45M)

For more information on these awards, visit: http://www.worldforumforfdi.com/awards.cfm

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