02 Jul 2013

ISU Extension to Offer Farmland Leasing Workshops

By Amanda Heitz
Every year is different and 2013 is not an exception to that rule.  The drought has broken, flooding is back, and the CSR ratings are being revised and will be called the CSR2 starting in October.  Change in agriculture is occurring at a record pace and landlords and tenants need to do their best to keep up with the changes.

Iowa State University (ISU) Extension is offering a Farmland Leasing workshop on Tuesday, August 6, 2013, starting at 9:00 a.m. at the Johnson County Extension Office at 3109 Old Highway 218 South in Iowa City.  Another workshop will also be offered on Wednesday, August 14, 2013, starting at 1:00 p.m. at Buzzy's at 414 Main Street in Welton.

Jim Jensen and Ryan Drollette, ISU Extension Farm Management Specialists, will be the presenters. According to Jensen & Drollette, "The 2013 Extension Cash Rental Survey is out and will be discussed as well as the profit potential for tenants." Are cash rents keeping up with land values that have increased over 100% in the past six years?

Jensen & Drollette will be discussing land values, leasing practices, and lead an interactive discussion on methods to calculate cash rent.  Jensen stated, "The most frequent stumbling block for setting a cash rental rate is determining the land quality of the farm.  Rents on various quality soils and ways to determine land quality will be discussed. Land values and cash rental rates for various grades of land have not increased at the same percentage rate.  

The Farmland Leasing workshop cost is $25 per person and includes the 2013 Farm Leasing Arrangement booklet and copies of the presentation. To pre-register call the Johnson County Extension Office at 319-337-2145 or the Clinton County Extension office at 563-659-5125.

Registration cost can be paid at the door approximately 30 minutes before the workshop begins.

For those that pre-register 1 business day prior to or at the meeting, a $5 late registration fee will be added.

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01 Jul 2013

Loebsack, Braley, Bustos Introduce Senate Farm Bill in House

By Joe Hand

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack (IA-02) announced today that he has introduced the Senate farm bill in the House of Representatives.  He was joined by Congressman Bruce Braley (IA-01) and Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) as original cosponsors.  Last week, the House failed to pass a farm bill to go to a conference committee with the Senate.  On June 10th, the Senate passed a long-term, five year farm bill on a strong bipartisan basis.  The legislation introduced today (HR 2498) has the exact text as the Senate bill, which was supported by both Iowa Senators Grassley and Harkin.  Loebsack, Braley and Bustos supported the House legislation last week to move the bill forward.  The entire bipartisan Iowa delegation voted for the bill.

"After voting down the farm bill last week, the House must act quickly to move the farm bill process forward. The Senate voted in a strong bipartisan fashion to move the Farm Bill forward and it is time House leaders bring up this legislation and allow a vote on the bill," said Congressman Dave Loebsack. "I know the Farm Bill is critical for Iowa's farmers, rural communities and economy.  While the Senate legislation is not perfect, Congress must provide our farmers and rural communities some certainty.  Partisan bickering will only further delay enactment of a long-term Farm Bill."

"It's time for the House to do its job and pass a long-term extension of the Farm Bill. It's a necessity for rural America. Farmers and agricultural producers need the Farm Bill so they can have the assurance they need to continue to invest in the future, create jobs, and grow the economy," Congressman Bruce Braley said. "The Senate has passed a bipartisan Farm Bill and it's time the House does the same."

"Our entire region of Illinois has been thirsting for the certainty and predictability of a bipartisan, five-year Farm Bill," said Congresswoman Cheri Bustos.  "Our economy needs a Farm Bill, I fought to move this process forward, and partisanship sadly stood in the way of a House version.  We owe it to the American people to get this done, so I'm calling House leadership to swiftly schedule a vote on this bipartisan Senate-passed Farm Bill.  It may not be perfect, but Senate Democrats and Republicans were able to come together to get a bill passed, and the House should do the same."

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25 Jun 2013

U.S. Soy Organizations Demonstrate Commitment to Sustainability With Assurance Protocol

By United Soybean Board
ST. LOUIS (June 25, 2013) - International food companies are looking to purchase soybeans that are grown with respect for the land and its people. To provide those reassurances and keep those markets open, the U.S. soy family has developed its U.S. Soybean Sustainability Assurance Protocol. This protocol identifies the regulations, processes and management practices the U.S. soy industry uses to ensure international customers of U.S. farmers' sustainable soybean production.
U.S. Sustainability Protocol Considers All Factors
The U.S. Soybean Sustainability Assurance Protocol is a certified aggregate approach to the sustainability performance of U.S. soybean production. It outlines the industry's expectations of sound environmental objectives, social responsibility, promoting economic growth and continuous improvement in technology and cultural practices. This protocol is audited by third parties, which demonstrates the industry's commitment to sustainability, and backed by farmer-led U.S. soy organizations including the United Soybean Board (USB), American Soybean Association (ASA) and U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC).
"In the past, consumers and farmers have not always agreed on what it means to be sustainable," says Richard Fordyce, Missouri soybean farmer and chair of the USB Freedom to Operate Action Team. "Our farmer-led soybean organizations intend to show that U.S. soybean farmers have always been, and continue to be, committed to doing everything possible to ensure our soybeans are produced in a sustainable manner. By introducing the U.S. Soybean Sustainability Assurance Protocol, we're showing farmer dedication to sustaining the natural resources and rural communities that are so important to everyone, and we're backing it up with third-party measurement and verification so our customers have confidence in U.S. soybeans."
The U.S. Soybean Sustainability Assurance Protocol represents the nation's 279,110 soybean farms. It is an opportunity for the soybean industry to show international customers who are currently reviewing their sustainability requirements for suppliers that U.S. farmers are already meeting high standards for sustainable soy production.
Organizations Seek to Educate Farmers and Customers
To ensure all soybean farmers understand the protocol, there will be educational materials made available later this summer on the USB website (www.unitedsoybean.org). Farmers and others will be able to learn about the protocol and its importance, as well as the key components of sustainability: environmental and social consciousness, promotion of industry growth, and the embracing of best practices. They will also be able to learn about the measurement and verification for sustainability that are already in place.
The U.S. Soybean Sustainability Assurance Protocol also will be the focus of several initiatives to educate international customers on the U.S. soy industry's sustainability performance and verification process.
Farmer Support Encouraged/Needed
"For our future as individual farmers and as an industry, the U.S. soy family is demonstrating that we understand the expectations of our customers and assuring them our product is sustainable according to their definitions," says Fordyce. "I encourage everyone in our industry to learn more about the Sustainability Assurance Protocol. Visit the USB website for more information about how our sustainable actions today can protect and advance our international markets tomorrow."

The 69 farmers who serve on the USB board of directors 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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21 Jun 2013

Loebsack Statement on the House Farm Bill

By Vonnie Hampel

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement after the House voted down the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act (HR 1947), the farm bill.

"The inability of the House to come together and move a farm bill forward is inexcusable. I have been calling for a farm bill for over a year now.  Failure to enact a farm bill means jobs in our rural communities are at risk and cuts to rural and farm initiatives critical to Iowa's economy are likely. I stood with the entire Iowa delegation to advance this critical legislation for farmers, Iowa's economy, and families.  The Senate was able to find commonsense compromise.  The House needs to do the same.

"I am deeply concerned with the extreme cuts to anti-hunger initiatives, known as SNAP, that were contained in the bill.  Our economy is still struggling to recover and many families rely on this program to put food on the table and ensure their children do not go to school hungry.  I was the only member from Iowa to cosponsor an amendment to restore these cuts and fought to have it included in the bill. Today's vote shows that restoration of SNAP funding is critical to a farm bill being enacted.

"I am also concerned that this bill would have gutted rural energy measures that are critical to Iowa jobs and energy independence.  There were over 1,600 rural energy projects initiated in Iowa between 2003 and 2012, many stemming from farm bill energy programs. These investments are vitally important to job creation and Iowa's economy.  I led the fight to ensure farmers and rural businesses have continued access to an important energy and economic development tool with my amendment that was added to the bill to strengthen the REAP program.

"I will continue to fight to get a farm bill signed into law that supports families, farmers and our rural economy."

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21 Jun 2013

Beltway Beef

By National Cattlemen's Beef Association

The disappointing news of the week is that the House failed to pass its version of the 2013 Farm Bill. If the bill had passed, cattlemen and women would have been one step closer to having a full five-year farm bill. NCBA President Scott George expresses his disappointment over the House's actions in this week's Beltway Beef.

 

The estate tax, commonly known as the death tax, continues to be an issue which deeply affects farmers and ranchers across the country. Just yesterday, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) introduced the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2013. NCBA Past President Steve Foglesong made remarks during the press conference about the importance of repealing this tax once and for all. Read more here.

 

Two new public policy interns have joined the NCBA D.C. office. They will be working alongside NCBA's lobbying team, regulatory experts, communications team and political action committee to ensure legislative and regulatory actions taken inside the nation's Beltway do not negatively affect cattle producers. Read more about these two new staffers in this week's issue of Beltway Beef.

Our columnist this week is Rep. Bob Goodlatte. It's simple; the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) needs to be taken off the menu. Goodlatte explains why in his Beltway Beef column, and talks about his legislation to repeal the RFS. Similar legislation was introduced today in the Senate by Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.),  Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Mark Pryor (D-Ark.). Read more about the RFS here.

 

Click here to read this edition of Beltway Beef. You can also scroll down to read the articles included in this week's newsletter. Be sure to read the Beltway Beef blog; follow Beltway Beef on Twitter; like us on Facebook; subscribe to us on YouTube; check out our photos on Flickr; and listen to our podcast.

21 Jun 2013

Soy Industry Helps Build Markets in the Middle East

By United Soybean Board
U.S. soy family meets with customers, experts to discuss secure trade
ST. LOUIS (June 20, 2013) - Two years ago, countries in the Middle East, such as Syria, were promising  markets for U.S. soy exports, but political unrest threatens the stability of the region and has long disrupted lines of trade. This week, leaders from the soy checkoff and the American Soybean Association (ASA) met with Middle Eastern and North African customers in Amman, Jordan, to discuss secure ways to maintain exports during turbulent times.
"Markets in the Middle East represent a valuable and impactful dual opportunity for the U.S. soy family," says ASA Chairman Steve Wellman, a soybean farmer from Syracuse, Neb. "Soybeans provide nutritious protein for those in need; and as the markets emerge and buying power increases, so does the demand for the animal agriculture products of which our soybeans are such an integral part."
Most soybean imports in the Middle East and North Africa are crushed, and the meal is used for poultry and aquaculture feed, leaving the oil for use in cooking and frying. Between 2010-2011, Syria, as a hub of soy imports, brought in 18 million bushels of U.S. soybeans. The hope for this meeting in Jordan is to find more stable lines for trade to increase U.S. soy exports to the region. Countries such as Egypt and the United Arab Emirates could be potential trade centers for U.S. agriculture in this area.
While in the region, Wellman and United Soybean Board (USB) farmer-leader Scott Singlestad attended the dedication of the U.S. Soybean Export Council's Dubai office. This office, located in an international business hub of the area, will provide the U.S. soy industry access to even more potential customers.
"We're there to provide information that they want on soy in nutrition for both humans and animals," adds Scott Singlestad, soybean farmer from Waseca, Minn. "There's no better way to keep peace in the world than to make sure everyone has enough food."
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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21 Jun 2013

Loebsack Amendment to Support Rural Energy Added to Farm Bill

By Joe Hand

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement after his amendment to ensure farmers and rural businesses have continued access to an important energy and economic development tool was added to the farm bill that is being debated by the House.  Currently, the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) supports farmers and rural small businesses in pursuing energy project investments including windpower, biofuels, solar, and anaerobic digestion. Loebsack's amendment would allow farmers and rural small businesses to be able to continue to create jobs and grow our rural economy in a value-added and sustainable way.

"Investment in energy projects put people to work, create entrepreneurial opportunities, and generate new value-added opportunities for our farmers, rural small businesses, and communities," said Loebsack.  "In Iowa alone, over 1,600 rural energy projects were initiated between 2003 and 2012, many stemming from farm bill energy programs.  My amendment stresses the importance of farm bill energy programs to job creation and our rural economies, and allows one of our best resources - our farmers - to play a critical role in our domestic energy production."

Specifically, Loebsack's amendment reinstates feasibility studies under REAP in the Energy Title of the bill. Full text of the amendment can be found here.

Video of Loebsack speaking on the floor in support of his amendment can be seen here.

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20 Jun 2013

Dayton Coyne Wins Honors in National Swine Registry Contest

By Susan Grebner

ICC Team Wins Top Collegiate Team

EAST PEORIA, IL (06/18/2013)(readMedia)-- The Illinois Central College livestock judging team recently competed in the 2013 National Picture Judging Contest sponsored by the National Swine Registry. Open to youth and adult participants, the contest includes divisions for 4-H, FFA, and collegiate teams. Participants had to rank classes of swine from photos published in the Registry's December 2012 issue of Seedstock Edge.

Dayton Coyne, of Milan, IL, member of first place team.

The team is coached by Grant Grebner.

Of the 23 collegiate teams who competed, Illinois Central College teams placed first and fifth overall. Western Illinois University placed second, and teams from Black Hawk College - East Campus placed third and fourth.

19 Jun 2013

Learn & Live: Grain industry hazards kill, injure hundreds each year

By Scott Allen

OSHA, Grain and Feed Association of Illinois, Illinois Grain Handling Safety Coalition work together to promote safe practices

CHICAGO - Five seconds. That is how quickly a worker can become engulfed in flowing grain and be unable to get out.

Sixty seconds. That is how quickly a worker can be completely submerged in flowing grain. More than half of all grain engulfments result in death by suffocation.

In 2010, at least 26 U.S. workers were killed in grain engulfments, the highest number on record. Among the deaths were two Illinois teens and a 49-year-old worker who had entered a grain bin "a million times."

In the past 50 years, more than 900 cases of grain engulfment have been reported with a fatality rate of 62 percent, according to researchers at Purdue University in Indiana.

Record death and injuries in 2010, led the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration to reach out to the agricultural and grain handling industries to find ways to prevent deaths and injuries. OSHA also developed a Local Emphasis Program for Grain Handling Facilities focusing on the grain and feed industry's six major hazards. These include engulfment, falls, auger entanglement, "struck by," combustible dust explosions and electrocution hazards.

"OSHA is working hard to change the 'it won't happen to me' mindset," said Nick Walters, OSHA Regional Administrator for six Midwestern states. "Grain handling injuries and deaths can be prevented if employers follow proper safety procedures."

Suffocation can occur when a worker becomes buried by grain as they walk on moving grain or attempt to clear grain built up on the inside of a bin. Moving grain acts like "quicksand" and can bury a worker in seconds. "Bridged" grain and vertical piles of stored grain can also collapse unexpectedly if a worker stands on or near it. The behavior and weight of the grain make it extremely difficult for a worker to get out of it without assistance.

OSHA and the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois have formed a state-wide alliance to get the word out on prevention. A grain bin entry permit has been developed to aid those working in and around bins to identify and control potential hazards.

"This alliance is an opportunity for OSHA to work together with the grain and agricultural industries and the agricultural community to train employers and workers about the unique hazards of the grain and feed industry," said Walters. "Through training, decals, brochures, websites, and other means of information communication, we will continue to work to improve awareness of these hazards and the safety and health of workers on Illinois farms and in grain handling facilities. We are committed to preventing the injuries and deaths that have been too frequent in the industry in recent years."

OSHA, the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois and the Illinois Grain Handling Safety Coalition have also developed a stop sign decal to adhere to grain bin doors using pictures and short phrases reminding entrants to lockout potentially hazardous equipment, stay clear of waist high grain, cover floor holes and to follow other best practices. Individuals or companies can email the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois at info@gfai.org to request the decal, which is pictured above.

OSHA has also published information related to common grain industry hazards and abatement methods, proper bin entry techniques, sweep auger use, and many other grain related topics at www.osha.gov/SLTC/grainhandling/index.html.  OSHA's Grain Bin LEP is used in 25 states.

In addition, the University of Illinois was awarded a U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration Susan Harwood Training Grant Program and has partnered with the Grain Handling Safety Coalition for the development of training materials and outreach to educate workers and employers on how to recognize, avoid and prevent safety and health hazards in grain bins.

The Grain Handling Safety Coalition can provide all the necessary training materials to train farmers, commercial grain handling employees, youth, rescue workers and more for free or at a very reduced rate. There are five different safety topics available including an overview of grain handling and storage safety, grain bin entry as well as entanglement, fall and confined space hazards. GHSC also offers "Train the Trainer" courses for companies and communities to have a local resource for training. More information is available at www.grainsafety.org .

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742).

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions exist for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov.  The information above is available in large print, Braille, audio tape or disc from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.

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18 Jun 2013

Heritage Reacts: "Farm Bill" is misnamed

By Corrine Williams

This week The US House of Representatives is set to vote on the misnamed "Farm Bill". This is not a farm bill; it's a food stamp bill. Food stamps make up roughly 80 percent of the bill. The 20 percent of the bill that is left is mostly handouts in the form of corporate welfare and other programs that benefit special interests.

Further, this "Farm Bill" is 56% MORE costly than the last. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projected the last farm bill, in 2008, to cost $604 billion. The new House farm bill is projected to cost a whopping $940 billion. This is 56 percent more than the 2008 farm bill. If this wasn't bad enough, the actual costs will likely be much greater, just like the actual costs of the 2008 bill

1.       This is not a farm bill; it's a food stamp bill.  Food stamps make up roughly 80 percent of the bill.  The 20 percent of the bill that is left is mostly handouts in the form of corporate welfare and other programs that benefit special interests.

2.      This "farm" bill is a textbook example of legislative logrolling.  The issues of food stamps and farming are far too important to be jammed together in a behemoth of a bill totaling a trillion dollars. When it comes to debating a bill with a price tag as large as this one, Congress owes it to the American taxpayers to engage in careful consideration of these programs.

3.      The farm bill is filled with favors for special interests.  One of the ways Congress can achieve reform that benefits taxpayers is by separating the "farm" bill into two components and consider each independently on its own merits.  The combination of food stamps and farm policy into a single bill holds us back from debating meaningful reforms in either area.

4.      The farming industry as a whole is enjoying record profits, yet  special interests continue to lobby Congress to  create new programs that not only help guarantee profit, but pad their already healthy bottom line.  Large corporate farms don't need and shouldn't receive massive subsidies from taxpayers, many of whom are struggling to make ends meet.

a.       In fact, about 75 percent of large farms receive subsidies compared to only 24 percent of small farms.  Consider that people like former President Jimmy Carter, the Rockefeller family and even some Members of Congress receive these taxpayer-funded subsidies.

5.      Ironically the exact policies crafted in the 1930's to help struggling farmers are the same ones that are now placing the smaller farms at a competitive disadvantage with the larger farms.  A lot has changed since the enactment of the first farm bill.  Congress shouldn't continue outdated policies simply to coddle this thriving, innovative industry that is led by business leaders who can manage risk as well anyone else.

6.      Both the House and Senate "farm" bills eliminate flawed programs only to create new programs that could turn out to be even worse. Despite claims of cutting spending some the House is projected to spend 56 percent more than the projected costs of the 2008 farm bill.  Additionally, taxpayers could be on the hook for millions more because Congress is assuming the cost of these programs will be much cheaper than what reality may prove.

7.      Spending on food stamps has doubled between 2008 and 2011, from approximately $40 billion to $80 billion respectively.  Today roughly one in seven Americans receive food stamps, and although we're seeing a slowly improving economy, there has not been a corresponding decrease in the number of individuals receiving food stamps.  Despite these realities, the spending cuts proposed in the House version of the farm bill are so minimal that they won't even cover the amount of fraud, waste and abuse plaguing the food-stamp program.

8.      The farm bill is central planning at its very worst.  If left on its current path, the farm bill will continue to roll right over taxpayers and leave any notion of fiscal responsibility in the dust. When politicians from both parties come together to irresponsibly spend taxpayer dollars and drive up the cost of food for families, Congress isn't working for the American people


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