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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Grain, Gridlock and Globalization: Meeting the Economic Challenges in Today's Agriculture"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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About Iowa Farm Bureau

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

WASHINGTON - Senator Grassley weighed in this week with the President's nominee to serve as the next administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

A Senate hearing to consider the nomination of Gina McCarthy is set for Thursday morning in the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

"From EPA attempts to regulate farm dust and spilled milk and conduct aerial surveillance of farming operations, Iowans are concerned about how the EPA operates," Grassley said.

In a meeting by telephone with McCarthy, Grassley said he raised these issues as well as concern about the EPA's release of names, addresses and possibly other personal information about livestock producers to political activists who requested the information.  "Livestock producers are understandably concerned that the sort of information provided could be used to harass or possibly vandalize their operations," Grassley said.

Grassley said he also raised concerns directly with McCarthy about the impact of EPA regulations on electricity costs and manufacturing, including the EPA's efforts to undermine coal-fired electricity.  Rural electric cooperatives (RECs) receive 80 percent of their power from coal, well above the national average of 50 percent.  According to the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives, RECs provide electricity to consumers in every one of the state's 99 counties.

McCarthy visited Iowa in 2009 with Grassley at his request after Grassley learned that the EPA official, Margo Oge, who was writing guidelines for indirect land use had never set foot on an American farm.  At the time, proposed rules from the EPA relied on incomplete science and inaccurate assumptions to penalize biofuels for indirect land-use changes.  Grassley said he appreciated McCarthy and Oge making the trip.  McCarthy was Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation at that time.

"The issues I continue to raise with the EPA deserve attention," Grassley said.  "Common sense seems to be in short supply at this federal agency when it comes to its handling of issues in agriculture and the rural economy."

WASHINGTON, April 3, 2013 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in collaboration with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has developed a program to certify processed eggs and egg products for export, providing new opportunities for U.S. food exporters.

"This is one more step the Obama Administration has taken to expand exports of high quality U.S. agricultural products," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Today's announcement will open new markets for U.S. egg products, generating additional economic benefits and more jobs across rural America. We are in the midst of the strongest period of agricultural exports in history, and I look forward to making even more progress in the years ahead."

The USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will certify a wide range of products containing eggs, including omelets, frozen egg patties, crepes, hard boiled eggs, mayonnaise, and food containing egg extracts. The total market for U.S. exports of further processed eggs and egg products worldwide is estimated to be $500 million.

"This program was developed to help U.S. processors and shippers take advantage of the growing global demand for these products," said AMS Administrator Dave Shipman. "This effort allows producers to obtain certification that some importing countries require and will provide new opportunities for them to market their products globally."

AMS worked with FDA, USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), other government agencies, and representatives from processed egg and egg food organizations, including the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council and the United Egg Association, to develop the program.

"A number of countries around the world have asked for certification for egg-containing products. This initiative provides a means for U.S. exporters to access previously untapped markets, creating jobs and supporting USDA's export goals," said FAS Administrator Suzanne Heinen.

AMS has unique capabilities in working with stakeholders to develop export certification programs that meet the specific requirements of other countries. With years of experience certifying eggs for export, AMS will now expand its services to support the trade of egg-containing products.

Once AMS verifies that a company meets the established certification requirements, the company will be listed as eligible for export by product and country. An eligible company would contact AMS for an export certificate covering accepted product and identify the foreign country. The certificates and verifications will be completed by AMS on a fee basis. For more information please contact: Dean Kastner, Director, Poultry Grading Division at (202) 720-3272 or via email at Dean.Kastner@ams.usda.gov; or Will Stone, International Trade Specialist, Standards & Technology Division at (202) 720-3100 or via email at William.Stone@ams.usda.gov.

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