07 Sep 2012

Soy Checkoff Partners with Goodyear to Develop New Tire

By United Soybean Board
Soy-based tire adds another to use to soy's growing list

ST. LOUIS (August 31, 2012) - The United Soybean Board (USB) continues to drive demand for U.S. soy, thanks to a partnership with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. Goodyear recently announced field tests for a new tire featuring U.S. soy that the company says may offer consumers increased tread life and a greener alternative to those manufactured solely with petrochemicals.

Goodyear's announcement marked the public unveiling of a two-year, ongoing collaboration between the soy checkoff and the Akron, Ohio-based company.

"The soy checkoff welcomes the opportunity to partner with Goodyear in bringing this tire to the market," says Russ Carpenter, a soybean farmer from Trumansburg, N.Y. and chair of the USB New Uses program. "The checkoff constantly looks for ways to improve the value of soy oil to U.S. soybean farmers and this new tire highlights soy's versatility in the marketplace."

The partnership began two years ago, after the 2008 spike in crude oil prices prompted Goodyear to evaluate petrochemical alternatives and propose research exploring soy oil's potential in its products. In full production, Goodyear estimates that it could use 7 million gallons of soy oil annually.

Goodyear's testing found that using soy not only lowered petrochemical amounts from the tire's manufacturing process, but also increased its efficiency by reducing energy and greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, soy oil's increased performance may yield up to 10 percent longer tread life.

"Goodyear is committed to caring for the environment and communities, and use of soy oil proves to be another way to accomplish this goal," said Jean-Claude Kihn, Goodyear's chief technical officer.  "Consumers benefit through improved tread life, Goodyear gains with increased efficiency and energy savings and we all win whenever there is a positive impact on the environment."

If real-world testing runs smoothly, Goodyear expects the new soy-based tires to be available for purchase as early as 2015.

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.

Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs approximately 72,000 people and manufactures its products in 53 facilities in 22 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.


For more information on the United Soybean Board, visit www.unitedsoybean.org
For specific information on soy's new uses, visit www.soynewuses.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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07 Sep 2012

DROUGHT DRIVES DISCUSSION OF CROP INSURANCE, RIVER NAVIGATION AND MORE AS IOWA FARM BUREAU MEMBERS SET 2013 STATE AND NATIONAL POLICIES

By Laurie Johns

Iowa Farm Bureau Wraps Up Summer Policy Conference in West Des Moines

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa - August 31, 2012 - Iowa Farm Bureau voting delegates shared concerns about crop quality and insurance as they gathered in West Des Moines August 30-31 to set state and national legislative policy for 2013.  The drought-stricken crops and low river levels also brought additional discussion of the importance of maintaining the condition of the Mississippi River and its important role in transporting grain.

"What a difference a year can make; last year's conference focused on the flood conditions in the western part of the state, while this year's delegates are keyed in to the drought and its effects on the Mississippi River's ability to move grain on the eastern side of the state," said Craig Hill, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) president. "Our unique grassroots policy development process truly represents the concerns of our members and where they live and farm."

Iowa's largest grassroots farm organization called for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prioritize funds for cleaning the channels of the Mississippi River to navigate the current low water levels to allow large barges to continue moving through the waters. The river represents one of the nation's largest methods of grain transportation.

IFBF delegates gather each year to discuss and set state policies which impact not just farmers, but all Iowa taxpayers.  In addition, national policies approved this week will be ratified and sent up for national debate in January at the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) annual meeting in Nashville.

Another lively discussion at the IFBF Summer Policy Conference concerned the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) closing of several Farm Service Agency offices. "We support consolidation of government service facilities to create efficiencies, but there has to be careful consideration, because if farmers have to drive 50 miles back and forth to conduct essential business, those closures quickly become inefficient, both to the government and the folks who rely on the services," said Hill.

Farm Bureau voting delegates moved to continue support of the Renewable Fuels Standard and   increase the use and development of renewable fuels.

Iowa's Transportation Infrastructure Funding also found consensus among IFBF farmers, who agreed that additional revenue for the state's roads and bridges should be generated from an increase in the state fuel tax and that hybrid and electrical vehicles should contribute their fair share to the repair of the very roads they share with all Iowans.  "Since the Transportation Infrastructure Fund is likely to come up in our 2013 legislative session, we believe Iowa lawmakers will take careful consideration of that issue and appropriate funding levels," said Hill.

The IFBF Summer Policy Conference is a step in Farm Bureau's grassroots policy development process and is subject to national debate during American Farm Bureau Federation policy discussions in January. All state Farm Bureaus meet in January to finalize the organization's national policies.

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05 Sep 2012

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Grants to Support Beginning Farmers and Ranchers across 24 States

By USDA Office of Communications
New, Expanded Efforts Underscore USDA's Commitment to Young, Beginning and Socially-Disadvantaged Farmers

BOONE, Iowa, Aug. 30, 2012-Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced more than $18 million in grants to organizations across 24 states that will help beginning farmers and ranchers with the training and resources needed to run productive, sustainable farms. Under the Secretary's leadership since 2009, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has driven a number of efforts meant to spur interest in agriculture and provide the necessary support to young, beginning and socially-disadvantaged producers. At the Farm Progress Show today in Boone, Iowa, Vilsack said investing in beginning farmers, ranchers and producers is not only a smart investment, but one that is vital to our nation's national and economic security.

"In the past few decades, U.S. agriculture has become the second most productive sector of the American economy thanks to farmers adopting technology, reducing debt, and effectively managing risk," said Vilsack. "Last year, America's farmers, ranchers and producers achieved record farm income and record exports. To protect and sustain these successes, we must continue to build an agriculture industry diverse and successful enough to attract the smartest, hardest-working people in the nation. These grants will help beginning farmers and ranchers overcome the unique challenges they face and gain knowledge and skills that will help them become profitable and sustainable."

USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awarded the grants through its Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) established through the 2008 Farm Bill. In his June 30, 2010 testimony before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry, the Secretary reminded Congress of the need to attract thousands of new producers in the coming years as American farmers and ranchers continue to age. Vilsack urged members of Congress to address this critical need when drafting a 2012 Food, Farm and Jobs bill. That legislation remains unfinished, while the current Farm Bill is set to expire on Sept. 30, 2012.

USDA makes BFRDP grants to organizations that implement education, training, technical assistance and outreach programs to help beginning farmers and ranchers, specifically those who have been farming or ranching for 10 years or fewer. At least 25 percent of the program's funding supports the needs of limited resource and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, as well as farm workers who want to get a start in farming and ranching.

In the first year of USDA's Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, three-year grants supported training for 5,000 beginning farmers and ranchers. In 2011, grants supported training for more than 38,000. For example, the Appalachian Sustainable Agricultural Project in Western North Carolina has directly assisted 865 farmers across 20 rural counties. Of the total participants, 46 percent were women. In addition, a group of seven organizations is working in rural communities in Arkansas and Oklahoma to educate, train, and foster mentorships for a variety of target groups, including military veterans. In the first year, the project created 32 mentorship opportunities and completed 12 internships with experienced farmers.

BFRDP will provide $18 million in funding this year, the fourth year of the program. Future funding is dependent on congressional reauthorization. For more information on the BFRDP program, and for a list of fiscal year 2012 awards, visit www.nifa.usda.gov.

Beginning farmers, by USDA definition, are individuals with 10 years or less experience operating farms. Beginning farmers are in all age ranges, racial and ethnic groups, and both male and female. Currently, 30 percent of principal operators of farms are 65 years old or more, while the average age of U.S. farmers has climbed from 54 in 1997 to 57 in 2007. Research by USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) finds that the two most common and important challenges faced by beginning farmers are (1) having the market opportunity to buy or rent suitable land and (2) having capital to acquire land of a large enough scale to be profitable.

BFRDP is just one tool to address these challenges, along with greater access to credit including a new microloan program, a new land contract guarantee program, risk management education for beginning and socially disadvantaged producers, and new online resources such as www.start2farm.gov and the Know Your Farmer Compass.

Since 2009, USDA has provided 128,000 loans to family farmers totaling more than $18 billion. Between 2009-2011, the number of loans to beginning farmers and ranchers climbed from 11,000 to 15,000. More than 40 percent of USDA's farm loans now go to beginning farmers, while over 50 percent of loans went to beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers during the same time.

With expanded access to credit, USDA is helping a new generation of farmers sustain and build upon what is now the most productive period in history for American agriculture. To that end, in May the Secretary proposed a new microloan program to help small and family operations progress through their start-up years with needed resources, while building capacity, increasing equity, and eventually graduating to commercial credit. The microloan proposal allows producers to apply for loans of less than $35,000 using simplified and streamlined procedures. The goal of the microloan program is to better meet the credit needs of small farm operations while making more effective use of FSA resources.

The Land Contract Guarantee Program provides a valuable tool to transfer farm real estate to the next generation of farmers. Guarantees will be offered to the owner of a farm who wishes to sell real estate through a land contract to a beginning farmer or a farmer who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group. In January, the Secretary expanded the Land Contract Guarantee Program from six states to all 50 states.

USDA's Risk Management Agency supports crop insurance education and outreach in 47 states to beginning, small, and historically underserved farmers and ranchers. From October 2010 through September 2011, a total of 77,000 farmers and ranchers attended educational sessions or were reached by direct mailing with educational information.

#

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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05 Sep 2012

ISU Extension Calendar Sept 7 - Oct 25, 2012

By Joy Venhorst
30 Aug 2012

Livestock Producers Affected by Disasters Urged to Keep Good Records

By USDA Office of Communications

Potential Assistance Depending on Accurate, Timely Data for Expedited Help

 

 

WASHINGTON, August 29, 2012 -- USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Juan M. Garcia today urged livestock producers affected by natural disasters such as Hurricane Isaac to keep thorough records of their livestock and feed losses, including additional expenses for such things as feed purchases because of lost supplies.

"There are extraordinary circumstances caused by a variety of disasters from fires in the west, floods in Florida, Hurricane Isaac in the Gulf region, storms in the Mid-Atlantic and drought and heat affecting the heartland," Garcia said. "Each of these events is causing economic consequences for ranchers and producers including cattle, sheep and dairy operations, bee keepers and farm-raised fish, and poultry producers."

FSA recommends that owners and producers record all pertinent information of natural disaster consequences, including:

-          Documentation of the number and kind of livestock that have died, supplemented if possible by photographs or video records of ownership and losses;

-          Dates of death supported by birth recordings or purchase receipts;

-          Costs of transporting livestock to safer grounds or to move animals to new pastures; and

-          Feed purchases if supplies or grazing pastures are destroyed.

Secretary Vilsack also reminds producers that the department's authority to operate the five disaster assistance programs authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill expired on Sept. 30, 2011. This includes SURE; the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP); the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP); the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP); and the Tree Assistance Program (TAP). Production losses due to disasters occurring after Sept. 30, 2011, are not eligible for disaster program coverage.

30 Aug 2012

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack to Highlight the Resiliency and Productivity of American Agriculture, Announce Grants to Help Cultivate the Next Generation of Farmers and Ranchers at Farm Progress Show

By USDA Office of Communications

WASHINGTON, August 29, 2012 - TOMORROW, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will highlight the resiliency and productivity of American agriculture at the Farm Progress Show in Iowa. The Secretary will discuss the ongoing drought, USDA's efforts to assist producers, and the importance of passing the food, farm and jobs bill. Secretary Vilsack will also highlight the need to cultivate a new generation of farmers to sustain and build upon what is now the most productive period in history for American agriculture. To that end, he will announce funding to organizations across 24 states, including Iowa, that will help beginning farmers and ranchers with the training and resources needed to run productive, sustainable farms.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

11:15 a.m. CDT

WHAT: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will highlight the resiliency and productivity of American agriculture, announce funding for beginning farmers and ranchers at the Farm Progress Show

 

WHERE: Farm Progress Show- Media Tent

1827 217th Street

Boone, IA
30 Aug 2012

Grassley: Iowa Farmers Express Drought Concerns During Town Hall Meetings, Calls to Office

By Grassley Press
WASHINGTON -Senator Chuck Grassley is asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to consider additional remedies to help Iowa farmers withstand one of the worst droughts in years.

"I heard directly from farmers at my town halls, in addition to the people calling my office, about issues that they are encountering, beyond low yields, because of the drought," Grassley said.  "It's a tough situation out there for these folks.  The weather conditions of this growing season have been challenging enough as it is for Iowa farmers without further complications."

In a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, Grassley urged the Secretary to extend the emergency haying period to September 30, 2012.  Grassley said that when USDA opened up CRP land for haying and grazing, farmers had a relatively short window to take advantage of the opportunity compared to when farmers harvest hay on CRP land under mid-contract management situations.

Grassley also wrote that he was concerned about the logistical difficulties of inspecting corn for aflatoxin as it relates to crop insurance claims.  Grassley said that farmers often are not aware of the presence of aflatoxin, or at least aware of unacceptable levels of aflatoxin, until they are sitting at the grain elevator and the elevator's sample shows levels are too high for the elevator to accept.  At that juncture, the farmer must take his crop back to the farm and find something to do with it in a timely manner so he or she can get back to the next load of corn coming out of the field.  The requirements set forth by the Risk Management Agency state that if the crop is not tested by the crop insurer prior to placing it in the bin then no indemnity can be paid for that portion of the crop loss.

The text of Grassley's letter is below.  A copy of the signed letter can be found here.

 

August 28, 2012

Secretary Tom Vilsack
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, D.C. 20250

Dear Secretary Vilsack:

During my recent travels around the state of Iowa I have been able to observe the harmful effects of this persistent drought.  My staff and I have heard from numerous farmers dealing with the hardship of this year's extreme conditions.  Even though temperatures have cooled a bit and some parts of the state have finally received some much needed rain, farmers are still dealing with the consequences of this drought.  I appreciate some of the steps the Department of Agriculture (USDA) has taken to assist farmers.  However, there are still actions your department can take to help farmers deal with these difficult circumstances.

First, while I appreciate USDA opening up Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land for haying and grazing, there is still another step USDA could still take to help farmers wanting to harvest hay on CRP land.  Due to how long it took USDA to finally open up CRP land for haying and grazing, farmers have had a relatively short window to take advantage of this opportunity compared to when farmers harvest hay on CRP land under mid-contract management situations.  Under mid-contract management practices, farmers are able to hay CRP land up to September 30th.  But under the rules for emergency haying, farmers have to harvest the hay on CRP land by August 31st.  Under these near historic drought conditions, this shorter period for emergency haying on CRP land simply doesn't make sense.  I urge you to consider extending the emergency haying period to September 30th of this year.  While much of the grass on CRP land has suffered under the heat, every little bit will help farmers looking for ways to feed their livestock.

Another issue farmers have been contacting me about is the Risk Management Agency's (RMA) and crop insurance companies' handling of aflatoxin contamination in the corn crop.  As reports suggest, the hot dry conditions are exacerbating the aflatoxin issue in many parts of the country.  Under RMA's "Loss Adjustment Procedures for Aflatoxin" (Revised August 2012), RMA states farmers must have their crop tested for aflatoxin prior to putting it in grain bins.  However, farmers are concerned with the logistical challenges this requirement will present them.

Often times, farmers are not aware of the presence of aflatoxin, or at least aware of unacceptable levels of aflatoxin, until they are sitting at the grain elevator and the elevator's sample shows levels are too high for the elevator to accept.  At that juncture, the farmer must take his crop back to the farm and find something to do with it in a timely manner so he or she can get back to the next load of corn coming out of the field.  The requirements set forth by RMA state that if the crop is not tested by the crop insurer prior to placing it in the bin then no indemnity can be paid for that portion of the crop loss.

I am concerned on a couple fronts in this regard.  First, given the large number of claims that are going to be reported to insurers this year based simply on lost yields, will there be enough adjusters to deal with this added challenge of timely serving farmers dealing with aflatoxin contamination claims?  In addition, are RMA and the crop insurance companies doing enough to inform farmers of the requirements when aflatoxin contamination is a concern?  What is RMA doing to help ensure farmers are aware of the requirements for when they have crop damaged by aflatoxin?  Is there any flexibility that RMA can provide so our farmers don't run into a logistical nightmare of having trucks full of corn with no where to put it while they wait who knows how long for an insurance adjuster to come and test the corn?

The weather conditions of this growing season have been challenging enough as it is for Iowa farmers.  I urge USDA to do all it can to assist farmers dealing with the short time frame for harvesting hay on CRP land.  In addition, USDA should do what it can to assist farmers who have aflatoxin contamination claims so farmers aren't caught off guard and end up with the added challenge of potentially losing out on indemnity payments.

I appreciate your consideration of my questions and requests.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or my staff.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Grassley
United States Senate

30 Aug 2012

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack to Announce Grants to Support Beginning Farmers and Ranchers across 24 States

By USDA Office of Communications

WASHINGTON, August 29, 2012 - TOMORROW, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will host a media conference call to announce grants to organizations across 24 states that will help beginning farmers and ranchers with the training and resources needed to run productive, sustainable farms. Under the Secretary's leadership since 2009, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has driven a number of efforts meant to spur interest in agriculture and provide the necessary support to young, beginning and socially-disadvantaged producers.

The grants will be announced through USDA's Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) established through the 2008 Farm Bill. USDA makes BFRDP grants to organizations that implement education, training, technical assistance and outreach programs to help beginning farmers and ranchers, specifically those who have been farming or ranching for 10 years or fewer. At least 25 percent of the program's funding supports the needs of limited resource and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, as well as farm workers who want to get a start in farming and ranching.

In the first year of USDA's Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, three-year grants supported training for 5,000 beginning farmers and ranchers. In 2011, grants supported training for more than 30,000.

28 Aug 2012

IOWA FARM BUREAU MEMBERS TO SET STATE AND NATIONAL POLICY DIRECTION FOR 2013 SESSION

By Laurie Johns

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - Aug. 24, 2012 - Media are invited to attend the 2012 Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) Summer Policy Conference Aug. 30-31 at the Farm Bureau office in West Des Moines, Iowa. The conference kicks off at 10:00 a.m. on Aug. 30.

Leaders of all 100 county Farm Bureaus have gathered the opinions of their members on issues impacting agriculture and rural Iowa over the past several months.  The Summer Policy Conference aggregates those ideas to form statewide policy for Iowa's largest grassroots farm organization.

"For 94 years, Iowa Farm Bureau members have set a strong course by inviting every member to weigh in on policies important to them and this is the culmination of those efforts," says IFBF President Craig Hill. "We have always been driven from the grassroots and while our policies do change over time, our commitment to listening to members doesn't," says Hill.

A few of the issues expected to generate the most discussion at this year's conference include : crop insurance, road funding, FSA office closures and the RFS target, which has come under pressure in the wake of drought-driven high corn prices. "Individual commodity groups have their own policies on the RFS target, but as a general farm organization, we have both crop and livestock farmers and a unique grassroots policy development process, which should bring lively discussion of RFS policy positions for 2013," says Hill, also a livestock and crop farmer from Milo.

Lunch will be provided for attending media both days. Please RSVP to Laurie Johns (515-225-5414, ljohns@ifbf.org) or Heather Lilienthal (515-225-5409, hlilienthal@ifbf.org) for lunch by Aug. 28.

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About Iowa Farm Bureau

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is a grassroots, statewide organization dedicated to helping farm families prosper and improve their quality of life.  More than 153,000 families in Iowa are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve economic growth, educational improvement, and environmental quality in their communities.  For more information about Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit the online newsroom at www.iowafarmbureau.com.

28 Aug 2012

4-H Exhibitors Awarded in Iowa State Fair Meat Goat Show

By Lori Chappell

DES MOINES, IA (08/23/2012)(readMedia)-- Lyn Claussen of Long Grove exhibited the Grand Champion Meat Goat in the 4-H Market Meat Goat show judged Thursday at the 2012 Iowa State Fair. The goat was first named the Division Two Champion.

The Reserve Grand Champion Market Meat Goat banner went to Eric Taylor of Bouton and his Division One Champion.

Additional results below:

Champion Market Meat Goat Division 1: Eric Taylor, Bouton

Reserve Champion Market Meat Goat Division 1: Lakota Larson, Jefferson

Champion Market Meat Goat Division 2: Lyn Claussen, Long Grove

Reserve Champion Market Meat Goat Division 2: Frankie Mittag, Aplington

Champion Market Meat Goat Division 3: Frankie Mittag, Aplington

Reserve Champion Market Meat Goat Division 3: Eric Taylor, Bouton

"Nothing Compares" Iowa State Fair. The 2012 Fair ended August 19. The 2013 Iowa State Fair is set August 8-18. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit iowastatefair.org.

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