Friday June 1 Ag News

Pork Quality Assurance Webinar Offered at 10 Locations Across Nebraska

In June pork producers and their employees can gain certification in the Pork Quality Assurance Plus Program through webinar sessions across Nebraska.

Duane Reese, UNL Extension swine specialist, and PQA Plus advisers will conduct the webinar sessions, which are sponsored by the Nebraska Pork Producers Association and University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension.

"Producers are required to be certified in PQA Plus to market their pigs," Reese said. The webinar is for producers seeking initial certification, which is valid for three years, or for those who need to be recertified.

The webinars will cover PQA Plus good production practices to help producers comply with the National Pork Board's We Care initiative, which aims to educate producers on industry ethical principles and animal well-being practices.

The sessions will be shown simultaneously at 7 p.m. June 19 at 10 locations across the state. Locations include:
– Cuming County Extension Office, 200 S. Lincoln St., West Point, Facilitator: Larry Howard
– Agricultural Research and Development Center, 1071 County Road G, Ithaca, Facilitator: Sara Ellicott
– Life Long Learning Center, 601 E. Benjamin Ave., Norfolk, Facilitator: Tim Lemmons
– Haskell Ag Lab, 57905 866 Road, Concord, Facilitator: Keith Jarvi
– Holiday Inn Express, 524 E. 23rd St., Columbus, Facilitator: Alan Vynalek
– Gage County Extension Office, 1115 West Scott, Beatrice, Facilitator: Paul Hay
– Fairfield Inn and Suites, 805 Allen Drive, Grand Island, Facilitator: Dave Harrington
– York County Extension Office, 2345 Nebraska Ave., York, Facilitator: Gary Zoubek
– Richardson County Extension Office, Courthouse, 1700 Stone St., Fall City, Facilitator: Lindsay Chichester
– Dawson County Extension, Fairgrounds, 1002 Plum Creek Parkway, Lexington, Facilitator: Bruce Treffer

There are no registration fees for this event but pre-registration is required before June 13. Go to www.nepork.org or call 402-472-0493 to register.



CLIMATE ASSESSMENT RESPONSE COMMITTEE TO MEET

Bobbie Kriz-Wickham, assistant director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, has scheduled a meeting of the Climate Assessment Response Committee (CARC) for Wednesday, June 6.  The meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. in room B in the Lower Level of the State Office Building, 301 Centennial Mall South.

Climate officials will brief CARC members on existing as well as predicted weather conditions and provide a water availability outlook.

For more details, call the Nebraska Department of Agriculture at (402) 471-2341.



Applicants Sought for ASA/DuPont Young Leader Program

The American Soybean Association (ASA) and Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont Business, are seeking applicants for the 2013 Young Leader Program. The Young Leader Program is recognized throughout agriculture for its longstanding tradition of identifying and cultivating the producer-leaders who are shaping the U.S. soybean industry. 2013 marks the 29th year of the program.

"The Young Leader Program is an exceptional leadership training program," said ASA President Steve Wellman. "The knowledge gained from this program can be put to use immediately–not only in business, but personally as well. Soybean producers who are looking to take on future leadership roles at the state and/or national level should pursue this training as the first step on their journey."

The 2013 class of Young Leaders and their spouses will participate in a challenging and educational leadership experience Nov. 27-30, 2012 at Pioneer headquarters in Johnston, Iowa, and Feb. 26-March 2, 2013 in Kissimmee, Fla., coinciding with the annual Commodity Classic Convention and Trade Show.

This program offers the opportunity for participants to enhance their leadership skills, as well as meet and learn from other young leaders from around the country.

Applications will be accepted starting June 1. Interested applicants should apply online at www.SoyGrowers.com/dyl. Additionally, all ASA members will receive an application brochure in their June ASA Today member newsletter.

Applications will be accepted until Oct. 1, 2012. ASA, its 26 state affiliates, including the Grain Farmers of Ontario, and Pioneer will work together to identify the top producers to represent their state as part of this program. One couple or individual per state will be chosen to participate.

For questions or to obtain a hard copy application, please contact Michelle Siegel, ASA Leadership & Corporate Program Manager at 314-754-1328 or msiegel@soy.org.



Water for Food Conference Ends with Call to 'Think Big'

Humanity is in a "race against time" to produce enough food to feed itself, hampered by a false sense of comfort that set in over the last few decades when food supplies generally outpaced demand, said a University of Nebraska-Lincoln agronomist who's one of the world's leading experts on feeding the world.

Ken Cassman was one of several who reflected Friday on the final day of the fourth annual global Water for Food Conference, hosted by the Robert B. Daugherty Foundation at the University of Nebraska and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

"We really are in a race against time … and humanity doesn't realize it," said Cassman, Robert B. Daugherty Professor of Agronomy at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Cassman said the last 40 years or so have been a historical anomaly in much of the world, with food production so great that scientists like him were looking for other ways to use food crops. With the world's population projected to increase from 7 billion to 9 billion by 2050, and with limited land and water available, attention now is focused on how to increase food production.

The next 5-10 years are critical to grasp the scope of the crisis and develop the tools to address it, Cassman said. Among other things, scientists must get a handle on how much each existing hectare of farmland can produce. A global yield gap atlas, which Cassman is helping develop, is one tool to gather that information. It will determine and make public the gap between existing and potential yield on any piece of cropland in the world.

"We need to think big," urged Prem Paul, UNL vice chancellor for research and economic development. Research will be critical and two new NU entities -- the Water for Food Institute and the Nebraska Innovation Campus, a public-private partnership at UNL -- can play major roles.

The 9 billion population number is only a projection, several speakers during the conference noted. Many expect population growth to slow significantly at that point, and others note that societal changes could change the 2050 estimate. One such change could be empowerment of women in developing countries, said Simi Kamal, chief executive officer of the Pakistan-based Hisaar Foundation.

Kamal, who led a Thursday panel discussion on Women, Water and Food, noted that women provide much of the agricultural labor in the world but are not involved in leadership. Educated, empowered women have more choices in life, may not marry as young or have as many children as poor women do.

Cassman's, Paul's and Kamal's comments came in a closing panel discussion moderated by Roberto Lenton, founding executive director of the Daugherty Institute.

More than 550 people from 28 nations registered for the conference to discuss the research, education and policy implications of feeding the growing population.

Earlier Friday, the 40th anniversary of Nebraska's unique system of natural resources districts was noted in a celebration led by Ronnie Green, NU vice president and Harlan vice chancellor of the university's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Nebraska's 23 NRDs are governed by locally elected boards and have local taxing authority, making them attuned and responsive to local needs and challenges, said Ann Bleed, retired director of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources. That's important in a state where the challenges of managing water are magnified by extreme variabilities in precipitation amounts, soil conditions and other factors from border to border, added Bleed, who moderated panel discussions covering water governance in Nebraska and Brazil.



Midwest Dairy Farm Families Committed to Healthy People, Communities and Planet for June Dairy Month and Every Day 

June Dairy Month, an annual celebration that began in 1937, is traditionally a time to reflect on dairy foods and the industry that makes it possible.  It was created as a way to help distribute extra milk when cows started on pasture in the summer months. Today, its rich history continues, with communities, companies and people from all over the country observing June Dairy Month in a variety of ways. In 2012, Midwest Dairy is celebrating dairy farmers’ commitment to producing fresh, wholesome and nutritious milk with fewer resources fostering healthy people, communities and planet, and meeting the food needs of a growing global population.

Healthy People
Nutrient-rich dairy foods are one of the most economical sources of nutrition. In fact, few foods deliver dairy’s powerhouse of nutrients in such an affordable, appealing and readily available way. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans encourages children and adults nine years and older to enjoy three servings of low-fat or fat-free milk, cheese or yogurt every day.  And at about 25 cents per glass, milk provides one of the richest sources of well-absorbed calcium in the American diet.

Even with all of the time constraints that come along with summer activities, it is important to remember to have nutritious meals throughout the day. Midwest Dairy registered dietitian, Stephanie Cundith recommends the Orange Cream Chiller, a delightful refresher loaded with calcium and vitamin C, to start off the day. Mozzarella Pepper Salsa is a nutrient-rich and colorful recipe that makes for a light snack. Add some dairy to dinner by letting your slow cooker do the work with Pulled Pork Soft Tacos topped with shredded low-fat Colby Jack cheese.

Healthy Communities
America’s heartland – from North Dakota to Arkansas – is home to more than 9,500 dairy farms and the people behind the products – dairy farmers.  And while these farms may differ, dairy farmers share a passion for their livelihoods and in producing wholesome, nutritious dairy products for people of all ages to enjoy.  In the Midwest, dairy farms and families open their gates to visitors for breakfasts and tours, while grocery stores and other businesses feature dairy products during the month. According to U.S. Dairy Markets and Outlook, the economic impact of U.S. dairy is estimated to be $140 billion, making it a vital part of our nation’s food system. Learn more about how dairy contributes to the economy in 10 Midwest states.

A Healthy Planet
Dairy farm families also take pride and take an active role in preserving our natural resources. Since 1944, the U.S. dairy industry has reduced the environmental impact of a gallon of milk resulting in 90 percent less cropland, 75 percent less manure, 65 percent less water and 63 percent less carbon. Read more about the industry’s efforts in sustainability and progress made toward goals to strengthen the economic, environmental and social contributions of dairy.

Visit Midwest Dairy’s website at DairyMakesSense.com to learn more about the many reasons why dairy makes sense -- from its nutritional and economic value to recipes to the people behind the product. If you can’t make it to the farm in person, take a virtual tour.

Dairy Fast Facts
-    Dairy makes eating healthy easy! An 8-ounce glass of milk contains nine essential nutrients and costs about 25 cents providing more nutritional bang for your buck.
-    Dairy farms support rural communities in all 50 states.
-    There are more than 51,000 dairy farm families in the Unites States, including more than 9,500 in Midwest Dairy’s 10 states.
-    The economic impact of U.S. dairy is estimated to be $140 billion.
-    Dairy is local. It typically takes two days to get from the farm to the grocery store.
-    The dairy industry has reduced the environmental impact of a gallon of milk since 1944, resulting in 90% less cropland, 75% less manure, 65% less water and 63% less carbon.

Midwest Dairy Association represents more than 9,500 dairy farm families to nearly 38 million consumers across 10 Midwestern states including, including Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. We work on behalf of dairy farmers to increase dairy sales, foster innovation and inspire consumer confidence in dairy products and practices. For more information, visit DairyMakeSense.com and MidwestDairy.com.



National Pork Board to Meet at World Pork Expo

The National Pork Board will meet in Des Moines on Tuesday June 5th to elect new officers and to consider mid-year adjustments to the 2012 budget.

Board President Everett Forkner, a farmer from Richards, Mo., will complete his one-year term as president at the meeting. As past president, he will remain on the board’s executive committee for one year. Other members of the executive committee are Vice President Conley Nelson of Algona, Iowa, and Treasurer Karen Richter of Montgomery, Minn. The board will elect a new president, vice president and treasurer from among its members.

Board members also will be asked to approve several requests from its staff for supplemental funding for the remainder of 2012. Among those requests are:
-    $550,000 for fall television advertising to promote pork at a historically slow time for pork sales.
-    $500,000 to support additional international market development opportunities through the American Pork Export Trading Company.
-    $40,000 for U.S. Pork promotions in Central and South America through the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
-    $34,000 for additional costs related to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s oversight of the Pork Checkoff.
-    $30,000 for a benchmark survey addressing worker safety on farms.

The board will begin the meeting in executive session so it can meet with the auditing firm that recently completed its annual examination of the board’s most recent yearly financial statement.

The board’s session open to the public is scheduled to begin at about 10:30 a.m. when it will hear a report from economist Steve Meyer on the recent completion of a Checkoff Return on Investment study required each five years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This year’s survey, conducted by economists at Cornell University, concluded that, overall, pork producers receive $17.40 in value from research, promotion and other activities for each dollar they invest in the Pork Checkoff.

Meyer also is expected to update the board on a University of Minnesota study of swine production costs.

Other items on the board’s agenda include:
-    A report on the activities and budget of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance, of which the National Pork Board is a founding member.
-    A report on the activities of the U.S. Pork Center for Excellence, a consortium of pork organizations and land-grant universities.
-    Discussions with board members of the National Pork Producers Council on issues of mutual interest.

Meetings of the National Pork Board are open to the public. Those wishing to attend are asked to contact Lorraine Garner, lgarner@pork.org, (515) 223-2600.



USGC Team Witnesses History in the Making

The U.S. Grains Council's U.S., Colombia Free Trade Implementation Team witnessed the first shipment of U.S. grain being unloaded in Colombia after the implementation of the U.S., Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on May 15.  The Cargill shipment arrived at the port of Santa Maria May 30, containing 30,000 metric tons of U.S. grain: 9,900 tons of corn; 12,000 tons of wheat; 3,850 tons of distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS); and 6,450 tons of corn gluten feed pellets.

The team is made up of representatives of the Council's three commodities. Team members include:
• Deb Keller – Iowa Corn Promotion Board
• David Howell – Indiana Corn Marketing Board
• Doyle Lentz – North Dakota Barley Council
• Wayne Cleveland – Texas Grain Sorghum Producers Board
• Kurt Shultz – U.S. Grains Council Regional Director
• Floyd Gaibler – U.S. Grains Council Trade Policy Director
• Marri Carrow – U.S. Grains Council Communications Director

"It was exciting to see the U.S. products being unloaded," said Deb Keller, USGC Rest of the World Advisory Team leader who traveled with the group. "I particularly liked the fact that it wasn't just corn. The United States is able to diversify its shipments to better meet customer's import needs. This puts the United States at a significant market advantage. It means more vessels coming out the United States and more assurance of customer satisfaction – a win-win for everyone."

Doyle Lentz of the North Dakota Barley Council, who also traveled with the group, commented on the impact this agreement has already made and will continue to make in the future. "Today we witnessed how the free trade agreement impacts American agriculture. This Cargill shipment signifies access to a market we may not have had otherwise," he said.

After a quick tour of the port, the team met with the operations manger of the Sociedad Portuaria Regional de Barranquilla S.A. (SPRB), one of Colombia's largest importers. While Barranquilla is diversified in its imports, steel and grain are by far the largest products, due to the great demand of this economically thriving country.

"The [U.S., Colombia] free trade agreement provides many opportunities for Colombia and especially Barranquilla," said Pablo Riveira de la Rosa of SPRB. "Barranquilla is the city of the FTA. We are growing and are within close proximity of the United States."

Riveira de la Rosa said the Barranquilla port is as important to Colombia as the New Orleans port is to the United States.

"The trade agreement helps to improve inefficiencies in the animal and livestock sectors," said Wayne Cleveland, executive director of the Texas Grain Sorghum Producers Board, who traveled with the group said. "Increasing demand for high-quality protein will force Colombia to make strides in advancing its inland transportation system. We look forward to the marketing opportunity in Colombia and will continue to work with Council staff to fully expose this market's potential."

USGC Asia Advisory Team Leader David Howell said it was gratifying to see the trade agreement in action. "Many people have dedicated many years of work into seeing the free trade agreement between Colombia and United States come into fruition. It is important to recognize these efforts as we continue our path of being important trade allies and partners," he said.

Keller added that, "This was a good example of how the Council is working for us to build markets and give access to places we haven't had in while."



McDonald's to Phase Out Penned Pork

McDonald's Corp. said Thursday that by 2022 it will no longer buy any pork from suppliers that use small, controversial pens known as gestation stalls to confine pregnant sows.

The fast-food heavyweight, in an effort to address concerns of animal welfare groups, announced in February that it would begin demanding that suppliers phase out the use of the narrow two-feet-wide stalls that groups like the Humane Society of the United States have called inhumane.

Within five years, the company said Thursday, it will only buy pork from "producers who share its commitment to phase out gestation stalls" and then those suppliers will have another five years to make good on the commitments.

"We value our relationship with our suppliers, and our shared commitment to animal welfare," said Dan Gorsky, senior vice president of McDonald's North America Supply Chain Management. "Our approach seeks to build on the work already in place, and we are also sensitive to the needs of the smaller, independent pork producers in phasing out of gestation stalls."

The company said it will demand proof that suppliers are selling pork from farms that don't use the stalls.

There are about 5.8 million breeding sows in the U.S. out of a total swine population of 65.9 million, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. McDonald's says it purchases about 1% of total pork produced in the U.S.

Burger King Corp. announced in April that it, too, will begin buying pork only from producers that do not use the gestation stalls to confine sows.



National Pork Board Responds to McDonald's Statement

The president of the National Pork Board said Thursday he is disappointed in the announcement earlier in the day by McDonald’s Corp. that sets a 10-year timeline for sourcing all of its pork from farms that do not use individual stalls to house pregnant pigs.

McDonald’s decision could put significant pressure on smaller farmers who use gestation stalls to care for their animals, said Everett Forkner, a farmer from Richards, Mo., and president of the National Pork Board. “For a producer who has built a new barn in the past few years, McDonald’s announced timeline could force them to make significant new investments,” said Forkner. “So to make the conversion, my fellow producers are going to have to go to a banker with a plan that is likely to increase costs and reduce productivity—not a plan that is likely to inspire great confidence in a banker or investor.”

Forkner said publicly held pork production companies with access to capital and bond markets may be able to make the conversion more easily.  “And that’s fine if that’s what they choose to do,” he said. “We believe consumers ultimately are likely to pay these higher production costs. But in the meantime, the additional expenses on farmers forced to make this conversion could increase the risk of them having to leave the business.”

Forkner said the National Pork Board’s position continues to be that peer-reviewed research shows overwhelmingly that both individual stalls and open pens are appropriate ways to provide good care to pregnant sows. These decisions mean that farmers are being told by others which of the two systems works best on their farms, he said.

“I’ve been in this business a long time,” Forkner said. “I know on my own farm I moved from open pens to stalls many years ago because too many sows were being injured or denied feed. When sows are thrown together they can become very aggressive. Dominant sows physically attack the others, bite them and steal their food.  The housing used by most farmers was designed to protect sows from this bullying while they are most vulnerable, during their pregnancies.

“We fully support continuing to explore new and better ways to protect pregnant sows,” Forkner said. “Farmers are adopting improvements all the time as they study their farms and their animals.  Going backward, though, will just put a huge financial burden on smaller pig farmers while doing nothing to improve the health and well-being of our pigs.”



NPPC Disappointed With McDonald’s Decision

The National Pork Producers Council expressed disappointment with McDonald’s decision to move forward with requiring its pork suppliers to phase out the use of individual sow housing. The fast food firm yesterday announced it wants 100 percent of its suppliers to be gestation stall-free in 10 years.

“While we’re disappointed with its decision, McDonald’s – unlike other food companies – did the research to find out how complex this issue is,” said NPPC President R.C. Hunt, a pork producer from Wilson, N.C. “At least it discussed its plans with the pork industry and has concerns with the available pork supply from stall-free operations and with the transition away from stalls that would be required of producers.”

NPPC suggested other food companies consider the supply chain realities of the pork industry before making similar decisions.

“We’d be glad to discuss with food companies challenges caused by a transition in production systems,” Hunt said. “But the bottom line is, regardless of any difficulties, the issue of sow housing is about providing the best care possible for our animals. Individual sow housing allows us an option to give that best care.”

Research has shown that there is no science-based animal welfare benefit to group sow housing over other forms of sow housing. The American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians recognize gestation stalls and group housing as appropriate for providing for the well-being of sows during pregnancy. NPPC notes that the key factor that most affects animal well-being is husbandry skills – that is, the care given to each animal.

Because the overwhelming majority of the country’s nearly 6 million sows spend some time in a stall during the gestation cycle, according to an NPPC estimate, claims by food companies of sourcing a percentage of pork from gestation stall-free operations are misleading and cannot be validated. Most pork packers do not segregate product by sow housing type.



NCGA Brings States, Industry Together to Discuss Ethanol, RFS

This week, NCGA brought together representation from state corn associations, members of its Ethanol Committee and various other stakeholders to discuss the importance of ethanol both to farmers and the country as a whole.

With a full day of presentations on upcoming events in the industry and expert analysis, participants discussed short-, intermediate- and long-term goals which will be used to help NCGA as it refines its strategic plan.

"Farmers and those in rural American have long seen the impressive economic impact that ethanol brings to bear while experts have cited its important contributions to our environment and national energy independence," said NCGA Ethanol Committee Chair Chad Willis.  "This meeting provided us with an opportunity to collaborate on ways to work together in the promotion of this sustainable, domestically-produced fuel."

Held outside of Chicago, Ill., the summit had a total attendance of 73 with representation from agribusiness and the auto industry also present. One common theme was the importance of the Renewable Fuel Standard.

"The RFS has helped the ethanol industry grow stably and sustainably in an energy sector where fossil fuels enjoy a monopoly," Willis said. "We're committed to doing all we can to ensure its long-term viability so the fuel in our cars and trucks will be better economically and environmentally for our country."



NCGA Supports HFCS Consumer Education Efforts

The National Corn Growers Association supports the Corn Refiners Association as it questions the issues ignored by the Food and Drug Administration in their decision to deny the CRA petition seeking the ability to use the term "corn sugar" to describe high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

"We support CRA's efforts to help consumers make informed decisions," said NCGA President Garry Niemeyer. "Clearly, HFCS has been targeted by competing products through a campaign of misinformation and propaganda.  Thus, CRA does a great service in educating consumers that sugars are all the same nutritionally, whether they come from corn, cane or beet.  Promoting the responsible, moderate use of all sweeteners, CRA aims to provide clear, unbiased information to all Americans, a goal the FDA should support."

The denial, issued yesterday, ignored important concerns raised in the CRA petition about consumer confusion surrounding the term HFCS.  The petition requested this change on the basis that, as high fructose corn syrup is nutritionally equivalent to other sugars, the term "corn sugar" would provide consumers with information about what is in their food and beverage options in simple, clear terms.

Denying the petition on what CRA characterizes as "narrow, technical grounds," the FDA decision means that HFCS must be identified to consumers in the sugar category under that term on the Nutrition Fact Panel on foods and beverages.



USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for June 2012

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced interest rates for June 2012. The CCC borrowing rate-based charge for June 2012 is 0.125 percent, unchanged from 0.125 in May 2012. For 1996 and subsequent crop year commodity and marketing assistance loans, the interest rate for loans disbursed during June 2012 is 1.125 percent, unchanged from 1.125 in May 2012.

In accordance with the 2008 Farm Bill, interest rates for Farm Storage Facility Loans approved for June 2012 are as follows, 1.250 percent with seven-year loan terms, down from 1.500 in May 2012; 1.875 percent with 10-year loan terms, down from 2.125 in May 2012 and; 2.125 percent with 12-year loan terms, down from 2.375 percent in May 2012.



Empty Containers on East Coast Could Profit U.S. Soybean Farmers

Shipping U.S. soybeans and soy meal to Europe, in what would otherwise be empty containers from East Coast ports in the United States, may have profit potential for U.S. soybean farmers as another opportunity to export their crop and increase competitiveness.

A checkoff-funded analysis conducted through the United Soybean Board’s (USB’s) Global Opportunities (GO) program studied the potential for shipping containerized soy to Europe and the additional profit it could mean for U.S. soybean farmers and the U.S. soy industry.

Ocean freight cost is the major factor. Freight from a U.S. East Coast port to Europe must cost less than $1,000 per 40-foot container (950 bushels, or 25.5 metric tons of soybean meal) to compete with Argentine meal delivered in bulk cargo ships.

The checkoff-funded study shows three sectors of the soy industry need to come together for successful and beneficial transactions: U.S. exporters, carriers and European Union (EU) purchasers.

U.S. soy meal exporters:
-    Must reintroduce U.S. soy meal in the EU market as a superior protein source and gain market share.
-    Must make business connections with feed buyers who work for the European broiler, swine and other animal ag sectors.
-    East Coast ports demonstrating the greatest potential for shipping soy in containers include Charleston, S.C.; New York City; Norfolk, Va.; and Savannah, Ga.

Carriers:
-    Must keep ship fleets moving to stay competitive.
-    Repositioning (getting empty containers back to where they are needed) is a challenge.
-    Look for new, stable business, so they should be open to soy meal. This project educated shipping lines about the volume of EU soy imports and the number of potential new customers in the feed milling industry.

European purchasers:
-    EU feed millers rely on traders and crushers to acquire soy meal.
-    Millers want to diversify sources and increase quality and protein content – U.S. soy meal fits this bill.
-    Containerized shipments offer benefits and less risk that would attract small to midsize millers.



Dairy Products Production April 2012 Highlights

Total cheese output (excluding cottage cheese) was 903 million pounds, 2.1 percent above April 2011 but 4.7 percent below March 2012.  Italian type cheese production totaled 381 million pounds, 0.8 percent below April 2011 and 5.9 percent below March 2012.  American type cheese production totaled 372 million pounds, 3.5 percent above April 2011 but 2.7 percent below March 2012.  Butter production was 170 million pounds, 7.2 percent above April 2011 but 3.3 percent below March 2012.

Dry milk powders  (comparisons with April 2011)
Nonfat dry milk, human - 192 million pounds, up 31.1 percent.
Skim milk powders - 17.5 million pounds, down 35.4 percent.

Whey products  (comparisons with April 2011)
Dry whey, total - 86.0 million pounds, down 6.6 percent.
Lactose, human and animal - 87.2 million pounds, up 8.3 percent.
Whey protein concentrate, total - 37.1 million pounds, up 6.9 percent.

Frozen products  (comparisons with April 2011)
Ice cream, regular (hard) - 69.5 million gallons, down 2.6 percent.
Ice cream, lowfat (total) - 41.1 million gallons, up 2.7 percent.
Sherbet (hard) - 3.88 million gallons, up 5.0 percent.
Frozen yogurt (total) - 5.62 million gallons, up 5.3 percent.



Chief Economist Glauber Announces Selection of Robert Johansson as Deputy Chief Economist

U.S. Department of Agriculture Chief Economist Joseph Glauber today announced the selection of Robert Johansson as USDA Deputy Chief Economist.  “Robert Johansson is well-prepared for the demands of this post,” said Glauber, “through years of demonstrated analysis and experience in agricultural economics and policy analysis at USDA, the Office of Management and Budget, the Congressional Budget Office, and the Council of Economic Advisers.”

As Deputy Chief Economist, Johansson is responsible for assisting the Chief Economist in developing and maintaining a comprehensive system of analysis that integrates economic policy with complex domestic and foreign agricultural and rural issues arising within the Department. In addition to those duties, he will continue to monitor issues related to energy and the environment.

Johansson began working for USDA in January 2001 at the Economic Research Service where he conducted and led research efforts on various topics including agricultural and environmental policies, which entailed estimation and modeling of farm management and associated impacts on prices, trade, production, and air and water quality. In 2006, Johansson took a position with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget, where he worked as economist and policy analyst on environmental, energy, and agricultural regulations. In 2008, he moved to the Congressional Budget Office to work on climate change and energy policy issues. And in 2010, he returned as a senior economist to USDA’s Climate Change Program Office where he helped analyze land use and land use change for climate change proposals and coordinated USDA’s policy and technical position on the use of biomass in energy production consistent with recent developments in the Clean Air Act. Johansson was detailed to the White House in 2011 to be the senior economist for energy, environment, and agriculture on the Council of Economic Advisers. There he has worked on budgetary and regulatory policies for USDA, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Energy amongst others.

Johansson received a Master’s Degree and Ph.D. in agricultural economics from the University of Minnesota in 2000 and Bachelor’s Degree in economics from Northwestern University in 1990.



Chef Explains How Checkoff Event Translates to Success Around the Country

During the recent beef-checkoff funded beef immersion and educational event at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena, Calif., foodservice operators learned about the power and versatility of beef. One such attendee was Mark Rieth, Corporate Chef Sysco Corporation and Senior Manager of Culinary Development, who says he will take this information back to his company and explain to the more than 70 chefs throughout the Sysco Corporate world and outposts around the country. Rieth says he’s glad the checkoff is here to help educate foodservice operators on the new value cuts of meats, the ways it can be produced and the different attributes of each product.

Rieth says, “What I like about working with beef is the different ways we can serve it and present it to our customer. Beef is probably the number one protein that Americans like to eat most, so therefore if we come up with different ways of presenting it to them, different styles, different  textures, people want that umami effect now in their flavors, so beef handles that. Beef can handle many different flavors from different cuts of meat and it also takes on many different flavors by adding different seasonings, dry rubs, or marinades.”

Rieth says opportunities like the Greystone event don’t come around very often for people in his profession, so learning how to affect taste and dining experience for his customers was invaluable. He continues, “We’ve got to take care of our customers, because if our customers are not in the world to succeed then we can’t succeed. So with the beef checkoff team helping us, coming out with the new cuts of meat, making it more value to our customer, they can actually put it on their plate and still make their food cost percentages, and serve a well-balanced, healthy, traditional old world or new world style food and have the customer be happy and come back for more.”

So what knowledge will Rieth take home from this experience? Rieth says, "What we can do at Sysco with this is, we can show our consumers different ways to show these value cuts, whether it be skewered, whether it be diced, whether it be sliced, whether it be dry heat, whether it be sautéed, whether it be moist heat with brazing method and giving them that you can use a little bit less meat and still have a full plate for an entrée that can cost anywhere from $9 up to $17.”

In addition to funding from the national Beef Checkoff Program, checkoff dollars from Texas, California, Kansas, Florida, Iowa and South Dakota made this session possible.