Tuesday July 17 Ag News

Change of Venue for Drought-Stress Meeting Wednesday July 18th in Norfolk
Tim Lemmons, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Educator

Due to an overwhelming response for the drought-stressed crop meeting planned for Norfolk, NE on Wednesday the 18th at 2:00pm, we have moved the meeting location.  It will still occur on the Northeast Community College Campus, but we will now be in the theater on the north side of the main parking lot, rather than the Lifelong learning center which is located on the south side of the main parking lot.  The advantage?  Theater comfort seating and highly valuable information!  We will have staff on site to help get people to the right place.



Managing Drought Forages
Larry Howard, UNL Extension Educator

If producers are wondering how to handle the drought stressed corn and soybeans crops, they will want to attend the program “Managing Drought Forages”.  This program will be held on Tuesday, July 24 at 7 p.m. at the Ballroom in Beemer.

The program will feature Bruce Anderson, University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension Forage Specialist who will discuss the various options available for the stressed crops and how they should be managed to minimize additional risks. Someone from the FSA office in West Point will be present at the meeting to help answer questions. Other industry representatives have also been invited to participate in the program.

Steak sandwiches will be served following the presentation.  This program is sponsored by the Cuming County Feeders Association and the University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension in Cuming County



NE CRP Acreage Released For Emergency Use

Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Director Dan Steinkruger says a large amount of Nebraska’s land enrolled in the federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in Nebraska is now available for haying and grazing.

Secretary Vilsack announced last week that counties designated as D2 on the Drought Monitor could be released by the FSA State Committee after the ending nesting date of July 15 in Nebraska.  Secretary Vilsack also announced a reduction in the emergency haying and grazing payment reduction from 25% to 10% to assist in drought response.

CRP participants need to file a request to graze or hay at their local office.  CRP use includes specific rules for haying and/or a grazing plan to insure consistent uses of the land.  An additional approval was granted this year for practice CP-25, Rare and Declining Habitat, to allow grazing for the first time.

Steinkruger added, “This approval will provide additional forage during this drought to assist livestock producers.”

A current Nebraska map listing approved counties is on the Nebraska FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov/ne.  The map will be updated as new counties qualify.



FARMERS, RANCHERS REMINDED OF HAY AND FORAGE HOTLINE, OTHER FORAGE OPTIONS

Farmers with hay or other forage for sale or those in need of forage resources are encouraged to access a free Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) database that works to connect buyers and sellers.

Agriculture Director Greg Ibach said the NDA Hay and Forage Hotline is available for sellers to call and list available hay, pasture or other forages.  Those wishing to sell can call 800‑422‑6692 to request their information be added to the listing.  Those wishing to purchase hay or other forage can access the list on-line at www.agr.ne.gov or may request a copy by calling NDA.  The list is free and is updated regularly.

“As the drought continues, forage resources are increasingly in need across Nebraska,” Ibach said.  “I encourage anyone with hay for sale or pasture for lease to call our hotline and become a part of the free listing.  You do not need to be from Nebraska to list available forage resources with NDA.”

Ibach said all types of forage can be listed on the site, including the availability of cornstalks for grazing.

Potential buyers can make contact with sellers through the listing and negotiate transactions.  Ibach cautioned that NDA does not participate in the transaction process nor does the department endorse any of the hay or forage being sold.

Ibach also reminded producers of other potential forage options.
-    Gov. Dave Heineman has expanded roadside haying options by moving up the harvest start date in certain circumstances.  Anyone interested in roadside haying should contact the Nebraska Department of Roads or go on-line to www.roads.ne.gov/hay.
-    The United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has made available emergency grazing or haying on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres in qualified Nebraska counties.  Anyone interested in this option must contact their local FSA office prior to conducting any grazing or haying activities.  A map of approved counties can be found by visiting the Nebraska FSA web page. 

Information on drought issues can be found on the NDA web page at www.agr.ne.gov under “Drought Information and Hay Hotline.”



Farmers Encouraged to Update Iowa Hay-Straw Directory

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey encouraged Iowa hay and straw producers to register or update their listing on the Iowa Hay and Straw Directory. The directory lists Iowa producers with hay and straw for sale, as well as organizations and businesses associated with promoting and marketing quality hay and straw.

"This directory has proven to be a valuable asset to Iowa farmers who both buy and sell hay and straw, so I hope those that can use it to take full advantage of this resource," Northey said. "With the ongoing dry weather and drought conditions this directory may serve as a critical link for both buyers and sellers."

The listing is available to interested buyers throughout the nation, however only sellers from within Iowa can be included on the list.

Names are gathered throughout the year with added emphasis now that hay harvest has started. Sections within the Hay and Straw Directory include "Forage for Sale," "Forage Auctions," "Hay Associations," "Forage Dealers," "Hay Grinders" and "Custom Balers."

Farmers interested in listing should visit the Department's website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov. An application form can be found by going to the "Bureaus" link and then selecting "Agricultural Diversification and Market Development." Then click on "Hay & Straw Directory" on the right side of the page under "Directories."

For those without internet access, please call the Hay/Straw Hotline at 800-383-5079. The Department will fax or send a printed copy of the application to be filled out.

The Department is also supporting the Iowa Crop Improvement Association's "Iowa Noxious Weed Seed Free Forage and Mulch Certification Program." Through this program Iowa forage and mulch producers can take advantage of many emerging market opportunities for "Certified Weed Free" products. For more specific information on this program producers should contact the Iowa Crop Improvement Association at 515-294-6921. More information can also be found by visiting www.agron.iastate.edu/icia.



NCBA Holds Beef 101 Educational Series on Capitol Hill

Representatives from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Nebraska Cattlemen today gave an overview of the U.S. beef industry to congressional staff members as part of NCBA’s “Beef 101” educational series.

Beef 101 is an educational series for members of Congress and their staff. The program was developed to bridge the knowledge gap between elected officials and the beef industry.  The session featured a presentation by University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor Tom Field, Ph.D., who gave a general overview of the U.S. beef industry. Field told roughly 40 attendees that the $220 billion beef industry is largely family-owned, with 97 percent of beef producers located on family farms, ranches and feedyards.

Field, who runs a family cattle operation in Colorado, explained to attendees the current beef industry is made up of 751,000 beef herds totaling approximately 30 million cows and 26 million feeder calves. He also stated that since the 1970s, the U.S. has lost 43 percent of cow-calf producers, and that the beef cow inventory is at its lowest number since 1952. This decline even continued during a "relatively high level" of profitability from 1999 to 2011. Drought, land values, input costs, downward turn of the U.S. economy, increasing age of the average cattleman, media and government regulatory overreach are all contributing factors to the decreasing cattle inventory and loss of cow-calf producers.

However, Field emphasized how efficient and skilled U.S. cattlemen and women are, stating that the United States accounts for seven percent of the world's cattle, but provides 20 percent of global beef production, a number unmatched by any other beef producing country in the world.

“The Beef 101 series is a great way for members of Congress and their staff to learn about the beef industry and get up to speed on current issues affecting cattlemen and women,” said Michael Kelsey, Executive Vice President of Nebraska Cattlemen. “More than anything, this series provides an accurate picture of what the beef industry is made of; good, hard-working people.”

Nebraska cattlemen Chris Bolte, manager of Bruning Farms, and Travis Sinn, manager of Sinn Ranch, both family-owned farms, each gave a short speech on their respective cattle operations and answered questions from congressional staff. 



NCBA Comments on EPA’s Dust Standard

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) made clear its position on any attempt by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to lower the coarse particulate matter (PM) standard as part of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) during one of two public hearings hosted by EPA.

“NCBA represents tens of thousands of America’s cattlemen and women who provide much of the nation’s supply of food. Our members are proud of their tradition as stewards and conservators of America’s lands and waters,” said Ashley McDonald, NCBA Deputy Environmental Counsel, during the hearing. “Cattle producers across the country would be adversely affected if EPA lowers the dust standard, especially those in the West, Southwest and Midwest, and we urge the agency to retain the current standard as proposed.”

Every five years, the EPA is required to review scientific studies associated with “criteria pollutants” regulated under the NAAQS of the Clean Air Act to determine if the pollutant is regulated appropriately.  One of the criteria pollutants is PM, which includes dust. PM in arid western regions is made up primarily of mechanically generated crustal material, including fugitive dust. The coarse PM emitted from cattle operations is fugitive particulate matter or fugitive dust, which is the result of windblown dust and cattle movements. Because rural coarse PM is largely a natural phenomenon, it is extremely difficult to ensure compliance with the standard in dry, arid regions where coarse PM predominates despite use of best management practices.

During today’s hearing, McDonald made it clear that if the PM NAAQS is further reduced, it will be virtually impossible for current agricultural facilities, including feedlot operations, to demonstrate compliance.

“NCBA believes regulations designed to protect the public health can only achieve that goal when they are based on a solid scientific foundation,” said McDonald. “Over the past 30 plus years, many experienced medical and public health experts in respiratory diseases, epidemiology, toxicology and clinical treatment have noted that coarse PM has never been demonstrated to have adverse health effects at ambient levels.” 

NCBA supports the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act, proposed by U.S. Senator Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) and Congresswoman Kristi Noem (R-S.D.). The legislation essentially would exempt farmers and ranchers from federal dust regulations if it is regulated at the state or local level.



Retail Prices for Meats, Dairy and Eggs Decline Slightly

Retail food prices at the supermarket declined slightly during the second quarter of 2012 with protein staples – meats, cheese, milk and eggs – showing the greatest drops in price, according to the latest American Farm Bureau Federation Marketbasket Survey.

The informal survey shows the total cost of 16 food items that can be used to prepare one or more meals was $50.91, down $1.56 or about 3 percent compared to the first quarter of 2012. Of the 16 items surveyed, 12 decreased and four increased in average price compared to the prior quarter. The cost for the overall basket of foods fell about one-half of 1 percent compared to one year ago.

Most of the quarter-to-quarter decrease in the marketbasket of foods was due to lower retail prices for sliced meats and dairy products.

“The decline in retail meat prices for the second quarter is not unexpected,” said John Anderson, an AFBF senior economist. “Wholesale meat prices trended lower at the end of the first quarter of the year and consumers are benefiting from that as retail prices have followed suit.”

Reversing increases in the prior quarter, shredded cheddar decreased 36 cents to $4.29 per pound; sliced deli ham decreased 19 cents to $5.24 per pound; orange juice decreased 19 cents to $3.17 for a half-gallon; bacon decreased 17 cents to $4.04 per pound; large eggs declined 16 cents to $1.61 per dozen; toasted oat cereal decreased 14 cents to $2.99 for a 9-ounce box; bagged salad decreased 11 cents to $2.74 per pound; apples decreased 9 cents to $1.50 per pound; sirloin tip roast decreased 6 cents to $4.69 per pound; and flour decreased 3 cents to $2.62 for a 5-pound bag.

Two items continued declines from the prior quarter. Whole milk declined by 17 cents to $3.36 for one gallon and boneless chicken breasts decreased by 10 cents to $3.09 per pound.

Four items showed modest retail price increases: ground chuck increased 12 cents to $3.65 per pound; Russet potatoes increased 5 cents to $3.06 for a 5-pound bag; white bread increased 3 cents to $1.88 for a 20-ounce loaf; and vegetable oil increased 1 cent to $2.98 for a 32-ounce bottle.

Several items showing a decrease in retail price from quarter-to-quarter also showed year-to-year decreases. Dairy products were generally down year-to-year, reflecting the effects of increased dairy production this year. Bacon prices are also down from last summer’s record levels.

The year-to-year direction of the Marketbasket Survey tracks with the federal government’s Consumer Price Index (http://www.bls.gov/cpi/) report for food at home. As retail grocery prices have increased gradually over time, the share of the average food dollar that America’s farm and ranch families receive has dropped.

“Through the mid-1970s, farmers received about one-third of consumer retail food expenditures for food eaten at home and away from home, on average. Since then, that figure has decreased steadily and is now about 16 percent, according to the Agriculture Department’s revised Food Dollar Series,” Anderson said. Details about USDA’s new Food Dollar Series may be found online at http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/err-economic-research-report/err114.aspx.

Using the “food at home and away from home” percentage across-the-board, the farmer’s share of this quarter’s $50.91 marketbasket would be $8.15.

AFBF, the nation’s largest general farm organization, has been conducting the informal quarterly Marketbasket Survey of retail food price trends since 1989. The mix of foods in the marketbasket was updated during the first quarter of 2008.

According to USDA, Americans spend just under 10 percent of their disposable annual income on food, the lowest average of any country in the world. A total of 74 shoppers in 28 states participated in the latest survey, conducted in May.

Sidebar: Tracking Milk and Egg Trends
For the second quarter of 2012, shoppers reported the average price for a half-gallon of regular whole milk was $2.21, down 25 cents from the prior quarter. The average price for one gallon of regular whole milk was $3.36, down 17 cents. Comparing per-quart prices, the retail price for whole milk sold in gallon containers was about 25 percent lower compared to half-gallon containers, a typical volume discount long employed by retailers.

The average price for a half-gallon of rBST-free milk was $3.57, up 15 cents from the last quarter, about 40 percent higher than the reported retail price for a half-gallon of regular milk ($2.21).

The average price for a half-gallon of organic milk was $3.92, down 27 cents compared to the prior quarter, about 70 percent higher than the reported retail price for a half-gallon of regular milk ($2.21).

Compared to a year ago (second quarter of 2011), the retail price for regular milk in gallon containers was up about 2 percent, while regular milk in half-gallon containers rose 9 percent. The average retail price for rBST-free milk increased 6 percent compared to the prior year, while organic milk was up 13 percent.

For the first quarter of 2012, the average price for one dozen regular eggs was $1.61, down 16 cents compared to the prior quarter. The average price for a dozen “cage-free” eggs was $3.29, down 10 cents compared to the prior quarter but nearly double (90 percent higher) the price of regular eggs. Compared to a year ago (second quarter of 2011), regular eggs were essentially unchanged while “cage-free” eggs increased 3 percent.



NCGA Urges Congress to Grant Russia Most Favored Nation Status

The Senate Finance Committee will mark up legislation Wednesday to grant Russia permanent Most Favored Nation status. In December 2012, Russia was invited to join the World Trade Organization. However, if the United States does not take steps to lift the Jackson Vanik amendment and grant Russia MFN status, U.S. farmers will not be able to take advantage of Russia's accession to the WTO.

The National Corn Growers Association urges Congress to take immediate action to repeal the Jackson Vanik amendment thereby allowing farmers to take advantage of a more open and level playing field.

"When Russia joins the WTO, it must abide by stricter sanitary and phytosanitary obligations," Chad Blindauer, chair of NCGA's Trade Policy and Biotechnology Action Team, said. "This accountability will greatly help U.S. farmers and ranchers, including those with livestock. We are encouraged that the legislation requires our trade representative to negotiate a bilateral agreement so Russia recognizes our sanitary and phytosanitary measures as equivalent to its own."

Russia is expected to meet the July 23 deadline for notifying the WTO that it has accepted the terms of its membership. After 30 days, Russia will become a full WTO member, regardless of whether Congress has acted on permanent MFN status.

Grower Teams Delve into Current Topics, Consider Options
Action teams and committees charged with in-depth analysis and consideration of the topics most relevant to corn farmers met in Washington as the initial phase of a full week of meetings held by the National Corn Growers Association.  These farmer-led teams discussed changing situations, and the possible ramifications of these changes, in areas including public policy, ethanol, biotechnology, government regulation, trade and grower services in anticipation of NCGA Corn Congress and visits to Capitol Hill scheduled later this week.

"The work of the action teams and committees plays a vital role in ensuring the association's policies are developed with a careful analysis of each situation while maintaining the grassroots approach vital to its success," said NCGA President Garry Niemeyer. "These small groups allow grower-leaders from our various member states to develop a deep knowledge of specialized areas and then collaborate on solutions that help NCGA create and increase opportunities and markets for our members."

Many of the team meetings included presentations from special guests. In the Public Policy Action Team meeting, staff from both the Senate and House Agriculture Committees provided updates on progress made thus far into a farm bill in 2012.  Their valuable insight helped team members understand the multifaceted situations legislators must take into consideration given the current budgetary environment.

Anthony Bush, chair of the Public Policy Action Team, said the committee agenda is constructed with those legislative visits in mind.

"We want to prepare our grower leaders fully for the important visits they will make with their legislators on Wednesday and Thursday," he said. "Right now, Congress faces rapidly evolving issues crucial to our members, particularly the farm bill. The information and understanding coming out of these meetings will help each of our delegations make the strongest case possible for farmers."

In the Ethanol Committee, team members discussed the path forward for key efforts supporting this vital market.  To best assess the current situations facing corn farmers in this market, they heard from a wide variety of guest speakers, including Senate and House staff, an official from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis, American Coalition for Ethanol CEO Brian Jennings and Renewable Fuels Association CEO Bob Dinneen.

Action team and committee meetings conclude today, with Corn Congress convening early on Wednesday and running through Thursday.  During this meeting, delegates will consider proposed policy changes and will elect leadership to the Corn Board for the 2013 fiscal year beginning October 1.



AFBF: FDA’s Livestock Antibiotic Proposals Based on Theory

Citing a lack of data to support limiting antibiotic use in livestock, the American Farm Bureau Federation has told the Food and Drug Administration that it is concerned with proposals that would restrict antibiotic use based on unproven theory.

AFBF submitted comments to FDA on two proposals made by the agency earlier this year. According to FDA, the agency is taking action to help preserve the effectiveness of medically important antimicrobials for treating disease in humans, but FDA has not demonstrated whether the actions will have any effect on antibiotic resistance, AFBF said.

“AFBF agrees that human antibiotic resistance is a serious and growing healthcare problem. Developing strategies for reducing antimicrobial resistance is critically important for protecting both public and animal health,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “However, we are extremely concerned with FDA actions, which seem to indicate the agency is basing complex animal health policies on theory, rather than sound scientific studies.”

According to AFBF, FDA intends to curb antibiotic use in livestock without fully understanding the impact on public health. There have been no peer-reviewed scientific studies to support the theory that judicious use of antibiotics in livestock increases antibiotic resistance in humans. In addition, there is no data to indicate that limiting antibiotic use in livestock decreases human health problems with antibiotic resistance.

“Antibiotics in livestock are currently used carefully in a highly-regulated process,” said Stallman. “FDA has and continues to exercise the authority to review every animal health product, including antibiotics, prior to approval, and at periodic intervals after the product is on the market. These regulatory and industry layers of protection are based on years of data collection, and products available to livestock caretakers today have gone through rigorous and continuous scientific testing,” AFBF asserted.

AFBF believes it is imperative that any new policies relative to antibiotics be grounded in data and reflective of the realities of the diversity of modern animal agriculture production, Stallman said. The limitation or elimination of animal antibiotic use in the livestock industry will have negative economic and animal health consequences.

“Food animal producers have relied on the benefits of antibiotics for many years to keep animals healthy, reduce environmental impact on land and resources, and provide consumers with an abundant supply of safe and affordable meat and poultry,” continued Stallman. “Any changes in availability of these products must be undertaken carefully to reduce unnecessary negative impacts to animals, producers and veterinarians.”



U.S. Pork Again Tops Competition in Korean Blind Taste Test

Everybody likes to root for the home team – or in this case, the home pork – but when all the labels are removed and products win or lose based on their merits, American pork is the winner and still champion among South Korean consumers and meat industry experts alike.

For the second time in two years, South Korea’s top cooking magazine, Cookand, joined with the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) for a blind taste test conducted with panels of food industry experts and consumers to determine which pork would be preferred by Koreans when taste is the only consideration.

Four types of chilled pork belly and collar butt (U.S., Canadian and two South Korean brands: Sunjin and Moguchon) were included in the sampling. To remove any favorable conditions for one type of pork over another, each sample was 10 days old, purchased from the sale seller, cut to the same portion size and cooked identically without seasoning.

Each participant judged the samples on tenderness, tastiness and juiciness, as well as how the pork smelled and its texture after cooking.

U.S. pork was the clear winner among the food industry experts on the panel, earning a score of 79 out of 100 versus 74 for Canadian pork and 74 and 69 for the two Korean pork brands. The consumer panel put U.S. and Canadian pork in a tie with a score of 74 while the two Korean pork brands earned scores of 62 and 53.

“I favored domestic pork prior to this test, but my preference has changed since the blind test,” said Lee Wook-Jung, producer for KBS television and graduate of Le Cordon Bleu, a world-renowned network of culinary schools. “The tenderness and taste of imported pork was as good as, if not better than, that of Korean pork.”

Cookand magazine assembled an impressive set of judges for the competition. A panel of 10 experts included a food reporter for daily newspaper Hankyoreh; the television producer/Le Cordon Bleu graduate; a food reporter for JoongAng Ilbo, Korea’s top daily newspaper; the owner of Tavern 38, a French-American bistro; the owner-chef of Korean restaurant Doodukhan Sang; the head chef at Oakwood Hotels; a food critic for JoongAng Ilbo; a cooking instructor and food researcher; a meat wholesaler; and a traditional cookery professor at Baewha Women’s University.

The food industry experts were joined by a panel of 10 consumers, four men and six women, including an international lawyer, chef, landscaper, financier, advertising agent, several food bloggers and several students studying to be nutritionists and food stylists.

Interestingly, the results of the Cookand test come on the heels of a recent survey by the Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI), which questioned 750 consumers about their pork preferences. In that survey, 66.1 percent said they believe the quality of domestic pork is better while just under 1 percent said they prefer imported pork. The balance couldn’t tell the difference.

One of the Cookand survey participants noted the consideration of country of origin in his (her?) statement: “After the country of origin was revealed, I saw that I had given the highest score to U.S. pork,” said Jung Hye-Jung, head of the Creative Culinary Institute of Korea. “Because U.S. pork appeals with good price and quality, my preference didn’t change even after the place of origin was revealed. This experience helped me get rid of any prejudices against (U.S.) pork.”

“We worked with Cookand because it is the leading Korean cooking magazine, and we wanted to make sure the blind taste test was done with complete transparency,” said Jihae Yang, USMEF-Korea director. “We were very confident of the quality and taste of U.S. pork going into the competition, and we will use these results with meat distributors and end-users so they are aware of how well U.S. pork was judged by these experts.”

The test results were published in Cookand, as they were after the 2010 blind taste test. In the first competition, Cookand editors also selected collar butt and single-ribbed belly, which are the most popular pork cuts among Korean consumers. That contest compared frozen meat samples from Austria, Belgium, Chile and the United States and chilled meat samples from the U.S. against two domestic brands.

After the 2010 results were in, Cookand editors admitted their surprise at the outcome. “Beyond our expectations, U.S. pork was rated highly in both the frozen and chilled categories,” wrote the editors.

The preference for home-grown product was evident in the 2010 test.

“What is interesting was the evaluation on personal liking, which was different before and after disclosing the countries of origin,” the editors wrote. “In the case of chilled pork, U.S. pork scored high before disclosing the countries of origin. However, once the countries of origin and prices were revealed, domestic branded pork also scored high. These findings show that the professionals have some degree of emotional preference for domestic brands.”

South Korea is the No. 5 market for U.S. pork exports through the first four months of 2012, accounting for 67,061 metric tons (147.8 million pounds) valued at $192.7 million. Those totals are down from 2011 as Korea rebounds from an FMD outbreak that devastated the nation’s pork industry last year. However, the March 15 implementation of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement will help U.S. exports as it brings about the eventual elimination of all tariffs on U.S. pork imports.



All Fertilizers Move Lower

Retail fertilizer prices continue to shift lower despite the fact commodity prices continue to climb, according to retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the second week of July 2012. All eight major fertilizers slipped in price compared to the second week of June.  Leading the plunge once again was urea. The nitrogen fertilizer was 8% lower compared to last month and had an average price of $680 per ton.

Also lower were the UAN solutions. UAN28 was 7% lower while UAN32 was 5% less expensive compared to the second week of June. UAN28 had an average price of $396/ton and UAN32 was at $454/ton.  UAN28 was below $400/ton for the first time in 14 weeks. The price the first week of April 2012 was $399/ton.

The remaining five fertilizers were all down just slightly. DAP had an average price of $634/ton, MAP $663/ton, potash $647/ton, 10-34-0 $695/ton and anhydrous $762/ton.

Only one of the eight major fertilizers is still showing double-digit increases in price compared to one year earlier. That fertilizer is urea. The nitrogen fertilizer is now 15% higher compared to last year.  Two fertilizers have seen just slight price increases compared to a year earlier. Potash is now 4% higher while UAN32 is set at 2% more expensive.  Four fertilizers are now slightly lower compared to July 2011. DAP is 9% less expensive, MAP is now 8% lower, UAN28 is 3% cheaper and anhydrous is 1% lower compared to last year.  The remaining fertilizer, 10-34-0, is now down double digits from a year ago. The starter fertilizer is now 14% less expensive from a year earlier.



INVESTIGATIVE REPORT LOOKS AT AMERICAN FARM BUREAU
(from The Food & Environment Reporting Network)

In the midst of the debate around the Farm Bill, a new investigative report, “Whose Side is the American Farm Bureau On?” by Pulitzer Prize-winner Ian Shearn details how the American Farm Bureau Federation leads the charge against efforts to limit industrial-scale food production as the single most powerful farm lobby in the nation, accounting for 45 percent of all agriculture-related lobbying dollars over the last decade. The story was produced in collaboration between the Food & Environment Reporting Network (FERN) and The Nation, and appears online at www.thenation.com and at www.thefern.org.

“[The Farm Bureau] opposes the labeling of genetically engineered food, animal welfare reform and environmental regulation. In Washington, its well-funded team of lobbyists and lawyers seeks to dismantle the federal Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act, opposing pesticide restrictions and increased scrutiny of greenhouse gas emissions and pollution from CAFOs,” or Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, writes Shearn. He notes that over the past decade, the nation’s 10 largest agribusiness interests gave $35 million to congressional candidates — led by the Farm Bureau, which gave $16 million.

Beyond its status as a non-profit farmers organization, the Farm Bureau is a $14 billion network of for-profit insurance companies and the third-largest insurance group in the United States which also has a financial interest in agribusiness corporations. Shearn explains how Farm Bureau insurance affiliates have bought stock in major food industry players like Cargill, ConAgra, Dow Chemical, DuPont, Tyson and Archer Daniels Midland.

In rural areas, the Farm Bureau grooms compliant political candidates, Shearn reports, mostly Republicans; it wields the power to dictate outcomes of legislative elections and appointments to powerful state agriculture committees. Then it influences which farm-related bills become law.

Shearn follows Rolf Christen, a farmer in Missouri who was once an enthusiastic member of his Farm bureau board, but ended up as the leader of local resistance to CAFOs and his local Farm Bureau. Christen and 60 of his neighbors formed the Citizens Legal Environmental Action Network, or CLEAN, in order to seek meaningful legal redress against the pollution from CAFO operations.

Shearn reports on the ongoing legal battle to hold a Missouri CAFO accountable for a litany of infractions including breaches of manure lagoons, runoff from spreading manure on the land, burst pipes that sent hog waste flowing into streams, lakes and onto neighboring properties, causing miles of polluted streams and killing fish. In 2010, a record $11 million was awarded to 15 plaintiffs.

In response to these types of lawsuits, Shearn writes that the Farm Bureau moved the battlefield to the Statehouse floor with a bill which was passed into law limiting citizens’ ability to sue large agribusinesses. In addition, Shearn details how the Farm Bureau is leading the way in a high-priced public relations campaign to paint agriculture in a more favorable light.



USDA Announces 2.0 Version of Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass

USDA today unveiled an updated version of its Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass. The KYF Compass is an interactive web-based document and map highlighting USDA support for local and regional food projects through successful producer, business and community case studies.

"Local food is a rapidly growing trend in American agriculture. It offers additional market opportunities for farmers, ranchers and food business entrepreneurs while enabling consumers to develop a deeper understanding of where their food comes from and how it is produced," said Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan. "The new stories and data in the 2.0 version of the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass offer a comprehensive look at the impact local food is having across the country."

The updated version includes new case studies and additional mapped data, including locations of farmers markets, food hubs, and meat processing facilities. The map also features enhanced search functions that allow for easier navigation.

To celebrate the release of the Compass 2.0, USDA and the White House Office of Public Engagement are co-hosting a Google+ Hangout on Tuesday, July 17, at 3 pm EDT. The event will be moderated by Deputy Secretary Merrigan and White House Director of Public Engagement Jon Carson. The Hangout will feature women leaders in local food from around the country and can be viewed on www.Whitehouse.gov/live or on the White House Google+ Page. USDA will also host a follow-up #ASKUSDA Twitter chat on local food and the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative on Thursday, July 24, at 1:30 pm.

In September 2009, USDA launched the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative to coordinate USDA resources and expertise on local and regional food systems. In February, 2012, USDA first released the KYF Compass to document the ways in which USDA has collaborated across its 17 agencies and additional offices, enhanced transparency and met congressional mandates from the 2008 Farm Bill on local and regional food. KYF is not a separate USDA program or agency. It is a management initiative to increase inter-agency coordination.

For more information, visit the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food website at www.usda.gov/knowyourfarmer.