Friday December 14 Ag News

EPA Retains Dust Standard

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that it would retain the coarse particulate matter (PM) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS), eliciting a positive response from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) on behalf of cattle producers across the country.

“NCBA is pleased that EPA has decided to retain the current coarse PM standard and did not make a bad situation worse,” said NCBA Deputy Environmental Counsel Ashley McDonald. “Unfortunately, cattle producers did not get the permanent certainty they were seeking in the form of legislation and will again face a review of this standard within five years. But for today, NCBA is relieved that EPA listened to rural America and realized that further tightening the dust standard would have disastrous effects on America’s agricultural economy.”

The PM standard, commonly known as the dust standard, remains one of the most important environmental issues facing cattle producers. Under the Clean Air Act (CAA), EPA is required to review the dust standard every five years to evaluate its protection of public health. Despite the lack of any scientific evidence finding any harm to human health from rural dust at ambient levels, agricultural operations in arid parts of the country have a difficult time attaining compliance with the dust standard at its current level, and must implement costly practices in order to mitigate dust.

Under the current review of the dust standard, EPA proposed in June of this year to retain the coarse PM standard, and NCBA, state cattlemen’s associations and members submitted comments encouraging EPA to make that proposal final. McDonald made it clear that if the PM standard had been tightened, it would have been virtually impossible for current agricultural operations to demonstrate compliance, subjecting them to fines under the CAA of up to $37,500 per day.

“A stricter PM standard would have an impact that would cause most of cattle country, including the entire Midwest, West and Southwest, to be out of compliance or at the brink,” McDonald said. “For now, 15 mile–per-hour speed limits on dirt roads, paving dirt and gravel roads and a prohibition on harvesting or tilling during the day are not regulatory requirements in most states, but could easily become a reality if EPA continues to regulate farm dust.”

McDonald added that until legislation is passed by Congress giving cattle producers permanent relief from dust regulations, NCBA will continue to fight EPA’s dust standard.



Johanns Statement on EPA’s Farm Dust Ruling

U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) today issued the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) release of a farm dust regulation:

“Despite EPA having taken more than a year, I’m glad ag producers finally have it in writing that an absurd agency recommendation to double down on farm dust has been rejected,” Johanns said.

In 2011, an EPA report recommended regulating dust twice as stringent as current levels, but later reversed that decision. While today’s announcement is a welcome one, it does not prevent EPA from reviewing and revising dust regulations in the future. Johanns has previously introduced legislation to permanently prevent the agency from regulating farm dust, giving farmers and ranchers long-term, legal certainty.



Iowa soybean farmers reaffirm support for state nutrient reduction plan

More than 70 Iowa Soybean Association directors and delegates reaffirmed support for the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy during the organization’s annual meeting and policy conference held Dec. 12 in Ankeny.

Leaders representing soybean growers in Iowa’s nine crop districts adopted policy supporting the strategy unveiled last month by Gov. Terry Branstad. The broad based, statewide plan proposes the first-of-its kind framework for reducing nutrient loads discharged from the state’s largest wastewater treatment facilities in combination with targeted practices to reduce loads from non-point sources, including agriculture.

“ISA delegates support the draft strategy because it’s a science- and technology-based approach that recognizes the diversity of the state’s topography and complexities of individual watersheds,” says ISA President Mark Jackson. “It also seeks to replicate on a larger scale effective, voluntary practices in conjunction with research, development and demonstration of new practices. This approach is much more effective than a costly, one-size-fits-all effort to improving water quality.”

Jackson says the Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship and Department of Natural Resources worked with Iowa State University for more than two years to develop the strategy. It embraces systems developed by the ISA’s Environmental Programs and Services that have been implemented with measurable success in targeted watersheds. The strategy is currently open for public comment through Jan. 4, 2013. Farmers are encouraged to provide their input at www.nutrientstrategy.iastate.edu.

In other action, ISA delegates:
·         Urged the Obama Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture to conduct a review of all policies regarding cover crops and remove all unnecessary regulations and extra administrative hurdles that discourage their use. “Cover crops are a sound agronomic practice and they’re receiving considerable attention,” says Jackson. “Farmers should have the opportunity to use cover crops without the threat of undue regulation. “
·         Opposed any state or federal initiative to mandate labels on food containing genetically modified ingredients and efforts to shift property taxes to crop land in order to provide relief to owners of non-crop land; and
·         Support allowing out-of-state landowners to purchase doe and buck deer tags in the interest of lowering Iowa’s deer population and reducing crop loss.

The ISA Policy Conference was sponsored by AGP. To learn more about ISA, visit its website at www.iasoybeans.com.




Harkin Signs Letter to Fight for Farm Bill Passage

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) Thursday signed on to a letter sponsored by Senators Max Baucus (D-MT) and John Hoeven (R-ND) to build a bipartisan coalition of 33 Senators united around passing the farm bill by year's end. In a letter to leadership, the Senators call for any end of year package Congress considers to include the full, five year farm bill passed by the Senate in June.

"Enacting a new farm bill is a critically important responsibility of this Congress, and since the full House has not acted we need to press ahead with the strong bipartisan legislation that we adopted in the Senate last summer," Harkin said. "The farm bill encompasses a wide range of critical food, agriculture, conservation, rural development, and energy initiatives important to families, farms, and businesses in Iowa and the entire nation."

"American farmers and ranchers put affordable food on our tables, bring in dollars from around the globe with their world-class products, and continue in our strong agricultural tradition," wrote the lawmakers. "These are some of the hardest workers in the United States, and it is our turn to show them Washington is fighting for rural America."

The Senate passed a bipartisan farm bill in June by a margin of 64 to 35. It cuts spending by $23 billion and is expected to support 16 million jobs nationwide through programs that support farmers and ranchers, boost trade, and invest in research.

The following Senators joined Harkin, Baucus, and Hoeven's letter: Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Pat Leahy(D-Vt.), Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), John Kerry (D-Mass), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), Herb Kohl (D.-WI) , Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Ben Nelson (D-Fla), John Thune (R-SD), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Sherrod Brown (D-Oh.), Robert Casey Jr. (D-Penn), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Mark Udall (D-Col.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Michael Bennet (D-Col.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Christopher Coons (D-Del.), Dan Coats (R-Ind.), and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.).



Iowa Beef Checkoff Revenue Down

Two Iowa cattle producers were elected to serve on the executive committee of the Iowa Beef Industry Council (IBIC) at the annual meeting held at the Prairie Meadows Events Center in Altoona.

Roger Brummett, cow-calf producer from Bedford and current IBIC secretary, was re-elected to a second three-year term. Steve Rehder, cattle feeder from Hawarden, was elected to his first 3-year term. Appreciation was given to retiring directors Tom Hotz, Lone Tree, who has served since 1994, and Nancy Couser, Nevada, serving in 2012.

Attendees at the annual meeting learned that 2012 beef checkoff revenue in Iowa was down 5.1% due to declining cattle numbers and the drought. Daryl Strohbehn, treasurer, Boone, presented the 2012 audit and said, "Our board made some difficult decisions to cut some of our checkoff programs because the revenue will not be coming in for the next several years. The drought has impacted cattle numbers across the U.S. There will be several years of declining funds until we can rebuild the herd."

Elaine Utesch, Correctionville, IBIC chair said, "My chairman's report was full of great programs in promotion, research, nutrition, quality assurance, and many others. These activities help build demand for the beef that we raise. Not only is revenue down in Iowa, but we have fewer funds nationally to invest in these programs."

Other members serving on the IBIC Executive Committee are Bill Northey, Iowa secretary of agriculture; Wendy Wintersteen, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University; and Joe Wright, Knoxville Regional Livestock Market, representing the Iowa Livestock Market Association.

The Iowa Beef Industry Council administers the Iowa portion of the national beef checkoff. The 2012-2013 Iowa budget will invest about $1.6 million in state and national beef promotion, research, consumer information, and industry information programs. In addition, Iowa forwards approximately $1.6 million to the National Cattlemen's Beef Board for national beef promotion programs to market beef domestically and internationally.



NOPA Nov Soybean Crush 157.308

The National Oilseed Processors Association says soybean crush in the month of November was 157.308 million bushels for November, up 3.772 million bushels from the previous month.

                                Nov 12          Oct 12
Soybeans crushed    157,308         153,536
Soymeal produced   3,746,715      3,628,909
Soymeal yield            47.64            47.27
Soymeal exports      1,039,965      819,786
Soyoil produced       1,830,510     1,805,675
Soyoil yield                11.64           11.76
Soyoil stocks           2,384,756      2,187,678

Iowa
Crush                       34,775          33,175
Oil Stocks                756,886        731,984

Soybeans in thousand bushels, soymeal in short tons, soyoil in thousand pounds, yield in pounds per bushel. 



Corps to Begin Rock Removal, but Increased Water Releases Unlikely

This week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that two contractors have been selected to remove rock pinnacles on a portion of the Mississippi River and could potentially begin work next week. A pre-construction meeting with both contractors has been scheduled for Dec. 14.

In a response letter to members of the Senate, the Corps indicated that it would not release additional waters from the Missouri River, which had been requested to help ensure that commercial navigation on the Mississippi River is not disrupted or stopped completely. The Corps cited concerns that releasing waters would deplete storage reservoirs on the Missouri River that are already low from the drought this year. The Corps also pointed to adverse impacts that would result if the storage reservoirs were further reduced, including reduced drinking water availability for tribes, higher irrigation costs for farmers, and impacts to wildlife. The Corps also said releasing the waters would not be enough to solve the low water problem and continue navigation on the Mississippi.

The American Soybean Association and industry partners will continue working and communicating with the Corps and Congress to ensure that all appropriate actions are undertaken in an expedited manner to mitigate the impacts of low water levels on the Mississippi River.



FDA Guidance: Farms Don't Need to Register Under Food Safety Law
(from NAWG newsletter)
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reiterated this week that farms do not have to register with the agency under a 2011 food safety law.

The clarification was included in updated guidance and question-and-answer documents about registration requirements for smaller food facilities. FDA said the documents are intended to provide easier-to-read information for entities that might need to comply, or that might not know if they need to comply, with changes made to food safety law under the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011.

The 2011 food safety law amended a 2002 bioterrorism law, which requires food facilities to register with the FDA. The 2011 law added inspection requirements on qualifying facilities and gave the FDA more authority to stop food production it believes could be harmful to the public.

In the guidance issued this week, FDA clarified that food industry sectors affected by the registration requirements include domestic or foreign manufacturers, processors or packers of foods or storage operations.

Facilities excluded from the registration requirements include farms, restaurants and retail food establishments. These entities either face regulation under other laws or, like wheat farms, produce a product that is not ready to eat until it has been processed.

While not new information, this clarification is important for farmers, some of whom may be contacted by private companies seeking to sell unneeded registration services.

Agriculture-related business operators who are not sure of their status under the food safety law can read more about the compliance requirements online at
http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/FoodDefenseandEmergencyResponse/ucm331959.htm?source=govdelivery.



USGC Responds to DDGS Issue in Vietnam

U.S. Grains Council responded quickly when notified of a trade-disrupting issue in Vietnam in September, working with the U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to help improve the situation.

Through a request for assistance from an importer, the Council learned the Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture's Plant Production Department (PPD) at the Port of Hai Phong had found some insects in a container shipment of U.S. distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS). The insects, the larger cabinet beetle (Trogoderma Inclusum LeConte), are common in the United States but are on the quarantine list in Vietnam.

Since they were on the quarantine list, PPD required fumigation or re-export of that shipment and fumigation of future shipments. "It became a trade-restricting issue," said Adel Yusupov, the Council's director for Southeast Asia. "As soon as we heard about the issue, we traveled to Vietnam, met with FAS and APHIS officials and then with PPD."

He and others also went to the port to examine shipping containers alongside PPD staff and helped coordinate information back to U.S. DDGS exporters. Officials from PPD also came to Export Exchange 2012 to get a first-hand look at the U.S. DDGS supply chain before traveling to Washington where the Council helped arrange meetings with APHIS, the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) and other U.S. officials.

Nguyen Quang Hieu, who is with PPD, was one member of the delegation who came to Export Exchange. He said the goal was to find ways to cooperate and improve the situation because DDGS is an important feed ingredient in the country. "We import a large amount of grain products from the U.S.," he said. "Solving this would be very beneficial for the U.S. and very beneficial for our industry."

The response by APHIS and FAS was critical to moving forward, Yusupov said. As a result of their and the Council's efforts, PPD approved the use of phosphine as a fumigant instead of other fumigants that are not generally used in the United States. "Our ultimate goal is to see U.S. DDGS removed from the quarantine product list," Yusupov said.

It is important for the Council to be able to respond to situations like this, he said. "We have to be there, to have boots on the ground and support U.S. exporters."



ASA-IM Sees Success in Promoting Soy-based Aqua Feed in China

American Soybean Association International Marketing (ASA-IM) China recently conducted a series of feeding demonstrations on grass carp density for the first time in Shanxi province. Three density trials with soy-based feed were conducted at the Yongji Municipal Fish Stock Farm to evaluate fish growth performance and feed conversion ratio.

The grass carp feed contained 53.1 percent soy products, including 46.5 percent soybean meal, 6 percent soy hulls and 0.6 percent soy oil. The demonstration yielded fish growth and production performance – the grass carp grew from 75 grams to 1,000 grams in 190 days.

Over the last three years, fish farmers in the region had limited knowledge of extruded soy-based feed, which prompted ASA-IM China to conduct several technical seminars to promote pond aquaculture technology with soy-based extruded feed. During production season, many farmers visited the demonstration ponds to observe growth performance. Yuncheng Municipal Fisheries Extension Center concluded that the total consumption of extruded soy-based feed went from zero to more than 700 metric tons in 2012, which increases opportunities for U.S. soy-based fish feeds in the region.

ASA-IM Korea Promotes Soy Aqua Feed, Plans 2013 Workshops
Korean flounder growers who participated in past ASA-IM workshops recently met with aquaculture utilization contractor In Soo Shin to discuss upcoming events. Feedback from the meeting helped ASA-IM Korea staff develop activities for 2013. Responses confirmed that 50 percent of participants are still unaware of the benefits of soybean meal and soy protein concentrate in aqua feed.

Future marketing activities will target uninformed flounder growers who applied to join a new Korean government program that expands the use of soybean meal-based extruded pellet feed. Reduction of feeding costs, sustainable supply and quality consistency will be covered to highlight the benefits of soy-based extruded pellet feed compared to fish meal-based extruded pellet feed.

ASA-IM Conducts Aqua Feeding Demonstrations in Peru
ASA-IM staff recently conducted one-on-one meetings with trout farmers participating in feeding demonstrations at Lake Titicaca in Peru. Contractor Jairo Amezquita led the meetings at Darwin Gomez’s Biomarina Farm and Pablo Huaman’s farm and used feeds produced by Naltech and meal developed by Schillinger Genetics. Demonstrations evaluated high protein soybean meal compared to traditional soybean meal and soy protein concentrate in aquatic feeds.

The feeding demonstrations produce 15,000 metric tons of fish per year with a majority of the market share in Bolivia for finished products. Today trout is selling between $3.40 and $3.60 U.S. dollars per kilogram. Peruvian trout producers’ return on investment ranges from 50-70 percent each year.
   
ASA-IM Southeast Asia Pursues Aquaculture Opportunities in Myanmar
Recent elections and shifts in former military leadership opened up new opportunities for U.S. soy exports in Myanmar due to the country’s aquaculture industry. A year ago, the Southeast Asia (SEA) Region introduced the SEA Aquaculture program in Myanmar, and with the help of local coordinator May Myat Noe Lwin, the program has made significant links to the country’s aquaculture industry.

This program’s success led to several more visits to Myanmar to discuss ASA-IM production models and the value of U.S. soy. Myanmar aquaculture stakeholders also traveled to Thailand to inspect marine fish hatcheries and Singapore to link U.S. soy exports with potential buyers in Myanmar. Within the next few years, ASA-IM projects that Myanmar will import 7,000 metric tons (approximately 257,000 bushels) of U.S. soy.



Learn What’s Next from the People Making it Happen at Commodity Classic
Countdown to Classic – 76 Days

Energizing educational sessions led by experts in advocacy, precision ag, risk management and other hot agriculture topics at the 18th Annual Commodity Classic in Kissimmee, Fla., will give farmers game-changing information that will make them more efficient in 2013.

“If you want to learn more about something in production agriculture you’ve only heard about, Commodity Classic is the place to come,” said Mark Schwiebert, Commodity Classic Co-Chairman. “Whether you’ve been coming for years or this is your first time, you’ll learn something new that can benefit your operation.”

Commodity Classic offers a farmer-focused trade show, inside information from people on the leading edge of innovation, candid policy briefings, and the opportunity to meet with like-minded farmers from across the nation.  “The Sky’s the Limit” when the world’s top farmers and the world’s top agribusinesses get together in one place, which is what will happen Feb. 28 through March 2, in Kissimmee.

Commodity Classic is the nation’s largest farmer-led, farmer-focused convention and trade show, presented annually by the National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, National Association of Wheat Growers and National Sorghum Producers. The event offers a wide range of learning and networking opportunities for growers in the areas of production, policy, marketing, management and stewardship—as well as showcasing the latest in equipment, technology and innovation. For more information, visit www.CommodityClassic.com.