Friday March 15 Ag News

New Analyst on RRN Daily at 8:27am

Troy Vetterkind has been our livestock guy at 8:27 each morning for many years.  We thank him for his dedicated service to providing information to our listeners here in Nebraska.  However, starting Monday, we are excited to be working with Darrell Holaday of Country Futures in Frankfort, Kansas.  He used to be the market guy at Kansas Farm Bureau and is well known in the state of Kansas and has also done some other radio, so he is well experienced relaying information via our media. Also in the office there is Jerry Stowell who is also a well known and articulate guy that can back him up when he is gone.  We will begin on Monday with Darrell and are looking forward to having a new voice on the Rural Radio Network and a new perspective on the markets.  Welcome Darrell and Jerry!



Heineman; State Agriculture Leaders Discuss National Agriculture Week in Nebraska

Gov. Dave Heineman today called attention to Nebraska’s celebration of National Ag Week March 17-23. The Governor unveiled a new agricultural magazine, announced agriculture poster contest winners and outlined community stops planned for March 19.

“Agriculture is our state’s largest industry,” said Gov. Heineman. “Our farmers and ranchers work hard to raise the food, fuel and fiber we all use in our everyday lives. For those efforts, they deserve our appreciation.”

Governor Heineman was joined by Lt. Gov. Lavon Heidemann, Nebraska Agriculture Director Greg Ibach, Nebraska Farm Bureau First Vice President Mark McHargue, and the Brian and Hilary Maricle family, farmers from Albion.

“As a fourth generation farmer in Nebraska, I understand the contribution agriculture brings to the state and the world,” said Lt. Gov. Lavon Heidemann. “Agriculture is our state’s number one industry and it is important to raise awareness by celebrating National Agriculture week.”

Ibach announced the availability of a new magazine called Nebraska Agriculture and You. The magazine, published by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA), is designed to share information about the state’s agriculture industry with general consumers. The Maricles are featured in the magazine.

“These days many folks do not have a direct tie to a farm or ranch, so their knowledge of food production is limited. In addition, today’s agriculture is also about fuel and fiber and all the agribusinesses associated with these things,” said Dir. Ibach. “The magazine is designed to help people understand a little bit about each of these, as well as give them a grasp of how critical agriculture is to the economy in Nebraska.”

The goal of NDA is to circulate the free, annually-produced magazine in settings where the general public can enjoy it, such as office lobbies of doctors, dentists, and hair salons. Nebraska FFA chapter members are helping deliver magazines to these types of locations in 20 of the largest communities.

“FFA students will be fanning out to these businesses in the next several weeks,” said Dir. Ibach “We hope businesses will support this educational effort by placing the magazines in their lobbies.”

Magazines also will be direct-mailed to select locations in Lincoln, Omaha and Grand Island and circulated through public libraries, Cooperative Extension, and chambers of commerce. Additionally, the magazine is available digitally at www.agr.ne.gov.

Additionally, Gov. Heineman announced the NDA Agriculture Poster Contest award winners. Each year elementary students have the opportunity to discuss agriculture while creating a poster to submit to NDA.

This year NDA had 2,987 entries, about double the usual amount. Winners include:

In the 1st and 2nd grade division:
1st place is: Trevor Goesch a second grader from West Boyd in Butte
2nd place is: Matt Cover a second grader from Weeping Water Public School in Weeping Water                                                 
3rd place is: Samantha Burch a second grader from Weeping Water Public School in Weeping Water
Governor’s Choice is: Noah Morlan a second grader from Weeping Water Public School in Weeping Water

In the 3rd and 4th grade division:
1st place is: Ryan Sand a fourth grader from Tri-County Public Schools in DeWitt
2nd place is: Johnny Kaczmarek a third grader from Holy Ghost Catholic in Omaha                                                                             
3rd place is: Levi Belina a third grader from Howells Community Catholic School in Howells
Governor’s Choice is: Evie Schlickbernd a fourth grader from Guardian Angels in West Point

In the 5th and 6th grade division
1st place is: Tatum Vondra a sixth grader from Milford Elementary in Milford
2nd place is: Elizabeth Calderon a fifth grader from Knickrehm Elementary in Grand Island
3rd place is: Gustavo Matias a fifth grader from Knickrehm Elementary in Grand Island
Governor’s Choice is: Sierra Kile a sixth grader from St. Cecilia in Hastings

“It’s a fun way for students to explore their knowledge of farming and ranching,” said Gov. Heineman. “They are always very creative.”

The Governor was joined by Farm Bureau’s First Vice President to announce the March 19 Ag Day community visits. This year the Governor, Ibach, State Senator Ken Schilz will join Nebraska Farm Bureau President Steve Nelson to visit Tecumseh, Papillion, and Wayne. The group will discuss issues such as livestock development, agricultural career opportunities, and agriculture’s role in the state economy during events at each stop.

"For us, farming and ranching isn’t just a job. It’s a way of life. Our belief is that there are few higher callings than helping provide the fundamental needs of food, fiber and energy for others,” said Mark McHargue. “Fortunately we live in a state with land and natural resources that gives us the ability to carry out our mission in providing those basic needs not just for Nebraskans, but for people across the country and the world.  We hope Nebraskans will join us during National Agriculture week in celebrating our state’s heritage in agriculture."



Extension Course Trains Master Equine Managers

            A course offered through Iowa State University Extension in partnership with University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension will certify participants as master equine managers.

            The course trains its students in areas including behavior, nutrition, facility requirements, health care, selection and hoof care. Through a series of online and hands-on sessions conducted by ISU Extension experts, participants will learn more about equine science, care and training.

            The online sessions, which begin March 26 and end April 30, will each feature an expert addressing one of the related topics. Each two hour session will be presented live but will also be recorded for those unable to view them live. They will delve into equine nutrient requirements, pasture management, disease and parasites and hoof anatomy and evaluation.

            The hands-on sessions, April 18 and 19 at the Animal Science Complex on UNL's East Campus for UNL participants, will cover many of the same topics in person and focus more on forage and feed. Sessions will offer information on forage selection, hoof care, special handling procedures and vaccinations.

            Those who complete the six online sessions, two-day hands-on workshop and Equine Quality-Care Assurance survey will receive a permanent Master Equine Manager name badge and gain the knowledge necessary to conduct clinics and workshops as well as assist with horse events, shows, trail rides or judging and participate in public education programs.

            Registration information is available at www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/equine/register.html. The course is limited to the first 20 registered with enrollment fees paid. A fee of $325 will cover presenters, hand-outs, facilities, refreshments and access to online material.



Opening speakers offer industry insight at AMPI Annual Meeting

Dairy farmer-owners of Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) will convene for the milk marketing cooperative’s annual delegate meeting that begins Monday, March 25. The meeting’s theme “My AMPI,” underscores the advantages of being a cooperative owner.

Presentations by dairy experts and a review of the cooperative’s 2012 performance are on an agenda expected to attract some 350 people, including farmer delegates from six states, industry leaders and guests. The meeting will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel in Bloomington, Minn.

Dairy journalist Corey Geiger provides perspective on hot industry topics, such as farm finance, national trends, immigration, genomics and school milk programs, during an opening-day presentation. He is managing editor of Hoard’s Dairyman magazine.

Mike Hutjens, extension dairy specialist at the University of Illinois, will discuss the current grain and forage situation. The animal nutritionist will offer strategies to help dairy farmers improve returns in a time of tight profit margins.

During the annual business meeting on Tuesday, the cooperative’s 2012 performance and management reports will be shared. AMPI President and CEO Ed Welch and Chairman of the Board Steve Schlangen, a dairy farmer from Albany, Minn., will present the annual highlights.

The cooperative’s grassroots policy-making process culminates with delegates considering proposed resolutions. The resolutions process gives members an opportunity to determine AMPI positions on issues and policies that affect the cooperative.

AMPI is a dairy marketing cooperative owned by 2,900 dairy farmers who market 5.6 billion pounds of milk, resulting in $1.7 billion in annual sales. Members operate dairy farms located throughout the Upper Midwest states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota. The members own 11 manufacturing plants and market a full line of consumer-packaged dairy products.



World Food Prize Laureate Pinstrup-Andersen is Heuermann Lecturer April 9

            "The Global Food System and Related Policy Challenges" is the topic when World Food Prize Laureate Per Pinstrup-Andersen presents the Heuermann Lecture at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Hardin Hall auditorium, 33rd and Holdrege.

            Pinstrup-Andersen, World Food Prize Laureate in 2001, is the H.E. Babcock Professor of Food, Nutrition and Public Policy, the J. Thomas Clark Professor of Entrepreneurship and a professor of applied economics at Cornell University. He also is an adjunct professor of food economics at the University of Copenhagen.

            "The global food system and related government policies are in disarray," Pinstrup-Andersen said, and a number of factors have created a sense of uncertainty and heightened political risks among many governments.

            "These perceived political risks have pushed governments of many developing countries towards crisis management, short-term political interventions and bandage solutions," he added.

             Pinstrup-Andersen will discuss these interventions and suggest a set of policy challenges of a longer-term nature, as well as related policies to achieve sustainable food security for all.

            "I'll argue that food price volatility will continue to be with us," he said, "but that real food prices need not increase."

            The main bottlenecks in expanding food production in most low-income developing countries are found outside the farm, Pinstrup-Andersen said, adding there are specific areas on which government intervention in the food system should focus, such as improvements in rural infrastructure, domestic markets and policies, and more.

            He served 10 years as the International Food Policy Research Institute's Director General in Washington, D.C., and seven years as a department head. IFPRI is one of 15 centers supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, an alliance of 64 governments, private foundations and international and regional organizations.

            He also served seven years as an economist at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture in Colombia and six years as a distinguished professor at Wageningen University.

            Among his 400 publications that include books, refereed journal articles, papers and book chapters, are these most recent books as author or editor:  "Ethics, Hunger and Globalization;" "Agricultural Trade Liberalization and the Least Developed Countries;" "The African Food System and Its Interactions with Human Health and Nutrition;" and "Food Policy for Developing Countries:  The Role of Government in Global, National, and Local Food Systems."

            "From food price fluctuations to food riots, and from closed markets to scarcity and drought, when we talk about providing enough food for the world's population, policy is key to the goal of global food security," said Ronnie Green, University of Nebraska vice president and Harlan vice chancellor of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, home of the Heuermann Lectures.

            "We are so pleased to have World Food Prize Laureate Per Pinstrup-Andersen share his expertise and insights as our next Heuermann Lecturer."

            Heuermann Lectures are made possible by a gift from B. Keith and Norma Heuermann of Phillips.  The lectures focus on providing and sustaining enough food, natural resources and renewable energy for the world's people, and on securing the sustainability of rural communities where the vital work of producing food and renewable energy occurs.

            The lecture streams live at http://heuermannlectures.unl.edu, and is archived at that site shortly after the lecture.  Heuermann Lectures are broadcast on NET2 World at a later date.



NPPC Welcomes Japan Into TPP Talks

The National Pork Producers Council today welcomed Japan’s request to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations and urged the United States and other TPP countries to swiftly accept the Asian nation into the regional trade talks. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe today announced his country’s intention to participate in the negotiations.

The TPP is a regional trade negotiation that includes the United States, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam, which account for a combined 30 percent of global GDP. Japan already has free trade agreements with seven of the 11 TPP countries: Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

“The addition of Japan to the negotiations will exponentially increase the importance of the TPP to pork producers and to other sectors of the U.S. economy,” said NPPC President Randy Spronk, a pork producer from Edgerton, Minn. “Japan’s entry into the negotiations will spur interest in the TPP among other countries in Asia and Latin America, and it will signal to other nations that efforts to negotiate more open and transparent trading arrangements will continue, even as multilateral efforts to do so are stymied.”

Japan’s economy is second only to China’s in the region, and it is the fourth largest U.S. agricultural export market overall. U.S. food and agricultural exports to Japan in 2012 totaled $13.5 billion. Japan is the top value export market for U.S. pork accounting for almost $2 billion in 2012 sales.

“We call on the United States and the other TPP countries to quickly welcome Japan into the TPP. We look forward to working closely with the Obama administration and Congress to fashion an agreement that pork producers can strongly endorse,” Spronk said.



Allendale Projects Record 2013 U.S. Soybean Acreage

U.S. farmers will plant 96.956 million acres of corn and 78.324 million acres of soybeans in the upcoming crop year, according to projections by Allendale Inc. following its annual farmer survey.

Estimates from the McHenry, Ill., commodities brokerage firm Friday came as market participants closely watch forecasts for what farmers will sow in the face of tight supplies of U.S. corn and soybeans. The firm's soybean forecast would be a record for U.S. soy plantings. Allendale projected U.S. wheat plantings at 56.261 million acres.

The firm said the soybean-planting forecast coupled with a trend-yield estimate of 43.35 bushels per acre would put soybean production at 3.349 billion bushels for the upcoming crop year. This compares with a 3.015-billion-bushel output for the current crop year. Allendale's corn-planting forecast coupled with a yield estimate of a 156.97 bushels per acre would put corn production at a record 13.912 billion bushels for the upcoming crop year compared with a total of 10.780 billion bushels for the current crop year.

As for wheat, using Allendale's trend yield of 45.20 bushels per acre, the planting estimate implies a wheat harvest of 2.204 billion bushels compared with 2.269 billion bushels for the current crop year. The firm estimated spring-wheat plantings at 12.056 million acres compared to 12.289 million last year, and durum-wheat acreage at 2.176 million acres compared to 2.123 million in 2012.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, in its baseline projections released last month at its annual outlook forum, projected corn plantings at 96.5 million acres, soybeans plantings at 77.5 million acres and wheat plantings at 56 million acres. The agency is scheduled to release its planting-intention forecasts based on farmer surveys on March 28.

Last year, U.S. farmers sowed 97.2 million acres of corn, 77.2 million acres of soybeans and 55.7 million acres of wheat.



Renewable fuel is key to Obama's energy plan

Renewable fuels are a powerful component in President Obama’s plan for a cleaner, more secure energy future according to Novozymes, a leader in biotechnology and innovation. The President discussed his plans at the Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago, Illinois on Friday afternoon.

“America is ready for more renewable fuel. It’s being made in American cities, reinvigorating our local economies and the nation’s, too. It is being made by American workers, offering them good-paying, stable jobs in a growing industry. It’s also fighting climate change,” said Adam Monroe, President of Novozymes North America. “Investors want to keep investing but need policy certainty. If America provides that certainty – and lets policies like the Renewable Fuel Standard work – we’ll see more construction jobs, long-term careers, steel in the ground and less effects on our air and environment.”

To date, investment in domestic, clean and renewable transportation fuel production has:
-    Created 400,000 good paying jobs and careers;
-    laid the groundwork for 800,000 jobs for advanced biofuels by 2022;
-    generated $40 billion in GDP in 2012;
-    helped reduce foreign oil imports by 25 percent.

In May 2012, Novozymes inaugurated the largest enzyme plant dedicated to biofuels in the United States with the opening of its advanced manufacturing plant in Blair, Nebraska. Funded with $200 million in private investment, the plant created 100 career positions and 400 construction jobs, and specializes in enzymes for both the conventional and advanced biofuel markets.



NOPA: February Soy Crush Fell to 136.3 Million Bushels

Soybean crush fell 21.9 million bushels to 136.322 million bushels in February from a month ago.  Soyoil stockpiles declined to 2.790 billion pounds, down 33 million pounds from January, according to the National Oilseed Processors Association statistics.

The average of analysts' estimates on the January crush projected the crush with a month-on-month decline to 142.4 million bushels. The estimates ranged from 141 million bushels to 145 million bushels. Meanwhile, analysts expected a decrease in soyoil stocks in February to 2.809 billion pounds, from estimates that ranged from as low as 2.783 billion pounds to as high as 2.850 billion pounds.

The crush is seen as a key indicator of soybean demand.



Soy Checkoff Compiles State Environmental Regulations

A new state-by-state audit funded by the United Soybean Board (USB) aims to support poultry and livestock farmers by helping them keep track of environmental rules and regulations. The 2012 Environmental Regulatory Audit of Animal Agriculture helps poultry and livestock farmers by providing information about water-quality regulations, air-quality regulations, discharge restrictions and general permitting information plus facts about state and federal environmental assistance programs.

USB commissioned the audit to help fellow farmers involved in animal agriculture wade through what can be a complicated web of regulatory language and restrictions. Having this information will not only assist these farmers with their own operations, but could help them improve relations with their communities and neighbors.

“This report needs to be read by soybean farmers and poultry and livestock farmers,” says Laura Foell, soybean farmer and USB director from Schaller, Iowa. “It’s important for us as soybean farmers to understand what the impacts of these environmental regulations are for the U.S. poultry and livestock sectors, who are our No. 1 consumers of soy meal.”

The report covers a number of topics, including federal regulations governing concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). At the state level, it addresses water-quality regulations, air-quality requirements, discharge restrictions and general permitting information.

The report indicates that a few states have yet to adopt the 2012 federal CAFO rules. It also says that state-based water quality regulations generally mirror federal requirements, although state regulations can reflect local conditions and concerns. Plus the report contains state-based references that highlight key environmental regulations in each state and factors that could limit the development of poultry and livestock operations.

The audit features quick reference tables that summarize regulations and assistance programs at the end of each state report. Click here to download the entire report and view state-specific information... http://www.unitedsoybean.org/category/topics/animal-ag/. 

Supporting U.S. poultry and livestock farmers remains a top priority for the soy checkoff. U.S. poultry and livestock represent the No. 1 customer for U.S. soybean farmers, consuming nearly all the soybean meal used domestically.

“Regulations for poultry and livestock farmers are changing, and this audit helps us to see that,” adds Foell.



One Year Later, U.S.-Korea Trade Agreement Supports Growth in U.S. Manufacturing, Farm, Services Exports

Today, Acting United States Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis marked the first anniversary of the entry into force of the U.S.-Korea trade agreement, and noted the significant benefits already accruing to businesses and workers in both countries.    Notable U.S. export increases occurred in the transportation sector, which experienced a 24 percent increase to $5.0 billion; sales of “Detroit 3” cars in Korea increased 18 percent, and overall U.S. passenger vehicle exports to Korea increased 48 percent.  Chemical exports, exports of private services – such as legal services, and travel services, and royalties and licensing fees – and exports of a large number of American agricultural products including fruits, nuts, juices, and wine, have seen significant increases as well.  All of which helps to bring home the agreement’s promise to boost exports that support American jobs.

“One year in, I am pleased to see that the U.S.-Korea trade agreement is already producing promising results for U.S. businesses and workers in America’s factories, farms, and firms,” Ambassador Marantis said.  “As both of our economies improve, we look forward to seeing America’s growing exports to Korea support even more jobs here at home.  USTR will continue to work with our Korean partners to ensure that our companies and citizens in both countries can take advantage of this agreement’s significant opportunities.”

Exports of U.S. manufactured goods to Korea increased by 1.3 percent in 2012; total U.S. exports to Korea increased by 2.5 percent when exports of American corn and mineral fuel, primarily coal are disregarded (both of these products experienced a global export downturn due to external global factors like drought and changes in relative energy prices).

The United States and the Republic of Korea signed the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement on June 30, 2007. On December 3, 2010, the United States and Korea agreed on new commitments, reflected in letters signed on February 10, 2011 that allowed the U.S.-Korea trade agreement to move forward as they provided new market access and leveled the playing field for U.S. auto manufacturers and workers.  Congress approved the U.S.-Korea pact on October 12, 2011, and Korea’s National Assembly approved it on November 22, 2011. The agreement entered into force on March 15, 2012, and as of today, almost 80 percent of U.S. consumer and industrial exports to Korea, and over two-thirds of America’s agricultural exports, are already duty free.  By January 1, 2016, Korean tariffs on more than 95 percent of exports of U.S. industrial and consumer goods to Korea will have been eliminated.



Johnson, Crapo Reintroduce Bill to Address Shortfall of Veterinarians

U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) and U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) continued their efforts to end the shortfall of veterinarians in rural areas by reintroducing the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act. This bipartisan bill would help meet the growing demand for veterinarians nationwide by eliminating taxes on programs that encourage veterinarians to practice in underserved areas.

This legislation would provide a federal income tax exemption for payments received under the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) and similar state programs that encourage veterinarians to practice in smaller and rural communities. The VMLRP law makes the federal government responsible for paying taxes on the income to the veterinarian. Rather than awarding full funding for this program each year, the VMLRP must immediately give back 39 percent of the money it receives to the U.S. Treasury as a federal tax. The Johnson-Crapo bill simply removes this tax burden so that more veterinarians can be selected and help rural America. This bill would make VMLRP money tax exempt and allow the program to increase the number of veterinarians selected by one third.

"The shortage of veterinarians in our rural communities has a huge impact on our farmers and ranchers whose livelihoods depend on access to animal care. The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program is a critical tool to expanding access to veterinary care. Our legislation has the potential to increase the number of veterinarians placed in underserved and shortage areas by more than 30%," said Johnson.

"The shortage of veterinarians in the U.S. is acute," Crapo said, "Veterinarian shortages raise health and safety issues. This legislation will help alleviate the shortage of veterinarians and maximize the program through addressing the tax treatment of program assistance."

Congress has taken similar action in the past. In 2004, Congress passed the "American Jobs Creation Act of 2004," which exempted award payments under the National Health Service Corps from federal taxes. The NHSC is a similar federal loan repayment program with the intention of increasing medical care in underserved areas.

Support for the Johnson-Crapo bill includes the following bi-partisan group of Senators: Bennet (D-CO), Cochran (R-MS), Collins (R-ME), Gillibrand (D-NY), Hirono (D-HI), Isakson (R-GA), Klobuchar (D-MN), Landrieu (D-LA), Merkley (D-OR), Moran (R-KS), Risch (R-ID), Roberts (R-KS), Stabenow (D-MI), and Tester (D-MT).

This bill also has the support of more than 140 animal, agricultural and veterinary medicine organizations nationwide, including the American Veterinary Medical Association, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, National Farmers Union and the American Farm Bureau Federation.



Rep. Slaughter Makes Another Attempt to Restrict Antibiotic Use

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter has introduced new legislation designed to stop the overuse of antibiotics on the farm--a practice she says is accelerating the growth of antibiotic-resistance disease. The Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act is being introduced just two weeks after Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the US Centers for Disease Control, warned that "our strongest antibiotics don't work and patients are left with potentially untreatable infections."

"Since 1977, when the FDA acknowledged the threat of antibiotic-resistant disease and called for a reduction in the use of antibiotics in animals, we have been waiting for meaningful action to protect public health," said Congresswoman Slaughter. "Instead, we've gotten delays and half measures, and as a result, even common illnesses like strep throat could soon prove fatal. I've introduced this legislation because Congress must act immediately to protect the public health."

Currently, about 80 percent of all antibiotics sold in the United States are sold for agricultural use. Supporters of the measure say these antibiotics are often distributed at sub-therapeutic levels to healthy animals as a way to compensate for crowded and unsanitary living conditions or to promote growth.

Slaughter has introduced PAMTA four times since 2007.



Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan Departs from USDA

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan today made the following statement on her departure from the USDA:

"Today I am announcing that I will be leaving USDA. I am grateful to President Obama for the opportunity to serve as Deputy Secretary and be part of his leadership team. I also want to thank the US Senate for its unanimous confirmation and the many members of Congress, particularly Chairman Leahy, with whom I have worked closely to ensure support for USDA programs.

It has been an ambitious first term. From implementing the 2008 farm bill, improving school meals, expanding opportunities for American farmers, spending countless hours in the White House situation room, to shepherding USDA budgets through challenging times, it has been an honor to play a small part in history.

I hope that during my tenure, I was able to help open USDA's doors a little wider, inviting new and discouraged constituencies to participate in USDA programs.

With Secretary Vilsack at the helm, aided by very talented and dedicated USDA employees, I am able to leave fully confident that, USDA will thrive and continue to improve its service to the American people."



Ukraine March 1 Grain Stocks Down 37% On Year On Poor Harvest

Poor harvest in Ukraine this year, due to drought, has resulted in a drop in the country's grain stocks.  March 1 stocks totaled 13.2 million metric tons, 37% less than the amount recorded on March 1 2012, the state statistics service reported Friday.  Wheat stocks on the date totaled 4.2 million tons, barley stocks 1.3 million tons, corn stocks 6.6 million tons, rye stocks 300,000 tons.

Farmers held on the date 6.3 million tons of grain, 36% less than a year ago, including 1.7 million tons of wheat, 2.9 million tons of corn, 1 million tons of barley and 100,000 tons of rye.  The rest of the grain was held by grain storage and processing enterprises.

The agriculture ministry has said Ukraine's 2012 grain harvest fell to 46.2 million tons from 56.7 million tons in 2011 because of drought and grain exports in the 2012-13 marketing year totaled about 23 million tons, including just over 6 million tons of wheat. In the previous marketing year Ukraine exported 21.794 million tons of grain.



State FFA leaders across U.S. to attend National Agriculture Day training in D.C.

Tuesday is National Agriculture Day and the theme for this year’s event is “Generations Nourishing Generations.”

Thirty state FFA officers – mostly college students – from throughout the country will join agricultural students from 4-H, the Agriculture Future for America and the Student National Agrimarketing association in Washington, D.C., from Sunday through Tuesday to experience leadership and advocacy training, meet congressional leaders and help raise awareness of agriculture and its impact on our nation’s society and economy among Washington policymakers.

Leadership training at the National 4-H Center in Chevy Chase, Md., will be led by experts representing the National FFA Organization, National 4-H, Agriculture Council of America, Farm Credit, John Deere, Walmart, National Association of Farm Broadcasting, American Farm Bureau Federation, Land O' Lakes, the U.S. Forest Service and more.

During their time in D.C., FFA members and agricultural students will participate in idea exchange groups, visit congressional leaders at Capitol Hill, undergo media training and take a nighttime tour of the nation's capital.

“National Agriculture Day is a great opportunity for agriculturalists to share their knowledge, dedication and commitment to the future’s safe, affordable and abundant food supply,” said Kent Schescke, director of government and nonprofit relations at the National FFA Organization. “It also creates an opportunity for our state FFA officers to meet with their government representatives and discuss the current and future state of agriculture in their communities.”

Monday, a panel discussion titled “Farm to Folk Politics” at the Hart Senate Office Building will be moderated by Sara Wyant of Agri-Pulse and feature J.B. Penn, chief economist at John Deere; Dr. Keith Collins, former chief economist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture; and B. Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the Research and Information Services division of the National Restaurant Association. The discussion will look at the year ahead for food and agriculture.

Tuesday, FFA members will start their day meeting with their respective congressional representatives at the U.S. Capitol. They will then attend a luncheon emceed by famed agricultural broadcaster Orion Samuelson during which Outstanding Young Farmer honorees will be recognized. In the evening, a “Celebration of Agriculture” dinner hosted by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Miss America 2011 Teresa Scanlan will be held at the U.S. Department of Agriculture during which winners of the National Agriculture Day essay, video essay and poster contests will be announced.

The National FFA Organization, 4-H and Agriculture Future for America coordinate with the Agricultural Council of America to stage National Agriculture Day each year. The event began in 1973. For more about National Agriculture Day, visit www.AgDay.org.