Friday February 13 Ag News

SHOULD YOU PLANT ROUNDUP READY ALFALFA?
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage Specialist

               Are you considering planting new fields to alfalfa this spring?  Maybe you are thinking of using Roundup Ready varieties.  Are they right for your operation?  In a moment I’ll discuss some factors to consider.

               It will be easy to control most weeds in alfalfa that is tolerant to Roundup herbicide.  But just because it’s easy shouldn’t be your reason to buy these varieties.  You may not need this trait.

               For example, I encourage many of you cow-calf producers to plant grass-alfalfa mixtures in your hay fields.  Since Roundup will kill the grass, conventional varieties are more appropriate in these situations.  We must also realize that controlling weeds in alfalfa does not always increase hay tonnage.  After all, weeds can boost yield, and sometimes weeds also can be acceptable feed.  So spending time and money to kill weeds in alfalfa isn’t always worthwhile.

               Another example is planting oats with the alfalfa and later harvesting the oats for either hay or as grain and straw.  Roundup can’t be used in this situation until after the oats has been harvested.  If a good stand of alfalfa is present after oats has been harvested, further weed control with Roundup or any other herbicide may not be needed.

               Not everyone has problems with weeds in alfalfa.  This often is true if alfalfa fields usually are rotated to a different crop after three or four years of production.  If a good stand can be established using other weed control options, weeds often don’t become a big problem in alfalfa until stands get older and start to thin out.

               Don’t forget – it will cost you two dollars and fifty cents more per pound of seed to get this new trait.  So make sure easier weed control is really worthwhile to you before you make this investment.



Hromas receives CFRA Pioneer Award

The Center for Rural Affairs recently presented their 2014 Bob Steffen Pioneer Award to Dan Hromas of York, Nebraska. He was honored for his integrity, leadership and extraordinary efforts in sustainable agriculture at a special awards banquet on February 5, at the Metro Community College's Institute for Culinary Arts in Omaha, NE. This honor is bestowed by the Center’s Farm and Community Program each year to a person or persons who make an extraordinary contribution to the work of the program and provide a model for innovation, stewardship or community development.

"I have received help from lots of people as I created this business,” said Dan Hromas. “I have tried to help others get started, too.”

While accepting his award, Hromas credited several organizations with assisting him getting started in the egg business including the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society, the Farmer Veteran Coalition and Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation, who he was connected to through the Center for Rural Affairs. Always humble, Dan addressed military veterans in the crowd, thanking them for their service and providing encouragement.

“Dan is a veteran who is an example of service to his community of veterans and neighbors,” said Wyatt Fraas with the Center for Rural Affairs who presented the award to Hromas.

According to Fraas, when Hromas returned from duty, after 20 years of service in the military, he decided he wanted to farm and work for himself. But he couldn’t afford land or cows, so he started with chickens. He now owns Prairie Pride Poultry, a free-range flock of about 300 on 3 acres of land in York, NE. He sells his eggs to restaurants, grocery stores, and direct to customers in southeast Nebraska. He’s used creative marketing techniques like free community omelet gatherings so folks could taste his eggs.

“Dan has been directed by his belief in sustainable agriculture, animal husbandry, and sense of community,” said Fraas. “When beginning his operation, he chose to buy everything (from the wood for his chicken houses, to the eggs that he hatched) locally. He believes that there should be equal access to real, fresh and healthy foods for all, and makes this evident by his connections through affordable and local retail markets, farmers’ markets, schools and other institutions.”

Fraas continued, "Dan is an extraordinary example of being motivated to do the legwork of getting started. He took the advice of others to locate financing, land, advertising materials, and new markets. In addition, he is passionate about sharing his experience to help other veterans get into farming. He has been a repeated spokesperson for the Center for Rural Affairs when he advises other new farmers on where to find the resources he used to start his operation.”

This year Hromas applied for a USDA Value Added Producer Grant and received funding to improve his capacity to sell his eggs at several farmers markets. Dan’s award was one of 247 farm businesses selected nationwide in 2014. 

The Bob Steffen Pioneer Award is given out each year to someone who has made an extraordinary contribution to the work of the Farm & Community Program in the area of innovation, stewardship or community development. Bob Steffen was a pioneer in sustainable agriculture, organic farming and biodynamics. He helped found the Nebraska Sustainable Ag Society and was a founding member of the Center for Rural Affairs Board of Directors.  He made a mark in Nebraska and beyond.



Issues at West Coast Ports Persist
(from ASA)

Since July 2014 the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the Int’l Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) have operated without a contract, while trying to negotiate a new agreement, causing systematic labor slowdowns that have escalated to the point of shipment delays and a large backlog at west coast ports. This not only increases costs to exporters, but risks permanently damaging customer relations.

Last week, the PMA held a press conference and announced a “last, best offer” and the ILWU issued a response.  A federal mediator joined the talks in January, and while negotiations have not ceased, comments and actions from both sides has increased concern that a strike or lockout is possible.  A labor dispute in 2002 resulted in West Coast ports shutting down for more than 10 days before President George W. Bush invoked the Taft-Hartley Act and the ports were reopened while mediators negotiated a deal.

A shutdown of the west coast ports would have a tremendous impact on the U.S. economy. The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach together handle approximately 40 percent of the country’s containerized imports. A report commissioned by the National Association of Manufacturers and the National Retail Federation estimates the cost of a West Coast shutdown at nearly $2 billion a day.

On Tuesday, Feb. 10, the Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security held a hearing titled “Keeping Goods Moving”.  Chairwoman Deb Fischer (R-NE) discussed the impact of the ongoing labor negotiations in her opening statement noting that “Members of Congress and the administration must pay close attention to these ongoing negotiations and the economic impact of service disruptions at our ports. This is particularly important as we face the potential for ports on both coasts to be negotiating simultaneously in 2018, which is when the current East Coast labor contract expires”.

The witnesses at the hearing included Cargill, BNSF, Moffat and Nichol and the Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors.  The Republican Senators in attendance (Fischer, Daines (R-MT), Thune (R-SD), Blunt (R-MO)) all mentioned the impact of the negotiations on constituents, and the need for resolution.  They also focused questions on the impact and how long it will take for the system to correct itself.

The issue was also the subject of an exchange at a White House Press Briefing with White House Deputy Press Secretary Eric Shultz. Shultz was asked whether the White House would be willing to employ Taft-Hartley to force negotiations forward and for the workers to go back to work. Shultz responded that officials at the White House and across the relative agencies are closely monitoring the situation and their belief is that both sides should be resolving this at the negotiating table.



Iowa soybean farmers commended for environmental stewardship

Iowa soybean farmers were recognized by members of the Iowa House Agriculture Committee and the Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committee for investing in water quality monitoring and increasing the adoption of conservation practices on farms.

Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) CEO Kirk Leeds and Environmental Programs and Services Director Roger Wolf discussed the association’s stewardship of soybean checkoff resources and expertise on environmental performance in appearance before both committees Feb. 10 in Des Moines.

“The Iowa Soybean Association should be commended for its work on these important issues,” said Rep. Dave Deyoe (R-Nevada). “ISA deserves a lot of credit for leading on water quality and being proactive on identifying practices that can be used by farmers.”

Wolf said farmers have made tremendous progress on water quality issues both in Iowa and nationwide since the introduction of the Clean Water Act. But more work needs to be done.

“Yes, we still need to improve, but I look at the glass as being half full” he said. “All eyes are on Iowa and we need to make the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy successful.”

ISA is implementing innovative ways to accelerate the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy and encourage greater participation to propel water quality improvement.

Currently, cost share funds are available for producers who want to implement practices. However, these funds are usually committed within a few days.

Wolf presented a summary from an ISA tax credit study conducted last year. The study highlighted tax credit programs in Virginia and Pennsylvania which offer tax breaks to producers who implement specific conservation practices. Some Iowa lawmakers have advocated for similar programs that would advance the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy.      

“I think it’s a testament to agriculture that we support working on these issues,” Wolf said. “We want to continue making an effort to improve water quality.”

ISA has committed to helping producers improve natural resource management practices and environmental quality with a particular focus on water quality. The first step is through water monitoring, which helps determine water condition and where to target practices for the greatest improvement.

Through partnerships with Agriculture’s Clean Water Alliance (ACWA), ISA has collected nearly 10,000 water samples in the Boone, Raccoon and Des Moines Rivers. Acting on this knowledge, ISA and ACWA have installed denitrification bioreactors and various conservation practices to reduce nutrient loss. Additionally, ISA is a key partner with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and actively involved in five Water Quality Initiative (WQI) demonstration projects.

These activities are having a positive impact and will encourage additional work, Deyoe said.

“The fact that ISA has research and water quality data going back over a period of years is very helpful in reviewing policy and balancing competing claims regarding that policy,” he said. “I encourage the association to continue its work and to expand the use of conservation practices in more places across the state.”

Leeds said ISA’s leadership has a profound impact on farmers, Iowa and the world. The association will continue to champion issues important to soybean farmers to enhance their competitiveness in an ever-changing global marketplace.

“We recognize the importance of agriculture’s freedom to operate and the role of effective communications,” Leeds said. “We must continue to do the best job we can to connect those in our cities and towns with farmers, agriculture’s value to Iowa and what farmers are doing to be efficient producers and effective stewards of the land and water.” 



ASA Echoes House Ag Committee Call to Protect Farm Bill from Budget Cuts

Following a letter today from the House Agriculture Committee to House Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price (R-Ga.) urging that the budget panel take into account the sizable savings previously contributed by the farm bill when weighing future cuts under a potential budget reconciliation measure, American Soybean Association (ASA) President Wade Cowan expressed ASA’s full support for the agriculture committee’s request.

“Soybean farmers worked very hard to pass what we believe to be a fair and well-balanced farm bill that addresses our need for certainty, while still allowing the market to drive soybean production, as it should. In helping to craft the bill, ASA supported measures that shore up the farm and food safety net while contributing to more than $16 billion in spending reductions. What resulted from that work is a nutrition, conservation and risk management bill that represents just 2 percent of federal spending. Digging deeper, the combined cost of crop insurance and commodity programs in the farm bill are less than one third of one percent of the federal budget.

“We echo the call from Chairman Conaway, Ranking Member Peterson and all the members of the Agriculture Committee to protect the vital farm bill framework, including crop insurance and risk management, especially in a time of volatile and uncertain markets. Further, we encourage the protection of the bill’s conservation and trade programs that help our farmers achieve their goals of cleaner soils, water and air, and healthy foreign markets.

“In short, now is hardly the time to trim pieces off the farm safety net or from the programs that help us address our trade and conservation goals. We hope that Chairman Price will note the importance of these programs as he looks to address our nation’s fiscal responsibilities.”



Canadian Gov't Confirms BSE in Alberta

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a beef cow from Alberta. No part of the animal's carcass entered the human food or animal feed systems.

The Government of Canada is committed to protecting human and animal health and takes the management of BSE very seriously. Immediately upon confirmation of this case, the CFIA launched an investigation and is working closely with provincial and industry partners.

BSE is a progressive, fatal neurological disease in cattle. Canada's last confirmed BSE case was reported in 2011. This latest case was detected through the national BSE surveillance program, which continues to play an important role in Canada's strategy to manage BSE.

As part of the investigation, the CFIA is seeking to confirm the age of the animal, its history and how it became infected. The investigation will focus in on the feed supplied to this animal during the first year of its life. The Agency will also trace out all animals of equivalent risk. Equivalent risk animals will be ordered destroyed and tested for BSE.

Canada remains a "controlled BSE risk" country, as recognized by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Accordingly, this case should not affect current exports of Canadian cattle or beef.

The case will be reported to the OIE, in line with Canada's international obligations and our commitment to transparency. It will be reported on the CFIA website, as part of the Agency's monthly reportable diseases update.



ASA Calls on European Union to Issue Import Approvals for 13 Biotech Traits Without Further Delay

In a letter sent today to European Health & Food Safety Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis, the American Soybean Association (ASA) and fellow farm groups urged that draft import authorizations for 13 new biotechnology products be considered without further delay by the EU’s College of Commissioners. Import authorizations for 13 new biotechnology products, including soybeans, corn, canola and cotton, are pending, some for well over a year. The ASA and the other groups noted that, while the process for approving new biotech traits had slowed in recent years, it now appears to have come to a “complete stop.”

“All of these products have received positive European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) scientific assessments and have been considered by the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health and the Appeals Committee,” wrote the groups. “Timely action by the European Commission will avoid the risk of disruption to the essential supply of feedstocks needed by the EU’s livestock, poultry and feed industries, which are more than 70 percent dependent on imported protein.” The last import authorizations for new biotech crops were issued by the European Commission in November 2013.

Noting the existing queue of 57 import files currently in the EU system, ASA and its fellow groups reminded Commissioner Andriukaitis of a commitment by EU President Jean-Claude Juncker to complete a comprehensive review of the EU’s biotech approval procedure in six months, and urged the Commission to ensure that EFSA’s scientific opinions continue to serve as the basis for EU approvals.

In the letter, the groups also pushed the Commission to respect the EU’s obligations under the WTO with regard to timelier biotech deregulation decisions, which were reaffirmed by the WTO in a 2006 dispute settlement decision that found that the EU was not complying with its international obligations to consider import authorizations on a timely basis.



ASA Urges EU to Accept U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol to Meet RED Requirements

The recent approval of U.S. soybeans certified by the U.S. Soy Sustainability Assurance Protocol (SSAP) as meeting the Dutch Feed Industry Association’s (NEVEDI) need for sustainable feedstuffs is a significant step forward, and should serve as a model for how the program could satisfy the same requirements under the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive (RED), according to the American Soybean Association (ASA). NEVEDI maintains sustainability standards for imported feedstuffs to be used for Dutch-manufactured feed for import throughout Europe. On Thursday, NEVEDI approved the SSAP as equivalent to its own sustainability requirements.

“NEVEDI’s announcement is a great sign of our progress in demonstrating the sustainability of U.S. soy to Europe,” said ASA President and Brownfield, Texas, farmer Wade Cowan. “Not only does the decision showcase our soybeans as a sustainable crop accepted by a major European importer, it serves as a model for how the SSAP can satisfy the EU’s sustainability requirements under the RED.”

Currently, the RED restricts imports of U.S. soy by imposing sustainability requirements based on land use and on environmental impact data from Brazil. ASA has long maintained that any policies governing the import of U.S. soy should be based on U.S. data.

The SSAP was developed by the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) with support from the entire soy family, including ASA, the United Soybean Board and affiliated qualified state soybean boards, the North American Export Grain Association (NAEGA) and National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA).

“The SSAP continues to prove itself an invaluable tool in further opening a foreign market that is increasingly concerned with the sustainable production and supply of soybeans for oil and meal,” added Cowan. “Our partners at USSEC have relentlessly pursued this goal, and deserve a great deal of credit for this important step forward for our industry.”



Soy Growers Welcome Bill to Lift Cuban Embargo

The American Soybean Association (ASA) welcomed legislation introduced today by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and backed by a bipartisan group of senators including Sens. Michael Enzi (R-Wyo.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) that would end the United States’ trade embargo with Cuba. ASA President and Brownfield, Texas, farmer Wade Cowan issued the following statement:

“Soybean farmers are, perhaps more than our counterparts in any other commodity, acutely aware of the benefits of growing our international trade relationships. We are the nation’s leader in agricultural trade not because of one large relationship with a major purchaser, but because of our work in emerging economies like Cuba’s, which is why we’re so excited to support—as we long have—an end to the embargo. We applaud Sen. Klobuchar and all the bill’s co-sponsors for their bold approach in introducing this bill, and we fully encourage its passage.

“The Cuban marketplace is valuable for our farmers because of its increasing demand not only for soybeans and vegetable oil, but also for the livestock and meat products that make up the consumer of our soybean meal. That said, we have been previously able to sell our products to Cuba, but only under restrictions, so likely the most significant part of the bill is that it allows U.S. farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses to have normal business and trade relationships with importers in Cuba, just like we do with almost every other nation, including normal banking, credit, and market development relationships. The bill would allow our industry to conduct market development activities in Cuba as well as make available credit guarantee programs.

“Finally, the bill would make permanent the elimination of restrictions such as the “cash in advance” interpretation, recently addressed by Executive Order, which have frustrated and bottled up trade. If passed and signed into law, the bill means that not only Cuban buyers would be afforded the same opportunities other nations, but that we as American exporters would be free to access the market like any other trading partner. This gives the legislation the real potential to help build a strong export partner only 90 miles from American soil.”



Senators Move Forward with Bill to End Cuban Embargo
National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG)
U.S. Wheat Associates (USW)

On Feb. 12, 2015, a bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced major legislation that would end the U.S. trade embargo of Cuba. The bill would end the restrictions on U.S. companies doing business in Cuba that have been in place since 1961. Senators Mike Enzi (R-WY), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) co-sponsored the bill.

NAWG and USW are pleased to see bipartisan Congressional progress being made, and look toward a speedy and permanent end to the Cuban trade embargo. NAWG and USW are members of the U.S. Agricultural Coalition for Cuba, which also endorsed the legislation.

“It is refreshing to see our nation’s lawmakers reaching across the aisle to produce real and meaningful change. Increased trade with Cuba has great potential for U.S. wheat growers,” commented NAWG president Paul Penner.

Cuba's 11 million people consume close to one million metric tons of wheat each year. It is the largest wheat market in the Caribbean, but it currently purchases almost all of that wheat from the European Union and Canada. Cuba could import at least 500,000 metric tons of wheat from the United States each year but has not purchased U.S. wheat since 2011. Under the current embargo, the United States can export agricultural products to Cuba through the use of third-party banking institutions, which makes facilitating trade burdensome and often more expensive.

“The farmer directors of NAWG and USW recently renewed a call to end the Cuban trade embargo," said USW President Alan Tracy. "We support the bipartisan effort in the Senate that moves us one step closer to seeing U.S. wheat flowing to our Cuban neighbors again.” 



NFU Praises Introduction of Freedom to Export to Cuba Act of 2015
National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson praised Senators Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., on today’s introduction of the Freedom to Export to Cuba Act of 2015, a bipartisan bill in the U.S. Senate that would modernize U.S. policy towards Cuba and boost opportunities for American family farmers, ranchers and rural communities.

“The Freedom to Export to Cuba Act of 2015 will lift the failed trade embargo and boost U.S. agricultural exports to Cuba,” said Johnson. “Breaking down trade barriers is necessary to provide U.S. family farmers with increased market access and opportunities for trade in Cuba, a market of 11 million people just 90 miles away from American shores.”

Johnson noted that the bill would also remove financial restrictions that currently create barriers to trading with Cuba, including allowing U.S. banks to extend credit to Cuban buyers.

“The financial restrictions currently in place prevent normal business relationships from developing between the U.S. and Cuba,” said Johnson. “Extending credit to Cuban buyers allows for the purchasing of American farm goods, auto parts and other products that American family farmers, ranchers and rural communities already produce and are eager to sell.”

Johnson also noted that the bill would remove restrictions on direct shipping between Cuban and American ports. “This restriction is costly and an unnecessary trade barrier,” said Johnson. “It slows down the movement of agricultural products from the U.S. to Cuba, making trade very difficult.”

“The Cuban embargo has made no sense for a long time. This bill addresses and removes the barriers and restrictions that have failed American agriculture and the Cuban people for over 50 years.”



AFBF on Passage of H.R. 636
Bob Stallman, American Farm Bureau President

“America’s farmers and ranchers need reliable tax tools to help them stay competitive in spite of changing weather and fluctuating markets. With the passage of H.R. 636, America’s Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2015, Congress is one step closer to securing Section 179 small business expensing permanently.

“Farmers and ranchers are continually upgrading and adapting to make their businesses more efficient and profitable. Thanks to the immediate expensing that Section 179 allows, farmers and ranchers can put money right back to work by purchasing new equipment and technology with cash instead of taking on unnecessary debt and expenses.

“Temporary fixes and extensions to the tax code are just not enough. Setting the maximum deduction at $500,000, rather than the current rate of $25,000, would give small businesses the certainty they need to invest in the future.”



Soy Growers Urge Congress to Restore Vital Tax Provision

The American Soybean Association was one of 34 agricultural organizations to sign a letter to leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives in support of maintaining and making permanent the Section 179 expensing at the $500,000 level. The letter calls on Congress to restore the maximum amount of expensing under Section 179 to $500,000 as it was previously set for 2014. The letter states, “We are concerned that the failure to make permanent Section 179 expensing will place additional burdens on farm and ranch families who are asset-rich and cashpoor and already face an unpredictable tax code that encourages the breakup of multigenerational farm and ranch operations.”

The House is expected to pass a bill this week making the $500,000 Section 179 expensing level permanent, rather than a temporary provision that requires annual extension. The House passed a similar bill in 2014, but the provision was ultimately only extended for 2014.  A similar outcome is more likely this year. The Senate indicated its desire to address comprehensive tax reform instead of piece-meal bills relating to tax provisions. However, the prospects for comprehensive tax reform are limited given the differences between Congress and the White House.



House Votes to Permanently Extend Favorable Tax Treatment of Farmers’ Capital Purchases

The National Milk Producers Federation thanked the House of Representatives for passing legislation today, by a vote of 272-142, to permanently extend the ability of family farmers and small businesses to write off capital purchases immediately, instead of over time. The bill now faces an uncertain future in the Senate, and a possible veto at the White House.

A permanent extension of Section 179 is one of NMPF’s legislative priorities for 2015. The tax provision is widely used by farmers to buy tractors, farm implements, and other equipment. Last December, President Obama signed legislation extending the Section 179 tax credit, along with more than 50 other expired tax provisions, but for 2014 only. That action meant farmers could benefit from the expensing allowance only on the tax forms they are filling out for 2014.

“Dairy farming requires significant investments in machinery and equipment,” said NMPF President & CEO Jim Mulhern. “By allowing producers to immediately write off these purchases, Section 179 gives producers an incentive to invest in their businesses while it reduced their record-keeping burden. This permanent extension provides much greater financial certainty in a year when dairy farmers will see much lower income levels.”

The maximum amount of annual expensing under the newly-passed House bill, H.R. 636, is $500,000, as it is for 2014. A 50 percent bonus depreciation for the purchase of new capital assets, including farm equipment, is included.

“Failure to permanently restore Section 179 will add to the financial strains on family farmers who already find it difficult to pass on their farms to the next generation,” Mulhern said.

NMPF, the voice of 32,000 dairy farmers in Washington, joined 33 other agricultural organizations in a letter sent Monday urging the House to approve H.R. 636.



Dairy Groups Laud Congressional Leaders for Stressing Importance of Full Discussion of Trademarks and Common Names

The dairy industry today applauded congressional leaders of the Senate Finance, House Ways and Means, Senate Judiciary, and House Judiciary committees for questioning the way a United Nations agency is considering treaty changes that could erode established trademark rights and, most critically, impair the ability of companies all around the world – including in the United States – to use numerous generic cheese names in export markets.

In a bipartisan letter to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI), Ranking Member Sandy Levin (D-MI), Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Ranking Member John Conyers (D-MI) said the views of the United States and other member countries are not being fully considered as WIPO looks at expanding the scope of the Lisbon Agreement for the Protection of Appellations of Origin.

The eight congressional leaders strongly urged WIPO to follow past practice by allowing all WIPO member countries to have an equal voice in determining any changes to the Lisbon Agreement.

The letter pointed out the broad ramifications of an agreement that fails to sufficiently address the concerns of trademark holders and common name users. The letter states, “Without these safeguards, companies in the United States and elsewhere could see their sales opportunities and intellectual property rights eroded in various markets around the world. This is already occurring in many countries where U.S. companies face geographical indications registrations that threaten to internationally block their use of common food names or negatively impact existing protections for their established trademarks.”

“The proposed changes in the Lisbon Agreement are clearly aimed at preventing U.S. dairy producers and processors, and others, from using names in international trade that they have used for decades, such as feta, parmesan, havarti, asiago and others,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation.

Tom Suber, president of the U.S. Dairy Export Council, pointed to the effort to shut out dissenting voices from the process. “Of course countries can strike treaties to address their own goals, but that should not be allowed to come at the expense of others’ long-standing and growing exports,” Suber said.

“Unless these meetings are opened to the larger WIPO membership, the amendments completed by 30 or so countries could adversely affect the rights of all WIPO members to use common food names in global trade,” said Connie Tipton, president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association. “The proper protocol must be maintained to ensure the continued growth of U.S. dairy exports.”

The World Intellectual Property Organization is a United Nations agency charged with developing a balanced international intellectual property system. It is scheduled to consider the expansion to the Lisbon Agreement at a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, in mid-May. Work to prepare for that meeting is actively underway in Geneva. 



100 Years of USDA Market News: The Trusted Source
Anne Alonzo, Agricultural Marketing Service 

Have you ever wondered how American farmers and businesses track the price of their commodities? oday, farmers, ranchers, and the entire agricultural supply chain turn to USDA Market News -- administered by my agency, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) -- for timely, reliable, unbiased data that serves as the information lifeline for America's agricultural economy.

But 100 years ago, everyone was in the dark about how much things cost. That's why, in 1915, the first USDA Market News report was sent by telegraph, letting buyers and sellers across the country know the price of strawberries in Hammond, La.

A century later, the impact of USDA Market News reports is clear. Each year, AMS issues more than 250,000 reports that get more than 53 million views. AMS gathers and releases the data free of charge within hours of collection, allowing all producers and marketers to quickly see which commodities are in demand and where. Our Market News reporters capture data for hundreds of products -- from cotton to grass-fed beef to grain to lettuce -- including data on organic products, retail store pricing, and locally and regionally marketed products. USDA Market News reaches millions of Americans every day -- from the small farmer in Arkansas to the trading floors in Chicago -- to ensure that all stakeholders have the information they need when they need it.

So what good is all this information? It makes our nation's commodity market one of the most transparent in the world and provides critical market intelligence.

That means:
-- Farmers and ranchers know they're getting a fair price;
-- Wholesalers make better decisions about what and how much to buy;
-- And commodity traders buy and sell based on trends in the data.

From the telegraph to a dynamic online database, Market News has leveraged available technology to bring on-demand market information to our stakeholders. USDA recently released an innovative, enhanced version of the Market News Portal with simplified navigation, giving users easier access to the wealth of timely and reliable data.

As we look to the future, we will continue to improve the data and reports that are the eyes and ears of the agriculture sector. From mobile apps and open data to on-demand custom analysis, we are excited to see what the next 100 years has in store. Whatever changes come, USDA Market News will remain the trusted source for timely, reliable, unbiased information.



New DuPont™ Revulin™ Q Herbicide Delivers Cost-Effective Control in Seed Corn and Other Specialty Corn
Corn growers, including those producing seed corn and sweet corn, have a new option for postemergence weed control. After receiving registration approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), DuPont Crop Protection has introduced DuPont™ Revulin™ Q herbicide, an early postemergence herbicide for corn grown for seed, sweet corn, yellow popcorn, and field corn grown for silage or grain.

Featuring two modes of action, Revulin™ Q (revulin-q.dupont.com) helps preserve the efficacy of existing herbicide options when used in a strategic weed-control program. The herbicide combines the gold standard active ingredient for grass control with a proven broadleaf active ingredient for dependable contact and residual control of fall panicum, woolly cupgrass, johnsongrass, foxtails, crabgrass, lambsquarters, pigweeds, ragweeds and more.

"Revulin™ Q gives growers a new cost-effective, convenient tool to help them confidently maintain clear, harvestable fields. It's a better way to plan for postemergence control of challenging weeds as they strive to help increase global food and feed grain production," said James Hay, business director, North America, DuPont Crop Protection.

Revulin™ Q combines two active ingredients, nicosulfuron and mesotrione, with a built-in safener for excellent crop safety under more conditions, with more adjuvants and across more corn types, in an easy-to-use, dry flowable formulation.

Growers will be encouraged to include Revulin™ Q in a herbicide program that includes DuPont™ Cinch® or Breakfree® NXT brand herbicides, Hay added. "This expands the herbicide modes of action to three or more, delivering a high level of control to eliminate key weeds that can reduce corn yield." See the Revulin™ Q label for details.

The low use rate and dry blended formulation offered by Revulin™ Q means growers and applicators will spend less time measuring and tank-mixing, with less hauling and container disposal. "Revulin™ Q helps save time and energy, while providing the peace of mind related to using multiple modes of action in a safened formulation," said Hay.

Revulin™ Q herbicide is included in the TruChoice® rewards program, which helps growers partner seed and crop protection products for the greatest agronomic and economic advantage.