Friday June 12 Ag News

Ricketts, Delegation Discuss Trade Policy with EU Commission Officials

Governor Pete Ricketts and members of the Nebraska trade team spent part of the last two days highlighting trade policy issues with key European Union (EU) Commission representatives in Brussels.  The discussions focused on agricultural regulations and policies in the United States and the EU, and their roles in ongoing, national-level trade agreement talks.

“The EU Commission representatives we met with expressed appreciation for the opportunity to hear directly from farmers, agribusinesses and our state leadership,” Gov. Ricketts said. “Our team is very versed on key issues with the EU, such as new innovations, beef quotas and development of T-TIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership). This type of dialogue goes a long way toward sound policy development.”

United States trade officials have been diligently working to get a final T-TIP agreement with the European Union. Nebraska Agriculture Director Greg Ibach said the agreement is critical in creating an export environment that does not unfairly restrict U.S. companies delivering goods to Europe and other countries in the T-TIP partnership. He said the timing of the trade team visit is ideal and shows EU officials the level of importance agricultural states like Nebraska place on exports.

“Having been involved with trade policy discussion throughout my career, I have seen firsthand how important it is to establish relationships where you can talk to policy leaders from a practical standpoint. They like to hear first-hand how we do things on our farms and ranches in Nebraska,” Ibach said. “It provides perspective that can be helpful as they discuss with their colleagues modification and or elimination of restrictions that prohibit fair trade.”

The trade team met with Phil Hogan, EU commissioner for agriculture and rural development, and with Arunas Vincionus, chief of staff for the EU commissioner of health and food safety. In addition, the group met with leadership of Copa and Cogeca, which are organizations representing EU farmers and farm cooperatives.

Ibach said among other subjects, talks at all three stops included discussion of recent GMO policy activity within the EU member countries. This issue is of critical importance to Nebraska, where the majority of soybeans and corn grown have some level of genetic modification.

“We currently export over 50 percent of the U.S. soybean crop each year and almost all of those beans are GMOs,” said Steve Wellman, a member of the delegation who is a soybean farmer from Syracuse and a director on the American Soybean Association Board. “Trade missions like this give farmers like me the opportunity to discuss our usage of GMOs and explain that the technology has been proven time and time again to be valuable from an environmental standpoint and totally safe.”

Nebraska exported roughly $900 million worth of goods to European Union countries in 2014, with agricultural goods constituting about half of that figure. Key general exports include machinery, pharmaceuticals, and medicines.  Leading agricultural exports include beef, soybeans and soymeal, and other feeds/fodders.

“Beef and soybeans are already key agriculture exports to the EU,” said Governor Ricketts, “but there is a great opportunity to further develop that marketplace with policy changes. We feel that by opening discussions on such topics, we can come to reasonable and fair compromises that benefit both sides of a trade partnership.”

The Nebraska Trade Mission continues through early next week with a stop in Denmark next on the agenda.



MANAGING WINDROW DISEASE IN ALFALFA
Bruce Anderson, Nebraska Extension Forage Specialist

               Rained-on hay plagues all of us eventually.  This year maybe more than usual.  The 'windrow disease' that often follows presents lingering problems.

               Windrow disease — that’s the name I give to the striped appearance in fields where alfalfa windrows remained so long that regrowth was delayed.  Usually it’s due to rained on hay and sometimes, insects.

               Windrow disease presents special challenges.  Weeds often invade, requiring spraying to maintain quality and protect stands.  During the next growth period, plants that were not smothered regrow rapidly, while plants underneath the windrow suffer delays.  Part of the field often will begin to bloom while windrow-stressed plants are still short and tender.  So when do you harvest?  When the first plants begin to bloom or do you wait until injured plants are ready?

               I suggest using two factors to tell you when you should cut — the health and vigor of your stand and the nutrient needs of your livestock.  For example, is your alfalfa healthy and regrowing well?  If not, wait to cut until stunted plants begin to bloom so you can avoid weakening them even more.

               But, if your alfalfa is in good shape, then cut when it will best meet the needs of your animals.  Dairy cows need alfalfa that is cut early, so harvest when the first plants begin to bloom.  Regrowth of injured plants may be slow after cutting, but this sacrifice is needed for profitable milk production.  Beef cows, though, do not need such rich hay.  So if the hay will be fed to beef cattle, let stunted plants recover, and then cut when they are ready to bloom.

               Hopefully, by next cut, growth will be more uniform, plants healthy, and production back to normal.



NCTA Ag college to salute alumni, honorees
The University of Nebraska’s “Curtis ag college” will honor four ardent advocates of the 103-year-old school at an alumni association banquet June 27.

A reunion of the joint alumni association for the University of Nebraska School of Technical Agriculture (UNSTA) and the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA) will present awards at the annual meeting at the Chances R Restaurant in York, said NCTA Dean Ron Rosati.

“The alumni board of directors and NCTA staff will celebrate the rich and colorful history of the college,” Rosati said. “Guests are invited to attend the awards banquet.”

Association President Dan Stehlik (UNSTA ’75) of Concordia, Kansas, today announced honorees by the UNSTA-NCTA Alumni Association. They are:

Distinguished Service/Legacy Award - Jerry Sundquist of Curtis, UNSTA graduate of 1968, and faculty member and administrator from 1969-2009. Sundquist has attended each alumni reunion since graduation.

Alumni Achievement Awards – Ann K. Bruntz and David D. Bruntz, Friend, both 1971 graduates of UNSTA. David studied production agriculture, is an alumni association past president, serves on the Nebraska Corn Board, and is on the NCTA Statewide Advisory. Ann Ramm Bruntz is an NCTA veterinary technician graduate, has been active in many Nebraska agriculture organizations, and is Senior Development Director, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska Foundation.

Honorary Life Member – Dr. Martin Massengale of Lincoln, University of Nebraska president emeritus, and Director of the UNL Center for Grassland Studies. Dr. Massengale has been an advocate for NCTA and continues to provide scholarly articles and periodicals for student and faculty use at the NCTA Library.

Alumni activities will include a “Report from Campus” by Dean Rosati, updates on alumni-funded student scholarships, and a board meeting. President-elect Kim Bowers Mortensen of Curtis assumes the presidency.

Other officers are Treasurer Larry Cooper of Crofton and Secretary Catherine Hauptman of Curtis. This fall, the alumni will sponsor scholarships to two NCTA students with a parent who graduated from NCTA.



12 Land-Grants Impact Soil Science, Resource Management

Twelve land-grant universities are working together to make soil survey data more reliable and accessible. Soil survey data is used to evaluate soil and landscape health as well as address environmental concerns like erosion, crop yields, and climate change. Researchers from these universities serve on NCERA-003, a multistate research committee. NCERA-003 is now the longest continuous running research committee in the North Central region.

"Since soil is highly susceptible to disturbances caused by humans, it's imperative to use soil survey data when managing land and natural resources," said Dr. Ken Olson, soil scientist at the University of Illinois and a former NCERA-003 administrative advisor. "We are developing new methods and tools to help gather more reliable data and broaden the scope and impact of soil science research."

Specifically, NCERA-003 emphasizes multidisciplinary research to identify research gaps and improve soil sampling and soil modeling. NCERA-003 also combines soil information from various surveys to ease the transfer of data sets between systems and applications. This results in a more complete picture of soil health across landscapes.

"By making soil survey data more reliable and accessible, NCERA-003 is facilitating smart, timely land and natural resource management decisions," said Dr. Jerry Miller, soil scientist at Iowa State University and a former NCERA-003 administrative advisor. "We work tirelessly to demonstrate the importance of soils and monitoring soil health, from hosting conferences, to displaying museum exhibits, to publishing educational materials. Our goal is ensure land managers take care of the nation's soils and the life and infrastructure that depend on them."

Through their research, recommendations, and outreach, NCERA-003 has helped communities, farmers, scientists, and legislators assess and respond to soil damage from erosion and floods. They train and share the latest soil survey information and technology with soil scientists and students. NCERA-003 also shows farmers how to better monitor soil health and use soil conservation practices to boost crop yields and reduce runoff. Many organizations as well as federal, state, and local agencies tasked with managing soil and land resources rely on NCERA-003's research and recommendations.

The 12 participating land-grant universities include:
-- University of Arkansas
-- University of Illinois
-- Purdue University
-- Iowa State University
-- Kansas State University
-- University of Kentucky
-- Michigan State University
-- University of Minnesota
-- University of Nebraska
-- North Dakota State University
-- Ohio State University
-- South Dakota State University

Agriculture is America. In short, the agriculture industry -- sustained in large part by the American land-grant university system through Colleges of Agriculture, Agricultural Experiment Stations, and Cooperative Extension -- is integral to jobs, national security, and health. To learn more, visit agisamerica.org.



CHS Foundation Awards $100,000 in Scholarships

The CHS Foundation has awarded 100 $1,000 scholarships to high school students pursuing an agricultural-related degree or a STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology, Math) field of study with an interest in agriculture. The CHS Foundation is the major giving entity of CHS Inc.

"CHS and the CHS Foundation are dedicated to supporting programs that help build leadership capacity for the next generation," says William J. Nelson, CHS Foundation president. "This includes our ongoing commitment to providing scholarships to students as they pursue a broad range of studies within the agricultural field."

An independent, external committee selected recipients based on their career goals, essays, extracurricular involvement, transcripts and reference letters. This year's scholarship winners represent 27 states and two Canadian provinces.

The recipients in Nebraska and their universities include:
-- Brooke Blum, Texas Tech University
-- Hannah Borg, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
-- Moriah Heerten, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
-- Coleman Kneifl, Iowa State University
-- Collin Thompson, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
-- Emilye Vales, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture

The recipients in Iowa and their universities include:
-- Antonia Chicos, Iowa State University
-- Anna Johnson, University of Minnesota-Crookston
-- Logan Lewis, South Dakota State University
-- Elise Loveless, University of Minnesota
-- Elizabeth Moller, University of Northwestern-St. Paul
-- Sabrina Portner, Iowa State University
-- Sarah Potthoff, South Dakota State University
-- Joseph Ramstad, University of Minnesota
-- Madison Schafer, South Dakota State University
-- Vanessa Schlenner, South Dakota State University
-- Kelly Susa, University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Throughout the year, CHS funds an additional 200 scholarships for students enrolled in an agricultural-related program at colleges across the country. These scholarships range from $1,000 to $2,000 and are directly administered by more than 30 CHS partner colleges.



Smith Responds to Trade Vote
Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives voted to give Congress the authority to direct and oversee Presidential trade negotiations through Trade Promotion Authority.  However, because a vote on further trade-related provisions failed, the House did not pass the legislation.  The bill remains in the House for possible future consideration.

“I am pleased the House demonstrated strong support for ensuring oversight and direction of the administration’s trade agenda,” Smith said.  “I will continue working to hold the President accountable while improving access for Nebraska producers to the 96 percent of consumers worldwide who live outside our country.  We cannot sit idly and leave a commercial and political vacuum to be filled by other countries.”

Smith is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over trade policy.



ASA Welcomes House Passage of Fast Track, Calls for Compromise on TAA to Move Forward

The American Soybean Association (ASA) welcomed passage this afternoon of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015, which would extend trade promotion authority, or fast track authority, to President Barack Obama. The passage comes at a critical time, as the United States moves to finalize negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership and approaches a potential agreement with the European Union, however the bill will not move to the president’s desk until conflicts over Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) are ironed out. ASA President Wade Cowan, a soybean farmer from Brownfield, Texas, noted that the passage of the bill provides certainty for producers of the nation’s largest farm export, but means nothing if TAA isn’t resolved in a way that allows the bill to move forward:

“The vote by the House today is an absolute win for soybean farmers in the United States, but it only gets us halfway to our goal without a compromise on TAA. Since 2007, our negotiators have been without the biggest weapon in their arsenal, and they’ve still done an exceptional job of representing American interests abroad. Now, we’re one step away from equipping them with the most important tool to establish and expand our role in the international agricultural trade. TPA has always been step one as we look to forge strong agreements that help to make American agriculture—and soybean farmers in particular—so competitive in international markets.

“The House’s disagreements over trade adjustment assistance threaten to stand in the way of the fast track authority we need to finalize an agreement in the Trans-Pacific Partnership that includes vital export markets for U.S. soybeans and meat products, as well as the developing markets that grow in their demand for American soy every day. With an administration empowered by TPA, we can also participate fully in the active crafting of agreements between the world’s major traders that has been going on—largely without us—since TPA lapsed in 2007.

“Soybean farmers and indeed all of American agriculture has a critical stake in the global farm trade, and the House is to be commended for its work today, which helps to protect that stake. We call on Democrats and Republicans in the House to come together and resolve their differences on TAA so we can get back to the business of building strong relationships between American farmers and customers around the world.”



NCGA to Congress: Put Aside Petty Politics on Trade

Today, the House of Representatives passed Trade Promotion Authority legislation, but failed to pass the Trade Adjustment Assistance package that was required for the bill to move forward to the President’s desk. National Corn Growers Association President Chip Bowling issued the following statement.

“We are disappointed by the House of Representatives’ inability to move forward with the full package of trade legislation. This is a blow to American farmers, livestock producers, businesses, and workers. We hope that both houses of Congress and the White House can quickly resolve their differences and find a path forward. This legislation would bring us one step closer to open markets and greater access to millions of consumers living beyond our borders. It’s time for Congress to put aside petty politics, and stand up for American agriculture.”



NAWG Pleased with TPA Passage

The National Association of Wheat Growers is pleased that the U.S. House of Representatives today took a step to show that there is support for reauthorizing Trade Promotion Authority. Following the vote, NAWG President, Brett Blankenship made the following statement:

“I’m pleased that the House has the votes to approve Trade Promotion Authority. For those voting yes, it was a courageous vote in favor of keeping American agriculture in the lead on international trade. Removing trade barriers and accessing international markets is critical for wheat farmers across the country, and I’m hopeful that House Leadership can find a path forward for concluding action.”



HOUSE PASSES TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY BILL, STILL MUST APPROVE TAA MEASURE
(from National Pork Producers Council newsletter)

While the House today voted 219-208 to approve Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation, it failed to pass Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), which is required to send the trade package to the president. House lawmakers are expected to vote again on TAA, which provides assistance to workers displaced because of increased trade. The Senate approved TPA and TAA as a package May 23. TPA is vital to finalizing free trade agreements that can boost U.S. pork exports. It defines U.S. negotiating objectives and priorities for trade deals and establishes consultation and notification requirements for the president to follow throughout the negotiation process. Once trade negotiators finalize a deal, Congress gets to review it and vote yes or no – without amendments – on it. Congress has granted TPA to every president since 1974, with the most recent law being approved in August 2002 and expiring June 30, 2007. The immediate need for TPA is for concluding the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations among the United States and 11 Pacific Rim countries. According to Iowa State University economist Dermot Hayes, the TPP deal would be the most significant commercial opportunity ever for U.S. pork producers, generating more than 10,000 U.S. jobs tied to pork exports. Failure to pass TPA, which effectively would be a vote against TPP, would send a signal to the world that the United States is turning its back on the Asia-Pacific region – the fastest growing area in the world – and allow other countries to write the rules for international trade, according to NPPC, which is leading the agricultural industry’s efforts to get TPA approved.

HOUSE VOTES TO REPEAL MEAT LABELING PROVISIONS; NPPC ASKS SENATE TO ACT
NPPC is urging the Senate to take up legislation to repeal country of origin labeling requirements for beef, pork and poultry, following Wednesday night’s House vote to rescind the provisions. The U.S. Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) law requires meat to be labeled with the country where the animal from which it was derived was born, raised and harvested. (It also applies to fish, shellfish, fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables and certain nuts.) The World Trade Organization (WTO) May 18 rejected an appeal by the United States of the international trade body’s October 2014 ruling that the COOL provisions on beef and pork discriminate against Canadian and Mexican animals, which they send to the United States to be fed out and processed. The WTO decision allows Canada and Mexico to place retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods going into their countries. Last week, Canada announced it will ask the WTO to authorize $3 billion (Canadian dollars, or about $2.4 billion U.S. dollars) a year in retaliatory tariffs against U.S. imports, and Mexico will seek $653 million in retaliation. While it remains to be seen on which U.S. products Canada and Mexico place tariffs, a preliminary Canadian retaliation list included fresh pork and beef, bakery goods, rice, apples, wine, maple syrup and furniture. The House approved by a vote of 300-131 H.R. 2393, sponsored by House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Michael Conaway, R-Texas, to amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to repeal the meat labeling provisions. (Call your senators immediately at 202-224-3121 to urge them to vote in favor of repealing the meat labeling provisions of COOL.)

NPPC COMMENTS ON EPA PROPOSAL TO REGULATE FINE PARTICULATE MATTER
In comments submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently, NPPC and other livestock and poultry organizations raised several concerns with proposed fine particulate matter (PM2.5) regulations that could be applied to farms. The PM2.5 rules would require states to develop State Implementation Plans to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards of the Clean Air Act (CAA). EPA is proposing that ammonia emissions be regulated as a “precursor pollutant” to PM2.5. NPPC and the other groups in their comments pointed out that scientific research has shown that ammonium forms of PM2.5 – ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate – are not harmful to human health and that for most areas of the country, reducing ammonia emissions would have little or no impact on reducing fine particulate matter concentrations. Furthermore, they said, EPA has no approved methodologies for estimating ammonia emissions from livestock operations. The groups said until the agency establishes methodologies, EPA is prohibited under air consent agreements it entered with livestock and poultry producers in 2006 from imposing new regulatory requirements on farms. Those agreements protected animal feeding operations from EPA enforcement actions for past air emissions violations, as well as for violations that may have occurred over a four-year period while the agency conducted an air emissions monitoring study of farms. The data from the study is being used to develop methodologies for estimating emissions from livestock and poultry farms. NPPC and the other organizations also concluded that, in their opinion, EPA has the authority under the CAA to exclude ammonia emissions reporting. (Click here to read the comments.)

U.S., SOUTH AFRICA REACH AGREEMENT ON POULTRY; PORK ISSUS REMAIN
The United States and South Africa earlier this week agreed on a path forward for resuming exports of U.S. bone-in chicken cuts to South Africa, ending a 15-year trade dispute and giving hope to efforts to resolve a disagreement over U.S. pork exports. NPPC has been working with U.S. and South African government officials to open the African country’s market to U.S. pork. South Africa has a de facto ban on U.S. pork imports, placing unnecessarily burdensome animal health restrictions on them, such as a time and temperature requirement as mitigation against trichinae. The United States is at a significant disadvantage in gaining access to South Africa’s large and growing market for pork because that nation accepts pork from key competitors Brazil, Canada and the European Union. While the Sub-Saharan country limits U.S. pork, it is a beneficiary of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provides beneficiary countries with duty-free access for certain products going to the U.S. market. Legislation to reauthorize AGOA, along with several other trade preference programs, recently was approved in the Senate on a 97-1 vote. A similar bill passed the House today. The legislation would renew for 10 years the program, which is set to expire in September.



Farmer Co-ops Applaud Release of New Labeling Bill Discussion Draft

The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) today applauded the release of a new discussion draft of the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act. H.R. 1599, a bipartisan bill introduced by Representatives Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) and G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.) in March, would create a national, science-based standard for the safety and labeling of food containing genetically modified ingredients (GMOs). The discussion draft contains language that would further bolster food safety certification and set up a process-based labeling program similar to USDA’s successful National Organic Program.

“The changes outlined in Congressman Pompeo’s discussion draft today will help to strengthen H.R. 1599. They will further strengthen consumer confidence in food safety and model a new labeling program on the proven success of organic certification,” said NCFC President and CEO Chuck Conner. “The bill continues to build momentum and these changes will help to attract even more bipartisan support for the measure.”

“I would once again like to thank Congressmen Pompeo and Butterfield for their strong leadership on this issue,” continued Conner. “We look forward to working with them and other members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Agriculture Committee as H.R. 1599 works its way through the legislative process.”

NCFC is a member of The Coalition for Safe Affordable Food, which is dedicated to providing policy makers, media, consumers and all stakeholders with the facts about ingredients grown through GM technology. For more information on the coalition and issue, visit their web site at www.CFSAF.org.



Brazil to See Bumper Corn Crop

Brazilian second-crop corn estimates rose this week amid reports of excellent crop development and adjustments to area forecasts.

The Agriculture Ministry raised its figure 1.5 million metric tons (mmt) to 49.4 mmt, making it 2% higher than last year, principally on a 2.7% increase in its area number.

Meanwhile, AgRural, a local farm consultancy, raised its figure by 2 mmt to 51 mmt after the extension of autumn rains into May has allowed crops to attain high yield potential.

As a large portion of the crop was planted late because of soy crop delays, farmers had been concerned that crops would suffer in the dry Brazilian autumn. That simply hasn't happened.

In Mato Grosso, rains stopped in the second half of May, but crops nearly all look good. In northern reaches of the state, yields are seen 10% higher than the excellent 2013-14 crop, said AgRural.

In the south, too, crops look good, although the perennial threat of frost remains.

In Parana, average yields of 92 bushels per acre are forecast, reaching as high as 120 bpa in the west of the state, said AgRural.

Bumper output will allow Brazil to comfortably supply 20 mmt or more of corn in exports during the 2015-16 season.



UPDATE ON IOWA AVIAN INFLUENZA RESPONSE
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship said there are no new probable cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) today and there has only been one new case this week.

All infected turkey flocks have been depopulated and are currently being composted.  Once composting is completed the facilities will be cleaned and disinfected.  Environmental samplings of all sites will take place to confirm successful cleaning and disinfecting before restocking.

All but one of the commercial laying and pullet facilities have been depopulated.  Euthanasia on the final site is expected to be finished by early next week.  In addition, depopulation on the final backyard flock is expected to be completed by the end of the day.

Disposal of affected birds is ongoing.  Composting, burial, incineration and landfills are all being used.  To-date, 457 bio-secure boxes have been disposed of via incineration or at one of the two currently approved landfills.  Approximately 600 of the bio-secure boxes are still in need of disposal.  U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) contractor Clean Harbors is moving the materials.  All trucks are cleaned and disinfected before the leave an infected premise and before leaving a disposal site.

USDA has more than 2100 staff and contractors helping respond to the avian influenza situation in Iowa.  A new USDA Incident Management Team (IMT) will rotate in this weekend and takeover oversight of the USDA’s activities.  The past IMTs have operated out of Worthington, MN.  The new team will move to Ames for their operations.

More than 300 state employees have also participated in the disaster response at some point. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Department of Public Health (in conjunction with local public health officials), Iowa Department of Human Services, Iowa Department of Transportation, and Iowa National Guard have all supported the response effort to this disease.

Updated information about the number cases, when they are confirmed and other relevant information will be posted to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website at www.iowaagriculture.gov/avianinfluenza.asp.



CDC Issues Avian Flu Outbreak Health Advisory

Highly-pathogenic avian influenza A H5 viruses have been identified in birds in the United States since December 2014. As a result, the Center for Disease Control has issued a health advisory to notify public health workers and clinicians of the potential for human infection with these viruses and to describe CDC recommendations for patient investigation and testing, infection control including the use personal protective equipment, and antiviral treatment and prophylaxis.

Between December 15, 2014, and May 29, 2015, the USDA confirmed more than 200 findings of birds infected with highly-pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A (H5N2), (H5N8), and (H5N1) viruses. The majority of these infections have occurred in poultry, including backyard and commercial flocks.

USDA surveillance indicates that more than 40 million birds have been affected (either infected or exposed) in 20 states. These are the first reported infections with these viruses in U.S. wild or domestic birds.

While these recently-identified HPAI H5 viruses are not known to have caused disease in humans, their appearance in North American birds may increase the likelihood of human infection in the United States. Human infection with other avian influenza viruses, including a different HPAI (H5N1) virus found in Asia, Africa, and other parts of the world; HPAI (H5N6) virus; and (H7N9) virus, has been associated with severe, sometimes fatal, disease.

Previous human infections with other avian viruses have most often occurred after unprotected direct physical contact with infected birds or surfaces contaminated by avian influenza viruses, being in close proximity to infected birds, or visiting a live poultry market.

Human infection with avian influenza viruses has not occurred from eating properly cooked poultry or poultry products.



USDA Begins Accepting Applications from States for $100 Million Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership

Following an announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack on May 29, 2015, the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced that all 50 states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. may now apply for up to $100 million in grants under the Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership (BIP). The funding is to support the infrastructure needed to make more renewable fuel options available to American consumers. The Farm Service Agency will administer BIP.

USDA continues to aggressively pursue investments in American-grown renewable energy to create new markets for U.S. farmers and ranchers, help Americans save money on their energy bills, support America's clean energy economy, cut carbon pollution and reduce dependence on foreign oil and costly fossil fuels. A typical gas pump delivers fuel with 10 percent ethanol, which limits the amount of renewable energy most consumers can purchase at the pump.

Through BIP, USDA will award competitive grants, matched by states, to expand the infrastructure for distribution of higher blends of renewable fuel. These competitive grants are available to assist states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. with infrastructure funding. States that offer funding equal to or greater than that provided by the federal government will receive higher consideration for grant funds. States may work with private entities to enhance their offer.

CCC funds must be used to pay a portion of the costs related to the installation of fuel pumps and related infrastructure dedicated to the distribution of higher ethanol blends, for example E15 and E85, at vehicle fueling locations. The matching contributions may be used for these items or for related costs such as additional infrastructure to support pumps, marketing, education, data collection, program evaluation and administrative costs.

This new investment seeks to double the number of fuel pumps capable of supplying higher blends of renewable fuel to consumers. This will expand markets for farmers, support rural economic growth and the jobs that come with it, and ultimately give consumers more choices at the pump.

Applications must be submitted by July 15, 2015, using www.grants.gov. To locate, search by funding opportunity number "USDA-FSA-2015-22."



USDA Grant Program Puts Priority on Consumer Choice

Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture publicly released its Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) for the Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership competitive grant program it had announced on May 29, 2015. Following the announcement to make up to 100 million dollars in grants available to qualifying states, Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, issued the following statement:

“The USDA, and more specifically Secretary Vilsack, should be commended for outstanding leadership and commitment to increasing the market for renewable fuels. By offering competitive grants to eligible states, with a goal to match funds on a one for one basis, and encouraging public – private partnerships to ensure these infrastructure projects can be completed in the shortest amount of time possible, this program has incredible potential to strengthen our rural economy and bring more renewable fuels into the marketplace.

“Secretary Vilsack has been at the forefront of helping break the near monopoly Big Oil has on the transportation fuel marketplace by advancing policies that will increase consumer access to fuels such as E15, providing American motorists with a choice and savings at the pump. His outstanding leadership is helping bring fuels from the farm to the marketplace that are cleaner burning, less expensive, higher performing and helping reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil.”

The USDA Biofuel Infrastructure Program NOFA has been sent to the Federal Register and it will be published on Tuesday, June 16, 2015. Additionally, the NOFA will be available Monday, June 15 on the www.Grants.gov website. All state grant applications must be submitted using www.grants.gov by July 15, 2015.