Tuesday July 21 Ag News

Natural Resource Districts (NRDs) & Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Coalition Focuses on Protecting Nebraska Water Users

The Lower Platte River Basin Coalition, which includes all seven of Nebraska’s local Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) in the Lower Platte Basin, and the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are developing a plan to ensure the protection of existing water users in the basin, and studying methods for meeting additional and future water needs to serve domestic, industrial and agricultural purposes.

Butch Koehlmoos, General Manager Lower Loup NRD, said, “We’re pleased to continue a strong proactive and voluntary partnership working for the best water management practices in the nation. Nebraska’s successful locally-driven water management is a strong asset to our water users and the Lower Platte River Basin Coalition is another example of Nebraskans coming together to protect water users for domestic, industrial and agricultural purposes.”

The Lower Platte River Basin Coalition is enhancing current efforts to further understand and inventory the water supply that begins in Nebraska’s water rich sandhills and ends at the confluence of the Missouri River, covering more than 25,000 square miles, or nearly one-third of Nebraska, and providing water for irrigation, industrial purposes and drinking water for more than half of Nebraska’s residents.

The Lower Platte River Basin Coalition is a proactive voluntary effort, which includes seven NRDs in the Loup, Elkhorn, and Lower Platte river basins, as well as the DNR. While each NRD manages water resources on a local level, ultimately what occurs in the sandhills of the upper portion of the Lower Platte Basin impacts what occurs near Lincoln and Omaha’s water supply in the lower portion of the basin, and likewise, changes in demands in the lower part of the basin can impact the upper portion of the basin.  This effort brings together ground and surface water managers in the basin to study impacts and opportunities on a basin-wide level, ensuring local boards are working together with the state to compile resources and provide every opportunity to achieve and optimize water sustainability.  

To date, the Coalition’s efforts to inventory the supplies and demands in the basin show a significant surplus of water supply exists in the basin on an average annual basis, with large quantities of excess water not being utilized and flowing out of the state.  This is also portrayed in the Department’s INSIGHT tool; a new method of evaluating supplies and demands in a basin. Unfortunately, much of that surplus currently occurs when demands for the excess water don’t exist, but to water managers in the basin, this average excess supply represents a huge opportunity.     The challenge before water resource managers is storing and releasing some of these quantities of excess water during times of drought conditions when demands exceed supplies. 

Glenn Johnson, General Manager Lower Platte South NRD,  said, “The excess flows highlight the overall positive balance in the basin and the fact that with collaborative basin wide planning, potential opportunities in the basin far out-weight the challenges.”  

As the coalition works to better define this balance, they will look for ways to economically manage for conditions that exist the vast majority of the time, while subsequently ensuring plans are in place for the infrequent extreme drought periods when there’s a risk of Platte River supplies falling below demands.  The Coalition will continue to study and develop a basin plan that will work to utilize projects that will optimize the opportunities by capturing excess flows and finding ways to store and retime the water.    

Mike Sousek, General Manager Lower Elkhorn NRD, said, “This method of planning for the normal conditions, but managing for the infrequent challenges during extreme drought will allow for protection of all existing uses,  and in areas allow for the expansion of uses, providing continued economic benefit to the region, and maximizing the overall benefit for the state of Nebraska and all of its residents.”   

For additional information, please visit: http://dnr.nebraska.gov/LPRBC. 



SEEDBEDS FOR LATE SUMMER GRASS AND ALFALFA PLANTING
Bruce Anderson, Nebraska Extension Forage Specialist

               Will you plant alfalfa, grass, or some small-seeded cover crop this August?  It’s an excellent time to plant, if you have moisture and do it right.

               Seedbed preparation is crucial for late summer plantings.  Good seed-to-soil contact and weed control are essential.  Half-hearted seedbed preparation produces only half decent stands.

               Two types of seedbeds work well in August.  Fully tilled seedbeds are best for many growers. Weeds are eliminated and fields are smooth.  But don't overtill.  Conserve soil moisture whenever possible, and put extra effort into getting a firm seedbed.  You should be able to bounce a basketball on a firm seedbed.  Rolling, harrowing, and waiting for rain or irrigating all help make seedbeds firm.

               Stubble from cereal crops like wheat also makes a good seedbed.  So can hailed out beans.  Hailed out corn is a bit tougher but many no-till drills can place seeds into stubble soil very nicely, as long as there isn’t excessive residue.  Make sure you control weeds like foxtail, sunflowers, and volunteer grain before stubble seeding.  Use herbicides like glyphosate or Gramoxone before planting to kill existing weeds if needed.

               Whenever planting in August be wary of grasshoppers.  They love to eat new seedlings.  Spray field margins with insecticides if more than 20 hoppers per square yard are present.

               Remember, these preparations are useless without moisture.  I discourage planting into dry soil because we never know if fall rains will be good or bad.

               But if you have moisture, then plant – shallow for rapid emergence and early for seedlings to develop good cold tolerance.

               With help from Mother Nature, you’ll be happy with the results.



Nebraska Women’s Learning Circle

The Center for Rural Affairs and Women Food and Ag Network are providing an informal, yet highly informative Women Farmer Learning Circle at Prairie Plate Restaurant/Lakehouse Farm in Waverly, NE on August 5, 2015.

“Women are invited to join the Learning Circle, whether you're beginning in farming, interested in becoming a farmer, or already a seasoned farmer.  You'll hear about resources for financing, land purchase, business planning, cost and value of supporting local growers, marketing, distribution, and more,” says event organizer Sandra Renner with the Center for Rural Affairs.

The event begins at 4:30pm with an on-site farm tour. Then participants will hear from speakers while they enjoy a group meal prepared by Prairie Plate, ending with opportunities to network.

What: Women Farmer Learning Circle
When: Wednesday, August 5, 2015 - 4:30 p.m.
Where: Lakehouse Farm and Prairie Plate Restaurant, 10405 Branched Oak Road, Waverly, NE 68462

Since seating is limited, interested participants are asked to register in advance by July 29 to reserve a space. Contact Sandra Renner at sandrar@cfra.org or 402.320.3444 to register or for more information about the event.



NDA Update on Avian Influenza in Nebraska

· Nebraska Department of Agriculture has completed the surveillance work on flocks within the 6.2 mile radius of the affected farms in Dakota, Dixon, Wayne and Thurston counties. Those flocks underwent a total of two rounds of avian influenza testing and no further cases of the virus were detected. NDA released those flocks from quarantine thus lifting the control zone around the affected farms.

· Dixon 6, which was found within the 6.2 mile radius of the affected farms, will remain under quarantine for a total of 6 months before repopulation can occur.

· Upon completion of the cleaning and disinfection process, the buildings will need to sit empty for at least 21 days. During that period, an environmental test will be completed. If the virus is not detected the repopulation process can begin after the 21 day period has expired.

· Dixon 3 and 5 have completed the cleaning and disinfection process. Environmental tests have been conducted at Dixon 5 and the virus was not detected; therefore, Dixon 5 will begin the repopulation process as soon as the 21 day period has expired. The environmental tests at Dixon 3 will take place soon.

Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
Staff from NDEQ have been monitoring the ongoing disposal operations and procedures being utilized for the proper management of other materials generated at the affected sites. NDEQ, in collaboration with NDA and producers, reviewed flock mortality disposal plans that were created as part of the two agencies' livestock disease emergency planning. NDEQ has also been working with the15 facilities that were not included in the original poultry mortality management planning process. Many of these facilities now have begun developing their own plans.



UPDATE ON IOWA AVIAN INFLUENZA RESPONSE

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and U.S. Department of Agriculture today provided an update on the joint federal-state response to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) situation in Iowa. The Iowa HPAI Incident Command Post is operating under a Unified Command involving the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS and USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services.

Since April 13, 2015, there have been 77 total premises and 34 million birds affected with H5N2 HPAI in Iowa. There are 35 commercial turkey flocks, 22 commercial egg production flocks, 13 pullet flocks, 1 breeding flock for a mail order hatchery, and 6 backyard flocks.

Depopulation has been completed at all 77 premises. According to USDA, disposal has been completed at 59 premises.  Compost, manure and other materials is what still needs to be disposed of from the 18 sites where disposal is still ongoing.  All, bio-secure containers that had birds have been disposed of at a landfill or incinerated.

Following disposal, all facilities must be cleaned and then undergo a disinfection process.  Disinfection is typically done using heat to increase the temperatures in the building for several days.  Other disinfection methods are also being considered.

Following cleaning and disinfection, all sites must remain fallow for 21 days, during which time environmental samplings will be taken to confirm successful cleaning and disinfecting before restocking.

Three sites have completed both the cleaning and disinfection process and are in 21 day fallow period.  One turkey site, Calhoun 1, will finish that period this week.  An additional turkey site (Pocahontas 4) and a pullet site (Clay 2) are expected to finish in the next two weeks.

The cleaning and disinfection process on turkey sites is anticipated to largely be completed by the end of August.  It is expected to continue into August and September for many of the commercial layer operations due to the size and complexity of those buildings and sites.

Following cleaning and disinfection and if all environmental tests are negative, the sites may be allowed to repopulate.  However, even if they are allowed to repopulate they will remain under quarantine.  After repopulation the flock must undergo at least three tests for avian influenza.  Sampling for the test must occur at least seven days apart and all birds sampled must be at least 21 days old.

USDA APHIS currently has 48 staff members in Iowa assisting in the response.  In addition, more than 1900 federal contract personnel are in Iowa.

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.  Numerous local and county government employees and officials have also provided support and assisted in the response to the 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.



Producers Continue To Support The Beef Checkoff

Three out of four producers (76 percent) continue to support the Beef Checkoff Program and the more they know about the program, the more supportive they are. In addition, the number of producers who say they do not support the program, at 10 percent, is the lowest ever found.

The random survey of 601 beef and dairy producers nationwide was conducted by the independent firm Aspen Media & Market Research in late June and early July. The survey found an overwhelming majority of beef and dairy producers continue to say their beef checkoff has value for them in many ways:
-    81 percent of producers say the beef checkoff has helped to contribute to a positive trend in beef demand.
-    71 percent of producers say the beef checkoff contributes to the profitability of their operations.
-    71 percent say the checkoff represents their interests.
-    68 percent of producers believe the checkoff is well managed

"While the survey found that the majority of producers reported seeing positive news about the checkoff, 85 percent said they only found these facts while looking for other information about their industries," says Producer Communications Working Group (PCWG) Chair Jeanne Harland. "This survey found that only 5 percent of producers actively seek information about their checkoff," the LaFayette, Illinois, cow-calf producer adds.

During the summer meeting of the Cattlemen's Beef Board, Harland challenged fellow board members to "get out there and tell your friends and neighbors about the program. We’ve volunteered our time to review programs here during this meeting in Denver. We had some tough decisions to make, because there are so many great programs to choose from. Now we need to go back to the country and spread the word to those folks who weren’t here to see these programs in person."



Corn Farmers Committed to Ethanol Infrastructure

The National Corn Growers Association took another big step toward providing the driving public with lower gas prices and more fuel choice including better access to higher blends of home-grown American Ethanol.

NCGA announced the investment of an additional $500,000 to an innovative program called Prime the Pump, which seeks to expand fueling infrastructure capable of delivering higher blends of ethanol fuel to American consumers. This increases the NCGA commitment to $2 million in the last year.

Prime the Pump will use the funds pledged by corn farmers as matching funds to secure grants under the recently announced program by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  USDA's Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership is making $100 million in grants available.

"The nation's corn farmers have shown their commitment to domestically produced, clean burning ethanol repeatedly over the last 30 years and, when needed, have put their money where their mouth is," said Chip Bowling, president of NCGA and a farmer from Newburg, Maryland. "Consumers should have fuel options that include cleaner burning ethanol and this investment will allow us to continue to move forward toward that important goal."

In addition to NCGA's increased funding commitment, several state affiliates are strongly supporting proposed Prime the Pump projects within their respective states.  Prime the Pump is aimed at retailers with high volumes and multiple locations. Retailers have to commit to a five-year marketing program, E15 must be offered at all dispensers under the canopy, signage on the street must include E15 and retailers must agree to actively promote the fuel.

"Big Oil and others opposed to ethanol keep setting up road blocks, so we need to work all the more to ensure domestic renewable ethanol moves forward," said Bowling. "Family corn farmers are faced with the lowest corn prices in more than a decade and increased ethanol utilization is an efficient way to turn that around and help the U.S. economy and environment at the same time." 



June Milk Production up 0.7 Percent
                       
Milk production in the 23 major States during June totaled 16.4 billion pounds, up 0.7 percent from June 2014, according to USDA. May revised production at 17.2 billion pounds, was up 1.5 percent from May 2014. The May revision represented an increase of 12 million pounds or 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate.

Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,895 pounds for June, no change from the record high of June 2014. The 23 State series began in 2003.
   
The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.63 million head, 56,000 head more than June 2014, but 2,000 head fewer than May 2015.

IOWA:  Milk production in Iowa during June 2015 totaled 405 million pounds, up 5 percent from June 2014 according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Milk Production report. This is the highest June milk production for Iowa since 1972 when there were 455,000 milk cows in the state and monthly milk per cow was 915 pounds. The average number of milk cows during June, at 212,000 head, was unchanged from last month but 5,000 more than a year ago. Monthly production per cow averaged 1,910 pounds, up 50 pounds from last June.

April - June Milk Production up 1.4 Percent
Milk production in the United States during the April - June quarter totaled 53.6 billion pounds, up 1.4 percent from the April - June quarter last year.  The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was 9.32 million head, 14,000 head more than the January - March quarter, and 66,000 head more than the same period last year.

Q2 Milk Production
                 (million pounds - % change from Q2 '14)
Nebraska ...:           326.0                +7.9    
Iowa ..........:         1,241.0              +5.3    



Checkoff Launches ‘The Udder Truth’ to Address Common Myths

The dairy checkoff is debunking some consumer myths and setting the record straight about the work dairy farmers do and the milk they produce.

Dairy Management Inc.™ (DMI), which manages the national dairy checkoff on behalf of America’s dairy farm families and importers, is launching “The Udder Truth,” a series of videos and edgy content designed to address common consumer myths, today (Tuesday, July 21).

The Udder Truth is a continuation of the checkoff’s consumer confidence work to help protect and grow public trust in dairy farmers, products and the industry, particularly among millennials.

“This effort is unlike anything the checkoff has ever done before,” said Paul Rovey, Arizona dairy farmer and chairman of DMI. “It’s critical that we tell our story in new ways such as The Udder Truth to capture the interest of the next generation. We need to make sure they know the true story of where their food comes from.”

A three-part video series features farmers debunking common myths such as antibiotics, animal care and “big ag.” The videos will be available at www.DairyGood.org and promoted through social media.

To ensure the videos reach millennials, DMI is partnering with The Onion, a satirical “news” site that is popular with this audience. Onion writers will publish content that interjects humor into the absurdity of dairy myths, and redirects readers to get the truth from dairy farmers at DairyGood.org.

Dairy farmers, manufacturers, co-ops and other industry players are promoting the video series to help set the record straight about dairy.

A second checkoff-led consumer confidence initiative, “Acres & Avenues,” will be unveiled this fall to continue the conversation and help consumers reconnect with the farmers who produce our nation’s food.

Acres & Avenues will deliver a cultural exchange/job shadow opportunity between farmers and millennials who share a common value such as commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability. The video series is hosted by noted travel and food blogger Jax Austin.

For information about the checkoff-led, industry-wide consumer confidence initiative, visit www.DairyGood.org.



Atkins Named Vice President and COO of U.S. Grains Council

Kimberly Atkins, a longtime staffer and current director of global programs for the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), will be the next vice president and chief operating officer (COO) of the organization.

In her new role, she will oversee the daily operations and management of the Council including relationships with strategic and member partners and oversight of the Council’s strategic plan. Atkins has been with the Council for 10 years, working in roles focused on management and execution of the Council’s global operations. She will assume the VP/COO role as of Aug. 1.

“Having worked with Kim for many years, I am confident that her understanding of the complexities of the Council both managerially and organizationally will serve her well,” said USGC President and CEO Tom Sleight. “She is a skilled team builder and a pays close attention to detail, which are critical skills to running a high-functioning organization.”

Cary Sifferath, currently USGC’s regional director for the Middle East and Africa, will take oversight of the organization’s global offices as senior director of global programs. With the Council 22 years, Sifferath has run regional offices in Southeast Asia and North Africa and country offices in Japan and China.

Atkins’ and Sifferath’s appointments are the cornerstones of a staff leadership realignment to enhance the Council's global integration and capacity to respond to both near-term market developments and long-term market opportunities. The changes are prompted in part by the pending retirement of Dr. Erick Erickson, the organization’s current vice president, on Aug. 7.

“The work of the Council to sustain and build markets, take on increasing competition, capture value-added opportunities and maintain our relationships with customers and members requires constant vigilance and creativity," Sleight said. "These changes to our leadership team give me every confidence we are ready to take our programs and our operations to the next level."

The Council is a private, non-profit partnership of farmers and agribusinesses committed to building and expanding international markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and their co-products, including distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol.

The Council is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has 10 international offices that oversee programs in more than 50 countries. Financial support for the Council’s programs is provided from private industry members, including state checkoffs, agribusinesses, state entities and others, as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) via export market development programs included in the 2012 Farm Bill.



U.S. Custom Harvesters, Inc., Partners with National Agriculture in the Classroom to Expand Educational Outreach

As agribusiness leaders continue to seek educational, yet entertaining, ways to tell the farm to table story, the U.S. Custom Harvesters, Inc., (USCHI) board of directors announces its next advocating steps by partnering with National Ag in The Classroom (AITC) to expand its agricultural education outreach.


After the debut of the Great American Wheat Harvest documentary film, the true stories of the lives of custom harvesters garnered the attention of the AITC, an organization dedicated to increasing agricultural literacy amongst PreK-12th grade students and their teachers.

USCHI served as a platinum sponsor for the film and at its annual meeting earlier this year, USCHI board members voted to help AITC develop two education curriculum lessons accompanied with related-video companion pieces from the film. The lessons will debut at the 2016 AITC National Convention in Phoenix and made accessible to K-12 teachers around the country on the AITC National Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix Website.

"We hope these newly developed educational materials will help provide educators the information they need to teach students about agribusiness opportunities, labor issues, production best practices and agriculture advocacy ," says Mark Anderson, USCHI board member and chair of the educational committee. "We look forward to working with AITC and having input in these areas so our youth will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of America's food system."

According to AITC research, one out of five jobs in America is related to agriculture. And in the Midwest, the number increases to one out of three jobs. The lessons blend concepts and themes relating to agriculture with standard curriculum subjects including math, science, social studies, language arts, and nutrition.



June Egg Production Down 9 Percent

United States egg production totaled 7.41 billion during June 2015, down 9 percent from last year, according to USDA. Production included 6.30 billion table eggs, and 1.11 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.03 billion were broiler-type and 78 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during June 2015 averaged 328 million, down 9 percent from last year. June egg production per 100 layers was 2,258 eggs, down slightly from June 2014.

IOWA:  Iowa Egg production during June 2015 was 763 million eggs, down 26 percent from last month, and down 44 percent from last year, and the lowest egg production since February 2002, according to the latest Chickens and Eggs report from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.  The average number of all layers on hand during June 2015 was 34.4 million, down 22 percent from last month, down 42 percent from last year, and the lowest inventory since October of 2001. Eggs per 100 layers for June were 2,220, down 5 percent from last month, and down 3 percent from last year.
                                   
All layers in the United States on July 1, 2015 totaled 328 million, down 9 percent from last year. The 328 million layers consisted of 270 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 54.7 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 3.23 million layers producing egg-type
hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on July 1, 2015, averaged 75.3 eggs per 100 layers, down 1 percent from July 1, 2014.

Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Up 7 Percent
Egg-type chicks hatched during June 2015 totaled 46.9 million, up 7 percent from June 2014. Eggs in incubators totaled 43.8 million on July 1, 2015, up 7 percent from a year ago.

Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 320 thousand during June 2015, up 86 percent from June 2014.

Broiler-Type Chicks Hatched Up 3 Percent
Broiler-type chicks hatched during June 2015 totaled 787 million, up 3 percent from June 2014. Eggs in incubators totaled 652 million on July 1, 2015, up 2 percent from a year ago.

Leading breeders placed 7.79 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during June 2015, up 10 percent from June 2014.



NFU Encourages Support for Tax Extenders Package

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson encouraged support for the U.S. Senate Finance Committee’s draft tax extenders package that will be considered today at the Committee’s executive session.

“Producers and rural residents deserve certainty when it comes the tax needs of their individual businesses,” said Johnson in a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Oregon. “NFU applauds the Finance Committee in advancing a two year extenders package well ahead of the end of the year.”

Johnson noted that over the last several years, Congress has approached the extension of valuable tax credits in a way that was unpredictable and unfriendly for family farmers and rural residents.

“The last minute extensions, some of which were retrospective in nature, left producers scrambling during the last few weeks of the year to make purchases,” said Johnson. “There was very little confidence that Congress would extend the credits until it actually passed. As a result, long-term planning was impossible.”

Johnson pointed out NFU support for the following tax credits:
Charitable contributions of real property for the purpose of conservation. 
Extension of bonus depreciation.
Charitable deduction for contributions of food inventory.
Extension of increased expensing limitations and treatment of certain real property as section 179 property.
Extension of the Renewable Electricity Production Credit.
All extensions that benefit the renewable fuel sector at both the production and consumption levels.
Deductions for energy efficiency upgrades made to buildings.

“We recognize the difficulty that you face as you work to ensure that these valuable businesses tools remain in place,” said Johnson. “Cost, politics, and a challenging economic environment only compound the challenge. NFU urges committee members to retain these extensions of credits in any final package,” he said.



NFU Hails the Opening of the Cuban Embassy in Washington, Urges Full Resumption of Trade

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson hailed the reopening of the Cuban embassy in Washington and urged Congress to quickly pass the “The Freedom to Export to Cuba Act of 2015,” a bill that would lift the failed trade embargo and reopen full trade with Cuba.

“After 54 years of a failed policy based on isolating Cuba, today is truly a new threshold in our relationship with one of our closest neighbors,” said Johnson.  “Now Congress should move quickly to knock down those self-imposed, outdated trade barriers and open up new export opportunities for U.S. family farmers and ranchers,” he said.

Johnson noted that full resumption of trade with Cuba, an island nation of 11 million people just 90 miles from American shores, would be the next logical step in a complete normalization of the relationship that has been strained for far too long.

“The financial restrictions that remain in place prevent normal business relationships from developing between the U.S. and Cuba,” said Johnson. “American agriculture would greatly benefit from extending credit to Cuban buyers and allowing them to purchase not just American farm goods, but also auto parts, and other durable goods that American family farmers, ranchers and rural communities are already producing and are eager to sell,” he said.

Johnson applauded the Obama administration for leading the nation into this historic thaw in relations with Cuba. “NFU has worked hard over the last five years to push for a normalization of relations with Cuba,” said Johnson. “And it is heartwarming to finally see that beginning to happen.”



 NFU Reiterates Support for Mandatory GMO Labeling, Opposes Pompeo Bill But Notes Progress

In light of the U.S. House of Representatives’ consideration of the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act (H.R. 1599), National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson again highlighted NFU policy on Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) labeling. The policy supports conspicuous, mandatory, uniform and federal labeling for food products throughout the processing chain to include all ingredients, additives and processes, including genetically altered or engineered food products.

“NFU appreciates efforts by Representatives Pompeo, R-Kansas, and Davis, R-Illinois, to reduce consumer confusion and standardize a GMO label,” said Johnson. “The bill passed out of committee makes significant improvements over previous versions of this bill. Absent a mandatory labeling framework, however, NFU cannot support this bill.”

Johnson noted that the bill has changed several times from the one introduced during the last Congress. Improvements include additional authority for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), a labeling framework that if utilized could reduce consumer confusion, greater emphasis on the Food and Drug Administration’s role in safety reviews, and a GMO label that works in conjunction with USDA’s organic seal instead of counter to it.

“Consumers increasingly want to know more information about their food, and producers want to share that information with them,” said Johnson. “It is time to find common ground that includes some form of mandatory disclosure for the benefit of all aspects of the value chain, but this bill is not that common ground.”



NFU Submits Organic Checkoff Supplemental Proposal

National Farmers Union (NFU) today submitted a partial proposal for an organic commodity checkoff program to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The proposal provides for a majority of checkoff funds to go toward agricultural research, a producer majority on the board, and an inclusive checkoff that allows all organic producers the ability to vote in any referendum establishing the checkoff.

“Domestic consumer demand for organic agricultural products is ever-increasing, and to date, the U.S. has had to rely on imports to meet much of that demand,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “NFU’s proposal calls for a majority of the checkoff funds to go to agricultural research to ensure consumer demands are met with American-produced organic products, as well as a board composition that has a producer majority in order to better represent the organic industry, and a democratic process that allows for each organic certificate holder to vote on whether or not the checkoff should be established.”

NFU’s proposal notes that the organic sector has had scarce resources available for organic research. It calls for 60 percent of checkoff funds to go towards agricultural research that will provide organic producers in the U.S. the information they need to keep up with the increasing demand for organic food in the U.S.

“Commodity research and promotion programs are, and always have been, intended to support the efforts of producers of agricultural commodities,” according to the proposal. “An organic checkoff must fill the gap in agricultural research and prioritize addressing the production research needs of the industry.”

The proposal also notes that board composition should be a producer majority, and provides for 13 members of the 19-member board to be organic producers in order to properly represent the organic industry.

“The board would have considerable oversight of the checkoff dollars, including 25 percent for discretionary purposes,” notes the proposal. “Board composition is of tremendous importance to NFU and should constitute a significant producer majority.”