Tuesday November 17 Ag News

Livestock Mortality Composting Demonstration to be Held

Nebraska Extension is hosting a livestock mortality composting event for livestock producers and individuals and groups that support the livestock industry.  This event will be held on Tuesday, December 15 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Christenson Research & Education Building at the UNL Agricultural Research & Development Center near Mead and Ithaca, NE. 

This event will include speakers from Nebraska Extension and the USDA-NRCS discussing planning, construction, and management of a livestock mortality compost pile.  The topics that will be covered and presenters are:
-    “Mortality Compost as Part of a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan” – Renee Hancock, NRCS Water Quality Specialist
-    “Biosecurity Considerations When Composting Mortalities” – Dr. Kelly Heath, UNL Attending Veterinarian
-    “Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Cost Share Opportunities” – Renee Hancock, NRCS
-    “Composting Site Design, Construction and Operation” – Dr. Amy Schmidt, UNL Livestock Bioenvironmental Engineer
-    “Compost Pile Management: Lessons Learned” – Henry Hilscher, ARDC Research Manager

Lunch will be provided by A-FAN (Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska).

A visit to an on-site mortality composting pile will provide attendees an opportunity to view the compost process up close, see how the pile is managed, and learn how to establish a new pile during a demonstration process.

Those wishing to attend are asked to please RSVP by Dec. 11 to: Amber Patterson, apatterson6@unl.edu, (402)472-1646 so the lunch plans can be made.  For additional information on this event please contact:  Dr. Amy Schmidt, Livestock Bioenvironmental Engineer, aschmidt@unl.edu, (402)472-0877  or Larry Howard, Nebraska Extension Educator, Cuming County,  lhoward1@unl.edu, (402)372-6006.



Governor Branstad joins lawsuit opposing EPA’s Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule

Today, Gov. Terry Branstad intervened in a case pending in the U.S. District Court of North Dakota Southwestern Division against the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and their overreaching Waters of the U.S. rule.  Gov. Branstad joins in support of 13 other states: North Dakota, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota, Wyoming and New Mexico.  Nationwide, governors or attorney generals from over 31 states have taken action to ensure innovative state-based water quality initiatives, like the Nutrient Reduction Strategy, are not bogged down in Federal bureaucratic red tape.

“The WOTUS rule is a federal overreach that imposes significant barriers and impairs Iowa’s ability to advance innovative, water quality practices that would actually advance our common goal of water quality,” Branstad said.  “I ran for Governor in 2010 to return predictability and stability to Iowa and this federal rule increases, rather than decreases uncertainty for Iowa farmers and small businesses.”

In October 2014, Gov. Branstad, Lt. Gov. Reynolds, Sec. Bill Northey and various state leaders commented on the proposed WOTUS rule and stated that the Federal government’s rule seems to be more concerned with Federal control over local water bodies than actually improving water quality.

“The rule is an overreach by the federal government that hurts Iowa farmers and small businesses.”  Reynolds said.  “I applaud the work Senators Grassley and Ernst, and other member of the Iowa congressional delegation and hope this rule is withdrawn so Iowa can continue to improve water quality through the collaborative and innovative Nutrient Reduction Strategy,” said Reynolds.

Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said, “The misguided WOTUS rulemaking process has created uncertainty and has threatened to impede our efforts to get conservation and water quality practices on the ground.   Joining this lawsuit is the right thing to do and I hope that ultimately the courts will overturn the rule.”

STATEMENT FROM PRESIDENT BOB HEMESATH
On behalf of Iowa’s corn farmers, the Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) would like to thank Governor Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Reynolds for intervening in the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) Lawsuit. The WOTUS rule is overreaching and could hamper Iowa farmers’ ability to implement the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy.

WOTUS puts farmers at considerable risk because a common farming practice that takes place in or near a defined water could now be in violation of federal law if the farmers have not obtained necessary Clean Water Act permits.

While this rule making is much needed to clarify which waters need appropriate permits, the final rule made things worse.  The rule making process was flawed and made significant changes without an opportunity to make public comments.  We are concerned that erosional features, grass waterways, ditches, and farmed wetlands will be jurisdictional and require permits, discouraging the continuation of conservation measures.  EPA should start over and work with the states as the states do most of the implementation of the rule.

ICGA will stand up and use our voice in hopes that the EPA will re-work this ruling and propose a new one that allows farmers to continue to do their jobs without costly permits. This issue will be decided by the Courts, and ICGA is glad Iowa will now have representation in the lawsuit.



Cattlemen’s College offered at Iowa Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show

This year’s Iowa Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show will again feature Cattlemen’s College sessions, educating producers from all sectors of the cattle industry.

Cattlemen’s College, sponsored by Zoetis Animal Health, will include several educational sessions to help Iowa’s cattlemen improve their operations and increase their profits. Cattlemen’s College classes will cover calf health, genomics, sustainability, the Veterinary Feed Directive, water quality and managing labor. Additional educational sessions will focus on NPDES Permits for feedlots and cover crops.

The convention will also feature a sold-out trade show that will make use of the hotel’s 12,000 sq. ft. conference and trade show area. The Iowa Beef Industry Council and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association will each hold their annual meetings, as well.

The theme of this year’s convention is “Share Your Story.” Each component of convention, whether it’s educational sessions, networking or the trade show, will provide an opportunity for attendees to improve their advocacy skills and tell their beef production story.

The Tuesday, Dec. 8 keynote presentation will be at lunch, featuring Dr. Nevil Speer of AgriClear. Dr. Speer will focus on current market conditions, including a look back into 2015, while also providing some perspective around how 2016 is shaping up for the beef industry. The overview will also highlight some discussion of broader strategies around decision-making in an environment of volatile markets.

On Wednesday, Dec. 9, the keynote event occurs at the 8:00 a.m. general session. Dr. Jayson Lusk, food and agricultural economist and author of The Food Police: A Well-Fed Manifesto about the Politics of Your Plate will present Telling the Agriculture Story – Current and Future Challenges Facing the Cattle Industry.

Visit www.iacattlemen.org for a full agenda and registration information. 



Cattle on Feed Estimate Sees Second Smallest Placement Ever
(from Allendale, Inc.)

October Placements are expected to be 5.9% smaller than last year at 2.228 million head. This is the second smallest October placement since the current data-series started in 1996. USDA's cattle feeding margin suggests a $515 per head loss on outgoing cattle ($174 breakevens vs. $133 sales). This would be eleven months in a row of losses. Live cattle rose from $121 at the start of the month up to $138 at the end. Corn averaged $3.76 in Western Kansas in October ($3.73 in September, $3.52 in October 2014). October placements supply the March through August slaughter period.

Allendale anticipates a Marketing total 3.3% lower than October 2014. 2015 had one less weekday and one more Saturday than 2014. Our 1.629 million head estimate is the smallest October figure in the current data-series back to 1996.

Total Cattle on Feed as of November 1 is 1.8% larger than last year. That is a decline from the October 1 total of +2.3%.

Cold Storage Report Estimates
Allendale projects a 660 million lb. total pork stock level for the end of October. The five-year average is 534 million lbs. Our estimate represents an increase of 3 million lb. from the previous month. This is just over the five-year average month to month change for October of a 1 million lb. increase. Beef stocks, at 509 million lbs., are above the five-year average of 417. This represents an increase of 13 million lb. from the previous month. The five-year average change is a 1 million lb. increase.



USDA Awards Funds for Fiscal Year 2016 Market Development Programs

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) has awarded fiscal year 2016 funding to more than 60 U.S. agricultural organizations to help expand commercial export markets for U.S. goods.

The Market Access Program (MAP) focuses on consumer promotion, including brand promotion for small companies and cooperatives, and is used extensively by organizations promoting fruits, vegetables, nuts, processed products, and bulk and intermediate commodities. The Foreign Market Development (FMD) Program focuses on trade servicing and trade capacity building by helping to create, expand and maintain long-term export markets for U.S. agricultural products.

"USDA continues to expand markets for American goods abroad, work aggressively to break down barriers to trade, and assist U.S. businesses with the resources needed to reach consumers around the world," said Vilsack. "Together market access and market development activities can help agricultural organizations representing thousands of producers and businesses open and grow markets for American products around the world."

Under the MAP, FAS will provide $172.8 million for fiscal year 2016 to 62 nonprofit organizations and cooperatives. These organizations use the funds to help U.S. producers with activities to promote their products around the globe. Activities can include market research, technical assistance, and support for participation in trade fairs and exhibits. MAP participants contribute an average 137 percent match for generic marketing and promotion activities and a dollar–for–dollar match for promotion of branded products by small businesses and cooperatives.

Under the FMD, FAS will allocate $27.5 million for fiscal year 2016 to 23 trade organizations that represent U.S. agricultural producers. The program focuses on generic promotion of U.S. commodities, rather than consumer–oriented promotion of branded products. Preference is given to organizations that represent an entire industry or are nationwide in membership and scope. The organizations, which contribute an average 184 percent cost share, will conduct activities that help maintain or increase demand for U.S. agricultural commodities overseas.

USDA's international market development programs have had a significant and positive impact on U.S. agricultural exports. An independent study released in 2010 found that trade promotion programs like MAP and FMD provide $35 in economic benefits for every one dollar spent by government and industry on market development.

The past seven years have represented the strongest period for American agricultural exports in the history of our country. In fiscal year 2015, American farmers and ranchers exported $139.7 billion of food and agricultural goods to consumers worldwide – the third highest level ever. U.S. agricultural exports supported nearly 1 million American jobs both on and off the farm, a substantial part of the nearly 11.3 million jobs supported by exports all across the country.

USDA has published the list of organizations that will receive fiscal year 2016 MAP awards and FMD awards. To learn more about MAP, FMD and other FAS programs, visit www.fas.usda.gov.



Leif Magnusson of CLAAS Elected as AEM Chair

CLAAS of America, based in Omaha NE,  is proud to announce Leif Magnusson, President of CLAAS Global Sales Americas, has been elected as 2016 Chair of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). Magnusson succeeds John Patterson of JCB USA Group, and will serve a one-year term as AEM Chair.

“Since becoming a board member in 2010, I have seen first hand the benefits AEM has on the industry,” said Magnusson. “I am honored to have been selected to serve as the AEM Chair and I look forward to a productive year with this organization.”

As the AEM chair, Magnusson will lead the AEM Board of Directors and work along side the other AEM officers and directors to provide direction and guidance for AEM services, activities and programs. Magnusson will continue to share his expertise on a variety of topics including public policy, equipment statistics, market information, and business development.

AEM is a trade association that provides services for global, North American-based companies that manufacture equipment, products and services. Membership is made up of more than 850 companies from agriculture, construction, forestry, mining and utilities industries.

For more information on AEM and membership services, visit www.aem.org.



Biodiesel Leaders Press Congress on Reformed Tax Credit

Nearly 100 biodiesel leaders from across the country will press lawmakers on Capitol Hill Tuesday to reinstate the biodiesel tax incentive as a domestic production credit in line with a proposal passed unanimously by the Senate Finance Committee in July.

The $1-per-gallon incentive expired on Dec. 31, 2014, marking the fourth time in six years Congress has allowed it to lapse. The continued uncertainty surrounding the incentive has severely stymied investment and growth in the industry.

“Members of Congress should understand that in the business world, this kind of unpredictability makes planning for growth nearly impossible,” said Harry Simpson, CEO of Crimson Renewable Energy, a Denver-based company that operates one of the largest biodiesel refineries on the West Coast, in Bakersfield, Calif. “People wonder why the economy isn’t doing better, why more companies aren’t hiring, and it’s this kind of inaction in Washington that is holding companies back. We are urging responsible lawmakers to step up and pass a producer’s tax credit as quickly as possible so we can get the biodiesel industry back on track. It is a critical issue for our company.”

This year, the industry is backing a key reform passed by the Senate Finance Committee in S. 1946 that would convert the incentive from a blender’s credit to a producer’s credit focused on domestic production. Under the existing blender’s structure, biodiesel that is produced overseas and blended in the U.S. is increasingly taking advantage of the incentive, undermining U.S. production and directing U.S. tax benefits to foreign producers. By narrowing the eligibility for the credit to domestic producers, the reform would save about $90 million, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation.

“This is a common-sense reform that will appropriately focus the incentive on stimulating U.S. production and jobs while streamlining IRS administration of the credit,” said Anne Steckel, the National Biodiesel Board’s vice president of federal affairs. “It makes a good policy better.”

“The biodiesel tax incentive has broad bipartisan support because it works to create jobs and economic activity, and it furthers our energy policy goals to diversify the fuel markets and reduce emissions,” Steckel added. “It is irresponsible that Congress has allowed this incentive to remain lapsed all year when we know the impact it has, particularly when billions of dollars of incentives for fossil fuels industries are written permanently into the tax code. We should have clear, forward-looking tax policy, not this unpredictable, on-again, off-again system where Congress waits until the 11th hour every year to get anything done. ”



Pork Industry Message For Antibiotic Awareness Week: Healthy Animals Equals Safe Food

As part of World Antibiotics Awareness Week, the National Pork Producers Council is highlighting U.S. pork producers’ three-decade commitment to responsible and necessary use of animal health products to keep their animals healthy and to produce safe food. Among those efforts, the U.S. pork industry:


1980s
·         Developed in 1989 the Pork Quality Assurance program to address concerns over antibiotic residues. Today, 99.9 percent of pork tested meets FDA residue standards.

1990s
·         Established Judicious Use of Antibiotics standards for pork producers to follow.
·         Supported establishment in 1996 of the federal National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System to track antibiotic resistance in foodborne bacteria from humans, retail meats and food animals. The industry continues to lobby Congress for federal funding for the program.

2000s
·         Backed in 2002 USDA’s Collaboration in Animal Health and Food Safety Epidemiology pilot program to enhance overall understanding of the epidemiology of antibiotic resistant foodborne bacteria that pose a food-safety risk by monitoring antibiotic use on farm and bacteria on farm and in plants.
·         Developed in 2005 the Take Care – Use Antibiotics Responsibly program to provide pork producers and their veterinarians principles and guidelines to use when making antibiotic use decisions. FDA, CDC and veterinarians provided input for the program.
·         Incorporated in 2007 the Take Care – Use Antibiotics Responsibly program into the Pork Quality Assurance Plus program. PQA Plus, which includes producer certification and on-farm assessments, has assessment points on veterinary-client-patient relationships and antibiotic use record keeping.

2010s
·         Supported in 2013 FDA Guidance for Industry #213, which lays out the framework for judicious use of antibiotics in food-animal production. The guidance asks drug manufacturers to give up growth promotion claims for antibiotics that are medically important to human medicine. Using those same antibiotics for treatment, control or prevention of diseases must be under veterinary oversight.
·         Collaborated in 2014 with USDA and FDA to develop meaningful antibiotic use data collection. The effort is ongoing.
·         Conducted in 2014 outreach to pork producers about FDA Guidance #213 and a revised Veterinary Feed Directive rule. The effort is ongoing.
·         Participated in 2015 in the President’s National Strategy for Combatting Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria.



Ninth Circuit Court Gets Sulfoxaflor Decision Wrong, NSP Insists on Solutions

The Environmental Protection Agency last week issued a cancellation order for all previously registered Sulfoxaflor products, including Transform. This cancellation order is in response to the Sept. 10, 2015, ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals against EPA, which became effective Nov. 12.

Transform was widely used to control sugarcane aphids in sorghum during the 2014 and 2015 growing seasons. More than 10 states received Section 18 emergency use exemption to use Transform, mitigating yield, revenue and acreage loss in thousands of U.S. sorghum acres.

“Transform has been an important tool for sorghum farmers across the nation to combat sugarcane aphids,” said National Sorghum Producers Past Chairman J.B. Stewart, “and as an organization, we will work as hard as we can to ensure the product is available next year through the Section 18 process. NSP also stands ready to support Dow AgroSciences and the EPA in re-registering this essential product.”

“This is an example of an activist court,” Stewart said, “and as an organization, we plan to do our part in pushing back on these nonsensical court decisions that unfortunately are becoming more frequent and to the detriment of farmers and ranchers across the nation. We must go to bat for them and keep tools available as we face stricter regulations and declining prices on the farm during trying and uncertain times.”

“This court is known for making rulings that align with activist organizations at the expense of agriculture,” Stewart said, “and we will continue to fight to keep products available for our producers that help them remain profitable.”



N Backlash Worries Fertilizer Industry

Average retail fertilizer prices continued to slowly slip lower the second week of November 2015, according to retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN. 

Prices for all but one of eight major fertilizers edged lower compared to a month earlier, but none were down significantly. One fertilizer, DAP, was unchanged from last month. The phosphate's average price was $547 per ton.

The remaining seven fertilizers show little movement from last month. MAP averaged $561 per ton, potash $426/ton, urea $405/ton, 10-34-0 $581/ton, anhydrous $631/ton, UAN28 $289/ton and UAN32 $332/ton.

On a price per pound of nitrogen, the average urea price was at $0.44/lb.N, anhydrous $0.38/lb.N, UAN28 $0.52/lb.N and UAN32 $0.52/lb.N.

With retail fertilizer moving lower in recent months, only one fertilizer is now higher compared to a year earlier. 10-34-0 is 4% higher compared to last year.

The remaining seven nutrients are now lower compared to retail prices from a year ago. Both DAP and MAP are 6% less expensive while UAN32 is 10% lower and potash is 11% less expensive. Anhydrous is 12% lower, UAN28 is 14% less expensive and urea is 19% lower from a year previous.



New Transparency Research Reveals What Consumers Want From Food and Ag to Earn Their Trust

A new study proves that improved transparency increases consumer trust in food. The Center for Food Integrity’s (CFI) latest research, A Clear View of Transparency and How it Builds Consumer Trust, provides proof that transparency builds trust and identifies the most effective practices for building consumer trust.

“Transparency works,” said Charlie Arnot, CFI CEO. “We have statistical data to show that increasing transparency in farming, food production and processing will increase consumer trust.”

The 2015 research focused on areas that are important to consumers:
    Impact of Food on Health
    Food Safety
    Impact on the Environment
    Human/Labor Rights
    Treatment of Animals Raised for Food
    Business Ethics in Food Production

An online survey of 2,000 people explored which attributes are most important to consumers when it comes to trust-building transparency – policies, practices, performance or verification.

“The survey shows an organization’s practices are most important in five of the six topic areas,” said Arnot. “Consumers want to know more about what you are actually doing in these important areas. They also want the ability to engage by asking questions through the company website and they expect straight answers in a timely fashion.”

The practices include such things as the information provided on product labels, offering engagement opportunities through company websites, making results of third-party audits publicly available and protecting whistleblowers.

“Practices are a demonstration of a company’s values in action, and our research shows shared values are the foundation for building trust.” said Arnot. “Third-party audits of animal well-being and food safety practices are the minimum level of investment for transparency, but because it’s somebody from outside an organization reporting on its performance, a third-party audit doesn’t reflect the organization’s values and therefore is not as powerful in demonstrating transparency.”

Survey respondents were also asked who they hold most responsible for transparency – food companies, farmers, grocery stores or restaurants.

“This study clearly shows consumers hold food companies most responsible for demonstrating transparency in all six areas,” Arnot said. “Even when it comes to on-farm animal care, an area one might assume people look to farmers to provide, consumers told us food companies are most responsible. This could lead to food companies requiring more information from their suppliers and reporting more information to consumers when it comes to the treatment of animals raised for food.”

CFI has explored the concept of increased transparency for three years and is developing a transparency index to give companies and organizations the tools needed to effectively demonstrate transparency. A beta test of the index was recently conducted by Campbell’s Soup, ConAgra, Hershey, Kroger, Smithfield Foods, Tyson Foods, DuPont, Monsanto and Phibro Animal Health.

“We believe in being more transparent because people want assurance their food is produced responsibly,” said Dr. Christine Daugherty, vice president, sustainable food production for Tyson Foods, Inc. “The research by CFI helps us understand what consumers expect and want to know.”

The beta test results revealed strengths as well as opportunities for companies to better provide information important to meeting consumer expectations on transparency.

Companies received high marks for providing information about the impact of food on health, food safety, environment and business ethics via company websites. Areas of opportunity include companies’ performance in responding to consumer inquiries and providing information about how they have verified their practices.

The index will continue to be refined and specific criteria developed for food companies, farmers, restaurants and retailers. 

Consumers in the study were also asked if the U.S. food system is headed in the right direction or down the wrong track – the fourth year the question has been posed. Forty percent said “right direction” – a slight dip from a year ago but up significantly from 30 percent in 2012. Those who believe the food system is on the wrong track has dropped by 11 percent in the last two years.

Survey participants were also asked to rate their level of concern on a list of 12 life issues including broad areas such as healthcare costs, unemployment, personal financial situation, global warming/climate change, food safety and food availability. Two of the top five were food related. Nearly three-quarters rated healthcare costs as the top concern, followed by the rising cost of food, the economy, keeping healthy food affordable and rising energy costs. Consumers are generally less concerned about most of the top issues than they were a year ago.

CFI’s annual survey is intended to help the food system better understand what it takes to earn and maintain consumer trust. Providing insight that increases consumer engagement will help consumers make informed decisions and help align food system practices with consumer values and expectations.

The 2015 CFI research report offers highlights of the research and is available at www.foodintegrity.org.



National Grange Elects First Female President of Historic Organization

During the 149th Annual Session of the National Grange last week in Lincoln, Nebraska, delegates from each state elected a new slate of national officers. Among this group was Betsy Huber, the newly elected President and the first woman to hold that office in the history of the organization.

Ms. Huber is currently employed by the Pennsylvania State Grange as the Government Relations Director where she works to advance the policies of the Grange within the PA State Legislature. She is a member of Chester-Delaware County Pomona Grange #3 and Goshen Grange #121. Betsy started her Grange involvement at a very young age as a member of the Juvenile (now known as Junior) Grange. She has held numerous positions with her local Grange and with the Pennsylvania State Grange, including serving eight years as President, the first woman to hold that position.

As the National Grange President, Ms. Huber will work with the National Grange staff to advance Grange policies in Washington D.C.; as well as oversee the day to day operations of the organization. The Grange, legislative work, and agriculture have always been an important part of her life. She previously served as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Grange (chairperson 2007-14) and is also the executive secretary for the Pennsylvania Young Farmers Association. She has also held various positions in the agricultural community that include serving on the boards of the PA State Council of Farm Organizations (President 2011-12), the Governor's Census 2010 Advisory Panel, the PA Department of Agriculture Fertilizer Advisory Committee, the PA Department of Environmental Protection Ag Advisory Board (Chair 2007), and PA Farm Link. She was employed as district aide to State Representative Arthur D. Hershey from 1992-2002.

She has also served her community as township supervisor for Upper Oxford Township for 24 years, chairman of the Township Agricultural Security Area Advisory Committee, treasurer of the Chester County Association of Township Officials and as member of the PSATS Land Use Committee and Resolutions Committee. She has also served the Avondale Presbyterian Church as Elder, Deacon, Trustee and choir member.

Ms. Huber was elected to the Penn State Board of Trustees by the delegates from agricultural societies in 2005 and serves on the Committee on Outreach, Development, and Community Relations and the Governance and Long Range Planning Committee.



FDA's Final Produce Rule Imposes Undue Burdens on Farmers

The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) final rule for farms that raise produce for human consumption, "is going to be very damaging for the growing local food movement, and the millions of American consumers who want more access, not less, to healthy local foods," stated Judith McGeary, founder and Executive Director of the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance, and a farmer herself.

The final rule comes after two rounds of proposed rulemaking, an unusual procedure taken by FDA in response to the outcry caused by the initial proposed rule.  The final rule retains many of the positive changes that had been made in the second proposed rulemaking, but FDA made only a few additional changes.

"On the positive side, the final rule retains the changes relating to the use of compost and manure, as well as adding some clarification on grazing and the frequency required for water testing," stated Ms. McGeary. "Unfortunately, the agency chose to ignore the comments it received about the unrealistic standard for irrigation water, as well as the scope of the qualified exemption."

FDA's final rule includes standards for irrigation water that are based on the standard that applies to recreational waters, such as streams that people swim in.  Numerous organizations and experts argued that the standard was unnecessarily restrictive and impractical when applied to agricultural uses.

In addition, Congress included a "qualified exemption" in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), exempting small-scale direct-marketing farmers from the produce rule and setting a gross sales limit of half a million dollars a year.  Although meat and grain products are not regulated under FSMA, under the final rule sales of such products will all be counted toward the gross sales limit.

"FDA's decision to effectively narrow the scope of the Tester-Hagan qualified exemption is deeply disappointing," contended Ms. McGeary.  "In practical terms, this rule pressures grain and livestock farmers to avoid diversification, harming farmers financially and discouraging environmentally responsible land use.  From a food safety standpoint, it does not make sense to treat the small-scale production of produce the same as large-scale production, simply because the same person is producing other types of food as well."

Moreover, FDA's final rule would allow a local FDA official to revoke a farmer's exemption if the official claimed there were conditions at the farm or facility that posed a risk of foodborne illness, giving the agency extensive discretion.  The agency did extend the deadlines for the farmer to respond as well as to come into compliance, but not as far as many commenters had urged.

"What sane person would start a small farm, knowing that he or she might have to comply with thousands of dollars of extra expense based on a bureaucrat's say-so and very little due process?" asked Ms. McGeary.  "This rule creates significant disincentives to farming, at a time when we need more farmers, not fewer.



NFU Opposes Proposed Rule to Allow Beef Imports from Namibia, Cites 2015 Outbreak of Highly Contagious FMD

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson today urged the administration to oppose a proposed rule that would make Namibia an eligible country to export meat to the United States. Namibia just this year experienced an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

“The fear over FMD is warranted,” said Johnson in comments submitted today to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). “An outbreak would have devastating consequences on our domestic livestock industry. NFU calls upon the administration to defend U.S. farmers and ranchers by opposing imports of live animals and processed or frozen animal products from countries or regions with a history of FMD.”

Johnson noted that in 2006, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) proposed to add Namibia to the list of regions that are considered free of FMD with the exception of north of the country’s Veterinary Cordon Fence (VCF).

“Earlier this year Namibia had an outbreak of FMD north of the VCF,” said Johnson. “The Namibian government has said repeatedly that it would like to remove the VCF due to the social and economic inequalities it has created and perpetuated. If the government removes the VCF prior to elimination of all contagious animal diseases, such as FMD, then the U.S. could potentially import infected meat from the country.”

Johnson noted that the U.S. has been very fortunate that an outbreak of FMD has not occurred in the states since 1929, but that other countries have not been so lucky.

“In recent memory, the outbreak of FMD in the United Kingdom (UK) resulted in the slaughter and/or burning of nearly 3 million animals,” said Johnson. “This outbreak was so severe, it delayed the national elections. The epidemic was costly both to farmers and the economy. The total losses to agriculture and the food chain amounted to over $4 billion. Prior to the 2001 outbreak, the UK had gone 34 years without an outbreak.”

“With an increasingly global agricultural economy, the U.S. should remain vigilant and adequately weigh the risks and benefits when seeking to expand imports,” said Johnson. “NFU encourages USDA to delay the FSIS approval of Namibia as an exporter of beef until APHIS reevaluates the status of FMD in the country, given the latest outbreak.”



U.S., Ghana Announce Food for Progress Agreements to Increase Agricultural Productivity

Deputy Agriculture Secretary Krysta Harden and Ghanaian Minister of Food and Agriculture Fifi Kwetey will announce two Food for Progress agreements today to support agricultural development and trade within Ghana's poultry sector.

"The Food for Progress agreements are the latest example of the partnership between the people of Ghana and the United States," Harden said. "When the government of Ghana asked for assistance to improve its poultry sector, USDA and its partners were ready to help. We are happy to be here today with ACDI/VOCA and the American Soybean Association to launch new economic development and producer outreach initiatives."

The agreement with ACDI/VOCA targets producer groups and cooperators and works with those groups to improve feed quality and veterinary services. The agreement with the American Soybean Association focuses on educating producers about the importance of high-quality feed and improves the industry's capacity to test feed. The agreements are valued at $36.6 and $21.5 million, respectively and the projects will operate over five years.

USDA's Food for Progress Program helps developing countries modernize and strengthen their agricultural sectors. U.S. agricultural commodities are donated, sold on the local market and the proceeds are used to support agricultural, economic or infrastructure development programs.

The projects supported by these new agreements will help Ghanaian farmers improve the health and quality of their poultry flocks, increasing farm income and improving operational efficiencies. For more information about the Food for Progress Program, visit www.fas.usda.gov/programs/food-progress.