UNL Extension Educator Larry Howard, Cuming County
Nebraska used to limit mortality composting to carcasses weighing less than 600 lbs, but this restriction has been removed from state statute, opening the door to a new carcass disposal option for beef cattle and other large livestock. Although Nebraska has maintained a size restriction on mortality composting for many years, other states have successfully demonstrated that large carcasses, including beef cattle, dairy cattle, and horses, can be effectively composted.
Most farms, ranches, or feeding operations normally have all of the necessary materials and equipment on hand to create a successful composting program. Scraped manure, spilled or spoiled feed, and chopped straw or corn stalks can be combined to create a very effective pile material. The basic design of a carcass compost pile includes a 24-inch base of absorbent material (wood shavings, sawdust, etc.) on which mortalities are placed and then covered with additional pile material. During the composting process, microbes in the pile break down carcass tissue into a stable organic residue while producing heat, moisture, and carbon dioxide.
UNL assistant professor of Biological Systems Engineering and Animal Science, Amy Schmidt has shared about composting that is helpful. Monitoring heat and moisture in the pile is important to ensure optimum success of the composting process. Appropriate moisture ensures that microbial activity will generate heat to effectively kill pathogens and weed seeds in the pile. Internal pile temperatures of 120 to 160 degrees F indicate successful heating. For windrow composting or bin composting, a temperature of 131 degrees F should be maintained for at least three consecutive days during each heating cycle. Temperature measurements should be made at several locations within the windrow or bin to ensure even heating throughout the pile. Typically, an initial 90-day heating cycle is followed by turning the pile, adding pile material and moisture, if needed, and allowing the pile to experience a second heating cycle. A third heating cycle may be needed, depending on the condition of the carcass(es) at the end of the second heating cycle. Large carcasses can take up to nine months to fully decompose. Bones that remain after the soft tissue is decomposed will need to be returned to the pile for further decomposition.
The term “compost” has been used to describe many products that have not been through sufficient heating cycles to destroy harmful pathogens and weed seeds. Mature compost will have an earthy scent, dark color, and consistent texture. Successfully producing this desirable product takes time and proper pile management.
UNL Partners With African Scientists on Fertilizer Research
University of Nebraska-Lincoln scientists are helping farmers in some of the poorest countries in the world target their use of precious fertilizer to get the highest profits possible.
The research and extension effort can both help raise subsistence farmers' income and help feed a growing global population, said UNL soil scientist Charles Wortmann, who is leading UNL's role in a new $5.65 million project to enable improved profitability of fertilizer use for 13 sub-Saharan countries.
The three-year project, funded by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, builds on research done earlier by Wortmann and colleagues in Uganda. They studied how six crops responded to the application of various levels of fertilizer to determine where farmers might best invest those inputs for the highest profits.
The UNL team and Ugandan colleagues developed an Excel-based Uganda Fertilizer Optimization Tool that tracks 15 crop-nutrient response functions across the crops. The tool considers the land area the farmer wants to plan for each crop, expected commodity values at harvest, the cost of fertilizer and finance available to the farmer. From that information, the tool provides recommended fertilizer rates for each crop and the expected effects on yields and returns.
With the new funding from AGRA, $345,470 of which will go to UNL, scientists will expand this work to Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia.
Wortmann said UNL is providing its technical expertise; much of the grant's funding will go to national agricultural research institutes in the nations themselves.
Crops to be studied may include maize, sorghum, pearl and finger millet, teff, cassava, rice, beans, groundnuts, soybean, pigeonpea, chickpea and cowpea.
In sub-Saharan Africa, fertilizer use is very low with only 8-9 pounds per acre applied to such food crops. Crop production is primarily by poor, small-scale farmers with very little financial capacity. Fertilizer use needs to compete with basic needs in allocation of the small amount of money available. Therefore, net returns on investments need to be very high.
In Uganda, for instance, the UNL team's research showed that nitrogen applied to rice or dry beans were especially profitable.
"If farmers have one or both of those crops in their cropping system, that's where they should apply the nitrogen because that's what's going to give them the best return on their investment," Wortmann said.
In addition to research, Wortmann will help train people in the 13 countries to in turn train farmers to use the information.
Other partners in the research, formally known as Optimizing Fertilizer Recommendations in Africa, are the African Soils Information Service; the UNL-led Global Yield Gap Atlas; and the Grameen Foundation, which will help develop the computer-based tool for use on smart phones that are becoming increasingly common in Africa.
Iowa Farm Bureau, U of I Athletics Announce ANF Game Day Activities
Since teaming up to raise awareness of the food and energy options that today's farmers provide through the America Needs Farmers (ANF) campaign, the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) and the University of Iowa (U of I) Athletics Department have contributed more than $60,000 to the Iowa Food Bank Association through donations and sales of ANF merchandise. The third annual ANF Game Day will be celebrated at Kinnick Stadium Oct. 26 against Northwestern.
During ANF Game Day, the U of I will enshrine former Hawkeye and Detroit Lions player, Jared DeVries, on the Wall of Honor in the ANF Plaza. The ANF Plaza, located on the northwest side of Kinnick Stadium, will feature DeVries as its second inductee into the ANF Wall of Honor, joining former Hawkeye and Kansas City Chiefs player, Casey Wiegmann. "Jared is a great role model for other student athletes with a tremendous work ethic and a reputation for always striving to be his best," said Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz. The ANF Wall of Honor recognizes former U of I student football athletes who exemplify the tenacity, work ethic and character of the Iowa farmer, qualities that have helped Iowa remain the leading agriculture state in the nation.
A key feature of the IFBF's Legends Tent at Krause Family Plaza will be an autograph session featuring former Hawkeye/NFL players including: Aaron Kampman, Robert Gallery, Brad Banks, and Jared DeVries. Former Hawkeye and current Minnesota Vikings player Chad Greenway also joined the ANF team this year, but his NFL schedule won't allow him to join his former Hawkeye teammates on ANF Game Day. "The importance of farmers is never going to go away. The foundation of human nature is farming: being able to produce something from the land, being able to feed your family, feed your community, and feed the world," said Greenway. "It's the backbone of America. It's what we're all about. It's the fabric of our being."
Iowa Hawkeyes fans and Iowa farmers agree that having NFL and Hawkeyes legends join the ANF team is a game-changer when it comes to sharing agriculture's message. "We are honored to have these former Hawkeye greats support our cause," said Craig Hill, president of the IFBF. "We understand that consumers today are interested in knowing more about their food and how it's grown or raised. The ANF initiative is an opportunity to reach new audiences about today's farming and these players help us achieve that. There may be fewer of us than when Coach Fry launched ANF during the 1985 Farm Crisis, but we are also more diverse and face new challenges meeting consumer demands."
In partnership with U of I Athletics and Hy-Vee, IFBF has organized the ANF Great Grocery Giveaway which invites Iowans to meet today's farmers through video tours of their farms, and register for a chance to win $5,000 in free groceries. "There's a great story to tell and we invite you to visit www.americaneedsfarmers.org to learn more about your food and energy and the farm families who produce it, while having the opportunity to win free groceries for a year," said Hill.
In addition to the autograph session, the IFBF Legends Tent will also feature games like Tailgate Toss and Hi-Striker where visitors can interact with Iowa farmers and earn a chance to win ANF prizes, or participate in a drawing for autographed ANF items. The tent will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. with the autograph session running from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
On ANF Game Day, ANF 'Farm Strong' merchandise will be available at Herky's Locker Room locations around the stadium. A portion of proceeds from the sale of ANF 'Farm Strong' merchandise goes to support the Iowa Food Banks.
ANF was first launched in 1985 during the height of the Farm Crisis by legendary Hawkeye coach Hayden Fry, who wanted to show an increasingly urban nation why agriculture matters. For more information about the Iowa Farm Bureau/U of I ANF partnership, click on www.americaneedsfarmers.org. To learn more about the growing number of Iowans in need and how you can connect with your local food pantries, click on iowafba.org/.
USDA Under Secretary Meets with South Dakota Farmers and Ranchers Impacted by Blizzard, Urges Farm Bill Passage
Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse announced today that conservation assistance is available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for those affected by the Atlas Blizzard that swept through western South Dakota earlier this month. Scuse made the announcement in Rapid City during a meeting with western South Dakota producers.
"This blizzard impacted lives and livelihoods across the region and USDA is committed to doing all we can to help ranchers during this difficult time," Scuse said. "Due to the lack of a new Farm Bill, our means to help are limited - but we will do all we can. This disaster is a reminder of the unpredictable nature of agriculture, and the need for a strong farm safety net that would be provided by a new Food, Farm and Jobs Bill."
USDA is offering a special signup through the Natural Resources Conservation Service' (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to help South Dakota producers address the impacts of the storm. In addition, Scuse encouraged producers to submit forms to the Farm Service Agency to document their losses with the hope that Congress will quickly pass a Farm Bill to reauthorize the livestock disaster assistance programs that have expired. The Under Secretary also noted that the USDA's StrikeForce Initiative for Rural Growth and Opportunity has been working with Native American Tribes in the state to connect them with a variety of USDA resources, including conservation programs.
The EQIP signup runs through November 15th, 2013. EQIP assistance will help producers dispose of livestock carcasses, replace destroyed fencing, and rebuild shelterbelts and other conservation practices that were damaged by the storm. USDA will begin providing assistance to producers as soon as this week.
Scuse noted that NRCS is working in partnership with the State of South Dakota to provide the greatest possible amount of assistance. NRCS is entering into an agreement with the state to share in the cost of deploying additional state and local personnel into the field to help producers perform impact assessments on their operations and identify sites for carcass disposal. This additional assistance will also help perform outreach for the EQIP signup and support producers with their applications. NRCS is also providing the state government with technical information, such as soils information and technical practice standards, and the state is using this information to work directly with agricultural partners and individual producers to provide assistance.
Chile Ends ‘Safeguard’ Exam On Pork Imports
In a big victory for America’s pork producers, Chile has determined that no action should be taken to limit pork imports, including those from the United States, after concluding an investigation on whether they were harming domestic pork producers.
The South American country initiated a “safeguard” investigation in May on all imported frozen pork, including imports from the United States. Under international trade rules, safeguard measures are temporary emergency actions, such as duty increases, against imported products that have caused or threaten to cause serious injury to the importing country’s domestic industry. The Chilean Pork Producers Association alleged that pork imports caused losses to its producers and called for a 14.3 percent additional duty on imported pork.
The National Pork Producers Council claimed the charges of harm were unfounded and pleaded the U.S. pork industry’s case against safeguard measures. It pointed out that while U.S. pork exports to Chile have grown over the past eight years, they remain small and stable in relation to pork consumption and production in that country. In fact, although Chilean pork producers continue to account for more than 95 percent of domestic consumption, they also have significantly increased their sales in export markets.
After a 90-day investigation to determine whether safeguard measures should be imposed and at what rate, a Chilean commission decided such measures weren’t warranted.
“America’s pork producers are pleased that Chile has found that U.S. pork exports to that country are not harming Chilean pork producers,” said NPPC President Randy Spronk, a pork producer from Edgerton, Minn. “NPPC believed that the charges of harm were unsupported and led the defense of the U.S. pork industry against any safeguard action.”
Chile has become an important market for U.S. pork since the implementation of the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement in 2005. Last year, Chile was the 12th most valuable export destination for U.S. pork products, totaling almost 17,000 metric tons valued at more than $42 million.
U.S. Beef Tripe Ads Roll into Peru
U.S. beef exports to South America are up sharply in recent years, and Peru is one of the main drivers of this phenomenal growth. Now, residents in this nation of 30 million have mouth-watering images of one of their favorite dishes – made with high-quality, grain-fed U.S. beef – rolling the nation’s streets to spark their appetites.In partnership with leading Peruvian meat importer and processor Halema, the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) is installing colorful truck graphics on seven of the company’s vehicles to serve as rolling billboards advertising U.S. beef tripe. Funding for the graphics is provided through the Beef Checkoff Program.
“Halema’s trucks are a daily visitor throughout the countryside, particularly in the capital city of Lima,” said Jessica Julca, UMEF representative in South America. “Now, instead of a generic white truck, everyone from consumers and chefs to food service managers and retailers will see frequent reminders of how well U.S. beef works in Peruvian cuisine, including cau-cau, a popular dish made with tripe.”
Peru is the leading importer of beef variety meat in South America, averaging about 15,400 metric tons (34 million pounds) annually, of which 30 percent is sourced from the United States. Tripe, livers, hearts and lungs are the leading imported products.
“Halema is the largest importer and distributor of variety meat in Peru,” noted Julca. “Since they have their own fleet of delivery trucks that average more than 30,000 kilometers (18,000 miles) each per year, these ads will be highly visible both in Lima and throughout the countryside.”
U.S. beef exports to Peru spiked 18 percent in volume and 48 percent in value in 2012 to 12,887 metric tons (28.4 million pounds) valued at $29.7 million. Those totals will almost certainly be eclipsed in 2013 as beef exports in the first seven months of the year are up 47 percent in volume and 12 percent in value to 12,141 metric tons (26.8 million pounds) valued at $21.1 million.
Cattle Prices Continue to Rise
Cash cattle prices have moved higher this fall, supported by small cattle supplies, a generally favorable demand base, and low feed prices that have sent feeder cattle futures prices to record highs. According to Purdue University Extension economist Chris Hurt, the outlook suggests even higher prices in coming months.
"Finished cattle prices fell to summer lows in early August, slightly below $120 per hundredweight," Hurt said. "Prices recovered somewhat into the low $120s in August and September, but have recently moved toward $130. The anticipation of small beef supplies in the coming year has been well documented. Per capita beef supplies will likely be down about 5 percent for the rest of this year and well into 2014. The loss of cattle in South Dakota due to the early October blizzard gained national attention and may have helped support the idea that cattle supplies would be even tighter. However, the reduction is not large in terms of the national impact," he said.
Hurt said that even at 100,000 head of losses, which is the upper end of estimates so far, that represents only one-tenth of 1 percent of the nation's 89 million head of cattle.
"If half of the animals were beef cows, that still represents less than two-tenths of 1 percent of the nation's beef cow herd. Losses of this magnitude are huge for individuals but not highly significant for beef supplies on a national basis. The blizzard losses would be expected to increase finished cattle prices by only 20 to 35 cents per hundredweight over the coming year," he said.
Feeder cattle futures reached record-high prices on Oct. 14, at nearly $1.70 per pound, driven by a combination of high-finished cattle futures and low feed prices. December corn futures, as an example, touched lows on Oct. 14, at $4.32 per bushel. Calf prices have likely reached $175 per hundredweight, or higher, at Plains markets, although USDA reports have not been published due to the partial government shutdown that ended Oct. 17. Hurt said that the direction of calf and feeder cattle prices will be determined by the strength of finished cattle prices and the direction of feed prices. Feed prices seem to hinge mostly on yields for corn and soybeans and on early signs of demand growth in the export market, he said.
"Prices are expected to move into the very low $130s in November and average about $130 for the October to December quarter," Hurt said. "Further strength is expected into March and April with highs reaching the mid-$130s. First-quarter averages are expected to be about $133 and the second quarter near $132. On an annual basis, cattle prices should set new record highs this year near $126 and break that record once again in 2014 with an average near $130 for the entire year," he said.
According to Hurt, the most recent monthly Cattle-on-Feed report was also a casualty of the partial shutdown. However, with abundant feed resources and much lower prices, the small number of calves that are available are expected to move to feedlots and be placed at lighter weights than a year ago when feed was high priced. Lower-priced feed and the expectations for increasing finished cattle prices over the next four to five months should also encourage feedlot managers to feed to heavier weights.
"Some brood cow producers in areas where pastures have returned are expected to begin heifer retention this fall," Hurt said. "However, it is estimated that dry regions still represent about 45 percent of the brood cow herd that are not expected to expand until better pasture and forage conditions prevail. Overall, this means that the expansion of the beef herd will remain slow into 2014.
"With low cattle numbers, there is considerable excess capacity in feedlots and packing facilities," Hurt added. "Both packers and feedlots tend to have large fixed costs in facilities. The combination of excess capacity and high fixed costs means that both will tend to bid strongly for the limited cattle numbers. Ultimately this strong bidding gets back to the brood cow producer in the form of record-high calf and feeder cattle prices. Unfortunately, these conditions also mean that the margins for both packers and feedlots, while better than in the past year, will still be narrow and will likely be less than their total costs," he said.
The beef cattle industry has been downsizing, Hurt said, with falling numbers for several years.
"Continued excess capacity likely means one to two more years of downsizing," Hurt said. "Then, if beef cow numbers begin to slowly turn upward in 2014, downsizing of cattle feeding capacity may end in 2015 and in the packing industry by 2016.
"The years beyond 2016 should provide some expansion for the beef cattle industry, but there will still be a slow upward growth," Hurt said. "A slow upward trend is not highly optimistic but much better than the declining trends of recent years."
Retail Fertilizer Trends
According to retail fertilizer prices tracked by DTN for the third week of October, prices are continuing to move lower, but at a slower pace than in recent weeks. Retailers have anticipated a price plateau and it appears that happening now.
All eight of the major fertilizers averaged lower prices compared to last month with only two fertilizers showing a significant price drop in DTN's survey. Urea was down 6% compared to last month, while potash slid 5%. Urea averaged $441/ton and potash was at $493/ton. Potash remains $24/ton away from the DTN five-year low of $469/ton made the fifth week of August 2010.
The remaining six major fertilizers were all lower compared to a month earlier, but these moves were fairly minor. DAP had an average price of $524/ton, MAP $566/ton, 10-34-0 $522/ton, anhydrous $654/ton, UAN28 $323/ton and UAN32 $369/ton.
On a price per pound of nitrogen basis, the average urea price was at $0.48/lb.N, anhydrous $0.40/lb.N, UAN28 $0.58/lb.N and UAN32 $0.58/lb.N.
All eight of the major fertilizers have tumbled by double digits in price compared to October 2012. UAN32 is now down 11%; MAP is 16% lower; DAP, 10-34-0 and UAN28 are 17% less expensive; potash is 20% less expensive; anhydrous is 22% lower and urea is 26% less expensive compared to last year.
Commodity Classic and AG CONNECT Launch Collaboration
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers, the National Corn Growers Association and the American Soybean Association announce a new collaborative venture that joins two leading industry trade show experiences - Commodity Classic and AG CONNECT Expo & Summit - to provide an even better world-class experience and gathering place for all segments of agriculture.
Commodity Classic is a joint venture owned by the National Corn Growers Association and the American Soybean Association, with National Association of Wheat Growers and National Sorghum Producers participating as affiliates. The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) owns and produces AG CONNECT Expo & Summit.
The inaugural event will be held March 3-5, 2016, in New Orleans. The Commodity Classic shows scheduled for 2014 and 2015 will take place as planned. The AG CONNECT experience will join Commodity Classic 2016 and the new combined show will continue to meet on an annual basis.
Charlie O’Brien, AEM senior vice president, said, “We have great respect for the professional approach the Commodity Classic has brought to the industry and feel it is consistent with the vision AEM members have designed into the AG CONNECT experience. Great things can happen in the industry when leaders work together, have a long-term vision and stay focused.”
“Commodity Classic and the AG CONNECT experience are two outstanding events for our audiences,” said NCGA President Martin Barbre, an Illinois corn grower. “We recognize how our programs can complement and extend the value for our members, exhibitors and attendees.”
“We both value the power of education and of top-quality interaction among attendees and exhibitors on the show floor,” said ASA President Danny Murphy, a soybean grower in Mississippi. “Commodity Classic will remain a farmer-led and farmer-focused event as it moves forward with our new partner. The timing is now right, and our new event will deliver even more value to all show participants.”
The two shows are known as offering valuable education sessions, innovations exhibited on the show floor, and unparalleled peer-to-peer networking - these values will not be merely maintained by the collaboration, but will be better than ever. More details will be provided in the coming months.
Commodity Classic is the annual convention and trade show for the American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, and National Sorghum Producers. Visit www.commodityclassic.com.
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) owns and produces AG CONNECT Expo & Summit, and is the North American-based international trade group for the off-road equipment manufacturing industry (agriculture, construction, forestry, mining and utility). Visit www.aem.org.
Report Overlooks Animal Agriculture’s Progress
A report issued today from an institution whose namesake is the poster boy for the food police ignores the tremendous progress America’s farmers and ranchers have made in producing safe, affordable food while improving animal well-being, protecting the environment and using animal health products responsibly.
The Center for a Livable Future (CLF), which initiated “Meatless Mondays” and is part of the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health – named for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has, for example, banned the sale of large sodas in his city – released an update of a 2008 report from the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production that was highly critical of modern animal agriculture. (CLF in 2008 directed the work of the commission.)
Composed primarily of members opposed to modern livestock production, the commission called for phasing out certain production practices, banning certain animal antibiotics and placing new restrictions on the use of manure; it said large animal feeding operations are bad for rural economies.
The “updated” report claims that that the animal agriculture industry has “made the problems worse” over the past five year in addressing the commission’s concerns.
“Just as it was five years ago, the charges against animal agriculture made in the CLF report bear little resemblance to the truth,” said Randy Spronk, a pork producer from Edgerton, Minn., and president of the National Pork Producers Council. “The report is wrong in every aspect, and the CLF ignored the extensive steps animal agriculture has taken over the last decade or more to address various industry challenges
“We have continuously made improvements in animal care, including protecting them from diseases, and we always have been good stewards of the land, air and water we use.”
A report issued Monday from the Animal Agriculture Alliance belies the CLF report. The AAA report can be found at http://animalagalliance.org/.
CWT Assists with 2.8 Million Pounds of Cheese and Butter Export Sales
Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 11 requests for export assistance from Bongards Creameries, Dairy Farmers of America, Foremost Farms, Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association and Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold) to sell 2.002 million pounds (908 metric tons) of Cheddar, Gouda and Monterey Jack cheese and 771,618 pounds (350 metric tons) of butter to customers in Asia, Central America, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The product will be delivered October 2013 through March 2014.
Year-to-date, CWT has assisted member cooperatives in selling 111.331 million pounds of cheese, 81.008 million pounds of butter, 44,092 pounds of anhydrous milk fat and 218,258 pounds of whole milk powder to 37 countries on six continents. These sales are the equivalent of 2.851 billion pounds of milk on a milkfat basis.
Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program positively impacts producer milk prices in the short-term by helping to maintain inventories of cheese and butter at desirable levels. In the long-term, CWT’s Export Assistance program helps member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products and the farm milk that produces them.
USDA Celebrates National Farm to School Month
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today highlighted important strides made in offering healthy, local food to millions of school children through USDA's Farm to School program, and emphasized the program's role in creating economic opportunity for America's farmers and ranchers. According to USDA's first-ever Farm to School Census, in school year 2011-2012, schools participating in farm to school activities purchased and served over $350 million in local food, with more than half of participating schools planning to purchase even more local foods in future school years.
"An investment in the health of America's students through farm to school activities is also an investment in the health of local economies," said Vilsack. "We know that when students have experiences such as tending a school garden or visiting a farm they'll be more likely to make healthy choices in the cafeteria. We also know that when schools invest their food dollars in their local communities, all of agriculture benefits, including local farmers, ranchers, fishermen, food processors and manufacturers."
Forty-three percent of public school districts across the country reported having an existing farm to school program in place, with another 13 percent of school districts surveyed committed to launching a farm to school program in the near future.
Interest in local products spans the school meal tray, with fruits, vegetables, and milk topping the list of local products currently offered in schools across the country, while census respondents indicate an interest in local plant-based proteins, grains and flour, and meat and poultry in the future.
Vilsack added that through these efforts, schools continue to enhance the health of the school food environment, meet the new meal standards implemented last school year and demonstrate the role local food can play in school meals.
Census results can be accessed online, at www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/census/. School districts that missed the opportunity earlier in the year to respond can submit information regarding farm to school practices through November 30, 2013.
USDA's Farm to School Program is part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which authorized USDA to assist eligible entities, through grants and technical assistance, to improve access to local foods in schools. It is also a core element of the USDA's Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative, which coordinates the Department's work on local food systems. In mid-November, USDA will announce approximately $5 million in FY2014 Farm to School grants to help school districts across the country further develop their farm to school programming.
USDA is focused on improving childhood nutrition and empowering families to make healthier food choices by providing science-based information and advice, while expanding the availability of healthy food.
- America's students now have healthier and more nutritious school meals due to improved nutrition standards implemented as a result of the historic Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.
- USDA's MyPlate symbol and the resources at ChooseMyPlate.gov provide quick, easy reference tools for parents, teachers, healthcare professionals and communities.
- USDA awarded $5.2 million in grants to provide training and technical assistance for child nutrition foodservice professionals and support stronger school nutrition education programs.
Collectively these policies and actions will help combat child hunger and obesity and improve the health and nutrition of the nation's children. For more information on the Farm to School program, please visit www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool.
NEW WEBSITE PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT MONSANTO’S ORIGINAL ROUNDUP READY SOYBEAN PATENT EXPIRATION
The last U.S. patent covering the original Roundup Ready® soybean trait expires in 2015. As U.S. farmers begin thinking about purchasing their soybean seed for 2014 planting, they have a new resource to answer their questions about the expiration of Monsanto’s original Roundup Ready soybean trait – soybeans.com.
“Even though the original Roundup Ready soybean trait is covered by a patent in the United States until the start of the 2015 planting season, we’re already getting questions from farmers about what they can and cannot do with Roundup Ready soybeans. Soybeans.com can help answer questions growers may have about patents as they pertain to planting and saving original Roundup Ready varieties, as well as the benefits of new seed. It’s a great resource for farmers as they plan for next year,” said Monsanto’s U.S. Oilseeds Product Management Lead Norm Sissons.
The site outlines Monsanto’s commitments regarding the original Roundup Ready trait patent expiration, explains the different patents and breeders’ rights typically covering soybean seed, and includes frequently asked questions and a decision tree on saving seed.
“We hope by having a web site like soybeans.com available, we’re able to provide a useful service to farmers and answer their questions,” said Sissons. “Soybeans.com helps give farmers a good understanding of seed patents, so they are aware of how they can legally use the seed they purchase and so they understand which seeds varieties are still protected by patents and may not be savable, including Monsanto’s second generation higher yielding soybean trait, Genuity® Roundup Ready 2 Yield®.”
“Because patent law and seed technology is complicated, figuring out which seeds can be legally saved and planted is complicated too. Soybeans.com is a good first stop for farmers who are interested in potentially saving and planting soybeans with the original Roundup Ready trait,” Sissons added. “We recommend they review soybeans.com and then visit with their local seed dealer to get more information before purchasing their seed.”
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