The House Agriculture subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry heard from dairy producers this week on just how bad things are for producers and what the government can do. Joaquin Contente is a dairy producer in California and president of the California Farmers Union. He says his first goal was to let the subcommittee members know just how desperate things are especially in California. His second goal was to urge them and the Ag Secretary to take action immediately.
Asana XL effective in soybean aphid control
July 29, 2009 By 1 Comment
Asana XL is a DuPont Crop Protection Product that controls a wide range of insect pests on field, vegetable,tree fruit, and nut crops. Dan Sherrod, Product Development Manager for insecticides for the U.S. for DuPont Crop Protection talks to Cyndi Young about the product. Sherrod explains that Asana XL is an important and effective tool in the fight against soybean aphids, due to the product’s long-lasting residual control, economical alternative to costly insecticides, unique CSO formulation resists washoff if it rains, it remains stable even when the hot summer sun
beats down, its’ short re-entry interval (REI) and its tank-mix flexibilty.
Three American Star finalists from the same chapter
July 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment
The National FFA Organization has named the sixteen finalists for the four American Star awards and three of them are from the same chapter in Wisconsin. Randolph Cambria-Friesland FFA member Alex Zimmerman is one of the four finalists for the American Star Farmer, Ben Alsum is a finalist for the Star in Agribusiness and Tony Crescio is a finalist for the Star in Agricultural Placement. With 341 members, Randolph Cambria-Friesland is the largest FFA chapter in Wisconsin and has had individual American Star finalists the past two years.
The “Stars” recognize students who have developed outstanding agricultural skill and competency through their career development programs, demonstrated outstanding management skills, earned the American FFA Degree and met other agricultural education, scholarship and leadership requirements.
Each star finalist receives $2,000 from the National FFA. A panel of judges will interview the finalists and select one winner for each award at the 82nd National FFA Convention, October 21-24, in Indianapolis.
The 16 finalists are:
Star Farmer:
Andrew Pachta – Linn FFA, Kansas
Andrew K. Baird – Spencer County FFA, Kentucky
Slade Don Nightengale – Cordell FFA, Oklahoma
Alex Zimmerman – Randolph Cambria-Friesland FFA, Wisconsin
Star in Agribusiness:
Rodney Bingel – Marissa FFA, Illinois
James Hutto – Riverton FFA, Kansas
Kristie M. Folk – Central Columbia FFA, Pennsylvania
Benjamin R. Alsum – Randolph Cambria-Friesland FFA, Wisconsin
Star in Agricultural Placement:
Kyle Stockwell – Prairie Heights FFA, Indiana
Mycah A. McColm – Riverton FFA, Kansas
Kodee Schell – Manila FFA, Utah
Tony J. Crescio – Randolph Cambria-Friesland FFA, Wisconsin
Star in Agriscience:
Kaitlynn Neville – North High-Bakersfield FFA, California
Stephanie Mitchell, Spencer County FFA, Kentucky
Amy Lynn Robak, Foley FFA, Minnesota
Nathan Fuchs – Cameron Yoe FFA, Texas
Congressional Dairy Farmer Caucus revived
July 29, 2009 By 2 Comments
A group of Congressmen from both sides of the aisle are reforming and restarting the Congressional Dairy Farmer Caucus. The group has four co-chairs; Joe Courtney of Connecticut, Peter Welch of Vermont, Devin Nunes of California and Tim Walz of Minnesota. There are four vice-chairs as well; Tom Petri of Wisconsin, Tom Rooney of Florida, Chris Lee of New York and Harry Teague of New Mexico.
A Congressional caucus is formed to provide a platform for issues, these representatives say they will work with dairy industry leaders to formulate a solution to the current dairy crisis and make sure other members of Congress understand why those solutions are needed.
The Dairy Farmer Caucus was originally established in 2006 but expired with the end of the 110th Congress in January. It was revived and officially registered with the House today. So far, more than 50 Congressional Representatives have signed-on.
Michael Arcuri Member NY-24
Tammy Baldwin Member WI-2
Roscoe Bartlett Member MD-6
John Boccieri Member OH-16
Leonard Boswell Member IA-3
Allen Boyd Member FL-2
Henry Brown Member SC-1
Dave Camp Member MI-4
Dennis Cardoza Member CA-18
Chris Carney Member PA-10
Mike Conaway Member TX-11
Joe Courtney Co-Chair CT-2
Kathy Dahlkemper Member PA-3
Rosa DeLauro Member CT-3
John Hall Member NY-19
Wally Herger Member CA-2
Brian Higgins Member NY-27
Maurice Hinchey Member NY-22
Paul Hodes Member NH-2
Steve Kagen Member WI-8
Ron Kind Member WI-3
Rick Larsen Member WA-2
Chris Lee Vice Chair NY-26
Ben Ray Lujan Member NM-3
Dan Maffei Member NY-25
Betsy Markey Member CO-4
Eric Massa Member NY-29
Michael Michaud Member ME-2
Walt Minnick Member ID-1
Chris Murphy Member CT-5
Scott Murphy Member NY-20
Devin Nunes Co-Chair CA-21
John Olver Member MA-1
Tom Perriello Member VA-5
Thomas Petri Vice Chair WI-6
Chellie Pingree Member ME-1
Adam Putnam Member FL-12
Ciro Rodriguez Member TX-23
Thomas Rooney Vice Chair FL-16
Mark Schauer Member MI-7
Joe Sestak Member PA-7
Bill Shuster Member PA-9
Mike Simpson Member ID-2
Louise Slaughter Member NY-28
Harry Teague Vice Chair NM-2
Glenn Thompson Member PA-5
Paul Tonko Member NY-21
Timothy Walz Co-Chair MN-1
Peter Welch Co-Chair VT-AT LARGE
Lynn Woolsey Member CA-6
Ann Kirkpatrick Member AZ-1
Carol Shea-Porter Member NH-1
Blaine Luetkemeyer Member MO-9
Jim Oberstar Member MN-8
Mike Rogers Member MI-8
Kurt Scrader Member OR-5
Meat needed to sustain life
July 29, 2009 By 12 Comments
Commentary
Animal rights activists who prefer a world where our dinner plates are free of meat are not living in the real world. We simply do not have enough land on this planet to raise enough fruits and vegetables to sustain life for 7 billion people.I support farmers and farming, which includes farmers who choose to grow products for niche markets. I believe there should be a premium paid to farmers for the extra costs involved with specialty production.If animal rights activists have it their way, farmers will not receive a premium; there will not be enough food for the population; and the price of food will skyrocket.
Another hearing on the dairy situation
July 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment
On Tuesday, July 28 the House Ag Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry held another hearing on the economic challenges facing the nation’s dairy industry. Craig Lang, a dairy farmer and President of the Iowa Farm Bureau was one of those testifying.
AUDIO: Craig Lang, Iowa dairy farmer, Pres. Iowa Farm Bureau (3:00 MP3)
NFU leader stumps for climate change legislation
July 28, 2009 By Leave a Comment
National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson says farmers and ranchers can and want to be part of the solution to climate change.Johnson, speaking in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, said that agriculture accounts for about 7 percent of greenhouse gases, but he says agriculture can sequester 20-25 percent of those greenhouse gases. He calls that an opportunity waiting to be developed. The NFU wants for agriculture to not regulated, or under the so-called cap, says Johnson.
“What that means is that we would have the opportunity to voluntarily participate in offset programs that scientifically have been demonstrated to reduce or sequester greenhouse gas emissions,” said Johnson, in an interview.
AUDIO: Roger Johnson (2 min. MP3)
Johnson says that if Congress fails to pass climate change legislation, the Environmental Protection Agency will move to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. He says his organization would rather see it under the control of USDA.
“The theory is that you reward folks who change practices such that their new practice will actually reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Johnson, “and in that process, get paid for those reductions.”
USDA economic analysis of climate change legislation shows that annual net returns to farmers range from about $1 billion per year in 2015-2020; up to almost $15-20 billion in 2040-2050, not accounting for the costs of implementing offset practices. In the earlier years of climate change legislation being in effect, Johnson says costs and income would be about a wash.
NFU policy supports cap and trade if, among other conditions, USDA is granted control of the agriculture offset program.
Farm broadcaster Jody Heemstra contributed to this article.
House Ag Subcommittee hears differing dairy views
July 28, 2009 By 1 Comment
The one thing everyone in dairy agrees on is there is a severe crisis for dairy producers today. How to fix the situation is not as easily arrived at. The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry heard from dairy producers on Tuesday and the suggested solutions varied.
Craig Lang is a dairy farmer at Brooklyn, Iowa; he farms with his father, brother and two sons and is president of the Iowa Farm Bureau. He told the committee these are probably some of the most challenging times ever in the dairy industry. He noted some of the things that have already been done in an effort to help, increased government purchases of dairy products for federal food programs, full implementation of the Dairy Export Incentive Program and the Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) herd retirement program, “But still that’s not enough.” For one thing, Lang says American Farm Bureau believes we need to reduce cow numbers by at least three percent to have an impact. However, he does believe these tools will work but need to be given time to work.
California dairy producer Joaquin Contente is president of the California Farmers Union. He told the subcommittee one of the easiest things that can be done is for the U.S. Ag Secretary to raise the support price which he has the authority to do. The National Milk Producers Federation has asked the Ag Secretary to temporarily increase the support price for cheese by 6 cents per pound and increase the nonfat dry milk powder price by 4 cents. Contente says, while he is grateful for National Milk making that request, it is not nearly enough. “We have producers that are five, six, seven dollars below where they need to be,” says Contente, “We need to have something more meaningful than the 50 or 60-cent increase that would translate into.” He adds the increase wouldn’t have to come all at once, but something has to be done for producers who have no options left, no way to feed their cows.
The two dairy producers differ on their assessment of the status of ag lenders. Lang says the good farmers in his area that have established a good, long-term working relationship with a good banker is in good shape. “For those farmers that made wise decisions and paid down debt, debt is very reasonable today.” He does note things are more challenging for young farmers just getting into the business, “That’s a different policy discussion altogether.”
Contente says the financial “Ship is starting to leave port” especially in California where lenders were waiting to see if producers would get into the CWT buyout to cover a little more of outstanding loans. “Now that one program is complete and the other is getting ready to go into effect, if you haven’t got on board with that program, you’re just going to have to get out the conventional way.” California cow numbers are down about 5 percent so far. He notes that Commodity Credit purchases of nonfat dry milk have been declining in recent weeks.
Contente also believes the long-term answer to dairy is supply management, Lang disagrees; he says that would stop growth in the dairy industry at a time when increasingly more people are going hungry. “Where do you set the price of milk so that you don’t get oversupply and you don’t manage supply in such a way that you drive up food costs.”
Both agree that Congress is getting a lot of pressure from the industry and ag lenders to do something but the question remains, what?
Craig Lang talks with Dave Russell 7:45
Joaquin Contente talks with Bob Meyer 8:00
Dave Russell contributed to this story.
Restaurants see largest decline since 1981
July 28, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Restaurant traffic declined by almost three percent this spring, the sharpest decline in industry traffic since 1981. That according to the market research firm NPD Group.
Restaurant traffic was down two percent at quick service restaurants, down four percent at casual establishments and down six percent at midscale restaurants. NPD says while checks-the amount paid for meals–increased by two percent during the study period , March 1st to May 31st, the rate of increase failed to offset the decline in traffic. The result was a one-percent decline in consumer spending at commercial foodservice during that three-month period.
Corn, wheat fail to sustain soybean’s support: July 28, 2009
July 28, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Buying emerged Tuesday, leading to sharply higher soybean futures. That was despite pressure coming from outside markets. The dollar was higher, the Dow was lower and crude oil was lower. DTN says Tuesday’s action could indicate that commercial traders are becoming nervous about new-crop supplies because of the late developing crop and talk that China plans to purchase a couple of cargoes and that their reserves may not be as big as advertised.
Corn futures were unable to sustain buying enthusiasm late into the session after recovering from a lower open. For part of the day, corn enjoyed support from sharply higher soybean prices. Pressure instead came from the higher dollar. Losses were limited by the slowly maturing corn crop and cool Midwest weather. However, DTN says new-crop spreads continue to indicate bearish underlying fundamentals in the corn market.
Wheat followed soybeans higher for a majority of the session, but only Minneapolis was able to hold minimal gains by the close. Support is coming from lagging crop maturity and concern over protein levels as well as winter wheat’s bearish underlying negative fundamentals in the market. The higher dollar also exerted downward pressure. DTN says that from a technical standpoint, futures still have downside potential.
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