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Open Fuel Standard Act introduced

May 5, 2011 By 2 Comments

Intended to bring fuel competition to the pump, a bipartisan group of Congressmen, including John Shimkus (R, Illinois-19), Eliot Engel (D, New York-17), Roscoe Bartlett (R, Maryland-6), and Steve Israel (D, New York-2) have introduced the Open Fuel Standard (OFS) Act (HR 1687).

The OFS would require that 50 percent of new automobiles in 2014, 80 percent in 2016 and 95 percent in 2017, would be warranted to operate on nonpetroleum fuels in addition to, or instead of, petroleum based fuels.

Congressman Shimkus says it is his goal that consumers have a choice when they pull up to the pump.

“A choice of fuels made from oil, coal, renewable, natural gas, waste products and other feedstock,” said Shimkus. “The consumer can then make a choice based on price or energy source.”

The Illinois Congressman also says the OFS is a way for the country to move toward energy independence.

Filed Under: News, Renewable Energy, USDA/Government Tagged With: , , , , ,

Legislation to give farmers a voice in regulations

March 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Bipartisan legislation has been introduced that would make sure U.S. farmers are represented in the decision making process for environmental policies and regulations that could impact U.S. agriculture.

The Representation for Farmers Act, introduced by Indiana Senator Richard Lugar and Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar would give the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to appoint up to three members with agricultural backgrounds to the EPA’s Science Advisory Board.

“Regulatory actions taken by the EPA can have significant impacts on farmers of all sizes. The ability of our nation’s farms to continue to safely produce an abundant food supply is imperative, and I believe this bill will improve the regulatory decision-making process,” Lugar said.

Indiana Congressman Marlin Stutzman and Iowa Congressman Bruce Braley have introduced the companion bill in the U.S. House.

The legislation has been endorsed by the National Farmers Union, American Farm Bureau, National Corn Growers Association, National Wheat Growers Association, National Milk Producers Federation, and National Council of Farmer Cooperatives.

Filed Under: Crops, Livestock, News, USDA/Government Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Ag-related amendments part of House CR bill

February 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Continuing Resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives early Saturday morning contained several amendments of importance to agriculture.

One of them would block the EPA from spending any money to carry out its E15 waiver.  Another would prevent the spending of any federal funds for the rest of the fiscal year on construction of blender pumps or an ethanol storage facility.

The passage of those amendments drew a predictable response from the two major ethanol-lobbying groups.  The Renewable Fuels Association accused the House of “giving oil companies a virtual monopoly over the fueling system” and added, “our dependence on imported oil is neither safe nor sustainable.”  Growth Energy said the House action “would deepen our addiction to foreign oil” and vowed to fight to remove the provisions in the Senate.

The House also passed several amendments designed to circumvent some of the EPA’s proposed environmental regulations.  One would block the EPA’s funding to regulate dust.  Others would stop the EPA from implementing its Total Maximum Daily Load rule for the Chesapeake Bay and the nutrient criteria rule for Florida.   The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association was one of the groups expressing strong support for the amendments.

Two amendments related to farm programs were defeated.  One was an attempt by Wisconsin Representative Ron Kind to end payments to Brazilian cotton interests.  The unusual arrangement stems from a WTO ruling that the current U.S. cotton program is illegal. Critics argued that the amendment could start a trade war with Brazil.

The House also voted against an attempt to cap farm program payments at 250-thousand dollars.  House Ag Committee chair Frank Lucas successfully argued that it was wrong to cut farm program payments now, saying it should be done in the context of the 2012 farm bill.

Filed Under: Events/Organizations, News, Top Stories, USDA/Government Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Chairman Lucas wants your help

February 10, 2011 By 2 Comments

As work begins on the writing of the 2012 Farm Bill, House Agriculture Committee Chairman, Frank Lucas of Oklahoma wants your help. The Chairman says that for those living in rural America, whether you’re involved in production agriculture, processing or transportation, he’s hoping you’ll become citizen activists and help him by reaching out to members of Congress.

“Help me be prepared to get the attention of my colleagues who may not be on the committee, who may not be from the countryside, about how important it is that we have a chance in rural America to continue to not just survive, but to economically thrive,” Lucas said. “

Chairman Lucas recognizes there’s a long struggle ahead, and says one of his biggest challenges will be bringing all the new members on the House Agriculture, both Democrats and Republicans, up to speed.

“If you have a new member in your congressional district, reach out to them and their staffs, develop a relationship, whether they serve on the ag committee or not,” said the House Ag Committee Chairman. “Begin to bring them up to speed, especially if they don’t serve on the ag committee, about how important agriculture is in their Congressional district, about how important agriculture is to the entire country.”

Interview: Cong. Frank Lucas, Oklahoma, Chairman, House Ag Comm. (8:30 MP3)

Filed Under: News, Top Stories, USDA/Government Tagged With: , , ,

Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas

November 3, 2010 By 2 Comments

With Republicans gaining control of the U.S. House, Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas will likely become the new chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.

Ron Hays, Farm Broadcaster with the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network describes Congressman Frank Lucas as a rancher who’s been knocked around by cattle a time or two.

“Congressman Lucas is a farmer, he’s a rancher,” said Hays. “They grow wheat, they’ve got cattle in their operation in Western Oklahoma, so he understands agriculture from that perspective.”

AUDIO: Ron Hays, Oklahoma Farm Broadcaster (2:15 MP3)

At the GOP event election night in Oklahoma City Congressman Lucas told Ron Hays that even as Farm Bill hearings begin again in the spring, oversight will need to be addressed.

“I want to use the oversight process this first year, to not only prepare for the next Farm Bill, but to say to the Administration, stop doing things that are contrary to Federal law, that do not make scientific sense and/or are economically detrimental to production agriculture and rural America,” Lucas said.

AUDIO: Ron Hays interview with Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas (4:35 MP3)

Filed Under: Events/Organizations, News, Top Stories, USDA/Government Tagged With: , , ,

Agriculture in a time of flux

October 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The unknowns of who will control the House and Senate, who will be on the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, who will chair the House and Senate Ag Committees, all reasons Indiana Senator Richard Lugar says agriculture in a flux.

AUDIO: Indiana Senator Richard Lugar (3:00 MP3)

Filed Under: Feature Programs, Managing for Profit Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Lawmakers ask for analysis of GIPSA rule

October 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

House lawmakers are asking the USDA to conduct a more detailed economic analysis of the proposed GIPSA rule before the regulation becomes final.

A letter to Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, signed by 115 House members, says the regulations “greatly exceed” the mandate of the farm bill.  It says the rule would have “major consequences” in the marketing of livestock and poultry, thus the need for a thorough economic analysis.

Applauding the request are the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the National Pork Producers Council. NPPC president Sam Carney says it’s “unfathomable” that a major regulation such as the GIPSA rule doesn’t have an analysis of its impact on the economy.

Filed Under: Events/Organizations, Livestock, News, USDA/Government Tagged With: , , , , ,

House passes bill to address vet shortage

September 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The House has passed a bill that would provide grants to improve food animal veterinary services across the country—especially in underserved rural areas.

The bill was sponsored by Representative Adrian Smith of Nebraska, who hopes the legislation will help ease a shortage of farm animal veterinarians.  Smith cites Cherry County in the Nebraska Sandhills as an example of the problem that livestock producers are facing.

“In Cherry County, we have 145-thousand livestock animals to every single veterinarian,” Smith says. “That’s a problem—that is obviously a shortage we need to reverse—and this bill will accomplish exactly that.”

The measure authorizes the USDA to award federal matching funds for programs or activities that will substantially relieve veterinary shortages.  Some activities that would be eligible include veterinarian and vet staff recruitment and establishment of mobile veterinary clinics. 

The bill builds on previous legislation which helps veterinarians who elect to practice in underserved areas repay student loans.  It now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Filed Under: Events/Organizations, Livestock, News, USDA/Government Tagged With: , , ,

NCGA opposes House cap and trade legislation

January 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The National Corn Growers Association is officially off the fence on the House version of cap and trade legislation. In a recent conference call with the media, NCGA announced its opposition to H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act passed by the House in June 2009.  NCGA bases its opposition on a recently completed economic analysis by Informa Economics.  The group’s president, Darrin Ihnen of Hurley, South Dakota, cites three main reasons for NCGA’s opposition.

AUDIO: Darrin Ihnen (3 min MP3)

Filed Under: Feature Programs, Rural Issues Tagged With: , , ,

EPA ‘disapproval resolution’ introduced

January 21, 2010 By 1 Comment

Nebraska Senator Mike Johanns is one of 30 cosponsors of a disapproval resolution—a move  that could stop the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. 

The resolution was introduced Thursday by Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski.  Johanns thinks the resolution has a chance of making it through the Senate. “It is definitely starting to pick up some bipartisan discussion,” Johanns says. “That is encouraging.”

The resolution only requires a simple majority to pass. If approved by the Senate, it would then go to the House of Representatives.

“My hope is that, on the House side, this will pick up some steam if we can get it out of the Senate,” he says. “I think it sends a very, very strong message.”

Murkowski says the disapproval resolution is necessary to avoid what she calls “the economic train wreck” that would result from the EPA regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.

Also signing on to the resolution is Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, chair of the Senate Ag Committee.  Nebraska’s Ben Nelson and South Dakota’s John Thune are also cosponsors.

AUDIO: Senator Mike Johanns conference call comments (4 min MP3)

Filed Under: Events/Organizations, News, Top Stories, USDA/Government Tagged With: , , , ,
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