NEWS BRIEFS...
NCBA Task Force
Recommends Major Structure Change
Members of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) are considering a structure change that would allow the organization to quickly and efficiently address industry challenges without sacrificing grassroots input, according to a news release provided by the organization in mid-December. The change is being recommended by producers and state organization executives from across the country who participated in NCBA's Governance Task Force.
The change includes development of a smaller board of directors (29 vs. 279), while retaining strong producer input through a new "House of Delegates." The recommendation is being submitted for review and approval at the 2010 NCBA Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas.
The Task Force is recommending a 29-member board of directors, 26 of whom are elected by a 250-vote House of Delegates and three ex officio nonvoting members consisting of the chair and vice chair of the Federation of State Beef Councils and the CEO of NCBA. The House of Delegates will include 100 votes from NCBA Affiliates, 100 votes from State Beef Councils, and 50 votes from breed associations and other interested groups.
The Task Force's recommendation will be submitted to the NCBA Executive Committee in San Antonio. It will be discussed by the full board during its annual meeting Jan. 30, 2010. If the board approves the direction, bylaw changes would be developed and voted on at the Summer Conference in Denver next July. Implementation of the new structure would begin upon approval of the bylaw changes by the Board.
API will provide online coverage of the 2010 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show at www.4cattlemen.com. Read more.
National Beef Postpones IPO
According to a report by Reuter's, National Beef Inc. has postponed its public offering. According to Reuter's, National Beef cited weakness in the initial public offering (IPO) market as the reason. Read more.
Biden Kicks Off $7.2 Billion Recovery Act Broadband Program
Thursday, Dec. 17, Vice President Biden kicked off $7.2 billion in Recovery Act broadband grant and loan programs, of which $2 billion will be made available on a rolling basis during the next 75 days to bring high-speed Internet to communities that currently have little or no access to the technology. At an event at Impulse Manufacturing in Dawsonville, Ga., with Governor Sonny Perdue (R-GA), Biden announced an initial $183 million investment in 18 broadband projects benefiting 17 states. The investment has already been matched by more than $46 million in public and private sector capital.
In addition to providing initial job opportunities in infrastructure and manufacturing, the awards are expected to help bridge the digital divide and boost economic development for communities held back by limited or no access to the technology.
"Broadband is the new dial tone of the 21st-century," Governor Perdue said. "Internet access is as important to our communications infrastructure today as reliable telephone service was a century ago. Creating an advanced network will promote economic development, expand educational opportunities and improve the availability and efficiency of government services."
Four different types of awards were made:
• Middle Mile Awards — $121.6 million to build and improve connections to communities lacking sufficient broadband access.
• Last Mile Awards — $51.4 million to connect end users like homes, hospitals and schools to their community's broadband infrastructure.
• Public Computing — $7.3 million to expand computer center capacity for public use in libraries, community colleges and other public venues.
• Sustainable Adoption — $2.4 million to fund innovative projects that promote broadband demand with population groups where the technology has traditionally been underutilized.
USDA/DOJ Seek Comment, Hold Public Workshops on Competition in Agriculture
The USDA and the Department of Justice (DOJ) will hold joint public workshops to explore competition issues affecting the agriculture industry in the 21st century and the appropriate role for antitrust and regulatory enforcement in that industry. These are the first joint USDA/DOJ workshops ever to be held to discuss agricultural competition and regulatory issues.
The current schedule for the workshops is as follows:
• March 12, 2010 — Issues of Concern to Farmers - Ankeny, Iowa
• May 21, 2010 — Poultry Industry - Normal, Ala.
• June 7, 2010 — Dairy Industry - Madison, Wis.
• Aug. 26, 2010 — Livestock Industry - Fort Collins, Colo.
• Dec. 8, 2010 — Margins - Washington, D.C.
Interested parties are invited to submit comments on agricultural competition issues and the workshops by Dec. 31, 2009. All comments received will be publicly posted.
Comments may be submitted to the DOJ in both paper and electronic form. Two paper copies, sent by courier or overnight service, if possible, should be addressed to the Legal Policy Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 5th Street, N.W., Suite 11700, Washington, D.C. 20001. Comments may be submitted electronically to agriculturalworkshops@usdoj.gov.
Detailed agendas and schedules for the workshops will be made available on www.gipsa.usda.gov/GIPSA/ and the Antitrust Division's web site at www.usdoj.gov/atr.
APHIS To Update Brucellosis,
TB Animal Health Programs
The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently released concept papers for input regarding two mandatory animal health programs important to cattle producers: tuberculosis (TB) and brucellosis (Bang's disease).
The 1917-era APHIS TB and 1934-era APHIS brucellosis programs have been successful due to cooperative efforts, years of dedication and hard work involving producers and state and federal animal health officials, according to an NCBA news release. The TB program has reduced the incidence of bovine TB in U.S. cattle to less than 0.001%. However, a number of hurdles — including wildlife reservoirs in the Northeast, knowledge gaps and inadequacies of current TB tests — remain significant hurdles to complete eradication in cattle. Brucellosis has been eliminated from the U.S. cattle population but remains in the bison and elk populations in the Greater Yellowstone Area, threatening the area's cattle health and ranchers' livelihoods.
NCBA noted some concerns with both concept papers — particularly regarding indemnity and producer responsibilities — but expressed appreciation of APHIS's work on these programs.
NCBA's full comments can be found at the following links:
Nonambulatory Livestock Regulation
Last week, Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY) introduced a bill (H.R. 4356) prohibiting the processing of all nonambulatory livestock. H.R. 4356 has been referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
This legislation is unnecessary and redundant, NCBA says, as nonambulatory cattle are already banned from entering packing plants. The current ban is a modification of the downer ban that has been in place since 2003.
NCBA worked with the USDA on the existing ban and supports full enforcement and compliance with the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act.
Missouri Sets Two-year Precipitation Record
"Unprecedented wetness," said Pat Guinan, in a two-word summary of the last two years of Missouri weather. The University of Missouri Extension (MU) climatologist said that by mid-December, average precipitation topped 106 inches (in.) for 2008 and 2009 with more snow in the forecast.
"Last year was the wettest year on record with more than 57 inches of precipitation. So far this year, 49 inches has fallen," said Guinan, who tracks weather for the MU Commercial Agriculture Program. Missouri's average rainfall is 41 in. per year.
Rainfall in 2008 and 2009 years was also accompanied by cooler temperatures, Guinan said. "The four-month period from July to October 2009 was the coolest on record." Last year was the coolest year since 1996.
Will 2010 be another wet one? Guinan said it's hard to predict. "Based on historical records, it's highly unlikely to have three exceptionally wet years in a row." But, he didn't expect to see a second unusually wet year, either.
Guinan oversees a network of automated weather observation stations across the state. Anyone with Internet access can check current and historic conditions, including soil temperatures, by going to http://agebb.missouri.edu/weather/stations and clicking on the nearest location. Of the 28 sites, 17 give real-time weather updates every five minutes.
USDA to Launch Pilot Study to
Increase Availability of Locally Grown Foods
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan Dec. 16 announced a new pilot project under the 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' initiative for farmers to establish high tunnels — also known as hoop houses — to increase the availability of locally grown produce in a conservation-friendly way. The three-year, 38-state study will verify if high tunnels are effective in reducing pesticide use, keeping vital nutrients in the soil, extending the growing season, increasing yields, and providing other benefits to growers. Made of ribs of plastic or metal pipe covered with a layer of plastic sheeting, high tunnels are easy to build, maintain and move. High tunnels are used year-round in parts of the country, providing steady incomes to farmers.
USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will provide financial assistance for the project through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the EQIP Organic Initiative, and the Agricultural Management Assistance program. NRCS will fund one high tunnel per farm. High tunnels in the study can cover as much as 5% of 1 acre.
To sign up or learn more about EQIP assistance for high-tunnel projects, contact a local NRCS office.
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