NASDA News - December 18, 2012

As President Obama and Speaker Boehner appeared to be inching closer to a deal on the Fiscal Cliff this week, doubts remain about whether a five year Farm Bill could be included in a final legislative package should an agreement be reached. House and Senate Agriculture Committee leadership has yet to reach agreement on differences over the Commodity Title portion of the bill. If neither a full five year bill nor an extension is enacted prior to the end of this year, significant portions of US agricultural policy would revert to 1940s-era law and a number of programs such as the Market Access Program and the Specialty Crop Block Grants Program would be in danger of losing baseline funding.

The 2013 NASDA Winter Policy Conference will be held February 3 – 7, 2013 at the Hyatt Regency in Reston, VA. Registration can be completed online and the deadline for the early registration rate is Friday, January 11. Hotel reservations can also be made online until Friday, January 18. Rooms are extremely limited so please book early. Action Items and Policy Amendments for consideration by membership should be submitted to Amanda Bryant at amanda@nasda.org by Friday, January 11. Please contact a member of the NASDA Policy Staff with questions regarding Action Items or Policy Amendments. We have many new events planned this year and we hope to see you there. For more information, visit the NASDA website.

A majority of states prohibit sale of raw milk or restrict its sale, due to concerns over foodborne illness. It would be safe to say, however, that not all consumers agree about the issue of consumption of raw milk. Some consumers simply believe that raw milk is better for them. Others would be outraged if the government was to authorize the sale of raw milk and someone got sick, as that authorization would be deemed by them to be a seal of approval for the safety of the product. Before the invention and acceptance of pasteurization, raw milk was a common source of the bacteria that cause tuberculosis, diphtheria, severe streptococcal infections, typhoid fever, and other foodborne illnesses. These illnesses killed many people each year, especially young children. It does not seem to be a bone of contention whether milk that is not pasteurized can cause illness, only that the product should be made available to those who want it, regardless of the risk. Those who like its perceived ...

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) invites farmers and other agricultural professionals to hear about the latest research and techniques in nutrient, soil and water management at a free conference on February 19, 2013, at the Bigwood Event Center in Fergus Falls.

The conference, scheduled to run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:10 p.m., will bring together farmers, agricultural supply and service consultants, university extension specialists, crop advisers, researchers, and government officials. This is the seventh year MDA and its partners have offered the conference. This year, the focus will be on nutrient management tools, micro-nutrients, soil/root interactions, and water quality. With farmers facing volatile fertilizer prices and increased commodity prices, this will be an excellent opportunity to network with others who are interested in maximizing efficiency for profit enhancement and risk reduction. For more information, click here.