NASDA News February 20, 2007

NASDA Focuses Work On 2007 Farm Bill
Published: February 20, 2007

NASDA members focused their work on the 2007 farm bill during NASDA's Midyear Meeting which was held February 7 to 12, 2007, in Washington, D.C. NASDA officially released its 2007 farm bill recommendations last November.

NASDA's recommendations offer a broad, opportunity-based agricultural policy focusing on expanding and improving the safety net for farmers and ranchers. NASDA's recommendations also outline bold, new ideas to address environmental and food safety challenges. For the first time, NASDA's recommendations emphasize development of renewable energy resources, nutrition initiatives, and an expanded invasive species program.

NASDA's six policy committees discussed priority issues for the 2007 farm bill and developed action plans to promote these policy recommendations to congressional lawmakers and the administration. A copy of NASDA's recommendations and a summary highlighting NASDA's priority issues has been posted on the NASDA website under "Hot Issues." (Contact: Charlie Ingram)

Administration & Public Policy Officials Address NASDA Meeting
Published: February 20, 2007

NASDA members had the opportunity to meet and hear from a variety of senior administration officials and public policy experts during NASDA's Midyear Meeting which was held February 7 to 12, 2007.

USDA Secretary Mike Johanns kicked off NASDA's general session on Friday, February 9, to discuss the administration's 2007 Farm Bill proposals. Mark Keenum, USDA under secretary for farm and foreign agricultural services, addressed the group on the same morning along with Bruce Knight, USDA under secretary for marketing and regulatory programs.

Several public policy experts made presentations on a variety of agricultural topics. Featured speakers included Kenneth Cassman of the University of Nebraska, who discussed energy and agricultural issues. Ralph Grossi, representing the American Farmland Trust, discussed farm revenue protection. Robert Thompson, University of Illinois, gave a perspective on trade; and Sam Willett of the National Corn Growers Association spoke about the National Farm Security Act. (Contact: Rick Kirchhoff)

NASDA Highlights Farm Bill Recommendations
Published: February 20, 2007

Agriculture historically has provided food and fiber to America. Now, with the development of biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel, and with greater commercial interest in wind and solar energy, America's farms and ranches are increasingly seen as a promising source of clean, renewable, home-grown energy. This role is expected to take on increasing prominence in years to come, given mounting concerns over oil prices and availability, and the environmental and geopolitical implications of America's continued reliance on foreign sources of fossil fuels. In addition, many see agriculture as having potential as a new source for manufacturing pharmaceuticals and other products previously made through chemical or industrial processes.

U.S. agriculture has a vast potential for the development and production of renewable energy resources--biomass, biodiesel, and ethanol. Much more can and should be done to develop and enhance those resources to promote the domestic supply of ethanol, biodiesel, and other biofuels as well as biobased products.

Key recommended actions include:

• NASDA supports the implementation of the 25 X '25 initiative as proposed by the Ag Energy Working Group which states that "Agriculture will provide 25 percent of the total energy consumed in the United States by 2025 while continuing to produce abundant, safe and affordable food and fiber."
• Emphasis should be placed on the development of alternative fuels from agriculture commodities, livestock manures, forest products, agricultural crop residues, food processing byproducts, and other biomass products.
• The federal tax credit for ethanol production and the biodiesel tax credit should be made permanent.
• The Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) included in the 2005 energy bill must be increased and implemented. The standard should be 7.5 billion gallons by 2008 and increased to 30 billion gallons per year by 2025. Just as the current RFS provides for a portion of this amount to be met by cellulosic ethanol, any increases to the RFS should include a corresponding increase in the amount that must be derived from cellulosic feedstocks.
• A trading system for carbon credits or carbon sequestration should be implemented.
• Establish on-farm incentives to produce and utilize solar energy, wind energy, biodiesel fuel, methane, and any other biopowers, biofuels and bioproducts.
• Allow CRP land to be used for energy and biobased crops, with commensurate payment reductions.
• Develop a cellulosic/energy feedstock base. Participants could enroll their land by entering into a long-term contracts, at least 10 years, to grow certain perennials, such as, but not limited to, switchgrass or trees. Such land use should also benefit the environment, wildlife, and recreation.
• Support research and development for energy and biobased crops at USDA and other key federal agencies.
• Extend the wind production tax credit for a minimum of five years.
• Increase investment in agriculture as an energy source. Increase funding for incentives and research in renewable energy production from farm and forest biomass. Fund the construction of distribution and transmission infrastructures to commercially deliver biomass energy to consumers.

NASDA is presenting farm bill highlights each week in NASDA News as Congress gears up for consideration of the 2007 farm bill. NASDA's recommendations and a summary of highlights are posted on the NASDA website under "Hot Issues." (Contact: Jennifer Yezak)

Lawmakers Discuss Farm Bill Funding
Published: February 20, 2007

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin C. Peterson (D-Minn.) and Ranking Member Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) testified before the House Budget Committee on February 14 to outline the funding needs for the upcoming 2007 farm bill.

The Agriculture Committee leaders urged the Budget Committee to increase the financial resources available for this year's farm bill proposals over the amount provided in the most recent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) baseline. The lawmakers noted that resources are needed to help farmers and ranchers comply with the complex and costly web of federal regulation that govern land use. They also said the 2007 farm bill debate will include new proposals that will require additional resources, such as facilitating investments in the expanding agriculturally-based renewable energy market, including ethanol and biodiesel.

During NASDA's Midyear Meeting, members approved a letter to the chairs and ranking members of the Senate and House Committees on the Budget asking them to support additional spending levels, above the current baseline. These resources are needed in order for the next farm bill to provide economic, energy, and environmental benefits to our nation while also providing the resources for food security, nutrition, conservation, rural development, and other critical priorities. (Contact: Charlie Ingram and Jennifer Yezak)

Congress Approves FY07 Spending Bill
Published: February 20, 2007

The House and Senate have approved a massive long-term budget resolution to fund most government agencies and programs through the 2007 fiscal year. The $463 billion spending package, which provides funds for USDA and agriculture, was necessary because Congress failed to pass nine regular FY07 appropriations bills last year. In December, lawmakers approved a temporary funding resolution to fund government programs until February 15.

Most government programs are funded at FY06 levels with increases to cover the cost of pay raises, maintain staff levels, and generally meet increased costs or workloads for agencies. Some programs received increased funding, such as veterans' health care and education, but more than sixty programs were cut below FY06 spending levels. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)

Senate Agriculture Committee Announces Subcommittees
Published: June 12, 2007

The Senate Agriculture Committee on February 14 announced its subcommittees and membership for the 110th Congress. A new Energy Subcommittee was created to help develop renewable energy policies for the 2007 farm bill.

There will be five subcommittees. The Subcommittee on Nutrition and Food Assistance will be chaired by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) with Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) as ranking member. The new Energy Subcommittee will be chaired by Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) and Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) will serve as ranking member. Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) will lead the Subcommittee on Domestic and Foreign Marketing, Inspection, Plant and Animal Health. The Subcommittee on Production, Income Protection and Price Support will be chaired by Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) with Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) as ranking member. The Subcommittee on Rural Vitalization, Conservation and Forestry will be chaired by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) will be the ranking member. A complete list of Senate Agriculture Committee members, subcommittee rosters and areas of jurisdiction can be found on the committee website at http://agriculture.senate.gov. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)

Lawmakers Renew Effort For Single Food Agency
Published: February 20, 2007

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro (D-Conn.) renewed their effort to consolidate food safety oversight in this country by reintroducing their Safe Food Act on February 14. The legislation calls for the development of a single food safety agency and the implementation of a food safety program to standardize American food safety activities.

The lawmakers have worked on this effort for over a decade in Congress. They noted a recent report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) which deemed federal oversight of food safety as "high risk" to the economy and public health and safety.

Under current law, food safety monitoring, inspection, and labeling functions are spread across 15 agencies in the federal government, including USDA which oversees meat, poultry and egg products; the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which oversees most other food products; and the U.S. Commerce Department's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) which inspects fish. Durbin and DeLauro said the involvement of so many agencies can result in duplication of responsibilities, service gaps and inconsistencies and confusion about which agency oversees different types of food.

The proposed legislation would establish a new Food Safety Administration. Some of the new responsibilities under the proposed new agency include: (1) regular, but random, inspection of all food processing plants; (2) categorized review process for all foods to monitor and inspect them based on their risk, not their name; (3) increased oversight of imported foods; and (4) established requirements for tracing foods to point of origin. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)

Stakeholders Briefed On 2007 Farm Bill Proposal On Research
Published: February 20, 2007

The National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC) held a briefing last week to introduce its CREATE-21 proposal for the 2007 farm bill. CREATE-21 stands for "Creating Research, Extension, and Teaching Excellence for the 21st Century." The proposal involves combining several USDA agencies to streamline the budget and bureaucratic processes. A new agency led by a director and advisory council would be created in USDA to administer the research programs and award grants. The new National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will adjust the way competitive grants are awarded and change the distribution between competitive and capacity funding to a 70 percent to 30 percent ratio. The competitive funding will support the research and extension projects, while the capacity funding will support the research, extension, and teaching programs conducted at land-grant and other universities.

This system aims to balance the portfolio, increase funding for research grants, and maximize cooperation of programs. NIFA would essentially be an integrated institution with all functions, personnel, programs and activities from the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), Economic Research Service (ERS), and the U.S. Forest Service Research and Development (USFS R&D) program combined under the advisory board and director. NASULGC stresses that this proposal will not eliminate the ARS and it will be included in the daily workings of the institute. To learn more about the CREATE-21 proposal visit the website at http://www.create-21.org. Information about the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges can be found at http://www.nasulgc.org. (Contacts: Casey Wong-Buehler and Jennifer Yezak)

USDA Releases Final Livestock and Meat Marketing Report
Published: February 20, 2007

USDA's Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) released the "GIPSA Livestock and Meat Marketing Study," last week. The report reviewed the use and impacts of marketing arrangements in the livestock and meat industries. Overall, the report found that alternative marketing arrangements (AMAs) increase the economic efficiency of the cattle, hog, and lamb markets, and that these economic benefits are distributed to consumers, as well as to producers and packers who use AMAs.

The study, mandated by Congress in 2003, assesses the effects on the market of packer ownership of livestock more than 14 days in advance of slaughter and examines alternative methods to procure and transfer livestock from farm to retail. GIPSA contracted with RTI International to conduct an extensive study of the economic effects of AMAs on beef, pork, and lamb marketing channels. AMAs are methods by which livestock and meat are transferred through successive stages of production and marketing, and include forward contracting, packer ownership, and marketing agreements. The final report: (1) addresses the extent of AMA's use; (2) analyzes price differences and short-run market price effects of AMAs; (3) measures and compares costs and benefits associated with spot or negotiated marketing arrangements and AMAs; and (4) analyzes the implications of AMAs for the livestock and meat marketing system.

The final report, including peer reviewers' comments, and additional information about the study are available on GIPSA's website at http://www.gipsa.usda.gov and then link to ''Marketing Study.'' (Contact: Jennifer Yezak)

Music Legend Tours Colorado Ranch Hit By Recent Blizzards
Published: February 20, 2007

Michael Martin Murphey will be traveling through the heart of Colorado's blizzard region to see first-hand some of the devastation left behind from the recent string of snow storms.

Murphey will journey by train along southeastern Colorado, stopping in Trinidad to tour the Verquer ranch. This tour offers a wonderful opportunity for Colorado media outlets to not only visit a ranch that continues to struggle from an overwhelming amount of snow, but to meet a country music legend who is working to make sure Colorado farmers and ranchers have the help they need to survive the devastating blizzards.

The tour is part of an ongoing effort to aid those who continue to dig out from snow that will have lasting effects on our livestock industry. Operation: Blizzard Benefit is being held March 18, 2007 at the Colorado State Fairgrounds Event Center in Pueblo. The concert features Michael Martin Murphey and a long list of other talented performers: Baxter Black, Waddie Mitchell, Gary McMahan, Don Edwards, Carin Mari and Pony Express, Sons and Brothers, Sarah Murphey, the Pueblo Symphony Orchestra, and Mei-Ling Felton.

"There is a very impressive list of performers lined up for Operation: Blizzard Benefit," said State Fair General Manager Chris Wiseman. "It's impressive to see artists from across the country gather for such a great cause."

The concert event is being presented by the Colorado Farm Bureau, in conjunction with the Colorado Cattlemen's Association, Colorado Livestock Association, and the Colorado Department of Agriculture - State Fair. Sponsors of the event aim to raise at least $500,000 to assist livestock producers impacted by the blizzard. Corporate sponsorship is also being sought for assistance.

As a guitarist and songwriter, Michael Martin Murphey has been named a "Western Music Hall of Fame Inductee." The span of his successful career dates back to the 1970s with his first big hit, "Wildfire." Throughout the years, Michael Martin Murphey has secured his place in country music history with six gold records and fans around the world.

Tickets are tax deductible and can be purchased at the Colorado State Fair box office, all Ticketmaster ticket outlets or online at http://www.ticketmaster.com. For additional ticket information, call 719/404-2070.

For more on Operation: Blizzard Benefit and donation information, log onto http://www.blizzardbenefit.org. (Contact: (Contacts: Christi Lightcap, 303/239-4190)

Buddy Hance Named Deputy Secretary Of Agriculture
Published: February 20, 2007

Fourth generation Southern Maryland farmer, Earl F. "Buddy" Hance has been named deputy secretary of the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Hance has most recently served as president of the Maryland Farm Bureau, chairman of the Maryland State Tobacco Authority, and as chairman of the Southern Maryland Agricultural Commission among other farm and community activities.