Sequester Chops Some USDA Reports

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Cindy

Statistical surveys and reports about catfish, hops and mink are among those being suspended by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) “for the remainder of the fiscal year due to reduced funding caused by sequestration,” according to a press release out today.

Before deciding upon the program suspensions, NASS reviewed its survey programs against mission- and user-based criteria as well as the amount of time remaining in the fiscal year to conduct the surveys with the goal of finding available cost savings and maintaining the strongest data in service to agriculture. The decision to suspend these reports was not made lightly, but it was nevertheless necessary, given the funding situation.

• All Catfish and Trout Reports including Catfish Feed Deliveries and Catfish Processing
• July Cattle Report
• Potato Stocks Reports
• All Non-Citrus Fruit, Nut and Vegetable Forecasts and Estimates
• June Rice Stocks Report
• All Hops and Hops Stocks Estimates
• Mink Report
• Milk Production Reports including Production, Disposition and Income
• June on- and off-farm stocks for Austrian Winter Peas, Chickpeas, Dry Peas and Lentils
• July acreage forecasts for Austrian Winter Peas, Dry Edible Peas and Lentils

Leaked USDA Email Makes News

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Cindy

*UPDATED WITH USDA STATEMENT*

A leaked email from a USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service field office is in the news today as evidence that the Obama administration wants to make the sequester cuts “as painful as possible.”

According to the email, the USDA budget office directed the APHIS field office regarding flexibility of spending cuts for aquaculture, “However you manage that reduction, you need to make sure you are not contradicting what we said the impact would be.” USDA had previously told Congress that APHIS would “eliminate assistance to producers in 24 states in managing wildlife damage to the aquaculture industry” without additional funds.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was questioned about that email by Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD) during a House Agriculture Committee hearing yesterday. “Mr. Secretary, I’m very concerned about that last line,” said Noem, who read the email to the committee. “Is it the policy of your department to not use any flexibility that you may have in managing the sequester?”

“No,” Vilsack responded. “If we have flexibility, we’re going to try to use it to make sure we use sequester in the most equitable and least disruptive way.” He added that in the case of meat inspectors, for example, he has less flexibility.

Noem stressed that her concern is that the administration not have an agenda that “prioritizes staying consistent” with what was previously said, rather than looking at “reductions we have to deal with and do them in the best manner possible to make sure that we protect the industry and as many producers as we can.”

Listen to the exchange between Noem and Vilsack here: House Ag Hearing 3/5/13

*USDA STATEMENT*

USDA released the following statement to clarify context of leaked email.

Several reports yesterday misrepresented a USDA effort to explain the impacts of budget cuts to an employee in USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Here are the facts: Recently, a member of the APHIS field staff suggested to the agency’s budget officers that budget cuts in the APHIS Wildlife Services program could be spread out across 24 states in a particular region in order to avoid furloughs. The budget officers explained that the employee’s suggestion had already been communicated to Congress as part of the Administration’s FY2013 budget proposal and will be included as part of the sequestration plan. To be clear, the APHIS budget officer explained that USDA is already proposing these steps in order to avoid furloughs. USDA is committed to doing all we can to minimize the impact of sequester our employees and the farmers, ranchers, and rural communities we serve.

Sec. of Ag Vilsack at Commodity Classic

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Chuck

Our U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack gave a sequester day speech here at Commodity Classic. I have not had time to digest it all but he did start out by saying how happy he is to be visiting Classic because it takes him out of Washington, DC, and especially today. As you can imagine you’ll hear a lot about sequester, budgets, spending, cuts, frustration, etc.

I’ve got both his speech and press conference available for you here to listen, download and share:

Listen to Sec. Vilsack’s speech here: Sec. Vilsack Speech

Listen to Sec. Vilsack’s press conference here: Sec. Vilsack Press Conference

2013 Commodity Classic Photo Album

AgFanatics Dish on USDA Report

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Cindy

The AgFanatics were in their element last week talking about the USDA Supply & Demand report. Episode #11 on Tuesday last week caught them in pre-report speculation mode, and Episode #12 was recap and reaction to the report for the market.

The AgriVisor AgFanatics podcast is updated twice weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays. AgFanatics can be found on Itunes or right from the front page at www.agrivisor.com.

Sequester Could Cause FSIS Inspector Furlough

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Cindy

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has shaken up the meat and poultry industry with his comments about how sequestration might impact agriculture during a speech to the National Ethanol Conference last week.

Answering a question about funding for a farm bill, Vilsack talked more broadly about what might happen after March 1 if Congress fails to act and sequester creates automatic budget cuts. “It is likely if sequester is triggered that in our food safety area we will have to furlough workers for a period of a couple of weeks,” Vilsack said, adding that would cause plants to shut down, supplies to decline and prices to go up for consumers.

Those comments generated reaction from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the American Meat Institute. “(W)e are severely disappointed Secretary Vilsack has chosen to take this path of threatening to halt FSIS inspections.” said NCBA president Scott George. AMI President J. Patrick Boyle wrote to both Secretary Vilsack and President Obama stressing USDA’s legal obligations to provide meat inspection even under sequestration.

Secretary Vilsack responded that taking inspectors off the job would be a last resort, but is a very real possibility. “Unfortunately, unless Congress acts to prevent sequestration, FSIS will have no choice but to furlough its employees in order stay within the budget Congress has given it,” Vilsack wrote. “Because we understand that furloughing our food safety inspectors would not be good for our consumers, the economy, the meat and poultry industry, or our workforce, we view such furloughs as the last option we would implement to achieve the necessary sequestration cut.”

Listen to Vilsack at ethanol conference comment about sequester impacts on ag: Vilsack on sequester at NEC

Vilsack Visits Ethanol and Biodiesel Meetings

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Cindy

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack hit two meetings in one city last week, appearing at both the National Ethanol Conference and the National Biodiesel Conference within a few hours of each other, since they were both being held in Las Vegas a mile apart.

Vilsack told both groups that the renewable fuels industry is worth fighting for. “Your country’s future depends on it,” he said. “It’s that important. That’s why I’m here – I firmly believe it.”

Watch the Secretary’s address at the NEC below:

Video streaming by Ustream

Understandably, the secretary gave similar speeches to both groups – but not the same and he had slightly different questions to address specific topics such as chances for a farm bill, energy title funding and more. We covered both events last week for the 7th and 8th years in a row.

Listen to Vilsack’s speech to the biodiesel conference here: Vilsack at NBB
Listen to his speech to the ethanol conference here: Vilsack at NEC

2013 National Biodiesel Conference Photo Album

2013 National Ethanol Conference Photo Album

USDA Extends Census Deadline

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Talia

Farmers and ranchers across the country are heeding the call to have their voices heard and their farms represented in the 2012 Census of Agriculture. With 1.4 million Census forms returned, the USDA is thanking everyone for speaking up for their communities, their industry and their future by sending in their Census form. For those who missed the deadline, USDA reminds producers that their farm is important and needs to be counted. As a result, Census forms are still being accepted.

Conducted every five years by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the Census provides detailed data covering nearly every facet of U.S. agriculture. It looks at land use and ownership, production practices, expenditures and other factors that affect the way farmers and ranchers do business. The deadline for submitting Census forms was February 4, and many farmers and ranchers have responded. However, those who did not respond by the original due date will receive another copy of the form in the mail to give them another opportunity.

Farmers and ranchers can return their forms by mail or online by visiting a secure website, www.agcensus.usda.gov. Federal law requires all agricultural producers to participate in the Census and requires NASS to keep all individual information confidential

NCBA Sustainability Press Conference

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Jamie

During the 2013 Cattle Industry Convention today NCBA held a press conference to announce the preliminary results of the Beef Industry Sustainability Assessment.

Dr. Kim Stackhouse, NCBA Director of Sustainability, shared how the beef checkoff-funded assessment is a holistic look at the entire beef value chain. This is the first time any food value chain has ever documented the economic, environmental and social fingerprint.

“This comprehensive analysis will provide a roadmap for the journey toward a more sustainable beef industry. The U.S. beef industry is one of the most complex biological, economic and social chains in the world. As such, measuring these complex, interrelated systems is difficult but critically important to the future stability and profitability of the industry.”

The assessment was conducted by NCBA, a contractor of the Beef Checkoff Program. BASF Corporation and the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service also played a huge role as sub-contractors to help assemble and interpret the data.

Stay connected to this year’s Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show on Facebook and follow the happenings on Twitter using the hashtags #CIC13 & #NCBA13.

Check out audio from the entire press conference: Sustainability Press Conference

You can find photos from the event here:Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

Farm Policy Facts Relaunches Education Campaign

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Talia

A diverse coalition of agricultural organizations that came together during the 2008 Farm Bill debate under the name Farm Policy Facts announced that they are stepping up education activities during the 113th Congress.

Farm Policy Facts will communicate with the media and members of Congress via regular email alerts that will include a mix of farm policy news, detailed analysis and case studies of farm policy in action. Former journalists and legislative experts – including Rene Pastor, a longtime commodities reporter with Reuters, and Tom Sell, a former Hill aide and USDA official and cofounder and managing partner of Combest, Sell & Associates, LLC. – will be regular contributors.

Zimfo Bytes

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Talia

The American Soybean Association announced the regional winners of the 2013 Conservation Legacy Awards program.
The American Farm Bureau Federation announced that Dale Moore will lead the organization’s public policy department.
USDA reports U.S. commercial red meat production for December was down five percent on the year at 3.997 billion pounds.
After seeing the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates for January, that wheat stocks are declining, market watchers turned their attention to the next crop.

Producers — Complete 2012 Census!

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Talia

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack continues to remind producers to complete forms for the Census of Agriculture – the only source of uniform, comprehensive and impartial agricultural data for every county in the nation. The 2012 Census of Agriculture will provide the USDA with current information to help ensure an abundant, safe, and accessible food supply for all of America. The Census of Agriculture, said Vilsack, is one of the most important tools for providing certainty to producers and sustaining the unlimited economic potential of rural America.

Currently underway by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, the Census collects detailed data covering nearly every facet of U.S. agriculture. It looks at land use and ownership, production practices, expenditures and other factors that affect the way farmers do business and succeed in the 21st Century.

Census information helps USDA monitor trends and understand the needs in agriculture to better align its products and services. Ways the department used Census data in the past include:
• Helping to ensure the future of the agriculture industry in America, by developing programs and priorities to help new and beginning farmers get started and stay in business.
• Looking at where and how to provide expanded and improved Internet access and services to rural America.
• Illustrating the changing nature and needs of agriculture.

Should We Sit Down with HSUS in Common Cause

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Chuck

Many eyebrows were raised during Sec. of Agriculture Tom Vilsack’s speech at the AFBF convention yesterday. It was really a stand out moment in an otherwise pretty good speech and I wonder what you think about it. The photo is from his press conference following the closing session.

Sec. Vilsack was talking about creating strategic alliances and reaching out to groups that we may not agree with. He used several examples. But this is the one that stood out.

And frankly those who are engaged in constructive engagement They shouldn’t be faulted for doing so. Now I know that there are not too many fans of the Humane Society in this room. But egg producers thought it was in their best interest to avoid fifty different referendums, fifty different sets of rules. So they sat down with folks and they reached common ground. After all, isn’t that what we’re asking our Congress to do? Isn’t that what we’re asking our political leaders to do? To sit down and make common cause? I think the egg producers have the right idea. Now, the issues may be different for different types of producers. But we need to be constructively engaged at all times and conversations. We may not find agreement. But I think we will substantially reduce those who oppose farming and substantially reduce the reach of those and hopefully be able to get enough proactive activity that results in a five year bill.

I can’t agree with him on this. My reason is that when it comes to an organization like the HSUS which has a well known desire to end animal agriculture there is no “common cause.” I see efforts to do so as admitting defeat and just hoping to buy some time before losing the game. And we’re not talking about a game. We’re talking about people’s livelihoods and one of the most promising and productive sources of food to feed a growing population.

So, what do you think Sec. Vilsack meant by using this example and stating that he thought it was a good idea? Is it a portent of things to come? Should we expect to see our USDA sitting down with HSUS in common cause?

You can listen to Sec. Vilsack’s remark here: Sec. Vilsack Remark on HSUS

2013 American Farm Bureau Convention Photo Album

Ag Sec. Vilsack Addresses AFBF Annual Meeting

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Chuck

After it was announced today that Tom Vilsack has agreed to serve a second term as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture he addressed the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting. He started out talking about the challenges in rural America and “urged farmers and producers take advantage of innovation, job creation partnerships and to share their story of a modern, innovative, inspiring rural America to new audiences.”

“Rural America is leading innovation in this country today,” said Vilsack. “Rural areas can benefit tremendously through the bioeconomy, whether producing cutting-edge new products or advanced biofuels from crops and plant products. We are learning more about what can be made from wood and forest products. We are discovering groundbreaking medical benefits associated with many homegrown products – and much more.”

Sec. Vilsack highlighted accomplishments at USDA during his first term and called on Congress to pass a five year farm bill now.

You can listen to or download Sec. Vilsack’s speech here: Sec. Vilsack Speech

Post Update: After the closing general session of the convention Sec. Vilsack held a press conference.

You can listen to or download Sec. Vilsack’s press conference here: Sec. Vilsack Press Conference

2013 American Farm Bureau Convention Photo Album

Agri-Pulse Hires New Senior Editor

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Melissa

Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc. announced that Derrick Cain has joined the company to serve as Senior Editor.

Cain brings more than eight years of experience, reporting about news from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and agriculture-related legislation in the U.S. Congress, including detailed coverage of the 2002 and 2008 farm bills.

As a congressional reporter for more than 12 years who most recently worked for Bloomberg BNA, Cain reported on hundreds of congressional hearings and mark-ups, bills, and floor debates in both chambers. He covered several federal departments and agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Department of Labor, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Transportation, the U.S. Postal Service, and Amtrak.

In addition to his daily reporting duties, Cain has appeared on C-SPAN and the National Public Radio’s Diane Rehm Show, providing insight on current policy-related issues. He received his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.

EPA Adminstrator Latest Cabinet Member Resignation

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Cindy

In addition to Secretary of State, President Obama now has another cabinet member to replace. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Lisa Jackson announced today that she will be leaving her post with the president’s new term. “I will leave the EPA confident the ship is sailing in the right direction, and ready in my own life for new challenges, time with my family and new opportunities to make a difference.”

President Obama praised Jackson for her service and said that “under her leadership, the EPA has taken sensible and important steps to protect the air we breathe and the water we drink.”

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, pictured here with Jackson during pictured here during a tour of a Renewable Energy Group (REG) biodiesel plant in April 2011, is sorry she is leaving the cabinet.

“Lisa Jackson has served our country well as she balanced improving the environment and the health of the American people – while ensuring our country’s economic competitiveness – because they are intrinsically linked,” said Vilsack in a statement today. “Throughout her tenure, she listened to stakeholders, including farmers and ranchers, and took their concerns into account while considering policies that impacted rural America. She was a friend to me and to those who live and work in rural America and her leadership will be missed.”

Under Jackson the EPA has come up with several initiatives considered to be unfriendly to agriculture, including the landmark declaration that carbon dioxide is a pollutant that can be regulated under the Clean Air Act, and controversial limits on nutrient pollution flowing from several states into the Chesapeake Bay.

Jackson has not said what her next move will be and there has been no indication from the administration yet of who might replace her.

Census of Agriculture Forms to Go Out Soon

Posted on November 20, 2012 by John

The USDA wants to get a better idea of what’s happening on America’s farms. That’s why the 2012 Census of Agriculture forms will be hitting producers’ mailboxes very soon.

“The Census of Agriculture will be dropped in the mail December 14th, so farmers should expect it in their mailboxes by the end of the year,” says Renee Picanso, Director of the USDA’s Census and Survey Division, asking that those surveyed return their census by Feb. 4, 2013. During an interview at Trade Talk at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention, she added that they’ll be asking some new questions this year, including some on agriforestry and renewable energy. Also new this year will be the opportunity to fill out the survey over the internet, something they believe will help response rates. “I hope so, because it leads you through the questions, and if you go on the internet, it will skip through the questions [not relevant to your operation].”

Picanso stresses that it’s very important for producers to respond because the survey helps USDA determine policy, as well as how it helps rural communities and agribusinesses. Results should be released in February 2014.

Listen to Cindy’s interview with Renee here: Interview with Renee Picanso, Director of the USDA's Census and Survey Division

2012 NAFB Convention Photo Album

USDA End-of-Year Surveys on the Way

Posted on November 18, 2012 by John

In a year in agriculture with this many ups and downs, good information becomes an even bigger commodity. That’s why the USDA is sending out its end-of-year surveys soon. Cindy caught up with Bob Bass, the Director of National Operations for the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) during Trade Talk at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention, and he said the country’s farms and ranches have seen a wide range of conditions this year.

“It’s very important that we get a handle on the final production, and that includes the actual harvested acres and final yield,” as well at what stocks are in storage out there, Bass said. About 73,000 scientifically selected farms and ranches will be surveyed, representing the 2.2 million operations nationwide. “That’s why it is so important that we get an accurate and timely response from everyone of those selected samples.”

Bass added that NASS will be changing when they release some of their reports, with the monthly crop reports moving from 8:30 a.m. EST to Noon EST after the first of the year. “That’s at the request of data users across the country and the world… it’s a global economy now.” Livestock reports will remain at 3 p.m. EST.

Listen to Cindy’s interview with Bob here: Interview with Bob Bass, NASS

2012 NAFB Convention Photo Album

USAID Issues Progress Report at WFP

Posted on October 18, 2012 by Cindy

U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Rajiv Shah released the first progress report and scorecard for Feed the Future at an address to the World Food Prize on Thursday.

The progress report highlights how Feed the Future is already making a difference in people’s lives in the developing world and the scorecard tracks how well we are changing our development and engagement process to more effectively meet our goals. So far Feed the Future has helped 1.8 million food producers to adopt improved technologies or management practices that can lead to more resilient crops, higher yields, and increased incomes. The initiative has also reached nearly 9 million children through nutrition programs, which can prevent and treat undernutrition and improve child survival.

Shah also announced new initiatives to help farmers and communities in developing countries, including two new lending facilities to help smallholder farmer organizations in Africa, and a partnership for educating the next generation of agricultural leaders and World Food Prize laureates.

Listen to Shah’s comments here: USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah

View the World Food Prize Photo Album here.

AgWired coverage of the World Food Prize is sponsored by Elanco

The School Lunch Parodies

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Melissa

Who has seen The Hunger Games - or read the books? You’ll get a laugh out of the comparisons drawn in this video. Kids these days may have some “out there” ideas (at least that’s what some of us ‘old’ folks think) but one thing they have right is that they stand up for what they believe, and speak out about it too. The school lunch program changes have students up in arms, and hungry. In a recent ZimmPoll, nearly HALF of respondents gave school lunches an ‘F’.

Student distaste for the program has gone viral. Enjoy. And may the odds be ever in your favor.