Forget Taxing Food

Chuck Zimmerman July 10, 2009

I don’t know what you think about it but it sure seems to me like we’ve got a government that thinks that the answer to every problem in our society can be fixed with a new program and new taxes. I’m just wondering where in the world they think that money is going to come from.

Here’s the latest backlash I’ve seen. This one is in response to the idea that we should tax certain foods and beverages. I don’t see how anyone can believe we can solve things like obesity by taxes. I think the government is doing more than enough to provide good food and nutrition information to the public. Food companies are already providing plenty of information on which you can make an informed decision about what you eat. Isn’t there a point when people have to be responsible for their own decisions? If someone wants to drink a case of soda in two days isn’t it their responsibility to deal with the consequences?

I just found out about this organization called Americans Against Food Taxes. I’ve got a feeling we’re going to see a lot more of this type of activity. You can follow them on Twitter too.

Americans Against Food Taxes is a coalition of concerned citizens – responsible individuals, financially strapped families, small and large businesses in communities across the country – opposed to the Government’s proposed tax hike on food and beverages, including soda, juice drinks, and flavored milks. The coalition has twin primary aims: 1) To promote a healthy economy and healthy lifestyles by educating Americans about smart solutions that rely upon science, economic realities and common sense; and 2) To prevent the enactment of this regressive and discriminatory tax that will not teach our children how to have a healthy lifestyle, and will have no meaningful impact on child behavior or public health, but will have a negative impact on American families struggling in this economy.

I’m on board with this idea. Of course I guess we can’t expect common sense to be used by legislators anymore or can we?

Food

Campbell Joins U.S. Wheat

Melissa Sandfort July 10, 2009

U.S. Wheat Associates welcomed Shawn Campbell as the new Assistant Director, West Coast Office, Portland, OR, July 6, 2009.

USW’s West Coast Office staff maintains a liaison with the grain export trade and constituent state wheat commissions, hosts visiting foreign trade delegations, leads the USW crop quality improvement efforts, and serves the needs of USW offices around the world.

While at the University of Idaho, Campbell received undergraduate degrees in agribusiness and agricultural systems management and a master’s degree in agricultural economics. He also participated in the University of Idaho’s College of Agriculture Tour of Taiwan in 2007 and interned for Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company in Puunene, HI. His professional experience working as an agricultural economist for a cattle feedlot in Alberta, Canada, and growing up on a ranch in Condon, OR, also speak to Campbell’s knowledge of the many stages of agriculture that he will apply in his new position.

Wheat

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort July 10, 2009

Cooperatives Working Together has now finished the farm audits of its seventh herd retirement round since the program was started in 2003, removing 101,040 cows that produced almost two billion pounds of milk.
Hoosier Ag Today has announced a new service to deliver time sensitive information wirelessly: current weather, market, and farm news to any web-enabled wireless device.
This year, Hay & Forage Grower will be partnering with the National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance to publish the “Fall Dormancy & Pest Resistance Ratings for Alfalfa Varieties 2010 Edition” in the November 2009 issue of Hay & Forage Grower.
LibertyLink soybeans are now available through more than 100 seed companies, providing growers expanded maturity range of 0.5 to 5.9 and enhanced agronomic performance packages.

Zimfo Bytes

Remembering Jack Eberspacher

Chuck Zimmerman July 9, 2009

I was very saddened to learn of the passing away of Jack Eberspacher, Ag Retailers Association. Cindy and I knew Jack first when he led what is now the National Sorghum Producers. We’ve had the opportunity to interview him and share good times and fellowship many times and he will be sorely missed. Here’s a statement by ARA:

Jack Eberspacher, president and chief executive officer of the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA), died peacefully in his sleep on July 5, 2009 at the Inova Cameron Glen Care Center in Reston, Virginia. Eberspacher was out on indefinite medical leave from ARA after a diagnosis of cancer in late April of this year.

“ARA and the industry lost a dynamic leader and true visionary,” said ARA Chairman Ken Manning of Wilbur-Ellis Company. “Jack worked tirelessly to build this organization into the strong voice for agricultural retailers and distributors we have today in the nation’s Capitol. He always stressed the importance of ARA listening to its members and providing value to those members. Due to his efforts, we have an experienced and very capable team at ARA who are committed to seeing Jack’s and the Board of Director’s vision for the organization fulfilled. ARA has a solid foundation in place that will only get stronger through the active involvement of its members and the industry.”

Here’s a statement (pdf) from NSP:

“Jack was our colleague and dear friend,” said Tim Lust, NSP CEO. “His leadership carried this organization both through rough patches and tremendous growth. He cast a remarkable vision for NSP and never let the organization stray from its farmer members and the basics.”

Friends of Jack Eberspacher have set up an educational trust for his children. Please make checks payable to the “Sam and Maggie Eberspacher Educational Trust.” Memorials may be mailed to:

Bank of America, N.A. c/o Carolyn F. Grant-Suite  8300 Greensboro Drive  Suite 500  McLean, VA 22102

A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, July 11, at 2:30 p.m., at the Vienna Presbyterian Church in Vienna, Virginia. A reception will be held at the church immediately following the service. The church is located at 124 Park Street, NE. Click here for driving directions and parking locations near the church. Those wishing to attend the memorial service can obtain more information about travel and lodging here.

Ag Groups, sorghum

Oscar Mayer Passes Away

Chuck Zimmerman July 9, 2009

Let’s move from hamburgers to hot dogs. These tasty staples of the American diet owe a lot to the guys at Oscar Meyer.

Well, past Chairman Oscar Mayer has passed away at the age of 95. That’s right. Shows what a good hot dog will do for you. He was the third person of that name in the family to work for the company.

Food

Ice Cream Burger

Cindy Zimmerman July 9, 2009

Turnabout is fair play, as they say. Some of you may remember the Steak Sundae post here on Agwired about three years ago that generated lots of comments from anti-meat eaters who thought it was disgusting.

So, how about this? Ice Cream Hamburger Treats, a recipe from Blue Bunny. These are “cool” – in more ways than one.

The burger is chocolate ice cream, the grill marks are licorice sticks, the ketchup is red gel frosting, the mustard is yellow food coloring in marshmallow cream, the pickles are sliced green gum drops, and the bun is a dessert sponge cup with sesame seeds on top.

Check out the recipe on BlueBunny.com for a fun summer treat that kids will love!

Dairy, Food

You Should Choose Ethanol

Chuck Zimmerman July 9, 2009

The Renewable Fuels Association has launched a new online destination for ethanol information called Choose Ethanol.

The new website features a section dedicated exclusively to E85, plus a news center and quick facts, as well as links to follow RFA on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr.

The site also invites visitors to sign up to “stay informed, share your stories and become a part of the discussion about clean, renewable fuel in the United States.”

The website address is www.chooseethanol.com.

Ethanol, Internet, RFA

Army in Afghanistan Helping Plant Seeds of Hope

Chuck Zimmerman July 9, 2009

Wherever we can find a positive story about our military in action we should let others know. You’re sure not going to find it on mainstream media. This one is from the Army’s own website. This has also been done in Iraq and other countries. I think it’s good to point out how important agriculture is to a country and why we should be doing everything we can in this country to protect and build our own ag base. The loonies are sure trying to hurt it all they can though which is why I think they’re so un-patriotic. So let’s celebrate our fighting men and women who are helping another country build their ag base!

At war in a country that has been devastated by centuries of fighting, the U.S. military is committed to helping Afghanistan attain a functional level of prosperity and self-sustainability through improved agricultural methods.

Teams of National Guardsmen from Missouri and 11 other farm-belt states are deploying to Afghanistan on year-long tours to assist in this effort. The Guardsmen bring with them more specialized skills than those of the usual advisory panels that typically helm projects such as these. This mission calls for military members with expertise in farming, raising livestock and cultivating natural resources.

The U.S. military recognized the necessity of such teams in late 2007 when reconstruction teams realized people in rural areas needed something more pressing than a new school or road. Across Afghanistan, these teams have been inundated with requests for help with farming and other agricultural endeavors.

The Nangarhar Province Agri-Business Development Team has focused on facilitating sustainable projects that aid the Afghan people in a manner that results in greater impact and more long-term benefits.

“We have a wide-range of programs geared at helping the Afghan people gain better farming practices and that often means providing basic systems such as wells and karizes to irrigate the crops,” said Maj. Denise Wilkinson, ADT executive officer who is deployed from the Missouri Joint Force Headquarters. “We have projects with large budgets, but we have found that it’s the small projects at little cost that have the biggest impact on the people who need our help the most.”

Farming, International

Farm Foundation Sponsors Water Resources Forum

John Davis July 8, 2009

The latest Farm Foundation Forum will be held next Tuesday, July 14, 2009 from 9-11 am at the National Press Club, 529 14th Street NW, in Washington D.C. The topic this time will be the competition for water resources:

Presenters include: Erik Peterson of the Center for Strategic and International Studies; Dan Keppen of the Family Farm Alliance; Karl Wirkus of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation; and Noel Gollehon of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. The Environmental Working Group has also been invited to participate.

Just like the other great forums that Farm Foundation has sponsored, this one will bring together lots of folks from divergent points of view with plenty of discussion to come up with real solutions for the issues facing American agriculture. If you can participate in this free forum, you need to get your RSVP into Linda Singer (e-mail her at linda@farmfoundation.org) by close of business on Thursday, July 9. And even if you can’t be there in person, the folks at Farm Foundation will have audio from the event at this Web site.

Farm Foundation

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