Noting faulty records, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture lifts CWD quarantine from another 14 deer farms

 

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has lifted quarantines from another 14 deer farms, saying that "DNA testing confirmed these farms had no ties to two Adams County deer that died of chronic wasting disease in October ."

A news release posted to the department's website on Friday stated that faulty records at the Adams County farm, where Pennsylvania's first case of the always fatal, brain disease of deer and other cervids was confirmed in October, wrongly indicated that that deer – known as Yellow 903 for its deer farm tag – was born on a Lycoming County farm.

"To ensure the safety of Pennsylvania's farmed and wild deer, the department took precautions and issued quarantine orders on 34 deer farms between October and December of 2012," the news release explained.

"This decision was based on evidence from records kept by the Adams County farm where the first positive deer, known by its farm tag as Yellow 903, originated. The deer farm records indicated that Yellow 903 was born on a Lycoming County farm.

"To ensure the accuracy of those records, the department sent DNA samples from Yellow 903 and several deer that records indicated were related for testing at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa.

"DNA tests results received this week showed conclusively no family relationship between any of the deer, one of which was reported to be Yellow 903's mother.

"These results confirm that Yellow 903 did not originate from the Lycoming County

farm named in the Adams County farm's records.

"Because the 14 farms were connected to the Lycoming County farm and not the Adams County farm, they have been released from quarantine."

The department's news release did not provide the names of locations of the 14 farms from which the quarantines were lifted.

The phone in the department's press office was not answered at about 6 p.m.

The department's website list of quarantined farms continued to show 21 farms still quarantined and only nine with quarantines "revoked." The list noted that it had been "Updated: Dec. 19, 2012."

The accompanying map on the website showed 26 "quarantined facilities."

The news release continued, "Nine farms are still under quarantine by the Department of Agriculture. Those farms remaining are all directly connected to the Adams County farm where both positive deer were found."

A second deer in the captive herd at New Oxford, Adams County, was confirmed in early November to have been infected with CWD.

No additional cases have been confirmed in the state.

Original Article Here

Welcoming in new life

UNDER the watchful eye of the viewing public Sparsholt College agriculture students spent a busy weekend supporting shepherd John Garrett as the college’s 400 ewes deliver their lambs.

Now in its ninth year, the annual Lambing Weekend attracted thousands of visitors all keen to witness a live birth and meet the new arrivals.

The majority of the 766 lambs due were either triplets (84 sets), twins (21 sets) with just 78 singles expected.

Training John Garrett talked visitors through the lambing process, pointing out the various signs of delivery whilst taking many questions from the audience.

John Garrett said: “We are here to train farmers of the future and prepare our students for a successful career in agriculture.

“Our Lambing Weekend enables us to share the lambing experience which is something many people would otherwise never get to see.

“We hope that some of the younger members of audience may one day look to train and pursue a career in agriculture.”

The Lambing Weekend enables the college to showcase its learning facilities located at the campus farm.

Younger visitors explored the college’s tractors and farm machinery, met the horses stabled at the Equine Centre, watched a farrier at work and enjoyed the milking of the college herd.

The college deliberately times the lambs to arrive early in the year to give agricultural students hands- on experience before the traditional lambing season in March-April.

See all the pictures in this week's paper.

Original article Here

Our Turn: New England agriculture gets a new voice in D.C.

New Hampshire may have a new all-women dream team representing it in Congress, but forging a path for women may not be their only opportunity. Flying under the radar is the fact that 2nd District Rep. Annie Kuster is now a member of the House Agriculture Committee, the first representative from New Hampshire in many years.

While it may seem an odd match for a state not known for agriculture, it is really indicative of how local, sustainable agriculture is on the rise in our region. Kuster’s seat on this committee is an opportunity for the agricultural community of New England and for area consumers whose interest in knowing more about their food has been steadily mounting. Now more than ever, people are becoming more connected with the source of their food and recognizing that what they eat is closely linked to their health, as well as to the health of the environment and their local communities.

This heightened consumer awareness is helping to keep New England farms in business, especially the hundreds of organic dairies in the region. Not only are these dairy farms an iconic part of our New England landscape, but they are also a critically important part of our local economy.

On the political front, we see evidence of the growing importance of New England agriculture in the establishment and growth of the New England Farmers Union. The diverse membership of this group, from century-old family farms to young urban farmers, is a testament to the surge in the region’s interest in producing and eating local, sustainable food and the need for advocating for policies that better serve our farmers.

New Hampshire’s agricultural economy is small in comparison with other states, but it still accounts for nearly $1 billion in economic activity and thousands of jobs. It also helps conserve our landscapes, both farm and forest. Well-managed farm and forestland contribute to improved soil health and water quality, and provide wildlife habitat and recreational use. Federal farm programs that support better management on these lands are essential to maintaining these benefits.

One of the first orders of business Kuster will have to deal with is the farm bill, which affects New Hampshire and New England in ways we rarely hear about. It’s critical to our region’s conservation and forestry programs, and it also holds the key to nutrition initiatives that will help families in need get greater access to fresh fruits and vegetables from local farms.


Over the past few years, we’ve seen the introduction of a variety of farm bill programs that would really help our area. They focus on organic agriculture and fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as beginning farmers and ranchers. Programs designed to help build local food systems really help our area. Unfortunately, Congress gutted all of these programs, including the nation’s largest conservation program, when it extended the farm bill as part of the fiscal cliff deal passed early this year.

This year Congress has a chance to reauthorize this bill, restore funding for these critical programs, and make much needed reforms to the farm safety net. While this won’t be easy, especially in light of the need to reduce the federal deficit, it’s never been more important for Congress to deliver a farm bill that meets the needs of both consumers and agriculture. A more regionally diverse agriculture committee is sure to do a better job of this than one that is stacked with members from the Corn Belt.

We’re counting on Kuster to make hay of this opportunity.

Original Article Here

Maine agriculture in good growth position

By SUSAN MCMILLAN Kennebec Journal

AUGUSTA - Maine's abundant land, growing conditions and location in the Northeast make the state well-positioned for growth in agriculture, said John Piotti, executive director of Maine Farmland Trust.

But there are also challenges involving land prices, the work force and infrastructure to support farms, Piotti and two local farmers said Sunday at a Forum on the Future event at the University of Maine at Augusta.

About 40 people attended the event, many of them as part of UMA's Senior College, and Piotti said that was a good start, considering the importance of educating people about the current state of agriculture and its importance to local communities.

In the past 15 years, Piotti said, Maine has gained about 1,200 farms, and the acreage in production has increased 4 percent.

Most of the growth has been among small farms that sell to a few restaurants or stores or directly to consumers at farmers markets. But Piotti said the big commodity farms, which sell products such as potatoes and blueberries to wholesalers, still make up most of the industry, and different types of farms interact and support each other.

Maine Farmland Trust seeks to keep farmland affordable through agricultural easements and programs such as Buy/Protect/Sell, through which the trust buys farmland at development value and sells it to a farmer at its lower production value.

Original Article Here

Tinicum's Community Supported Agriculture continues a tradition of fresh, local produce in Upper Bucks County

By Donna Henschel
Tinicum Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has launched its first season as a community supported agriculture venture on the preserved farmland of the Schneiderwind Farm & Nursery in Upper Black Eddy, Pa.

It will offer fresh, naturally-grown fruits and vegetables to its subscribing members -- carrying on the tradition established over the last three years at the same location by Open Acres CSA.

Upper Black Eddy, Pa. - Tinicum CSA announced recently that community supported agriculture (CSA) will continue in 2013 at the Schneiderwind Farm & Nursery in Upper Black Eddy.

Gaining in popularity nationwide, CSA farms offer community members a chance to buy fresh, local, seasonal produce directly from their farmer by purchasing a “share” in the farm. Farm members then visit the farm each week from late May to early November to pick up their share of that week’s harvest.

The members share with their farmers in both the risks (such as an unusually difficult growing season) and the many rewards of sustainable agriculture, which include an abundance of delicious, locally grown, healthful vegetables and fruits, aromatic herbs, and beautiful cut-your-own flowers – all grown without synthetic chemicals or pesticides.

Tinicum CSA is a partnership between Bucks County native John Crooke and Minnesota native Stefan Streit. They met last year while both were apprentices at Sisters Hill Farm, a CSA in Stanfordville, NY. Near the end of the 2012 growing season, Crooke and Streit made contact with Nate Walker, another former apprentice of Sisters Hill Farm.

At the time, Walker and his partner, Heather Brady, were managing Open Acres CSA at the Schneiderwind Farm & Nursery in Upper Black Eddy, but they had decided to relocate to New York City at the end of the 2012 season.

Walker introduced would-be CSA farmers Crooke and Streit to his landlord, Craig Schneiderwind. All five of them saw a beautiful opportunity in this convergence, and over the past several months, they have been working closely together to ensure a successful transition from Open Acres to Tinicum CSA.

“We can tell that Nate and Heather had a great time working with Craig and flourished in the midst of a dynamic community of folks who care about tasty veggies and sustainable food options,” said Stefan Streit, Tinicum CSA co-manager. “I’m excited to step into a CSA that already has all the infrastructure set up around a model that we know, and I can’t wait to meet some of the people who showed Nate and Heather so much support.”

What Tinicum CSA members can look forward to:

Community members may sign up for either a full share or a half share. Full share members visit the farm every week for 24 weeks to pick up their share of the harvest. Half share members pick up the same amount of produce per visit, but they pick up every other week. A typical share includes between 4 and 14 pounds of produce, featuring a seasonal assortment of more than 35 different crops. Crops include arugula, basil, broccoli, green beans, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrots, flowers, lettuce, onions, peppers, potatoes, winter squash, watermelons and many more.

Original Article Here

Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture to celebrate 20th anniversary with help of winter markets

Yearning for summer? Dreaming of produce picked fresh from the fields? Need a little comfort?

Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture has been growing in the valley for 20 years, and to kick off its milestone anniversary celebration, it’s presenting Winter Fare, a celebration of the winter bounty, this week in collaboration with regular winter farmers’ markets across the region.

After a 2008 debut in Greenfield, “Winter Fare created a demand,” said Philip S. Korman, executive director of the organization. “Farmers did incredibly well at that event.”

The Greenfield model was copied in Northampton in 2010 with about 2,000 shoppers in about four hours, he said, and as more and more people realized they could “eat local” in the winter, demand continued to grow for winter farmers’ markets.

According to the state Department of Agricultural Resources, there are 39 ongoing winter markets across the commonwealth. In 2009, when the first ones were recorded, there were six. The number rose to 18 in 2010 and to 35 last year.

Several events will celebrate year-round local eating and the anniversary of CISA. They include upcoming markets on Feb. 2 at Amherst Regional Middle School from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and at Greenfield High School from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The markets accept SNAP benefits, and in honor of Winter Fare, CISA will be matching the first $10 of all SNAP purchases.

In addition to purchasing local foods, shoppers can attend educational workshops at each market. Topics include simple cheese-making and canning, growing grains and herbal medicine. Workshop leaders are area residents who use these skills at home. The workshops are free and do not require pre-registration.

In addition, there will be a farmers’ panel discussion, “Looking Forward, Looking Back Changing Agriculture in the Pioneer Valley,” on Jan. 31 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Northampton Center for the Arts. The focus will be on what the local food movement means for farmers in the Pioneer Valley.

Farmers Michael Docter, of Winter Moon Farm, Nate L’Etoile, of Four Star Farms, and Carolyn Wheeler, of Wheel-View Farm, will share their stories and talk about how their businesses have changed over the years, and what they see as the biggest opportunities and challenges facing them in the years to come. This panel discussion and the reception to follow are free and open to the public.

The Winter Fare markets and other events are opportunities for communities to gather around food and farming, Korman said. “The farmers are growing and harvesting for us and will be selling. We have to show up,” he said.

This will be the fourth year for the Springfield winter market offered on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. It’s a way for people buy the locally-raised and grown food they value, and “that’s something a lot of people are plugged in to,” Belle-Rita Novak, market manager, has said. “It tastes better…and you can find out what’s put in your food. A lot of people are more interested in what goes into your body.”

Because some farmers have built greenhouses, they can bring to market produce like greens, spinach, carrots and radishes. “It’s just terrific,” Novak said.

Original Article Here

Nigeria: Health and Agriculture Key, Says Kwara Governor Saraki

Ilorin — This interview was first done in 2009, when an AllAfrica team visited a rural health clinic and a farm in Kwara state and afterwards talked to then-GovernorBukola Saraki about rural development. We are revisiting that conversation now, because AllAfrica is exploring those issues in Nigeria in more depth this month and in the months to come. What the governor – now a senator from Kwara state – said then can help to benchmark how far Nigeria has come in the past three years and how far it still has to go. Excerpts:

You're a medical doctor who has become a politician. Has your professional background had an influence on what you do as governor?

We have the first state health insurance scheme in Nigeria. The design came partly from my medical background but more from experience, after being governor.

It is always easy for us to look at things like bricks and mortars and say, "I've built a hospital." People will come, there will be fanfare, and we cut tapes. As politicians and as leaders, we clap and say, "Oh, yes, we've done something." Everybody can point and say, "That building was commissioned by Governor Saraki". Building those clinics and hospitals, people can say we've sorted health care. And that's a mistake. But you only learn that from being here in this seat for a while.

We came in saying: we need more hospitals, we need more clinics, we need more drugs – and we do. But there is one thing I have learnt after being here for a while, which many people don't understand. Over years of neglect, the population has lost faith in medicine, in the sense that over the years the clinics are not there, the doctors are not there. They've gone to traditional medicine and other ways of trying to survive. So you first have to win their confidence and get them to come back.

The way to get them to come back is pretty much as if you are a marketing a new product. We decided to charge a nominal amount for insurance – 300 Naira ($U.S. 2) a year. So that's basically free. It's not a cost issue anymore. And we are providing care through clinics. After a year in the program, the community has started going back to those clinics, and as time goes on, they begin to act like consumers and demand better service - because they're paying for insurance. And that begins to bring back better health care.

Original Article Here

Our View: In Highland County, agriculture remains everyone's business

The recent "Agriculture is Everyone's Business" event sponsored by the Highland County Chamber of Commerce not only was a resounding success, it almost reminds us all that we sometimes take for granted the importance of agriculture to our local economy.

By far, agriculture is what drives Highland County's economic engine. As we reported not long ago, Highland County has the fourth highest number of farms among Ohio's 88 counties, according to the most recent U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service Census. Our county has 42 farms of 1,000 or more acres and 86 of one to nine acres. Most farms in the county - 540 - are 50 to 179 acres. There are a total of 19,454 cattle and calves, 8,537 beef cows, 1,319 milk cows, 12,415 hogs and 2,537 sheep and lambs being raised on Highland County farms.

Highland County's prominence in the agriculture community is reflected in part by having one of our own, Greenfield native David Daniels, currently serving as the top agriculture official in the state. He was a featured speaker at the chamber event, along with broadcasting legend Orion Samuelson, a longtime icon of the ag community. 

We thank and commend chamber president Melissa Elmore and the other staff, sponsors, donors and participants for making "Agriculture is Everyone's Business" not only a successful event, but a needed reminder that all Highland Countians directly connected with agriculture - including farmers, ag-related stores and businesses, real estate agents, extension office workers, and many more - deserve our support and our appreciation. 

The chamber event's theme - Agriculture is Everyone's Business - is truer in Highland County than almost anywhere in Ohio. We are all socially and economically connected to agriculture, whether every job or business seems on the surface to reflect that fact or not. We all need to do more to highlight and support the business of agriculture in Highland County.

Original Article Here

Senators press for EU trade talks to address agriculture

[WASHINGTON] FOUR Republican farm state US senators on Thursday expressed concern that possible free trade talks between the United States and European Union may not dismantle longstanding EU barriers to US pork, beef, poultry and other farm products.

"Our trade negotiators must demand of EU officials that barriers to US agricultural products be addressed in any potential trade agreement," the senators said in a letter urging Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, a Democrat, to schedule a hearing with US trade officials.

The US and the 27 nations of the EU have been discussing for more than a year the possibility of launching free trade talks and are widely expected in coming weeks or months to make a decision to take that step.

The senators - Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Pat Roberts of Kansas, Mike Enzi of Wyoming and John Thune of South Dakota - said they wanted a hearing because Congress has not passed legislation, known as Trade Promotion Authority, giving the administration specific guidelines for any talks with the EU.

"It is important we know where the discussions with the EU stand, and what exactly has been discussed regarding barriers to agricultural products, so we can determine for ourselves whether the administration is adequately addressing this key trade priority," the senators said.

The US has been frustrated for years by what it considers the EU's "non-scientific" approach to food safety. The EU has blocked imports of US genetically modified corn and soybeans, poultry treated with chlorine dioxide, beef with lactic acid to kill pathogens and pork produced from hogs given ractopamine, which promotes lean meat growth.

US trade officials have said they are looking for progress from the EU on agriculture barriers before talks begin. That is believed to be one of the main reasons that a high-level US-EU working group report on the expected negotiations that was due in December still has not been released. - Reuters

Original Article Here

GETTING MONEY FOR THE SMALL-SCALE FARM

By Keenan Bishop

How many times have you said to yourself, “If I only had a……..” or “If only the government wanted to help us little guys…..”? That’s how the KSU website for the Small Scale Farm Grant Program starts out. Sounds interesting huh?

According to Mac Stone, Director of the KSU Center for Sustainability of Farms and Families, the time has come. Now there is a grant opportunity for small-scale farms to secure funds for that critical piece of equipment, or for that marketing infrastructure to help you grow your business.

The Small Scale Farm Grant Program is administered through the Kentucky State University College of Agriculture, Food Science, and Sustainable Systems’ Center for Sustainability of Farms and Families. Mac advises those interested in applying to take some time to answer the questions with sufficient detail so the Grant Review Committee may thoroughly assess your application.

The Guidelines and application are available at http://www.kysu.edu/NR/rdonlyres/3FE0BC1D-D7CD-4ABA-ACDC-638D8C921F67/0/CSFFApplication.pdf

What can you use the money for?

Aquatic farmers and certified organic farmers can use the funds for equipment and operating expenses to produce and market their products. Farmers formally seeking organic certification with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture also qualify.

Any small scale farmer looking to improve the marketability of their agricultural products by some value-added process may qualify for funds. Funds cannot be used to purchase motorized vehicles or motorized equipment. You cannot pay yourself or your family for labor. Contract labor is allowable.

If approved, the grant will cover up to 100 percent of eligible expenses outlined in the application budget; but no more than $5,000 per year for individuals and no more than $15,000 per year for organizations.

Who is eligible for a CSFF grant?

Anyone meeting the following criteria is eligible to apply:

nA Kentucky farm that produces agricultural products for sale to the public and had gross agricultural sales greater than $1,000 and below $250,000 in 2011. This is a self-declaration, but the contract will have language stating it must be verifiable.

n A formal, non-governmental association including for-profit and not-for-profit corporations and cooperatives that serve Kentucky farms. Special considerations will be made for limited resource farmers (household income of less than $23,000/year), small acreage producers, female farmers, minority farmers, and the 53 “Appalachian” counties. Grantees must comply with all health, food safety and other federal, state and local laws. KSU employees and their immediate family members are not eligible.

Mac goes on to explain that if you are unsure of how to address your operation to complete the application, he can have someone assist you. There is no rush to apply as there are several rounds of application reviews. They can also assist you with obtaining funds from other government agencies if they are pertinent to your operation.

It is their intent to help as many as possible, so examine your operation closely to identify a key missing component that would improve efficiency, expand capacity or meet the specifications required to legally sell your product. The application and scoring mechanism is designed to help you with that critical element.

You may apply using the paper form (http://www.kysu.edu/NR/rdonlyres/3FE0BC1D-D7CD-4ABA-ACDC-638D8C921F67/0/CSFFApplication.pdf) or using the online form (http://www.kysu.edu/landGrant/CSFF/csffgrants_online_application.htm).

For help or information contact Mac at 502-597-6831 or by email at mac.stone@kysu.edu. Let him know if you would like someone to visit your farm or business to assist with identifying the best way to utilize the funds for improving your operation.

DIVISION OF CONSERVATION STATE COST SHARE

The Franklin County Conservation District is now accepting Kentucky Soil Erosion and Water Quality Cost Share Applications on a continuous basis. This continual sign-up is designed to make the program more “landowner friendly” and help address the needs of a landowner at any time during the year.

As landowners plan conservation projects with the assistance of their local conservation district, they will be able to apply for financial assistance for those projects without having to wait for a designated signup period.

Thousands of Kentucky landowners have received state assistance through the Kentucky Soil Erosion and Water Quality Cost Share Program. Known informally as State Cost Share, the program was created in 1994 and helps landowners implement best management practices to protect soil and water resources on their property.

Since the program’s inception, more than $129 million has been approved for use in implementing best management practices through more than 15,000 submitted applications. This money has assisted landowners in all of Kentucky’s 120 counties.

Many state cost share practices are offered through the State Cost Share Program. Some examples are: agriculture and animal waste control facilities, streambank stabilization, animal waste utilization, vegetative filter strips, integrated crop management, pesticide containment, sinkhole protection, pasture and hay land forage quality and heavy use area protection. A list of all practices is available at http://conservation.ky.gov/Pages/StateCostShare.aspx.

The Kentucky Soil Erosion and Water Quality Cost Share Program is funded through the Tobacco Settlement Funds and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. For the 2013 program year, $2.5 million will be available to landowners across the state.

For more information on the Kentucky Soil Erosion and Water Quality Cost Share Program, visit the Franklin County Conservation District located at 103 Lakeview Court. You may also call the district at 502/695-5203, Extension 3.

NEW PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE

We now have the new 2013 Beef IRM Calendars available. These are handy for beef cattle management since they have timely suggestions and recommendations for each month. The Equine Calendars of the same design will be in soon too.

The new IRS Farmer Tax Guides are in and available for those doing their farm taxes.

Original Article Here

DA crafts programs to cushion impacts of typhoons on agri sector

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is crafting a disaster preparedness, response and rehabilitation program to cushion off the adverse and destructive impacts of natural disasters, particularly typhoons and floods, on the country's agriculture and fishery sector, an official said Saturday.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the entire DA family should be prepared to surmount the challenges posed by typhoons and floods, and protect the gains and livelihood of the country’s farmers and fisherfolk, including public investments like irrigation systems, postharvest facilities, and farm-to-market roads.

"Let's harmonize our efforts and resources, as we craft a comprehensive disaster preparedness program to better protect farming and fishing areas against typhoons and floods," he said.

"We hope to come up with a better, more effective scheme that would serve as a template for centralized and organized reporting before, during, and after calamities or disasters. It could serve as a model for our Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) neighbors, who are likewise visited by tropical storms and typhoons during monsoon season," said the DA chief.

On the aftermath of Typhoon "Pablo" in Davao region, Alcala commended the DA regional directors in Mindanao and Visayas who took the initiative of providing farm inputs and machinery to enable affected farmers and fisherfolk in Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, del Norte and del Sur, and Davao City recover and start anew.

He said as result of the quick coordination among DA regional directors in five regions (10, 12, 13, 6 and 7), they were able to mobilize an initial 16 4-wheel tractors and deployed them to typhoon affected towns in Davao region.

The DA has initially allotted P235 million for farm inputs assistance and rehabilitation in Compostela Valley, three Davao provinces (Oriental, Del Sur and Del Norte) and Davao City.

The DA has also requested an additional P1.6 billion from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), said DA assistant secretary and national rice program coordinator Dante Delima, who was designated chair of "Task Force Alayon" that oversees and implements the rehabilitation of farming and fishing communities affected by typhoon "Pablo." (SDR/Sunnex)

Original Article Here

Friends on the Farm educates kids about agriculture

By RACHAEL GRAY

rgray@gctelegram.com

Most students in southwest Kansas have seen tractors and combines, and some have been in them.But few had climbed inside of a sprayer before Friday's Friends on the Farm, an agriculture exhibition for fourth-graders in Finney, Haskell and Gray counties.

Ali Kells, a fourth-grader from Sublette, said she had been in most types of farm equipment because her dad owns a farm.

But some information presented Friday was new to Kells.

"I didn't know cow intestines were used for mouthwash and deodorant," she said.

Cattle products also are in toothpaste, the students learned.

"I'm not brushing my teeth anymore," said Brice Williamson, 10, Sublette.

Kennedy Wilcox, 10, Sublette, said she learned that corn products are used in a lot of substances.

"Even in pickle juice," she said.

Rosie DelaRosa, 9, Sublette, lives at Cattle Empire 1.

"My stepdad helps people a lot. So I've been on tractors and combines," she said.

Russell Komlofske, a Holcomb farmer, is on the Finney County Farm Bureau Board. He was one of the board members who 14 years ago decided to create an educational day for fourth-graders.

The purpose of the program is to provide information and hands-on learning about the value of Kansas agriculture, and how it benefits and affects their daily lives, according to a release on the event.

"We really wanted to educate fourth-graders on the fact that food doesn't come from the store, it comes from a variety of places," Komlofske said.

Many of those places include farms, ranches and feedyards in southwest Kansas, Komlofske said.

"Many students think milk comes from the shelf, or wheat comes from the shelf," he said. "We want to teach them that those things come from farm families around here."

Komlofske said even though these students live in a rural, agricultural-rich area, many of them don't know about agriculture.

He also said agricultural practices are often inaccurate or misinterpreted in the media, and at the highest levels of government.

"At least we're changing that ignorance to education, and at a young age for these students," he said.

Komlofske and other representatives visited classrooms a week prior to the show, to talk to the students about what they would see.

"I'm a familiar face they can know and trust. And what they're learning here — it's all facts," he said.

Komlofske said educating the students is important.

"Today alone, we've reached almost 750 kids. That's 750 kids who will know the facts about agriculture," he said.

The goal of the exhibit is to help students understand that farmers are their friends and are good stewards of the land, water and air as they produce the safest food supply possible, the release said.

"We care a lot about animals and the land — that's our source of income, and we take care of them," Komlofske said.

Centers for the field trip included exhibits on wheat, dairy, soybeans/biodiesel, honeybees, beef byproducts, cotton, corn, embryology, tractors, meats and crop spraying services. Those educating the fourth-graders included representatives from Garden City High School FFA, Holcomb FFA, Kansas Soybean Commission and Association, extension agents, Kansas Cattle Women, Haskell County Farm Bureau, Pioneer, American Implement and the GCCC Collegiate Farm Bureau Chapter.

Original Article Here

Census Information a Vital Tool for Evaluating USDA Programs and Services

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack this week continued 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 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with current information to help ensure an abundant, safe, and accessible food supply for all of America. On Monday, Vilsack spoke to thousands of American farmers and ranchers in Nashville, Tenn. 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.

"It's important for farmers and ranchers in America today to stand up and be counted by participating in the Census of Agriculture," said Vilsack. "By participating in this survey, producers help provide a snapshot of the current state of agriculture in our country, which helps policymakers make better decisions about farm safety net programs and policies."

Currently underway by USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), 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. This was supported after the Census reported the average age of a farmer continued to increase from 50.3 in 1978 to 57.1 in 2007. And, while the majority of farm operators are between the age of 45 and 64, the fastest growing group of farm operators is those 65 years and older.

Looking at where and how to provide expanded and improved Internet access and services to rural America. The Census provided comprehensive county-level data on Internet access and revealed that 57 percent of all farmers had Internet access in 2007, up from 50 percent in 2002. Of those producers accessing the Internet, 58 percent reported having a high-speed connection.

Illustrating the changing nature and needs of agriculture, the number of farms that produced 75% of production declined from 144,000 in 2002 to 125,000. At the same time, the number of small farms counted in the 2007 Census of Agriculture represented 91 percent of all farms. Overall small farms increased 1 percent from 2002 to 2007. These statistics show just how important to our food supply these very large farms are and how vital it is that programs such as crop insurance and others in the Food, Farm and Jobs bill are available. Different sized farms have different needs that USDA supports just as fervently.

All farmers and ranchers should have received a Census form in the mail by early January. Completed forms are due by February 4, 2013. Farmers 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.

For more information about the Census, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov or call 1-888-4AG-STAT (1-888-424-7828). The Census of Agriculture is your voice, your future, your responsibility.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

Original Article Here

Wednesday Sector Leaders: Agriculture & Farm Products, Shipping Stocks

In trading on Wednesday, agriculture & farm products shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 0.7%. Leading the group were shares of Agria (GRO), up about 4% and shares of Ceres (CERE) up about 1.7% on the day.

Also showing relative strength are shipping shares, up on the day by about 0.6% as a group, led by Excel Maritime Carriers (EXM), trading higher by about 6.2% and Radiant Logistics (RLGT), trading higher by about 5.5% on Wednesday.

Agriculture briefs

SEMINAR FOR EMPLOYERS

The Sonoma County Farm Bureau will hold a seminar for agricultural employers on Jan. 22 on how to comply with California law.

The seminar will cover mandates ranging from the office to the field, including wages, hours, work weeks, meal and rest periods, exemptions, payroll documentation, housing and transportation, occupational safety and health programs, equipment and prevention standards, and more.

The seminar also will include regulation from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, I-9 form completion, document verification, E-Verify, audit procedures and investigation expectations.

Experts from Barsamian and Moody Law Firm and Farm Employers Labor Service will present.

The seminar will be held from 9 a.m. to noon. The fee is $25 for Farm Bureau members and $55 for non-members. Non-members joining Farm Bureau can attend this first seminar free. Seating is limited, so please make reservations by Jan. 11. For reservations, please contact Anita Hawkins: 544-5575 or email:info@sonomafb.org.

USDA seeks census forms

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service is urging farmers to complete and return their 2012 Census of Agriculture form.

Conducted once every five years, the census provides a snapshot of the agriculture industry in every county of the state, including land use and ownership, production practices and expenditures. The information can affect policy decisions and community growth and development.

Original Article Here

Senate, House agriculture committees in deal to avert milk price spike

By Jim Wolf

Farm-state lawmakers have agreed to a one-year extension of the expiring U.S. farm law that, if enacted, would head off a possible doubling of retail milk prices to $7 or more a gallon in early 2013.

The extension would end a 32-month attempt to update farm subsidies dating from the Depression era, when farmers were crushed by low prices and huge crop surpluses, to meet today's high-wire challenges of tight food supplies, high operating costs and volatile markets.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, an Oklahoma Republican, said on Sunday he hoped the legislation would be passed by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama by Tuesday to avoid higher prices for milk in grocery stores.

The bill was listed among measures that could be called for a vote on Monday in the House of Representatives although action was not guaranteed.

Despite consensus on the need to extend the farm bill, lawmakers continue to discuss how long the extension should be.

Representative Tom Cole, an Oklahoma Republican, told reporters late on Sunday a nine-month farm bill extension was being considered as part of deal being crafted in the Senate to stave off the "fiscal cliff" of automatic tax hikes and spending cuts that begin kicking in on January 1.

"There's good chance that if there is a package out of the Senate, it will include something on the farm bill. The easiest thing to get done would be nine months of current law," Cole said.

A second Republican, Representative Steven LaTourette, said a nine-month extension could be part of the fiscal cliff package or could move separately if the fiscal talks fail.

House Republican leaders refused to call a vote during the fall on a full-scale, $500 billion farm bill on grounds it might fail because it did not cut spending enough.

Grain, soybean and cotton growers would get another round of the $5 billion "direct payment" subsidy that all sides agreed to kill in a new farm bill. The payments are made regardless of need. Reformers say the payments are unjustified when crop prices and farm income are at near-record levels.

DISASTER MONEY AND A NEW DAIRY PROGRAM

Also in the extension, lawmakers would revive agricultural disaster-relief programs that ran out of money a year ago and create a new dairy subsidy program. It would compensate dairy farmers whenever milk prices are low and feed prices are high. The so-called margin protection program would require farmers to limit production to avert a long run of low dairy prices.

Traditionally, the dairy program sets a minimum price for milk through government purchase of butter, cheese and dry milk. If Congress does not act, the dairy support price will revert on Tuesday to the level dictated by an outmoded 1949 law and which is roughly double the price now paid to farmers.

The potential retail milk price has been estimated at $6 to $8 a gallon versus current levels near $3.50.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, during an interview broadcast by CNN, said higher milk prices - if it comes to that - would ripple throughout all commodities "if this thing goes on for an extended period of time."

Senator Debbie Stabenow, chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said the "responsible short-term farm bill extension ... not only stops milk prices from spiking, but also prevents eventual damage to our entire agriculture economy."

TWO FALLBACKS IF EXTENSION FALTERS

House Republican leaders readied two alternatives, if needed, to the one-year extension. One was a one-month extension of the now-expired 2008 farm law without disaster funds or the new dairy program and the other was a one-month suspension of the dairy provisions of the 1949 law.

It was not clear which bill would be called for debate, a farm lobbyist said on Sunday. A small-farm activist said any package passed by Congress must include rural economic development funds and money for soil conservation on "working lands," the largest of USDA's conservation programs.

"If a new farm bill doesn't pass this Congress, we'll soon hold another mark-up and just keep working until one is enacted next year," said Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat.

It would be the first time on record that Congress began drafting a farm bill during a two-year session and had to carry it into the following session, congressional researchers said. Hearings on the new farm bill began April 21, 2010.

HOUSE, SENATE DISPUTE ON BIG CUTS

While dairy producers generally support the so-called margin-protection program as the answer to high feed costs, processors and foodmakers oppose it. They say it is wrong-minded in its premise of curtailing production when prices are low, and it will destroy a healthy export market for dairy products.

The rejuvenated disaster programs would cover losses from this year's widespread drought, especially for livestock producers, although tree farmers, honey bees and farm-raised fish are also covered. Maximum payment would be $100,000.

Senators passed a farm bill in June estimated to save $23 billion over 10 years, with most of the cuts in crop subsidies and conservation programs. The House Agriculture Committee approved a bill with $35 billion in cuts in July, half of it in food stamps for the poor - the biggest cut in food stamps in a generation.

Fiscally conservative House Republicans have called for larger cuts in farm subsidies and food stamps while some House Democrats opposed any food stamp cuts.

(Additional reporting by Charles Abbott, David Lawder and Richard Cowan; Editing by Ros Krasny, Maureen Bavdek, Jan Paschal and Eric Walsh)

Original Article Here

Agriculture census countdown begins

Farmers and ranchers in New Mexico will soon get the opportunity to have their voices heard by taking part in the 2012 Census of Agriculture. Conducted every five years by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, the census is a complete count of all U.S. farms and ranches of all shapes and sizes, as well as the people who operate them.

“The census remains the only source of uniform, comprehensive agricultural data for every county in the nation,” said Longino Bustillos, acting director of National Agricultural Statistics Service’s New Mexico Field Office. “It’s a critical tool that gives farmers and ranchers a voice to influence decisions that will shape the future of their community, industry, and operation.”

The census looks at land use and ownership, farmer/rancher demographics, production practices, income, expenditures, and other topics. This information is used by a variety of entities that serve farmers and ranchers and rural communities, including everything from federal, state, and local governments to agribusinesses and trade associations. For example, legislators use the data when shaping farm policy, while agribusinesses factor it into their planning efforts.

“This year’s census is very important, especially given the toll that drought and the high cost of inputs have taken on the state’s farmers and ranchers over the last few years,” said New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte. “That’s all the more reason for the state’s agricultural producers to be counted so that we get an accurate snapshot of New Mexico agriculture.”

The last Census of Agriculture was conducted in 2007. That year, almost 21,000 farms and ranches were counted in New Mexico reporting over 43 million acres. The 2007 count was 38 percent more than the previous census in 2002 as more producers realize the importance of completing the census. The average age of New Mexico’s farm and ranch operators in 2007 was 59.6 years old, compared to 56.4 years in 2002. This telling information and thousands of other statistics are only available every five years as a direct result of farmer and ranchers responses to the census.

National Agricultural Statistics Service will mail out census forms next week to collect data for the 2012 calendar year. Completed forms are due to the USDA by February 4, 2013. Farmers and ranchers can fill out the census online via a secure website, www.agcensus.usda.gov, or return their form by mail. Federal law requires all agricultural producers to participate in the census and requires the Statistics Service to keep all individual information confidential.

Original Article Here

Idaho agriculture will set a revenue record in 2012

By SEAN ELLIS

BOISE -- Idaho agriculture's record for total farm gate receipts in a calendar year will be broken in 2012, a scenario that seemed very unlikely to economists several months ago.

With grain and forage prices at high levels and with some improvement in milk prices during the latter part of the year, "It's pretty evident we will set a new record for total revenue," University of Idaho agricultural economist Paul Patterson said.

The actual numbers, which are contained in UI's annual "Financial Condition of Idaho Agriculture" report, won't be released until university officials present them to lawmakers in early January at the onset of the 2013 Idaho Legislature.

But Patterson said cash receipts for all Idaho farm commodities combined will be up about 5 percent this year, which means last year's record of $7.4 billion will be exceeded by almost $400 million.

Total net farm income will also be up about 5 percent, which means last year's record of $2.64 billion for that category will fall by more than $150 million.

The report will show no change in ranking for Idaho's top seven ag commodities: dairy, cattle, potatoes, wheat, hay, sugar beets, barley, dry beans and onions.

It will also show that many of the state's top farm commodities set all-time records for cash receipts in a calendar year.

That includes dairy, the state's top farm commodity when it comes to farm gate receipts.

But setting a record for total revenue is small consolation for the state's dairy producers, who have had to deal with record expenses as well.

The numbers "mask the serious financing situation that exists for a large number of dairy producers in the state," Patterson said. "These high feed prices are really killing them. There are still some very serious issues (with) the dairy industry."

High feed prices are benefiting a lot of farmers, "but the dairymen and anybody feeding cattle is struggling," said Kuna dairyman Jack Davis. "If you're not profitable, (the record is) no consolation."

Last year's record of $7.4 billion was far above the former record of $6.22 billion set in 2008 and heading into this year's growing season, ag economists in the state said that while 2012 would be a good year for Idaho agriculture, the record was safe.

But Patterson said that all changed earlier this summer when corn prices began to soar, affecting other commodities as well. As an example of how the situation changed, he points to a USDA report in May that forecast an average U.S. corn price of $4.60 in 2012.

The forecast in the December report was $7.40, and the forecast for wheat similarly rose from $6.50 to $8.

UI ag economists are estimating total farm expenses in Idaho increased 8 percent in 2012.

Wheat and barley prices are up significantly, "but nitrogen and fuel are up, too," said Driggs grain farmer Mark Trupp. "Almost all the grains are up, but expenses are up, too."

Original Article Here

Another Reason For Americans To Fear The End Of The Year: The 'Agriculture Abyss'

This week’s print edition has an article discussing another reason for Americans to fear the end of the year: the “agriculture abyss.”

Farm subsidies cost America’s government tens of billions of dollars each year, even though many farmers are earning more than ever thanks to high commodity prices. Little surprise, then, that with Congress desperate to avoid painful tax increases and spending cuts, both Republicans and Democrats are prepared to eliminate direct payments to growers.

Despite that bipartisan consensus, the last farm bill, passed in 2008, expired on September 30 with nothing to take its place. In June, the Senate passed a bill with bipartisan support that would eliminate direct payments to farmers and trim spending on conservation programmes and food stamps. These measures would save $23 billion over the next ten years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The House Agriculture committee’s version would save about $35 billion over the next ten years.

While similar in most respects, the two bills differ in how they compensate farmers for the removal of direct payments. (There is also a slight difference in funding for food stamps.) The Senate version offers farmers a revenue protection scheme based on their recent earnings. If farm income falls below 89% of its baseline, the government will cover the next 10% of losses. (Beyond that, losses are covered by insurance paid for by farmers.) The House’s scheme is similar but kicks in when earnings dip below 85% of the baseline. More significantly, the House also offers farmers a price protection scheme in which they are paid whenever market prices dip below legally established reference rates.

Since the reference prices are all below, in some cases far below, current prices, this difference might not seem to matter much. But Southern peanut and rice farmers complain that the Senate’s bill would make them lose out relative to Midwestern wheat and soya growers. Ironically, the Southerners’ biggest opponent has been Pat Roberts from Kansas, the senior Republican in the Senate’s agricultural committee. That may be one reason that John Boehner, the Republican speaker of the House, has not brought the house bill up for a vote.

The failure to reach a deal could have significant consequences:

At the moment negotiations over the fiscal cliff are consuming all the political air. From soil conservation to price supports to trade, American farm policies are all on hold. The expiry of the latest bill means several conservation programmes have been frozen, as have export loan guarantees.

This year’s harvest is long in, so the effects so far have been muted. But if there is no farm bill by the start of the next agricultural year, the government’s price-support scheme will automatically revert to what it was in 1949. Most crops have until the spring or summer, but the deadline for milk and other dairy products comes at the end of December. Applying the old formulas today would require the federal government to buy up enough milk to establish a minimum wholesale price more than double its current level, and, later on, enough wheat to raise its price by 67%.

No one really expects Congress to plunge taxpayers into this “agriculture abyss”. When the previous farm bill was about to expire in 2007 the first of several temporary extensions was passed just days before the government would have had to intervene in the dairy market. Frank Lucas, the Republican chairman of the House agriculture committee, says that “reverting back to an antiquated system…is not responsible,” while Debbie Stabenow, the Democratic chairman of the Senate agriculture committee, is confident that a deal will be reached before the end of the year. But as with the rest of the fiscal cliff, the mere fact that both sides want a solution is no guarantee it will happen.

Just one more thing to worry about over the holidays, I suppose.

Original Article Here

Farming bodies disappointed

Farm groups expressed disappointment at the suspension of the EU talks but said it was better to end the talks than to agree measures that would have negative implications for the State’s agricultural industry.

Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney said his focus would be on securing the best possible deal for Ireland when the negotiations resumed.

He said Taoiseach Enda Kenny and other government leaders had worked hard on Thursday night to defend the Common Agricultural Policy (Cap) budget and this had resulted in an €8 billion increase in agriculture funds. “Ireland will continue to maintain a strong defence of the Cap budget during our [EU] presidency next year,” he said.

Irish Farmers’ Association president John Bryan said farmers were disappointed that agreement was not reached at the heads of government meeting but “no deal is better than a bad deal”. He called on Mr Kenny to maintain the pressure in the ongoing negotiations.

Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association president Gabriel Gilmartin said the talks breakdown was “a significant setback” to achieving the right Cap deal.

Original Article Here