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CHANCELLOR MARTIN INVITES COMMUNITY TO READ ‘IN DEFENSE OF FOOD'
This fall the University of Wisconsin-Madison is encouraging the campus community to read a single book as part of its first Go Big Read project. Chancellor Biddy Martin chose Michael Pollan's "In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto" to generate discussion about something we all do - eat. Pollan is a frequent critic of the U.S. food system and diet. Martin has the featured guest column in today's Wisconsin State Journal. Farm Bureau encourages its members who have read the book to comment on the State Journal website, or send a letter to the editor (less than 200 words) to wsjopine@madison.com. In addition, they should also weigh in on the variety of issues that Pollan's book raises on the Go Big Read website's blog. Michael Pollan will give a free public lecture on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. at the Kohl Center in Madison.
POLLAN'S MOST RECENT COLUMN
Writer Michael Pollan has this to say about the health care debate raging in Washington: "Even the most efficient health care system that the administration could hope to devise would still confront a rising tide of chronic disease linked to diet. That's why our success in bringing health care costs under control ultimately depends on whether Washington can summon the political will to take on and reform a second, even more powerful industry: the food industry." Read the entire New York Times opinion column
ARKANSAS WOMAN IS THE NEW SENATE AG CHAIR
A lot has happened in Washington D.C. since Tuesday's Ag NewsWire. As predicted, the death of Sen. Ted Kennedy led to a shake-up in Senate committees, and the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry committee is now led by Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas. She succeeds Tom Harkin, who has taken over the Health Committee chairmanship left vacant by Kennedy's passing. American Farm Bureau praised the choice of Lincoln, who was a defender of farm subsidies and is the first woman to lead the committee. "Sen. Lincoln has been a longtime friend of Farm Bureau. She received the Golden Plow Award in 2008, the highest honor AFBF presents to members of Congress, for her steadfast support of America's farmers and ranchers," said AFBF President Bob Stallman. Read American Farm Bureau's statement and news reports from Reuters and AgWired.
SEN. LINCOLN CASTS DOUBTS ON CLIMATE BILL
As soon as Sen. Lincoln took the gavel of the Senate Agriculture Committee, D.C. insiders begun speculating what it means to the climate change legislation passed earlier this summer by the House. She has been an outspoken critic of cap-and-trade. See reports in Politico and the New York Times. Earlier in the week an article in The Hill, a Capitol Hill newspaper, predicted farm and rural constituencies are among the "two or three big groups," along with industrial and coal states, that will determine the fate of the climate change bill.
VILSACK STRESSES H1N1 MEDIA RESPONSIBILITY
In a media briefing Thursday morning, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack addressed the department's preparations for the upcoming fall flu season and reminded media of the importance of accurate reporting when referring to the new flu strain. Vilsack stressed the importance for media to transition completely from the use of "swine flu" in their reporting to use of H1N1 when referring to the novel influenza strain. "The media is causing undue and undeserved harm to America's agriculture industry and especially to U. S. pork producers who are experiencing severe economic losses in these challenging times," said Vilsack. "Every time the flu is misrepresented, it makes it more difficult for pork producers as well as others in rural communities who suffer as well." Vilsack went on to explain that some media outlets still refer to the illness as "swine flu" which is both inaccurate and unfair to pork producers and consumers. "Some media outlets have been responsive and sensitive in their reporting but there has not been a concerted effort to do a good job in characterizing this properly," he said. "It's a novel virus and the most appropriate way to refer to it is H1N1. Read more in Pork Magazine
FLU'S NAME CAN HURT FARMS
Earlier in the week, Secretary Vilsack had this to say: "Behind every single one of those mischaracterizations of the flu, there is a farm family that is struggling mightily. Pork prices have been in decline for 22 out of the last 24 months, they're now well below the cost of production. And every time that phrase ‘swine flu' is repeated, folks in schools across the country get a little nervous about purchasing pork, even though there's no connection. So it actually hurts people in their pocketbook." Meanwhile here in Wisconsin, State Rep. Rep. Phil Garthwaite (D-Dickeyville) is circulating a joint resolution for other lawmakers to support that relates to the H1N1 virus and its' on-going impacts on the Wisconsin pork industry. The resolution asks that "the members of the Wisconsin state legislature hereby urge all state agencies, their representatives, and all private media outlets to cease using the term ‘Swine Flu' and further urge them to use the term "2009 H1N1 Influenza" in its place." Rep. Garthwaite anticipates the resolution to be introduced next week.
USDA DEVELOPING H1N1 VACCINE FOR HOGS
The Agriculture Department is working to speed the development of an H1N1 flu vaccine for hogs by providing two master seed viruses to five veterinary vaccine makers. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said USDA would like manufacturers to take the seed virus and refine it to the point where a vaccine can be produced. "We're not there yet," Vilsack said. The USDA master seed virus is virus material that can be used to make a vaccine to prevent hogs from catching H1N1. John Clifford, USDA's chief veterinarian, said the department is working to have the vaccine available sometime this calendar year. Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan told reporters Thursday she fully expects H1N1 to be discovered in the U.S. hog population and said she hopes that "it's not big headlines on front pages of newspapers." USDA officials said H1N1 has so far been discovered in hogs in Canada, Australia and Argentina.
NEW CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM IS NOW OPEN FOR SIGNUP
The first deadline for applications to this program that encourages farm and also forest land owners to maintain existing conservation activities and adopt additional ones on their land is Sept. 30. For more info see the <news release>. Payments will average $18 per acre nationwide, will vary by state and type of operation, and could range from $6 to $38 per acre. Wisconsin farmers can check to see if they may be eligible by completing a self assessment checklist, at www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov If eligible, contact the NRCS office to schedule a time to apply for CSP.
CORN YIELD AT NEW RECORD
As expected, USDA raised its corn and soybean production estimates in the September crop report released today. The corn yield is pegged at a new record of 161.9 bushels per acre and the soybean yield is also pegged higher, at 42.3 bushels per acre. U.S. production of corn at 12,954 million bushels and soybeans at 3,245 million bushels met market expectations. If realized, corn production would be the second-largest, behind 2007. Yield forecasts for corn increased from last month across the western Corn Belt and the northern half of the Great Plains as mild temperatures and adequate soil moisture supplies provided favorable growing conditions. Yield prospects were unchanged in the eastern Corn Belt where dry conditions during August depleted soil moisture supplies.
BIODIESEL DELIVERS $2.5 BILLION TO SOYBEAN FARMERS
A new study funded by the United Soybean Board (USB) and the soybean checkoff proves the value of the biodiesel industry to soybean farmers. According to the study, U.S. soybean farmers received an additional $2.5 billion in net returns over the last four years due to the biodiesel industry's demand for soybean oil. This demand added up to 25 cents in support for the per-bushel price of soybeans. Besides looking at the biodiesel industry's past effects on the soybean industry, the study also aimed to predict this relationship going forward. Because the price of petroleum diesel has such a large influence on the price of biodiesel and soybean oil, the study asserts that the biodiesel industry has essentially created a new floor for soybean oil prices.
AG PANEL WANTS ASSURANCES ON MARKET MANIPULATION
Members of the Senate Agriculture Committee say they want assurances that a carbon trading market, to be launched under pending climate legislation, would not be susceptible to market manipulations such as those blamed for recent problems in the U.S. financial markets. At a hearing on the climate change bill Wednesday, new chairwoman Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) and Republican members called for protections against fraud and excessive speculation that could undermine efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions. In testimony before the panel, Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Gary Gensler said his agency is laying the groundwork on several fronts for strong oversight of carbon markets should Congress pass a cap-and-trade bill establishing a trading system to reduce emissions. Also testifying was David Miller, Iowa Farm Bureau's director of research and commodity services and chief science officer for AgraGate Climate Credits Corporation. Miller said that market transparency is critical to smooth the operation of a carbon market. "Transparency means that not only must there be a clear enumeration of what criteria are used to define offsets, but that there must be mechanisms in place so that prices (bids, offers and sales transactions) are publicly reported and readily available." Miller told the committee.
FEDERAL JUDGE SAYS WOLF HUNTS OK IN IDAHO, MONTANA
A federal judge said gray wolf hunts can go on for the first time in decades in the Northern Rockies; just months after the animals were removed from the endangered species list. U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy denied a request by environmentalists and animal welfare groups to stop the hunts in Idaho and Montana, saying plans to kill more than 20 percent of the estimated 1,350 wolves in the two states would not cause long-term harm to the species. See more in Capital Press
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ROLLING OUT NEW WEBSITE TO STREAMLINE FOOD SAFETY INFO
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the new website -- www.foodsafety.gov -- on Wednesday during the Consumer Federation of America's food policy conference. The site will put food-related information from all federal agencies in one place, including recall and contamination alerts and tips on how to safely handle food. The website is a joint effort between HHS, the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. Sebelius says the site would help consumers who have been worried about product recalls.
LABOR DEPARTMENT TO REVISE H-2A PROGRAM
The Labor Department (DOL) published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register last Friday that would revise the H-2A temporary agricultural temporary worker program. Comments on the proposal are due by Oct. 5. The American Farm Bureau Federation will be submitting comments on the proposed rule. AFBF supported reforms to the H-2A program that were instituted by the Bush administration in a rule promulgated last December. The DOL proposal would make significant changes to the program and conceivably will undermine some of the improvements made to the program that became effective earlier this year. In its Federal Register posting, DOL said wages for farm workers have been adversely impacted to a far more significant extent than anticipated by the 2008 Final Rule. DOL said the Bush administration reforms reduced wages by $1.44 per hour and said the department would "rectify" that adverse effect on agricultural workers.http://bit.ly/2qAHCx" o "http://bit.ly/2qAHCx
A HELPING HAND FOR FFA AND 4-H STUDENTS
Wisconsin students and teachers are invited to attend a webinar to learn how the USDA Farm Service Agency's (FSA) low-interest youth loans and business planning assistance can help kids start or expand an agricultural business as part of an FFA, 4-H, or business project. The 30 minute webinars will be held on Tuesday, September 29, at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and on Wednesday September 30, at 12:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Any individual, class, or group can attend the webinar in one of two ways, either over the internet and a phone, or just by phone. FSA provides business planning assistance and a loan of up to $5,000 to eligible kids 10 to 20 years old to help start an income-producing project. The loan is repaid when the project produces income, and currently carries an interest rate of 3 percent. For more information, see this link: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/newsReleases?mystate=wi&area=stnewsroom&subject=stnr&topic=landing&newstype=stnewsrel&type=detail&item=stnr_wi_20090909_rel_001.htmlFFA and 4-H Students Invited To Learn How FSA Can Help Start Ag Projects. Since the seminars are limited in size, early registration is required. Attendees must pre-register by going to http://www.fsa.usda.gov/wihttp://www.fsa.usda.gov/wi and following the registration link, or by contacting Jeff Gruetzmacher at 608-723-7697 ext. 117.
FFA HOSTS SPLASH OF RED CRANBERRY HIGHWAY TOUR
The Pittsville FFA/FFA Alumni are giving cranberry tours this year to help pay for student scholarships, trips and many other activities. This two-hour cranberry tour takes place, just east of Pittsville in the heart of central Wisconsin Cranberry Country. Pittsville FFA Members and students of the only cranberry science class taught in the nation will give this all-inclusive tour. The tour will meet at the Pittsville Administration Conference room located on Elementary Avenue just off First Avenue in Pittsville at 9:30 AM. The tour includes the following: touring a current marsh under construction, new beds not yet in production, producing beds with the tourists given the opportunity to pick fresh fruit from the vine, as well as observing harvest, testing, cleaning and freezing of the berries and juicing operation. A box lunch with cranberry treats will be made by the Pittsville High School's foods class. The charge for the tour is $20 dollars per person, discounts for school tours and large groups. Reservations are a must to let the FFA know how many are coming. Please call 715-884-6412. The dates of the Splash of RED Cranberry Tour from 9:30AM-12:00PM are as follows: Oct. 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28 and 30.
FARMERS MARKET COMING TO THE OBAMA'S NEIGHBORHOOD
A Washington Post article reports that a farmers' market will be held on Thursday afternoons this fall, just north of the White House. "I hope this farmers' market will inspire cities and communities throughout our country and the world to transform public spaces into marketplaces filled with healthy, local foods from family farms. I also hope that this farmers' market will be a model for making fresh food available to all people, regardless of income," said Bernadine Prince, co-director of the market.
UP IN SMOKE
USA Today's Snapshot graphic looks at the decline of tobacco farming in the United States.
IT'S ABOUT TIME...
The Associated Press reports that shoppers are starting to feel some relief at the grocery store. It notes that when fuel prices skyrocketed last year, food prices went with them, but shoppers are now paying less for bread, milk, meat and vegetables. The Wisconsin Farm Bureau will release the results of its third quarter Market Basket food price survey in early October.
REMEMBERING 9/11
On this day, we remember all those who lost loved ones during the fateful events that took place eight years ago today. They include two Farm Bureau families. Al Marchand of New Mexico was a steward on one of the planes that struck the World Trade Center and John Ogonowski of Massachusetts was captain of one of the hijacked jetliners.
