Week of Oct. 29- Nov. 2 Archive
Oct 31 Oct 30
October 31
CONNER: U.S. PUSHING TO EXPAND MEAT EXPORTS---Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner on Tuesday said the U.S. is pressing its trading partners to increase imports of U.S. meat based on internationally recognized scientific standards.
Conner, speaking at the U.S. Meat Export Federation’s Global Outlook Symposium in Washington, D.C., said U.S. negotiating efforts in Asia have gained momentum, but progress is slow. He said he is pleased that U.S. beef exports have increased by 17 percent from a year ago.
Conner also told reporters that President Bush will urge Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda to lift the age limit on U.S. beef imports when the leaders meet in November.
Jim Sartwelle, AFBF livestock economist, and Allison Specht, trade economist, were among Farm Bureau’s representatives at the USMEF meetings. In response to Conner’s comments, Sartwelle said, “AFBF appreciates USDA’s untiring efforts to reopen international beef markets under terms that recognize the United States’ designation as a controlled-risk region for BSE. We support the secretary’s work and look forward to these key markets opening to all beef cuts from all ages of cattle.”
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---SURVEY SHOWS STRONG SUPPORT OF RENEWABLE FUELS---Nearly three-quarters of Americans support greater domestic use of renewable fuels like ethanol, according to a new national survey released by the “Renewable Fuels Now” coalition. Further, 87 percent of Americans maintain the federal government should actively support the development of the renewable fuels industry, and 77 percent believe Congress should encourage oil refiners to blend more ethanol into their gasoline products.
In other biofuels news, Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman told The Omaha World-Herald that the federal government is working with the private sector to increase the percentage of ethanol in gasoline, but it is likely to take time to significantly increase the percentage of ethanol. Bodman will be in Omaha today to tour Union Pacific Corp. and present the company with an award for energy efficiencies.
And in South Dakota, bioenergy company Poet is working on plans to make ethanol from corn cobs on a commercial scale. Poet officials believe that by using more of the corn crop for ethanol production, the company will be able to produce 11 percent more ethanol from a bushel of corn and 27 percent more ethanol from an acre of corn.
- · News release
- · The Sioux Falls Argus Leader article
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---EU STUDY EXAMINED ORGANIC, CONVENTIONAL PRODUCE, BEEF---A four-year project, led by Newcastle University in England, found a general trend showing organic food contained more antioxidants and less fatty acids than food grown conventionally. But researchers admit the study showed some variations, and their work has not yet been reviewed by peers.
Researchers grew fruit, vegetables and raised cattle on adjacent organic and conventional sites across Europe.
The government’s Food Standards Agency maintains there is no evidence that organic food is better for humans.
Final results of the study are due to be published within a year.
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---TEXAS TOUGHENS ACCESS TO FERTILIZER---A new Texas law regulates the sale, storage and purchase of ammonium nitrate fertilizer. The law, which went into effect on Sept. 1, requires fertilizer buyers to show photo identification and complete paperwork for sellers to keep on file for three years. The buyer also must provide a physical description of the spot where the fertilizer will be applied. The process is said to be akin to the purchase of some over-the-counter medications.
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---N.J. BALLOT QUESTION FOCUSES ON FARM FUNDING---Whether to continue funding a state farmland preservation program will be decided by New Jersey voters on Nov. 6. The program has helped some farmers resist developers’ financial offers, but the state program will run out of funds next year unless voters approve a $200 million bond issue for 2008. Recent polling suggests voters will approve the additional funds.
N.J. Farm Bureau is a strong supporter of the “Keep it Green” coalition that is urging voters to approve $73 million to preserve farms, plus money to buy open space, develop parks, preserve historic sites and purchase properties in flood-prone areas.
New Jersey is the country’s most densely populated state, but it is a leader in farm preservation, with more than 18 percent of farmland now preserved.
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October 30
SAN DIEGO FARMERS TALLY LOSSES---Last week’s wildfires destroyed as much as 20 percent of San Diego County’s avocado crop and cost growers at least $35 million, according to an avocado industry expert. At least 3,500 acres of avocado groves were damaged or destroyed in the fires.
While the losses are substantial, they are not as bad as initially feared. Early last week, there were reports that as many as 20,000 acres of avocado groves had burned.
Officials with the Farm Service Agency, the county agriculture department and others are working to tally losses at this time. California produces 90 percent of the avocados consumed in the U.S.; San Diego County produces 40 percent of the state’s total.
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---HARVEST REPORTS ROLL IN---Seventy-three percent of the country’s corn crop was harvested as of Oct. 28, according to the Agriculture Department. For soybeans, 84 percent of the crop was harvested by that date. Regarding winter wheat, 88 percent of that crop was sown; the crop is in 55 percent good to excellent condition. U.S. pastures and rangelands are in 38 percent good to excellent shape.
Looking at individual states, Indiana’s harvest is generally ahead of past years, with 81 percent of corn harvested, and 91 percent of beans harvested. Pasture condition is 58 percent poor and very poor, and producers continue to sell livestock because of short hay supplies.
Rain in Missouri’s Bootheel slowed bean harvesting and stopped cotton harvesting altogether in recent days, but observers say the rain is needed.
About 55 percent of Wisconsin’s corn crop and 70 percent of beans are harvested. Wet conditions have slowed harvest, but dry weather is predicted.
In South Dakota, clear weather helped farmers get 84 percent of beans and 50 percent of corn out of the fields. The sunflower harvest is 46 percent complete, and sorghum is 80 percent wrapped up.
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