In this issue: YF&R
Summerfest
Ag Summit 2008
Ag Land Assessment Advisory Task Force
Animal Identification Discussion
GF&P Interim Review Committee
Government Operations & Audit Committee – Corn, Brand
Board
SD Brand Board: Brand Inspection Program Transition
Going Well
Farm Bill informational meetings
2008 Prairie Tour
Vegetative Treatment System tours
Alliance for Abundant Food and Energy
USDA issues interim final rule for COOL
Quote of
the Day
Upcoming events:
GF&P legislative interim review – August 11-12,
Pierre
YF&R SummerFest – August 16, Pierre
Ag Summit 2008 – August 16, Union Center
GOAC meeting – August 19, Pierre
Dakota Fest – August 19-21, Mitchell
Century Farms recognition – August 28, Huron
South Dakota State Fair – August 28-September 1, Huron
Ag Land Assessment Advisory Task Force meeting –
September 8, Pierre
Highway Needs & Financing interim study – September
24-25, Pierre
SDFB Annual Meeting – November 21-22, Sioux Falls
National Farm-City Week – November 21-27
AFBF Annual meeting – January 11 – 14, San Antonio, TX
YF&R
SummerFest
Remember…the Young Farmers and Ranchers
Committee is hosting a SummerFest next Saturday, August
16, at the Oahe Downstream Park near Pierre. This is a
chance for young people with an interest in agriculture
to gather for fun, fellowship, and relaxation. The
festivities start at 11:00 a.m., with lunch served about
1:00 p.m.
Ag
Summit 2008
On August 16, Senator Kenny McNenny,
Representative Larry Rhoden, and Representative Tom
Brunner are hosting an “Ag Summit” in Union Center. The
event will be held at the Central Meade County Community
Center, starting with registration and coffee at 9:00
a.m. The agenda includes:
9:30 a.m. – Property Tax update
Kirk Chaffee, Meade County Director of Equalization
Michael Kenyon, SD Department of Revenue
10:45 a.m. – State of Agriculture
Address
Bill Even, SD Secretary of Agriculture
11:05 a.m. – COOL update
Bruce Knight,
USDA Undersecretary for Marketing & Regulatory Programs
12:00 noon – Lunch
12:30 p.m. – Panel Discussion on
Animal Identification / Q&A
Animal
Industry Board, Farm Bureau, Farmers Union,
Catlemen’s Association, Stockgrowers Association
1:30 p.m. – Governor Mike Rounds
The event is being co-sponsored by
the SD Farm Bureau, SD Stockgrowers Association, SD
Cattlemen’s Association, KBHB Radio, Tri-State Livestock
News, Farmers State Bank – Faith, and First Western Bank
– Sturgis.
Later that day, Cammack,
Ranch Supply will be hosting its annual Rancher Round-Up
in Union Center.
Ag
Land Assessment Advisory Task Force
The first meeting of the “Agricultural Land
Assessment Implementation and Oversight Advisory Task
Force” was held last Monday, July 28, in Pierre. The
committee heard presentations from Michael Kenyon with
the state Department of Revenue, as well as an in-depth
presentation from the SDSU Ag Economics Department.
The committee questions
centered on which government payments to include as part
of the return to the land, the proper landowner return
for cropland and for pasture land, and the most
appropriate methodology to use for valuing pastureland.
The law passed by the 2008 Legislature calls for using
the animal unit carrying capacity of the land, and makes
a distinction between rangeland and pastureland. The
law also calls for consideration of grazing season data,
and statewide cow and calf prices.
There
was also a sidebar discussion about “actual” use of the
land versus “highest and best” use. The law reads: “Agricultural
land shall be divided by the director of equalization
into categories, including cropland and noncropland.
Each category shall be divided into classes based on
soil classification standards developed by the United
States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources
Conservation Service.”
The
committee is scheduled to meet again on Monday,
September 8, in Pierre.
Animal Identification Discussion
Last Monday, the SD Farm Bureau, along with
the Farmers Union, Cattlemen’s Association, Stockgrowers
Association, Pork Producers Council, Association of
Cooperatives, Livestock Auction Markets Association,
Animal Industry Board, Department of Agriculture, and
several legislators, met to discuss animal
identification issues.
South Dakota’s current
animal ID law was adopted in 2005 with the support of
all but three legislators. It allows the Animal
Industry Board (AIB) to develop and implement specific
program for identification of animals and premises
involved in animal movements, for the sole purpose of
maintaining animal health and ensuring the safety of the
food supply. Before the AIB can develop any program,
they must go through a public rule-making process.
In recent legislative
sessions, a small group of cow-calf producers has
pressed for legislation that would restrict the ability
of South Dakotans to participate in any portion of the
National Animal Identification System (NAIS). It was
pointed out that NAIS is a “system” and not a specific
“program.” Farm Bureau policy supports voluntary
participation in NAIS. We have opposed recent efforts
to restrict NAIS in the state because they would have
limited the opportunity for even voluntary participation
in the system, which our policy supports.
During Monday’s
meeting, there was general support expressed for the
current state law. The livestock industry –
representing ALL species – will try to work together to
identify ways to address concerns with the NAIS, and
communicate those to USDA.
GF&P
interim Review Committee
The second meeting of the interim committee
conducting a review of the Department of Game, Fish &
Parks is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, August 11-12,
in Pierre.
Government Operations & Audit Committee – Corn, Brand
Board
The Government Operations and Audit Committee
(GOAC, as it is fondly referred to) is meeting Tuesday,
August 19, in Pierre, beginning at 8:00 a.m. Among
agenda items are a discussion with the Corn Utilization
Council on aircraft used in ethanol research, and the
Brand Board feasibility study.
SD
Brand Board: Brand Inspection Program Transition Going
Well
The South Dakota Brand Board reports that the
recent changes to the administration of the brand
inspection program are going well.
Under South Dakota law,
the State Brand Board has the authority to manage the
state’s brand registration, inspection and investigation
systems. Until recently, the Brand Board contracted with
a private contractor to perform the brand inspection
portion of its duties. In December 2007, the Brand Board
commissioned a feasibility study to evaluate the
cost-effectiveness and other operational efficiency
measures associated with using a private entity to
perform brand inspections.
The study indicated
there were considerable financial and operational
efficiencies to be gained by combining the registration,
inspection, and investigation programs under one roof.
These enhancements
include improved communication between inspectors
and investigators leading to better response times on
investigations, sharing of office staff, lower cost for
some inspection forms, lower liability and worker
compensation insurance costs, lower rent costs, improved
pay and benefits for inspectors, and increased use of
technology. As a result of the study, the Board
determined a consolidated program would be in the best
interests of the South Dakota livestock owners who pay
the inspection fees.
The Board assumed
control of the brand inspection program on July 1, 2008.
Brand Board Executive Director Larry Stearns stated, “We
are working hard to ensure brand inspections continue to
occur in the normal course of business. We are aware of
livestock owners’ needs and are working toward a smooth
transition.” The Board continues to utilize the
traditional system of full-time, part-time and local
inspectors to perform brand inspections. Current brand
inspectors and shippers’ agents are listed on the Brand
Board’s website:
http://www.sdbrandboard.com. “It is the Board’s goal
to provide uniform, consistent and accurate inspections
in a timely manner,” said Stearns.
South Dakota Secretary
of Agriculture Bill Even stated, “I strongly support
branding as an important management tool for our state’s
producers, and South Dakota ranchers must be able to
continue to market their cattle in the normal course of
business. I support the Brand Board as it fulfills its
duties operating the registration, inspection and
investigation programs. The Board’s efforts to achieve
operational efficiencies while continuing to provide
necessary brand inspection services show the Board
intends for this meaningful program to continue in an
effective manner.”
Farm Bill informational meetings
FSA is holding farm bill
informational meetings:
Tuesday, August 5
Forestburg 4-H building 7:30
Thursday, August 7
New Underwood Community Center 2 pm mdt
Thursday, August 7
Wall Community Center 5 pm mdt
Saturday, August 9
Britton/Hecla Auditorium 4 pm
Monday, August 11
Gettysburg Fairgrounds 4 pm
Tuesday, August 12
Aberdeen Kessler tent on fairgrounds 11am
Wednesday, August 13
Miller High school theater 7 pm
Thursday, August 14
Parker Fairgrounds 1:30 pm
Wednesday, September 3
Howard Extension building 1 pm
2008 Prairie Tour
The 2nd Annual Prairie Tour will
be held Wednesday, Aug. 6 from 10 a.m. to 3
p.m. at the Feistner Hunting Lodge located at 23249th
392nd Avenue, Woonsocket, SD on Highway 34. To find the
Lodge go 5 miles west of Woonsocket on Highway 34; then
3 1/2 miles south on 392 Ave. The lodge is located on
the west side of the road.
The 2008 Prairie Tour
is an education tool dedicated to assisting people who
are interested in identification and palatability rating
of plants. Topics discussed will also include a plant’s
place in the grazing system and interaction of Smooth
bromegrass and Kentucky bluegrass with native prairie
grasses.
The
morning program begins with Dr. Sandy Smart, SDSU,
lecture “How Plants survive Grazing”; followed by a
field tour with hands-on plant identification in
bromegrass burn plots and a pheasant dinner at the
Feistner Hunting Lodge. In the afternoon, Justin
"Judge" Jessop from the Grassland Coalition speaks on
grazing systems followed by a tour of a developing
cross-fencing system. The day will end with a Plant
Identification contest.
Cost of
the workshop is $7.00 which includes lunch. For more
information and to pre-register for the workshop, please
call the Sanborn County Extension Office at 605-796-4380
or email at
sanborn.county@sdstate.edu
Vegetative Treatment System tours
SD Farm Bureau and the SD Cattlemen’s
association have been working with the Agricultural and
Biosystems Engineering Department at SDSU on vegetative
treatment system research. The goal of the research is
to determine the technical and financial feasibility of
vegetative treatment systems (VTS’s) as a best
management practice for nutrient and sediment loads from
animal feeding operations holding fewer than 1,000
animal units. Field day tours will be held on various
sites involved in the project:
Haakon County, Scott Jones
(southwest of Midland) – August 11; 1:00 p.m.
Miner County, John Reisch (south of Howard) – August 13;
6:30 p.m.
Roberts County, Leon Koeppe (south of Claire City) –
August 25; time TBA
Meade County, Blair Brothers (north of Sturgis) – Date
and time TBA
Alliance for Abundant Food and Energy
Leading agricultural leaders have partnered
to form the “Alliance for Abundant Food and Energy,
giving them a unified voice in promoting agriculture's
ability to meet global demands for food and renewable
forms of energy.
Founding
members of the Alliance include the Archer Daniels
Midland Company, DuPont, John Deere, Monsanto and the
Renewable Fuels Association.
“The
Alliance for Abundant Food and Energy will underscore
the role that agriculture can play in supporting our
food and energy needs," Mark Kornblau, executive
director of Alliance for Abundant Food and Energy, said
in a statement. "With growing global demand for grain,
it's critically important that policy leaders start
thinking about how we can grow our way to a solution.
Innovation is part of the American DNA - through greater
support for agricultural innovation, we can produce
enough crops to supply both our food and energy needs
worldwide."
The
alliance said framing the food-vs.-fuel debate as an
"either/or" decision is a false choice that "ignores
both the capabilities of agriculture and our nation's
history of using innovation to solve our problems. The
Alliance realizes both are possible - and can be
accomplished using less land and fewer resources than
generally understood."
For more
information, visit
www.foodandenergy.org.
USDA issues interim final rule for COOL
USDA has issued a 233-page interim final rule
with request for comments on mandatory Country of Origin
Labeling (COOL) as required by the 2008 farm bill with
an implementation date of September 30, 2008.
The rule covers muscle
cuts of beef, veal, lamb, chicken, goat and pork, as
well as ground beef, ground pork, ground lamb, ground
chicken and ground goat.
Comments
must be received within 60 days and should be submitted
to:
www.regulations.gov. Written comments can be sent
to: Country of Origin Labeling Program, Room 2607-S;
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), USDA; Stop 0254;
1400 Independence Avenue, SW; Washington D.C. 20250-0254
or by facsimile to 202-354-4693.
The
interim final rule contains definitions, the
requirements for consumer notification and product
making, and the record keeping responsibilities of both
retailers and suppliers for covered commodities.
Some key points:
The
rules cover meat products including muscle cuts of beef,
veal, lamb, chicken, goat and pork, as well as ground
beef, ground pork, ground lamb, ground chicken and
ground goat. They also cover fish, shellfish, fresh and
frozen fruits and vegetables, peanuts, pecans, ginseng
and macadamia nuts.
Technical requirement highlights
- The rule does not apply to
covered commodities produced and packaged before
Sept. 30.
- Animals present in the United
States on or before July 15 that remain continuously
in the United States will be considered of U.S.
origin.
- Foodservice establishments are
exempted by the statute.
- Processed food items
(including those that are cooked, cured, smoked or
restructured) are exempted from labeling by the
statute. Examples include meatloaf, meatballs,
fabricated steak, breaded veal cutlets, corned beef,
sausage, breaded chicken tenders, teriyaki-flavored
pork loin.
- Labeling rules regarding
ground beef, ground pork, ground lamb, ground goat
and ground chicken require listing all countries of
origin that may be reasonably contained. In
determining what is reasonable, when a raw material
from a specific origin is no longer in a processor's
inventory for more than 60 days, that country shall
no longer be included as a possible country of
origin.
- Records must be maintained for
one year and available within five days if requested
by a USDA representative.
- Slaughter facilities must
possess or have legal access to records that
substantiate their origin claims. A producer
affidavit will be considered acceptable evidence,
provided it is made by someone having firsthand
knowledge of the animals' origin and identifies the
animals unique to the transaction.
- If slaughtered animals are
part of the National Animal Identification System,
an official ear tag or the presence of any
accompanying animal markings can be used as the
basis of origin claims.
Costs
USDA estimates the total first-year implementation costs
for all directly affected firms at $2.5 billion. Costs
per firm are estimated at $376 for producers, $53,948
for intermediaries and $235,551 for retailers.
It put
the estimated cost to the U.S. economy in higher food
prices and reduced food production in the tenth year
after implementation of the rule at $211.9 million.
If you
want to read the rule…(note, the 233 pages are
double-spaced, and written in 12-point type), you can go
online to
http://federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2008-17562_PI.pdf
Quote of the Day:
“Everybody is
ignorant, only at different subjects.” – Will Rogers