News Update

News Update
Dec. 5, 2006

Drought Relief Remains Elusive
Federal relief for this summer’s drought-stricken farmers and ranchers isn’t expected to come anytime soon, according to The Associated Press. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) told a crowd gathered at the Texas Farm Bureau’s annual convention in Arlington Monday that obtaining federal drought assistance this year would be an “uphill fight.”

“I have every confidence that … even if we don’t get it this year, we will get it next year,” Hutchison stated in the article.

According to AP, the House and Senate have an unfinished budget, which they will send to next year’s Congress, and funding for most federal programs is expected to be set at fiscal year 2006 levels through mid-February.

USDA to Discuss ‘Natural’ Designation
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has scheduled three public listening sessions to discuss “natural” meat and poultry product claims, the American Meat Institute (AMI) reports.

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will host the sessions, aimed at obtaining input on a voluntary standard specifically for naturally raised livestock. The meetings are scheduled as follows.

Session 1: Dec. 11, Jefferson Auditorium of the USDA South Building, Washington, D.C.
Session 2: Jan. 17, 2007, Hyatt Regency Tech Center, Denver, Colo.
Session 3: Jan. 18, 2007, Seattle Marriott Sea-Tac Airport, Seattle, Wash.

All sessions will begin at 1 p.m. local time. For additional information, including how to submit verbal or written comments, visit www.ams.usda.gov/lsg.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will hold a separate meeting to discuss the term “natural” and product labeling associated with “natural claims.” The meeting will be Dec. 12, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the USDA South Building in Washington, D.C. For additional information, contact Robert Post at (202) 205-0279 or Robert.Post@fsis.usda.gov.

Current regulations regarding “natural claims” can be found in the FSIS Food Standards and Labeling Policy Books, available online at http://www.fsis.usda.gov.

Sign-Up For Conservation Innovation Grants Begins

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced Dec. 4 the request for proposals for Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG). The CIG program is designed to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies.

“CIG rewards the creation of new and innovative approaches to managing the nation’s natural resources more effectively and efficiently,” Johanns said. “It allows applicants to come up with practical solutions to address conservation and resource management on a local, regional or national scale.”

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers CIG. For FY 2007, up to $20 million is available for the National CIG competition. Funds for single- or multi-year projects, not to exceed three years, will be awarded through a nationwide competitive grants process with applications accepted from all 50 states, the Caribbean (Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands) and the Pacific Basin Area (Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) from all eligible government or non-government organizations or individuals, including federally recognized tribes.

There are three CIG categories available in FY 2007:

Natural Resource Concerns Category — up to $10 million available for proposals addressing one or more of the CIG natural resource concerns. This component was also offered in 2004, 2005 and 2006;
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Category — up to $5 million available for proposals addressing one or more of the CIG natural resource concerns in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This component was also offered in 2005 and 2006; and
Technology Category — up to $5 million available for proposals addressing one or more of the CIG technology categories. This component was offered for the first time in 2006.

Applicants should explain how large a geographic area the project would benefit. These projects may be watershed-based, regional, multi-state or nationwide in scope. Applications should describe the use of innovative technologies or approaches, or both, to address a natural resource conservation concern or concerns.

To view the Announcement of Program Funding or to apply visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cig or www.grants.gov. For more information about NRCS conservation programs visit www.nrcs.usda.gov or visit the nearest USDA Service Center.

— compiled by Crystal Albers, associate editor, Angus Productions Inc.