News Update

News Update
October 25, 2006

Agreement reached on interstate meat sales from smaller plants

A group of farm, consumer, union and government associations have agreed to a legislative compromise that would allow previously state-inspected, smaller meat processors to ship their products across state lines.

Under an agreement that is expected to become part of the U.S. Senate Farm Bill, the plants would operate under the requirements of the Federal Meat and Poultry Inspection Acts. Their products would bear the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspection seal and could be sold in interstate commerce.

Majority Communications Director for the Senate Agriculture Committee Kate Cyrul told meatingplace.com the compromise will be included in the Senate version of the 2007 Farm Bill.

According to the National Farmers Union (NFU), the compromise amends Title V of the Federal Meat and Poultry Inspection Act and would:

create a new, optional program for companies previously operating under state inspection laws that want to sell in interstate commerce;
require companies to operate under the federal meat and poultry inspection laws and provide federal oversight of operations in these plants;
encourage states to increase food-safety testing by having USDA reimburse states for 100% of the costs for testing that exceeds the testing frequency of the federal government;
cover establishments with up to 25 employees;
direct USDA to develop a procedure for establishments that employ more than 25 employees and want to ship in interstate commerce to help those companies transition to federal inspection;
provide for companies in the program to use a federal mark, stamp, tag or label of inspection;
reimburse states for not less than 60% of the costs of operating the Title V program;
establish the position of State Coordinator, a federal employee, who will provide oversight and enforcement; oversee training and inspection activities; assure that plants are in full compliance of the Federal Meat Inspection Act and this Title; and report to the Agriculture Secretary on the status of the plant operations;
establish an inspection training division within the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to coordinate initiatives to provide outreach, education and training to small or very small establishments;
require USDA’s Office of the Inspector General to conduct periodic audits to assure plants operating under Title V are complying with federal requirements; and
offer states an optional inspection tool. States will continue to maintain their current Title III cooperative agreements with USDA, which require state inspection programs to be at least “equal to” federal requirements. USDA will continue their oversight of these programs, which includes an annual review of nine detailed components. States will still be required to implement any regulations, directives, and guidance issued by USDA, including all federal food safety and consumer protection requirements.

Ag Insurance Workshops Set for Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska

Kansas State University (K-State) is teaming up with the University of Nebraska and Colorado State University to offer a series of 2007 Insurance Workshops for producers, crop insurance agents, lenders and others.

Crop and livestock insurance seems to be constantly changing, said Art Barnaby, K-State Research and Extension agricultural economist. The workshops will help producers sort through the details, so they can take the best approach for their needs. The information should also be beneficial for grain merchandisers, farm managers, commodity brokers, crop consultants and financial advisers.

The workshops are slated for Nov. 6 in Brush, Colo. (Brush Fairgrounds Event Center); Nov. 7 in Grand Island, Neb. (College Park, 3180 West U.S. Highway 34); and Nov. 8 in Salina, Kan. (Marriott Courtyard Hotel, 3020 Riffel Drive).

Presenters will include university agricultural economists and government specialists. Their topics will include:

Whither the Farm in the Farm Bill Debate? — Brad Lubben, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension public policy specialist;
Options, Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) and Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) — James Mintert, K-State Research and Extension state leader in agricultural economics (Colorado and Nebraska workshops), and Kevin Dhuyvetter, K-State Extension agricultural economist (Kansas workshop);
The Future of the Ethanol Market — Michael Woolverton, K-State Extension visiting professor in agricultural economics;
Crop Insurance in Transition: Combo Policies and Impacts of the Farm Bill — William Murphy, deputy administrator for Insurance Services, Risk Management Agency (RMA), Washington, D.C.;
How Much Can I Afford to Pay for Harvest Price Option? — Art Barnaby, K-State Extension agricultural economist;
Current RMA Issues — Rebecca Davis, director, regional RMA office, Topeka, Kan.; and
Water Issues in Colorado/Nebraska/Kansas — James Pritchett, Colorado State University agriculture and natural resource economist (Colorado workshop); Dave Griffith, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) water resources planner (Nebraska); and Lyle Frees, NRCS water quality specialist (Kansas workshop).

Application has been made to the Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming insurance departments for continuing education credits. The registration fee is $75 if postmarked by Nov. 2 and $90 if after that date. More information and a registration form are available on the K-State Research and Extension web site at www.agmanager.info/events/Insurance/Insurance2007.asp or by phone at 800-535-3456.

— Release courtesy of K-State Reserarch and Extension.

Farmers to tell how they make money from livestock

The annual meeting of the Missouri Forage and Grasslands Council is “not just another plain old meeting,” says Eric Bright, a pasture-based dairy producer from Bucklin, Mo.

“Farmers come up with alternative ways to do things in a profitable way. It gets people to thinking,” says Bright, president of the council. “There is always something different.”

The group’s conference is Nov. 5-6 at The Resort at Port Arrowhead in Lake Ozark, Mo. The meeting is open to members and nonmembers.

— Release courtesy of the University of Missouri.

2007 Fall Beef Cattle Nutrition Update

This free program, hosted by the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Services in area counties, will take place in two locations Monday, Oct. 29. The first session will be at the Springville Feeder Auction from 1:00-3:00 p.m.; the second session will be at United Producers Inc. at Little York from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Keith Johnson of Purdue’s Agronomy Department will present the pasture update and John Johns of the University of Kentucky’s Animal Sciences Department will present feeding options for the tough fall and winter ahead. Also available will be a trailer display that will present nutritional values for average hay, cornstalk, soybean stubble, and CRP round bales. It is important if you are feeding these forages to know what you are feeding and how to properly supplement them.

— Release courtesy of Purdue University.

— Compiled by Mathew Elliott, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.