News Update
Aug. 8. 2008


EPA Refuses to Waive Renewable Fuel Standards Mandate

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has denied a petition filed by the State of Texas to reduce the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) mandate for feed-grain based ethanol, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) reports.

EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson stated that the RFS mandate did not cause “severe economic harm,” and therefore, should not be waived.

According to NCBA, Texas Gov. Rick Perry filed the waiver petition in early May, citing the effect of high corn costs on the livestock industry.

 As a result of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the mandate for ethanol production will rise from 9 billion gallons to 11.1 billion gallons in 2009, NCBA reports.

DHS, USDA Discuss NBAF Location

 The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) continue their public meetings regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Statements on potential National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) sites, NCBA reports.

The public hearings are to discuss the draft EIS and to solicit public input on the final six potential sites.

After conducting hearings last week in North Carolina and Kansas, representatives traveled to Mississippi and Texas this week, according to NCBA. Next week, they will conclude the process with three meetings in Connecticut, New York and Georgia.

Final Environmental Impact Statements are expected to be published in October.

For more on NBAF and Plum Island, refer to page 80 of the August Angus Journal, or visit www.angusjournal.com/articlePDF/plumisland.pdf.

U.S. Beef Ribs Clear Inspection in South Korea

Imported U.S. ribs passed South Korea quarantine inspections earlier his week, according to NCBA.

More than one ton of short ribs, chuck ribs, rib finger, and flanks could reach consumers within a week, according to Korean government officials — the first time U.S. bone-in beef products have been allowed in South Korea in five years.

Manure Management Workshop

Ohio State University (OSU) Extension will host a workshop geared toward animal producers, regulators and agriculture business professionals interested in learning more about turning animal waste into profit.

The manure workshop will take place Aug. 12 at the OSU Lima campus. Titled “Manure Storage Covers Workshop: Covers that Pay!,” the event will focus on the carbon credit trading program and how to receive payments for capturing methane emissions from manure storage structures by installing covers.

The workshop is sponsored by OSU Extension, Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Ohio Livestock Coalition.

The workshop will take place from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. in the Life and Physical Sciences Building, Room 100. It will cover such topics as the carbon credit trading program, air emissions from manure storage structures, non-market benefits of covers, methane utilization options and panel discussions of producer experiences. For more information, contact Jon Rausch, OSU Extension program director of environmental management at 614-292-4504 or e-mail rausch.7@osu.edu, or log on to http://airquality.osu.edu/workshops.




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