Washington NEWS

May 27, 2013

Productive dialogue begins by asking tough questions requiring straight answers. Join the thousands of American consumers who have already sent letters or e-mails to elected officials asking about our nation’s energy policy. Start now by clicking https://www.ourenergy.coop/ to ask your elected officials three clear questions to get Congress headed in the right direction. Brought to you by North Carolina’s electric co-operatives. Washington NEWS NC Legislative NEWS Tobacco Attacked in Farm Bill: As the U.S. Senate N.C. Senate Budget Details: The N.C. Senate considered the Farm Bill this past week, Sen. Dianne released details on its $20.6 billion budget, which Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) increases spending by 2.3 percent. The budget would introduced an amendment to eliminate taxpayer consolidate two of the state’s four existing subsidized crop insurance for tobacco production. The conservation trust funds (Clean Water Management amendment directed all savings, about $333 million, to Trust Fund and the Natural Heritage Trust Fund) into be used to reduce the federal budget deficit. After one, the Water and Land Conservation Fund. The much hard work, Senators Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and states’ remaining conservation trust funds, the Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) voted (and lobbied others) against Agriculture Development and Farmland Preservation the amendment, which was ultimately voted down. Trust Fund and the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund “Egg Bill” Doesn’t Make Senate Farm Bill; King would remain as separate trust funds. The budget Amendment Protects Farmers: The Humane eliminates all state funding for the NC Rural Economic Society-backed bill that would require federally- Development Center and instead creates a new Rural mandated housing requirements for egg-laying hens Economic Development Center within the NC was not included in the Senate markup of the Farm Bill. Department of Commerce. The proposed budget Chad Gregory, president of the United Egg Producers, eliminates state funding for the N.C. Biofuels Center, said that farmers “need a federal statute that and Biotechnology Center; transfers the N.C. Energy establishes one national standard of egg production Office from the Department of Commerce to the because the current myriad state legislation threatens Department of Environment and Natural Resources; to eliminate interstate egg commerce, destroying our funds four positions to assist the N.C. Mining & Energy businesses and potentially leading to egg shortages Commission; pays for analyzing geological samples in and consumer price spikes in many states.” UEP the state’s shale gas basins; and funds a new assistant worked with The HSUS on the “egg bill.” However, the secretary for rural economic development within the House Ag Committee passed an amendment Department of Commerce. To see the senate budget – introduced by Congressman Steve King of Iowa that Click Here and go to page 187 and also Click Here prohibits states from enacting laws that place and go to H1 to see Dept of Agriculture funding. Many conditions on the means of production for agricultural line items long supported by NCAg were included in goods that are sold within its own borders but are this year’s budget, including recurring funding for produced in other states. Said King, "The Protect Tobacco Trust Fund and NCDA Marketing as well as Interstate Commerce Act (PICA) prohibits states from upgrades for research station. entering into trade protectionism by forcing cost N.C. House Gives Nod to Tolls: The N.C. House prohibitive production methods on farmers in other voted 113-0, affirming that the N.C. DOT can collect states. PICA covers all agriculture products listed in tolls to pay for widening Interstate 95 so long as the section 206 of the Agriculture Marketing Act of 1946. same numbers of non-toll lanes remain, offering a non- By 2015, California will allow only eggs to be sold from toll option for drivers. The toll lanes are often less hens housed in cages specified by California. The congested and sometimes have higher speed limits, impact of their large market would compel producers in which is why some drivers might choose to pay the other states to invest billions to meet the California tolls. The Senate and Gov. McCrory are expected to go standard of 'means of production.' PICA will also shut along with the proposal, according to the News & down the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Observer. An economic impact study recently released PETA and other radical organizations from creating a by the DOT reported that without tolls, only $455 network of restrictive state laws that will slowly push million would be available for I-95 over the next 10 agriculture production towards the demise." years and that the tolls were the only reliable way to pay for I-95. Jim Trogdon, DOT’s chief operating officer, said that DOT will finance I-95 after collaborating with Troxler Advises Farmers to Prepare for Hurricane community, business, and government leaders. Season: As another hurricane season nears, N.C. Ag Trogdon added the vote demonstrates broad support Commissioner Steve Troxler reminds farmers that basic to fund highway projects with tolls. emergency planning can go a long way in lessening a Campaign NEWS crisis situation. To help farmers think through the Ambassador Considering Run for Hagan’s Seat: myriad issues on a farm, the NCDA&CS and the N.C. Former Ambassador Jim Cain said he is considering Agromedicine Institute created a Farm Emergency challenging U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.). Cain served Plan Template. on the Republican National Committee and was named People NEWS as ambassador to Denmark during President George N.C. Pork Producer Selected for National Pork W. Bush’s second term. Board: U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced Democrats Plan Run for Watt Seat: Now that U.S. five appointments to the 15-member National Pork Rep. Melvin Watt has been tapped by President Obama Board. The five appointees will each serve three-year to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency, several terms. The newly-appointed members representing Democrats have announced their intent to run if Watt pork producers are: Janet Archer, Goldsboro, North is confirmed by the Senate. State Rep. Marcus Brandon Carolina; Terrance O’Neel, Friend, Nebraska; and and state Sen. Malcolm Graham announced they will Michael Wyant, Nevada, Missouri. run. Scott Dworkin, who was born and raised in Cary, NCSU Professors Named to Board on Agriculture said he’s considering running for the seat. Dworkin, a and Natural Resources: Dr. Fred Gould, William Neal Democratic fundraiser, has worked with the Obama Reynolds Professor in the Department of Entomology, campaign. is one of two NCSU faculty members named to the Animal Activism NEWS Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources, a major Animal Well-Being Advisory Panel: As part of Tyson program unit of the National Research Council. Dr. Foods’ commitment to proper treatment of farm Stephen Kelley, professor and head of the Department animals, the company announced the formation of an of Forest Biomaterials in the College of Natural independent Farm Animal Well-Being Advisory Panel. Resources, was also named to the board. The board is Members will serve as advisers to the Tyson responsible for organizing and overseeing studies on FarmCheck program, a comprehensive initiative agriculture, forestry, fisheries, wildlife, and the use of designed to ensure responsible care and overall well- land, water, and other natural resources. The National being of farm animals. Panel members will help to Research Council is a private, nonprofit institution that determine research priorities and suggest ways to provides expert advice. improve the audit program. Members of the panel Immigration NEWS include: Ryan Best, 2011-2012 president, Future N.C. Immigration Bill Headed to Floor: The N.C. Farmers of America; Anne Burkholder, cattle feedlot House Finance Committee passed a bill that owner; Ed Cooney, executive director of the establishes E-Verify rules for government contractors, Congressional Hunger Center; Gail Golab, Ph.D., DVM, makes improvements to current E-Verify statues for director of American Veterinary Medical Association’s seasonal workers, and allows illegal N.C. residents to Animal Welfare Division; Temple Grandin, Ph.D., obtain a driving permit. The bill heads to the House professor of animal science, Colorado State University; floor for consideration. Karl Guggenmos, dean of culinary education, Johnson & Judiciary Committee Approves Immigration Bill: Wales University; Tim Loula, DVM, co-founder and co- The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee approved the owner of Swine Vet Center in St. Peter, Minnesota; Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Miyun Park, executive director, Global Animal Immigration Modernization Act. The Committee held Partnership; Ashley Peterson, Ph.D., vice president of five markup sessions to consider the bipartisan scientific and regulatory affairs, National Chicken legislation, debating more than 200 amendments Council; Richard Raymond, M.D., former USDA offered by members of both parties. According to a Undersecretary for Food Safety; Janeen Salak-Johnson, press release, the bill does not provide amnesty. Ph.D., associate professor in Animal Sciences, Rather, it provides a long, difficult, and earned path to University of Illinois; Janice Swanson, Ph.D., chair and legalization that imposes penalties, requires payment professor, Animal Behavior and Welfare, Michigan of back-taxes, and sends undocumented immigrants to State University; Bruce Webster, Ph.D., professor of the back of the line. Of the bill, Senate Judiciary poultry science, University of Georgia. Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy said, “It grants a Weather NEWS faster track to the “dreamers” brought to this country as children through no fault of their own and to agricultural workers who are an essential part of our communities and work so hard to provide our nation’s labeling provisions for muscle cut covered commodities food supply. It makes important changes to the visas to require the origin designations to include used by dairy farmers and the tourism industry and by information about where each of the production steps immigrant investors who are making investments in (i.e., born, raised, slaughtered) occurred and removes our communities.” To read more, click here. the allowance for commingling of muscle cuts. In June Commodity NEWS 2012, the Appellate Body of the World Trade Early-Planted Corn Showing Problems: This year, Organization (WTO) affirmed an earlier WTO Panel cool and wet conditions in N.C. early in the season decision finding that the United States’ COOL have stressed corn plants and slowed root growth. As a requirements for certain meat commodities result, the NCDA&CS reports that many fields now discriminated against Canadian and Mexican livestock show evidence of nutrient deficiency, especially of imports and thus were inconsistent with the WTO phosphorus and sulfur. Corn plants that are purple Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade. The United because of phosphorus deficiency are showing up even States had until May 23, 2013, to come into in fields where recent soil-test reports show compliance with the WTO ruling in COOL. The final rule phosphorus levels to be adequate. The reason is poor went into effect on May 23, 2013. root growth rather than lack of fertilizer, and the plants Mark Your Calendar will probably outgrow the problem, said Dr. David To see all upcoming events - click here for the Hardy, chief of the department’s Soil Testing Section. AgCalendar . Sulfur problems, usually typified by yellow plants, might pose more of a challenge. Hardy says, “I believe it is always best to collect and submit plant tissue, soil and nematode samples to rule out possible concerns and specifically identify the causes of growth disorders.” The division’s regional agronomists are available to provide advice on how to collect and submit agronomic samples and alleviate nutrient problems. For contact information, click here. Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Confirmed in U.S.: Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) has been confirmed for the first time in the U.S. USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories said that hogs in Iowa had the disease that causes diarrhea and vomiting but does not affect humans or trade. The disease is only a production issue and is transmitted through fecal matter similar to transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) virus. However, hog futures tumbled at the Chicago Board of Exchange after the news. USDA NEWS Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers Seeks Nominations: USDA is seeking nominations for its Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers for two-year membership terms. This committee advises the Secretary of Agriculture on matters broadly affecting socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and considers strategies, policies, and programs that enhance Department goals for assisting minority farming and ranching operations. Nomination forms are available here. The deadline for submitting nominations is May 31, 2013. USDA Issues Final Rule to Amend Labeling Provisions Under COOL: The USDA has issued a final rule to modify the labeling provisions for muscle cut commodities covered under the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) program. The final rule modifies the