Fresh Produce Discussion Blog

Created by The Packer's National Editor Tom Karst

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands to Hold South Dakota Field Hearing on Mountain Pine Beetle Epidemic

Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands to Hold South Dakota Field Hearing on Mountain Pine Beetle Epidemic

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Sunday, July 10, 2011 the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands will hold an Oversight Field Hearing in Hill City, South Dakota on the “Impacts of the Mountain Pine Beetle Epidemic in the Black Hills.”

Mountain Pine Beetles have spread throughout the West and reached epidemic levels in America’s forests. These beetles specifically infect and kill trees – leaving behind large areas of dead trees that increases the risk of forest fires around homes, businesses and power lines. Since 1997, the Mountain Pine Beetles have infected nearly 4 million acres of national forest across the Black Hills, Colorado and Wyoming.

“The decline of active forest management throughout the West has enabled the extreme outbreak of the Mountain Pine Beetle, which has accelerated the deterioration of our nation’s forests beyond their normal life cycles. Millions of acres of dead and dying timber left in the wake of the beetle’s destruction has increased the risk of catastrophic fires throughout our forests and has impacted recreational access and other multiple-use activities. This hearing will examine alternatives that will lead to better management of our forest resources, leading to the long-term health and vitality of these public lands,” said Subcommittee Chairman Rob Bishop (UT-01).

“The pine beetle epidemic is nothing short of a slow motion disaster for the Black Hills National Forest and the region’s economy. With this hearing, I look forward to highlighting how this impacts our community, the roadblocks we face in properly managing the forest as well as solutions that can help us win this battle,” said Rep. Kristi Noem (SD-At Large).

WHO: National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee Chairman
Rob Bishop (UT-01),
Rep. Kristi Noem (SD – At Large),
and other possible Members.

WHAT: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands
Oversight Field Hearing on:
“Impact of the Mountain Pine Beetle Epidemic in the Black Hills”

Witnesses to be announced.

WHEN: Sunday, July 10, 2011
12:30 P.M. MDT

WHERE: Rafter J Bar Ranch
12325 Rafter J Road
Hill City, South Dakota

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Statement of NCFC President Chuck Conner on the Senate Finance Committee Hearing on Pending FTAs

Washington, D.C. (June 29, 2011)—“We welcome the Senate Finance Committee’s move this week to hold a “mock markup” of the draft implementing legislation for the pending free trade agreements (FTAs) with Colombia, Panama and South Korea and urge committee members to show their support for these agreements.

“Once the Administration formally sends the FTAs to Congress, both the House and Senate should take action and approve bills to implement them without any further delay.

“Farmer cooperatives and their member-owners have an enormous stake in seeing these agreements implemented in a timely manner. Trade is absolutely vital to the continued prosperity of co-ops and their farmer and rancher members—with over 95 percent of the world’s population living outside of the United States, our agricultural producers need foreign markets to grow demand.

“In addition, passage and implementation of the FTAs will help to level the playing field with our competitors. The longer that we delay these agreements, the greater the potential that American farmers and ranchers will lose market share to competitors. For example, Canada has signed and is implementing FTAs with both Colombia and Panama, while the European Union is in the process of implementing one with South Korea.”

Monday, June 27, 2011

Grocery Manufacturers Association Statement Regarding American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement on Childhood Obesity and Advertising

Grocery Manufacturers Association Statement Regarding
American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement on
Childhood Obesity and Advertising
WASHINGTON, DC – The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) issued the following statement today regarding the American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement on childhood obesity and advertising:
Obesity – especially childhood obesity – is a serious problem. That is why America’s food and beverage companies enthusiastically share First Lady Michelle Obama’s goal of solving childhood obesity within a generation. All stakeholders – public health professionals, industry, parents, schools, government, communities and non-governmental organizations – must do their part if we are going to meet the First Lady’s goal.
The health and wellness of our consumers has always been a top priority, and we have accelerated our effort to help consumers build healthier lifestyles in recent years. We have:
• Changed more than 20,000 products to reduce calories, fat, sodium and sugar.
• Pledged to remove 1.5 trillion calories from the food supply by 2015.
• Launched Nutrition Keys, a front-of-pack nutrition labeling initiative that will provide consumers – especially busy parents – with the tools and information they need to make informed decisions when they shop.
• Applied strict nutrition criteria to our advertising.
America’s pediatricians are on the front lines in the battle against obesity and in developing science-based and proven weight management strategies for their patients. Unfortunately, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement on obesity and the media is based largely on outdated research that does not adequately reflect the current marketplace environment and trends.

Because of the robust voluntary standards adopted by America’s largest food and beverage manufacturers, the advertising landscape looks entirely different today that it did in 2005 when most of the studies used to support the AAP position were conducted.

The number of food and beverage ads seen on shows viewed primarily by children has decreased 50 percent since 2004. Ads for cookies and soft drinks fell by 96 percent. Ads for frozen pizza, gum, mints, candy waffles and pancakes each fell by at least 70 percent.
Much of this progress can be attributed to the commitment of those companies that make up the Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI). Under CFBAI (launched in 2006), seventeen of America’s largest food and beverage companies apply science-based nutrition standards to marketing viewed by children, including television advertising and digital media.

In addition, the AAP policy position stands in direct contrast to a 2005 Institute of Medicine study that concluded, “…there is presently insufficient causal evidence that links advertising directly with childhood obesity and that would support a ban on all food advertising directed to children.”
The food and beverage industry looks forward to working with our nation’s healthcare providers to promote science-based, tried and true solutions to obesity. A healthy diet and more physical activity, rather than bans or restrictions, are the keys to a healthy lifestyle. America’s food and beverage companies will continue to provide consumers with the healthier product choices, tools and information they need to construct and maintain a healthy diet.

Do not eat Evergreen Produce brand alfalfa sprouts

FDA PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: June 27, 2011
Media Inquiries: Stephanie Yao, 301-796-0394, stephanie.yao@fda.hhs.gov
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA

FDA: Do not eat Evergreen Produce brand alfalfa sprouts or spicy sprouts
Sprouts may contain Salmonella Enteritidis; pathogen different from the one in European outbreak
Fast Facts
• The FDA is warning consumers not to eat alfalfa sprouts or spicy sprouts from plastic bags labeled "Evergreen Produce" or "Evergreen Produce Inc."
• The sprouts are possibly linked to 20 reported cases, including one hospitalization, of Salmonella Enteritidis in Idaho, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota and Washington State.
• The elderly, infants and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness from Salmonella infection.
• Consumers, retailers and others who have alfalfa sprouts or spicy sprouts in plastic bags labeled "Evergreen Produce" or "Evergreen Produce Inc." should discard them in a sealed container so people and animals, including wild animals, cannot eat them.

What is the Problem?
The FDA is advising consumers not to eat Evergreen Produce brand alfalfa sprouts and spicy sprouts. The sprouts are possibly linked to 20 reported cases, including one hospitalization, of Salmonella Enteritidis in Idaho, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota and Washington State. The strain of S. Enteritidis is rarely seen at this frequency.
The pathogen associated with this outbreak is different from the pathogen associated with the outbreak in Europe.
What are the Symptoms of Illness/Injury?
Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most persons recover without treatment. However, some individuals may require hospitalization from severe diarrhea. Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream and then to other body sites. It can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. The elderly, infants and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to become severely ill from Salmonella infection.
Who is at Risk?
The elderly, infants and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to become severely ill from Salmonella infection. The bacterium can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in these vulnerable populations. Most healthy individuals recover from Salmonella infections within four to seven days without treatment.
What Do Consumers Need To Do?
Consumers should not eat alfalfa sprouts or spicy sprouts from plastic bags labeled "Evergreen Produce" or "Evergreen Produce Inc." Consumers, retailers and others who have sprouts in plastic bags labeled "Evergreen Produce" or "Evergreen Produce Inc." should throw them away in a sealed container so people and animals, including wild animals, cannot eat them.
Consumers who think they may have become ill from eating possibly contaminated sprouts should consult their health care providers.
Sprouts are a known source of foodborne illness. Since 1996, there have been at least 30 reported outbreaks of foodborne illness associated with different types of raw and lightly cooked sprouts. Most of these outbreaks were caused by Salmonella and E. coli. The FDA advises that children, the elderly, pregnant women, and persons with weakened immune systems should avoid eating raw sprouts of any kind (including alfalfa, clover, radish and mung bean sprouts). To reduce the chance of foodborne illness, FDA advises consumers to cook sprouts thoroughly and to request raw sprouts not be added to your food.
What Does the Product Look Like?
The possibly contaminated alfalfa sprouts and spicy sprouts are sold in plastic bags labeled "Evergreen Produce" or "Evergreen Produce Inc."
The alfalfa sprouts are packaged in 4-ounce and 16-ounce plastic bags with pre-printed labels. They are also packaged in 1-pound and 5-pound plastic bags with stick-on labels.
The spicy sprouts are packaged in 4-ounce plastic bags with pre-printed labels and 1-pound plastic bags with stick-on labels.
Where is it Distributed?
To date, the FDA is aware of distribution in Idaho, Montana and Washington State. However, consumers and retailers in neighboring states should check the product label to ensure they are not eating or selling Evergreen Produce brand alfalfa sprouts or spicy sprouts.
What is Being Done about the Problem?
FDA is investigating the problem in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and public health agencies in those states where illnesses have occurred. The investigation is ongoing. The FDA is also working with state authorities to take appropriate action to address any product that may be remaining on the market.
Who Should be Contacted?
Consumers with questions about sprout safety should contact 1-800-SAFEFOOD.
The information in this press release reflects the FDA's best efforts to communicate what it has learned from the manufacturer and the state and local public health agencies involved in the investigation. The agency will update this page as more information becomes available.

Eagle Produce, LLC Recalls Cantaloupe Due To Possible Health Risk 06/24/2011 06:37 PM EDT

Eagle Produce, LLC Recalls Cantaloupe Due To Possible Health Risk
06/24/2011 06:37 PM EDT

Scottsdale, AZ - Eagle Produce, LLC of Scottsdale, Arizona has announced a limited recall of certain cantaloupes shipped from Arizona to upstate New York in late May, due to their potential to be contaminated with salmonella. Although no illnesses have been reported, Eagle Produce has voluntarily decided to recall the potentially affected shipments, which were sold at Sam’s Club between June 2 and June 17, 2011. Sam’s Club has withdrawn all cantaloupes from the Clubs and sent a notification to Members that bought these melons from Clubs served by the Johnstown, NY and Pottsville, PA distribution centers.

CFU and CDC Support Legislation to Improve Dairy Producer Prices

CFU and CDC Support Legislation to Improve Dairy Producer Prices

TURLOCK, CA (June 23, 2011) – California Farmers Union (CFU) President Joaquin Contente and California Dairy Campaign (CDC) President Joe Augusto today sent a letter to National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC) President Ben Burkett in support of the legislative reforms called for in the NFFC backed legislation titled the “Federal Milk Marketing Improvement Act”. The legislation would pay dairy producers based upon their cost of production, manage milk inventories to meet market demand and address the impact of unregulated concentrated dairy imports. The letter stated:

“The reforms called for in the FMMO Improvement Act would ensure that dairy farmers nationwide have the ability to receive a fair price from the marketplace. In contrast, the proposal put forward by the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) titled “Foundation for the Future” as currently proposed fails to address the fundamental challenges facing dairy producers now and in the future.
“Under the reforms in the “Federal Milk Marketing Improvement Act” dairy producers would be able to receive a fair price because the producer price would be based upon the national average cost of production. Dairy producers throughout California are paying record high prices for feed and it is important that future dairy policy take into account production costs as called for in the “Federal Milk Marketing Improvement Act”.
“The “FMMO Improvement Act” would also address the greatest threats to the future of dairy farmer nationwide. It would finally address the impact of unregulated imports of concentrated dairy products that continue to displace a greater and greater share of domestic demand for milk and dairy products. It would further eliminate the use of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) as a price discovery method and instead formulate producer price based on the cost of production. In contrast, the NMPF plan fails to address unregulated concentrated dairy imports and its federal order reform proposal would lead to lower producer prices.”
Comprised of more than 1400 farmer, and rancher members, CFU advocates policies to lawmakers at the state and national levels on behalf of its membership throughout California. The California Dairy Campaign (CDC), a member organization, is a grassroots organization of dairy farmers who are working to encourage lawmakers and the dairy industry to be more responsive to the needs of the family dairy farm in California. CFU is a state chapter of NFU, which represents more than 250,000 members nationwide. NFU works to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and their communities.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Ellmers Calls on Reid to Send Ag Bill to Senate Floor

Ellmers Calls on Reid to Send Ag Bill to Senate Floor
H.R. 872, Co-Sponsored by Ellmers, Eliminates a Costly and Duplicative
Permitting Requirement for the Application of Pesticides

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Renee Ellmers released the following statement this afternoon following H.R. 872's advancement from the Senate Agriculture Committee:

"Today H.R. 872 Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2011 advanced through the Senate Agriculture Committee. This bill, which I am proud to co-sponsor, will relieve unnecessary burdens being placed on our farmers by a misguided court order aimed at duplicating a pesticide requirement. Without action by the Senate, our farmers, state agencies, and everyday citizens will face greater hardship and economic loss when the requirement is implemented on October 31. I call on Senator Reid to allow this vital, bi-partisan legislation to be presented for a vote on the Senate floor as soon as possible."

Congresswoman Ellmers sits on the House Agriculture Committee and was a co-sponsor of H.R. 872, which passed the House on March 31st. The legislation eliminates a costly and duplicative permitting requirement for the application of pesticides. This misguided court order will be implemented on October 31. Without a legislative fix, the requirement would impose an economic burden to agricultural producers, foresters, public health agencies, the federal government, state agencies, and every day citizens

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack to Speak at Annual World Food Prize Laureate Announcement Today

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack to Speak at Annual World Food Prize Laureate Announcement Today

WASHINGTON, June 21, 2011—TODAY, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will speak at the annual World Food Prize Laureate Announcement at the State Department in Washington. The event is hosted by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, the president of the World Food Prize Foundation, will announce the winner of the 2011 World Food Prize during the ceremony. USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah and Under Secretary for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs Robert Hormats will also speak at the event.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the World Food Prize, which recognizes individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world. The World Food Prize includes a cash award of $250,000 and a sculpture by world-renowned designer Saul Bass. Each year more than 4,000 institutions and organizations are invited to nominate candidates for the prize.

The award will be formally presented in a ceremony at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines, Iowa, on October 13, 2011 in conjunction with the Norman E. Borlaug International Symposium. In honor of World Food Prize founder Dr. Norman Borlaug, this year’s October events will also include the Grand Opening of the Norman E. Borlaug Hall of Laureates, an educational center and place to honor all those who have made strides in the fight against hunger.

Digital Transformation Creating Major Opportunities to Drive Growth for Consumer Packaged Goods Industry, Says New Grocery Manufacturers Association-PwC Report

Digital Transformation Creating Major Opportunities to Drive Growth for Consumer Packaged Goods Industry, Says New Grocery Manufacturers Association-PwC Report

CPG Companies Focused on Growth as Economic Recovery Accelerates

Washington, D.C. June 21, 2011 – Digital transformation is connecting billions of people worldwide, empowering consumers and enabling consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies to manage the enterprise more effectively and efficiently to drive growth, according to Thriving in a Connected World, the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and PwC US 2011 Food, Beverage, and Consumer Products financial performance report released today. Now in its 15th year, the report includes analyses based on public information from 148 companies in the food, beverage and consumer products sector.

Despite rising commodity costs, the CPG industry is now in recovery mode with companies focused on their growth agenda and looking to international expansion as an opportunity to enhance both the top and bottom lines, the report found. The value of shipments in the CPG industry rose 6 percent to almost $124 billion in 2010 versus the prior year. Across the board, financial performance generally improved over 2009, with the manufacturing sector achieving strong median one-year shareholder returns of 15 percent. In addition, median earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) growth overall improved from 4.3 percent to 12.9 percent.

According to the report, major opportunities for CPG companies are being created with digital technologies.

“CPG companies of all sizes harnessed digital technologies in the past few years to become more productive and efficient,” said GMA President and CEO Pamela G. Bailey. “This study shows how food, beverage and consumer products manufacturers are leveraging innovation to optimize service to consumers and trading partners.”

Business mobility has been shown to boost productivity in sales, supply chains, distribution centers and stores, as well as to contribute to individual productivity. To determine the best use of mobile devices across the workforce, the report suggests that workforce productivity should be viewed through three lenses: mobility on the floor where workers use their digital devices for instant information, in the field where mobile employees can make decisions on the spot with their devices, and in flight where sales representatives, who historically travelled to each location to analyze performance, now use mobile technology to monitor activity, thereby increasing productivity. The report notes that as devices and wireless data networks grow, rich multimedia capabilities will continue to be added to business work flows and businesses will continue to capitalize on the opportunities mobile devices create within the workforce.

“Today’s consumers are more empowered with greater control of their shopping choices with the growing array of digital technologies like smart phones, tablets and social media. And they aren’t shy about posting their feelings online about products, where they literally are handing over reams of potential insights that can create a tremendous opportunity for CPG companies that can find the patterns in the noise,” said Susan McPartlin, PwC’s Retail and Consumer Industry Leader. “Just a few years ago, digital information meant one thing to senior executives – risk. However, companies are no longer just thinking ‘defense,’ they are using the digital data to advance their competitive position, help improve all aspects of operations and get smarter about international expansion plans.”

To this point, the report notes that currently, CPG companies lack detailed insights about consumers in China and other emerging markets. Many of the norms taken for granted in developed markets -- point-of-sale SKU numbers, predictable pricing models, even accurate information about how to reach a store or when it will be open -- cannot be assumed in emerging markets. According to the survey, connecting with consumers on their own digital terms will allow companies to learn how these markets work.

For the analysis, the GMA and PwC examined a variety of financial metrics to see which common characteristics link the CPG companies that performed best during the slow economic environment of 2010, and how those characteristics have changed during the past five years. The 148 CPG companies reviewed were sorted into performance quartiles and scored based on their relative performance across three metrics: economic profit spread, return on assets and free cash flow relative to sales.

Each group returned to growth in 2010 (2.9 percent for top performers and 1.5 percent for the bottom quartile), with the top quartile showing less volatility year-to-year and achieving more reliable sales growth over the long run. Most of the sales growth came organically and from acquisitions, with the strongest organic growth coming from emerging markets in Latin America and Asia. The report also found that top performing CPG companies are both generating and hoarding more cash than poorer performers – 18 percent cash flow to sales for the top performers versus 3.8 percent for the bottom quartile. Additionally, top performers paid out an average of four times more dividends per share during 2010 than the bottom performers.

Additional key findings from Thriving in a Connected World include:
• EBIT growth for the bottom quartile improved significantly from a negative 25 percent to negative one percent.
• Free cash flow as a percentage of net sales continues to remain generally strong across the industry, contributing to shareholder returns in the form of dividend payments.
• Underlying the strong overall performance was solid performance in margin improvement as well as liquidity management.
• Median selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expense was nearly flat from the previous year.
• For the Household Products (HHP) sector, there was significant improvement in EBIT growth to 15.4 percent. This improvement took place in spite of a small reduction in median gross margin from 49.5 percent to 47.5 percent.
• The Food sector had a strong year; median sales per employee grew nearly 10 percent and the median cash conversion cycle fell from 50.9 days to 45.8 days. However, there were signs of a challenging environment versus other sectors.Net sales growth did not improve to the extent that it did for Beverage and HHP sectors as consumers continued to trade down in the sector on a regular basis.
• The Beverage sector continued overall strong performance with significant improvements in net sales growth, gross margin (43.1 percent to 47.1 percent), and SG&A expense (29.7 percent to 27.7 percent), which were able to offset a very poor year from a cash conversion perspective (rising from 38.0 days to 46.1 days).

“Our analysis found that CPG companies were hard pressed to generate overall sales growth in 2010; however, some companies still managed to produce very healthy margins, free cash flow and other financial results. They made good progress building their brands in those fast-emerging markets, and were able to balance long-term investment with smart cost management in ways that still generated substantial dividends for shareholders,” added Lisa Feigen Dugal, PwC’s North American Advisory Retail and Consumer Industry Leader.

“Yet CPG executives are guardedly optimistic, despite a fragile economy, high unemployment and volatile commodity prices. Companies should aggressively take these risks into account in their planning processes to better position themselves to take advantage of growth prospects that await them at home and abroad,” she noted.

Thriving in a Connected World will be presented via webcast by PwC and GMA on Wednesday, June 29 at 1:30 p.m. EDT (click here for registration information: www.meetpwc.com/2011PwCGMACompanyWebcast.

To download the complete report, visit:
www.gmaonline.org/file-manager/GMA_Publications/2011_financial_performance_report.pdf.

Register for Asiafruit Congress 2011

Register for Asiafruit Congress 2011 and network with our top speakers and headline sponsors!

Taking place on 7-9 September 2011 at Hong Kong’s Convention and Exhibition Centre, Asia’s leading fresh produce business event will offer delegates the chance to hear from the industry’s leading lights on the key trends and latest developments affecting the trade.

The latest speaker addition to the programme is Eric Eng, vice-president of global reefer trade for major shipping line APL (Singapore). Along with other leading players in global reefer logistics, Mr Eng will debate the latest developments for the sector in Asia, from the growth of intra-Asian trade to new technologies.

Besides top speakers, there is an impressive array of high-profile companies sponsoring this year’s event, including Pear Bureau Northwest, Zespri, Del Monte, IG International, California Table Grape Commission, Oneonta Starr Ranch, Lantao, Washington Apple Commission, Paramount Citrus, Fruit Patch, Chelan Fresh Marketing, Domex, NatureSeal, Yidu, CMI, The Fresh Connection, Cal-Ex Trading, Blue Whale and Kingstone.

Join these companies and network with some 500 fresh produce professionals at Asiafruit Congress ready to do business.

Register online and save over 20 per cent on your ASIAFRUIT CONGRESS ticket. ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA exhibitors benefit from even further savings.

For all delegate, marketing and press queries, contact:

Hannah Gorvin
Commercial Manager
Asiafruit Congress
Hong Kong, 7-9 September 2011
Tel: +44 20 7501 3707
Fax: +44 20 7498 6472
Email: info@asiafruitcongress.com
Website: www.asiafruitcongress.com

Peterson Introduces Biodiesel Legislation

Peterson Introduces Biodiesel Legislation

WASHINGTON – U.S. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin C. Peterson, D-Minn., today joined Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., to introduce the Biodiesel Tax Incentive Reform and Extension Act (H.R. 2238). The legislation extends the $1 per gallon biodiesel tax credit to 2014 and changes the tax incentive to a production excise tax credit.

“Increasing the production of renewable energy is vital to creating jobs and growing our rural economies. Unfortunately, by allowing the biodiesel tax credit to lapse, we’ve already witnessed a loss of jobs and production,” Peterson said. “The biodiesel industry is still developing and, with the certainty of the biodiesel tax credit, we can continue to move forward and fully realize our renewable energy potential.”
###

Chairwoman Stabenow Announces Hearing to Examine State of Livestock in America

Chairwoman Stabenow Announces Hearing to Examine State of Livestock in America

Washington, DC – Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, announced the Committee will hold a hearing on Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 2:45 p.m. in room G50 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The hearing will focus on challenges facing the American livestock industry, the tools needed to address those challenges and how we can continue spurring innovation and economic growth in the sector. Witnesses to be announced.

The hearing, “The State of Livestock in America,” will take place on Tuesday, June 28, 2011 at 2:45 p.m. EST in SD-G50. A live, streaming webcast of the hearing will be available for viewing on the Committee website at http://ag.senate.gov.

Friday, June 17, 2011

House Ag Committee schedule released

WASHINGTON - The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture announced the following committee schedule.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011 – 10:00 a.m.
1300 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry–Public Hearing
RE: Agricultural Program Audit: Examination of conservation programs.

Thursday, June 23, 2011 – 10:00 a.m.
1300 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Committee on Agriculture–Business Meeting
RE: To approve the Activity Report of the Committee on Agriculture for the 1st Quarter of the 112th Congress as required by House Rule XI, clause d(1).

Thursday, June 23, 2011 – 11:00 a.m.
1300 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Subcommittee on Rural Development, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture–Public Hearing
RE: To review the opportunities and benefits of agricultural biotechnology.

Friday, June 24, 2011 – 10:00 a.m.
1300 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management–Public Hearing
RE: Agricultural Program Audit: Examination of crop insurance programs

National Restaurant Association Fights for Members on Health Care Law Implementation

National Restaurant Association Fights for Members on Health Care Law Implementation

( Washington, D.C.) The National Restaurant Association is continuing its work on behalf of the restaurant industry as it makes the case that new regulations under the health care law could be devastating for the industry. The Association submitted comments today to the U.S. Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on how the Administration contemplates defining key concepts that will impact how the restaurant and food service industry will offer coverage.

“Growth and success in the restaurant industry means opening more restaurants and more locations, which in turn means jobs in our communities,” said Scott DeFife, Executive Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs for the National Restaurant Association. “With respect to the new health care law, the uncertainty of the regulatory process and the many rules that are yet to be clarified and fully defined are worrisome for our members. However, we very much appreciate Treasury and the IRS’ effort to explore key definitional issues for the industry early before promulgating related regulations.”

DeFife noted that to comply with the law, restaurateurs need a clearer definition of full-time employee than what was offered as part of the law.

“We believe this law will impact our industry more than most and appreciate the federal government’s recognition that first addressing the definition of full-time employee, and the provisions linked to that definition, is critical,” DeFife said. “The Treasury Department and the IRS have recognized that industries such as ours with narrow margins, and flexible and variable work schedules, are unable to easily predict which employees are considered full-time and consequently cannot anticipate their liability under the law.”

The National Restaurant Association submitted comments to the Treasury Department and IRS in response to their request for comments on the “Shared Responsibility for Employers” provisions in the new health care law, slated to go into effect in 2014. The Association is also a leading member of the Employers for Flexibility in Health Care (EFHC) coalition which also submitted comments this week. Combined, the submissions addressed key issues for the industry such as the full-time employee definition, support of the contemplated “look-back stability period safe harbor, ” a 60-day administration period, which is consistent with current practice within the industry; as well as a 90-day waiting period to be applied to all employees, including new hires and newly eligible employees.

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Leads U.S. Delegation to G-20 Summit of Agricultural Ministers

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Leads U.S. Delegation to G-20 Summit of Agricultural Ministers

WASHINGTON, June 17, 2011 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will lead the U.S. government's delegation to the G-20 Summit of Agricultural Ministers in Paris on June 22 and 23. The focus of the summit is on international efforts to ensure global food security. The G-20 was established in 1999 to bring together major advanced and emerging economies to help bring stability to global markets. France chairs the G-20 in 2011.
"Coming together at the G-20 to focus on the critical issue of food security is a very significant and positive development for all of the countries involved," said Vilsack. "Our goal as an international community is clear: to reduce the number of hungry people by increasing the availability and accessibility of nutritious food around the world. The meetings will establish further cooperation to increase agricultural productivity for a growing global population, as well as priorities for the effectiveness of international agricultural and information systems. It is equally important that we take this opportunity, in light of high energy and commodity prices, to improve market transparency and end market distorting practices."
Vilsack will also speak to aviation representatives participating in the Paris Air Show, the largest gathering of the world aerospace industry, about USDA's commitment to the development of alternative fuels to improve economic opportunities, decrease dependence on oil, and increase environmental benefits of flying. USDA is among the forefront of federal efforts to support the development of bio-based fuels, including aviation fuel. USDA's commitment to the development of alternative fuels will benefit the aerospace industry, both economically and environmentally. Last October, USDA and the Federal Aviation Administration announced a five year agreement to develop aviation fuel from forest and crop residues. In January 2010, USDA and the Department of the Navy announced a partnership to encourage the development of advanced biofuels and other renewable energy systems.
This will be the first meeting of all agricultural ministers in the Group of Twenty (G-20). In addition to the United States, the G-20 includes Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudia Arabia, South Africa, the Republic of Korea, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Peterson: Ag Spending Bill another Assault on Agriculture

Peterson: Ag Spending Bill another Assault on Agriculture

WASHINGTON – U.S. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin C. Peterson, D-Minn., made the following statement after the House of Representatives approved H.R. 2112, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012. Peterson voted against the legislation.

“Agriculture is under assault in this Congress. We first saw it with the Ryan budget, which cut $178 billion from agriculture programs. And today, Congress approved a bill that makes disproportionate cuts to agriculture, including vital conservation and nutrition programs. Additionally, the bill includes an unprecedented nearly $2 billion in changes to mandatory spending, taking funds from carefully negotiated farm bill programs. Furthermore, the funds that would allow the CFTC to move ahead with financial reforms and bring about a more open and transparent derivatives market were slashed.

“I fear that if Congress continues to chip away at farm programs we will be left without an adequate safety net and the end result could potentially cost the government more money, not less.”

Friday, June 10, 2011

Stephen Colbert on USDA Plate icon

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Coming Full Circle

As the Midwest quickly powershifted from late winter to early summer, I was somewhat behind the eight-ball as far as securing reading material for weekends & upcoming days off. But I have been enjoying the heck out of the latest download to my large-fonted Kindle, 'The Greater Journey--Americans in Paris 1830-1900' by David McCullough.

The book relates the travels of, among other professionals who followed them during that period, noted Americans Samuel Morse--inventor of the telegraph, then a painter--and writer James Fenimore Cooper, who penned 'Last of the Mohicans'. These men were wealthy enough to be able to study & learn abroad at a time when our country had little history & experience in the arts and medicine, and looked to Paris for cutting-edge answers.

What brought me back to reality, however, was McCullough's lurid description of the Parisian cholera outbreak of 1832, in which thousands died in what seemed like an instant. Nasty stuff no doubt, with the authorities at the time perplexed as to how to solve the problem, which struck ironically at the global nexus of higher education & technology of the day.

I thought that here we are, nearly two centuries down the pike with the current E. coli situation in Germany, and still we have many more questions than answers. It's not for lack of trying, though. Miodrag Mitic, founder of the European Traceability Institute, explained the challenges quite well on a Linkedin comment in the Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Forum:

"In contrast to the GS1 guideline, the Food Law in Europe does not compel operators to establish a link (internal traceability) between incoming and outgoing products. Nor is there any requirement for records to be kept identifying how batches are split and combined within a business to create particular products or new batches."

And...

"Basic traceability requirements are accounted for in the...certification schemes, but concerns over the cost of audits often result in spending little time on traceability verification during actual audits. Auditor competence is also a factor in this as auditors receive little or no specialist training in traceability system design, implementation and assessment."

An inexact science to be sure, and the European concerns stated by Mr. Mitic aren't different at all from what we in the States deal with each & every crisis of this kind that arises. Obtuse bureaucracies, lack of funds, operator errors, and in this instance, suspicions of a potential cover-up. Where will it all end?

Lost in the frothy mess--again--are the growers, farmers, wholesalers & retailers that have & will suffer collateral financial damage from this. The Spanish cucumber grower is just the new & improved 2011 version of the Florida tomato shipper.

Quick to accuse, sluggish to retract. It's not just the American way.

Later,

Jay

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Fruit and veggie statistics from USDA ERS

Some fruit and veggie statistics from USDA ERS:

Cornucopia: don't blame sprout contamination on organic

90% Sprout Contamination Conventional, Not Organic (Linked to Factory Farm Livestock Production)

AP 6-6-11: “In a surprising U-turn, German officials said initial tests published Monday provided no evidence that sprouts from an organic farm in northern Germany were the cause of the country's deadly E. coli outbreak.”

http://www.cornucopia.org/2011/06/news-advisory-90-sprout-contamination-conventional-not-organic-linked-to-factory-farm-livestock-production/

Quotations attributable to Mark A. Kastel, Codirector and Senior Farm Policy Analyst at The Cornucopia Institute, a farm policy research group based in Cornucopia, Wisconsin:

One of the suspected factors in this tragic outbreak of foodborne illness (now preliminarily cleared) was sprouted seeds from an organic farm. There's a history of pathogenic contamination of fresh food, including sprouts. Correcting statements made over the weekend, the German government stated on Monday, June 6 that it has not found conclusive evidence that the deadly E. coli outbreak can be linked to sprouts from an organic farm.

Regardless of which food turns out to have been contaminated with deadly E. coli, it is important to remember that the underlying cause of new, highly toxic strains of foodborne pathogens seems to be the relatively new practice of raising beef and dairy cattle in highly concentrated factory farm conditions, instead of on pasture.

Beef and dairy cows, which are ruminants, evolved to eat grass, not the high-grain rations that they are given in feedlots, which changes the pH in their rumen and has been linked to the creation of new and more deadly E. coli pathogens. There is nothing inherently dangerous about raw spinach, raw cucumbers or raw sprouts, which are dangerous only when they are contaminated with manure from industrial-style factory farms.

Moreover, studies have shown that organic farms and organic foods are safer than conventional foods. Not only are they much less likely to be contaminated with chemical residues, pesticides, and fumigants, they are also not as likely to be contaminated with manure.

The practice of using manure as fertilizer is common on both conventional and organic farms, but only organic standards require strict management practices regarding its use. For example, organic farmers must compost manure (which kills deadly bacteria) if it is applied to land growing crops for human consumption – a practice that is not required on conventional farms.

Recall data from the US Food and Drug Administration shows that there have been 10 recalls of sprouts in the past 2.5 years (since April 2009), and 9 were because conventional sprouts tested positive for foodborne pathogens (90% conventional, 10% organic). Several outbreaks in the US in the past couple of years have been linked to sprouts, but none were linked directly to organic sprouts.

A strong common denominator in this deadly outbreak in Europe is the scale of production and distribution. Just like the spinach contamination in California, in 2007, the processing and distribution was vast in geographic scope. It's quite possible that corporate agribusiness has, worldwide, outgrown its ability to control the quality of its products.

An outcome of these food contamination problems has led to exponential growth in the direct marketing of local food by family-scale farmers and artisan food processors. There is strong documentary and anecdotal evidence that sales at member-owned food cooperatives, farmers markets, CSAs (community supported/subscription agriculture farms) and other farmer-direct marketing vehicles have exploded over the past five years.

Consumers are finding assurance in local foods, and are increasingly patronizing farmers and retailers that sell high quality food on a local basis.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

New Members of National Sustainable Agriculture Standards Committee Announced

New Members of National Sustainable Agriculture Standards Committee Announced

Madison, WI, March 29, 2011 - Leonardo Academy announces the appointment of three new members to the National Sustainable Agriculture Standards Committee in the Producers category: Fred Fleming, Lazy YJ Farms and Shepherd's Grain; Kristine Ellor, Phillips Mushroom Farms; and Yvette Speziani, Sunburst Farms.

Fred Fleming, farmer, agronomist and founder of Lazy YJ Farms and Inland Empire Oilseeds, and co-founder of Reardan/Ritzville Seed Company, Columbia Plateau Producers and Shepherd's Grain, brings more than 35 years of experience to the Standards Committee. His wide range of experience includes large-scale wheat barley production and wiener-to-finished-hog farming operations; the founding of and involvement in the production, sourcing and testing of multi-genetic seed varieties; oilseed processing and refining; and managing the direct marketing of milled grain into packaged flour through the value chain while maintaining profitable pricing. He will bring together partners and colleagues in and outside the committee for diverse solutions in sustainability. A business man and a true American farmer, he is a long-standing member of Washington Wheat Growers; Washington Farm Bureau; Genetic Marketing Group, LLC; Washington State Grange; and serves as president of the board for the Washington Crop Improvement Association.

Kristine Ellor of the fourth-generation Phillips Mushroom Farms located in Pennsylvania is the largest producer of specialty mushrooms in the United States. Kristine has a life-long legacy of farming in dairy, livestock and specialty crops. Spending her entire professional career in mycology and technical agriculture, she has a background in botany, plant pathology and biology. She is currently involved in the Keystone Agricultural Innovation Board; Pennsylvania Farm Bureau; American Mushroom Institute; Organic Materials Review Institute; National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture; and Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture, to name a few. The operation was the first of its kind to be certified by the USDA for Good Agricultural Practice and has excelled in numerous food-safety audits by third-party auditing organizations. The operation has diversified with a successful processing arm and was a leading instrument in bringing crimini and portabella mushrooms to mainstream markets. She will contribute to the development process her expertise in advanced ligno-cellulosic composting solutions, creative use of grey water and various conservation methods, multi-application solutions for greenhouse sustainability practice while expanding profitability.

Yvette Speziani, Director of Marketing and Product Development and Quality Assurance Manager at Sunburst Farms, has 22 years of experience in the flower industry. She will represent the Floriculture sector and bring examples of marketable sustainability models from seed to shelf. She is responsible for making choices about which standards her company should pursue, and has chosen the Sustainable Agriculture Standards development process in addition to Florverde, The Rainforest Alliance and product grade standards with AFIF. Her prior work at Dole Food Company in the floral division kept her involved in environmental social certifications. She is currently working on becoming a Whole Trade partner with Whole Foods, represented by a current member of the Standards Committee in the Users category. Her involvement in standard development processes such as the Produce Marketing Association's Technology and Standards Committee for the development of the G10 in floral and her company's recent acquisitions of the Rainforest Certification, Florverde and ISO 14001 will undoubtedly be an asset to the drafting process.

Scientists Warn Disaster Looms for Parts of Africa and All of India if Chronic Food Insecurity Converges with Crop-wilting Weather; Latin America also Vulnerable

Scientists Warn Disaster Looms for Parts of Africa and All of India if Chronic
Food Insecurity Converges with Crop-wilting Weather; Latin America also
Vulnerable

COPENHAGEN (3 JUNE 2011)—A new study has matched future climate change
“hotspots” with regions already suffering chronic food problems to identify
highly-vulnerable populations, chiefly in Africa and South Asia, but
potentially in China and Latin America as well, where in fewer than 40 years,
the prospect of shorter, hotter or drier growing seasons could imperil hundreds
of millions of already-impoverished people.

The report, “Mapping Hotspots of Climate Change and Food Insecurity in the
Global Tropics,” was produced by the CGIAR Research Program on Climate
Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). The work was undertaken by a
team of scientists responding to an urgent need to focus climate change
adaptation efforts on people and places where the potential for harsher growing
conditions poses the gravest threat to food production and food security.

The researchers pinpointed areas of intense vulnerability by examining a
variety of climate models and indicators of food problems to create a series of
detailed maps. One shows regions around the world at risk of crossing certain
“climate thresholds”—such as temperatures too hot for maize or
beans—that over the next 40 years could diminish food production. Another
shows regions that may be sensitive to such climate shifts because in general
they have large areas of land devoted to crop and livestock production. And
finally, scientists produced maps of regions with a long history of food
insecurity.

“When you put these maps together they reveal places around the world where
the arrival of stressful growing conditions could be especially disastrous,”
said Polly Ericksen, a senior scientist at the CGIAR’s International
Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi, Kenya and the study’s lead
author. “These are areas highly exposed to climate shifts, where survival is
strongly linked to the fate of regional crop and livestock yields, and where
chronic food problems indicate that farmers are already struggling and they
lack the capacity to adapt to new weather patterns.”

“This is a very troubling combination,” she added.

For example, in large parts of South Asia, including almost all of India, and
parts of sub-Saharan Africa—chiefly West Africa—there are 369 million
food-insecure people living in agriculture-intensive areas that are highly
exposed to a potential five percent decrease in the length of the growing
period. Such a change over the next 40 years could significantly affect food
yields and food access for people—many of them farmers themselves—already
living on the edge. Higher temperatures also could exact a heavy toll. Today,
there are 56 million food-insecure and crop-dependent people in parts of West
Africa, India and China who live in areas where, by the mid-2050s, maximum
daily temperatures during the growing season could exceed 30 degrees Celsius
(86 degrees Fahrenheit). This is close to the maximum temperature that beans
can tolerate, while maize and rice yields may suffer when temperatures exceed
this level. For example, a study last year in Nature found that even with
optimal amounts of rain, African maize yields could decline by one percent for
each day spent above 30ºC.

Regional predictions for shifts in temperatures and precipitation going out to
2050 were developed by analyzing the outputs of climate models rooted in the
extensive data amassed by the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) from the United
Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Researchers
identified populations as chronically food-insecure if more than 40 percent of
children under the age of five were “stunted”—that is, they fall well
below the World Health Organization’s height-for-age standards.

“We are starting to see much more clearly where the effect of climate change
on agriculture could intensify hunger and poverty, but only if we fail to
pursue appropriate adaptation strategies,” said Patti Kristjanson, a research
theme leader at CCAFS. “Farmers already adapt to variable weather patterns by
changing their planting schedules or moving animals to different grazing areas.
What this study suggests is that the speed of climate shifts and the magnitude
of the changes required to adapt could be much greater. In some places, farmers
might need to consider entirely new crops or new farming systems.”

Crop breeders at CGIAR centers around the world already are focused on
developing so-called “climate ready” crop varieties able to produce high
yields in more stressful conditions. For some regions, however, that might not
be a viable option—in parts of East and Southern Africa, for example,
temperatures may become too hot to maintain maize as the staple crop, requiring
a shift to other food crops, such as sorghum or cassava, to meet nutrition
needs. In addition, farmers who now focus mainly on crop cultivation might need
to integrate livestock and agroforestry as a way to maintain and increase food
production.

“International trade in agriculture commodities is also likely to assume even
more importance for all regions as climate change intensifies the existing
limits of national agriculture systems to satisfy domestic food needs,” said
Bruce Campbell, director of CCAFS. “We have already seen with the food price
spikes of 2008 and 2010 that food security is an international phenomenon and
climate change is almost certainly going to intensify that interdependence.”
Ericksen and her colleagues note that regions of concern extend beyond those
found to be most at risk. For example, in many parts of Latin America, food
security is relatively stable at the moment—suggesting that a certain amount
of “coping capacity” could be available to deal with future climate
stresses that affect agriculture production. Yet there is cause for concern
because millions of people in the region are highly dependent on local
agricultural production to meet their food needs and they are living in the
very crosshairs of climate change.

The researchers found, for example, that by 2050, prime growing conditions are
likely to drop below 120 days per season in intensively-farmed regions of
northeast Brazil and Mexico. Growing seasons of at least 120 days are
considered critical not only for the maturation of maize and several other
staple food crops, but also for vegetation crucial to feeding livestock.
In addition, parts of Latin America are likely to experience temperatures too
hot for bean production, a major food staple in the region. The study also
shows that some areas today have a “low sensitivity” to the effects of
climate change only because there is not a lot of land devoted to crop and
livestock production. But agriculture intensification would render them more
vulnerable, adding a wrinkle, for example, to the massive effort underway to
rapidly expand crop cultivation in the so-called “bread-basket” areas of
sub-Saharan Africa.

“Evidence suggests that these specific regions in the tropics may be severely
affected by 2050 in terms of their crop production and livestock capacity. The
window of opportunity to develop innovative solutions that can effectively
overcome these challenges is limited,” said Philip Thornton, a CCAFS research
theme leader and one of the paper’s co-authors. “Major adaptation efforts
are needed now if we are to avoid serious food security and livelihood problems
later.”

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

American Farmland Trust: 2012 House Agriculture Appropriations Bill is Short-Sighted

2012 House Agriculture Appropriations Bill is Short-Sighted

Washington, D.C.—“The budget choices made by the House Agriculture Appropriations Sub-committee are short-sighted at best when considering the agriculture, conservation and environmental needs of our country now and in the future,” says Jon Scholl, President of American Farmland Trust (AFT). “The Sub-committee has chosen to reduce conservation spending in many programs by approximately 25 percent without a plan to make up these reductions.”
Farmers and ranchers manage nearly half the land in the United States. “Farm and ranchland is the key ingredient in any farm operation,” adds Scholl. “Helping farmers protect this key resource is critical. We need farmland to be in the healthiest state possible for the long-term production of food, fiber, biofuels, and the many environmental benefits that farmers produce as stewards of this land.”
 “If we do not fund conservation programs robustly, we are putting millions of acres of farmland at risk to unplanned development. We also constrain that land to a less than ideal fate as we face the challenge of growing the food needed by a hungry world population with fewer natural resources available to our nation’s farmers and ranchers,” says Scholl.
 “I think everyone understands there are tough choices to be made in this budget climate,” Scholl continues. “However, our country and our world need an adequate supply of healthy farmland AND healthy food, even more so in coming years as the world population is predicted to grow. I therefore join in Chairman Lucas’ (R-OK) request that if budget cuts are to be made then the Agriculture Committee is best positioned to understand the tradeoffs as well as ways to make up for any future deficiencies.”
 “While the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee has made some short-sighted choices for the budget year ahead, we can hope they, and their Congressional colleagues, will think about the long-term needs of our country as the full House votes on this proposal,” adds Scholl.  “In turn, we trust that the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee takes a more long term view about our agricultural and conservation needs, and achieves a better balance in their choices and tradeoffs as they begin their work on this important bill, for all people who care about farms and food.”