Fresh Produce Discussion Blog

Created by The Packer's National Editor Tom Karst

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

+ F I R S T A N N U A L + BROWNIE EATING CONTEST

+ F I R S T A N N U A L + BROWNIE EATING CONTEST | SQUANSTRONG'S TAILGATE ON THE SQUARE | SATURDAY, 15 JUNE 2013 4PM-8PM MANASQUAN, NEW JERSEY CHOCOLATE BAR PRESENTS THE 1ST ANNUAL BROWNIE EATING CONTEST | SQUANSTRONG'S TAILGATE ON THE SQUARE | SATURDAY, 15 JUNE 2013 | 4PM-8PM | MANASQUAN, NEW JERSEY MANASQUAN, NEW JERSEY: Gather your Brownie Troop! The 1st Annual Chocolate Bar Brownie Eating Contest takes place in Manasquan, New Jersey as presented by SquanStrong during their Tailgate on the Square event Saturday, 15 June 2013 from 4pm until 8pm at Manasquan Square located in the center of town. Children ages 12 years and under jonzing for a sugar rush will compete at 5pm. Teens & adults ages 13 to 100 compete at 6pm. All proceeds from the event will benefit SquanStrong of which 100% supports efforts to repair, rebuild and restore our beach community. Brownie eating contestants go head to head to see who can swallow the most brownies in 5 minutes. No ordinary brownies, Chocolate Bar has copped more gold than Midas as the award winner in 10 brownie taste tests. Built by hand, these bad boys are not too moist or too cakey and are ready for competitive consumption. Champions who wish to enter the contest should email alison@chocolatebarnyc.com for rules and entry applications. A $10 entry fee will be directed to SquanStrong. Interested media who wish to cover the event or interview SquanStrong founder Dana Phelps Connelly or Chocolate Bar owner Alison Nelson please contact WORKHOUSE, CEO Adam Nelson via email at nelson@workhousepr.com The 5-minute, all-you-can-eat brownie contests features eaters from around the world. Adults and kids compete separately for the boss title of SUGAR DADDY Adult Brownie Eating Champion and KID CHOCOHOLIC Brownie Eating Champion. Hundreds are planning to attend the event. For these fans, the Squan Strong Tailgate in the Manasquan square offers pulled pork sandwiches from Bitter Bob's BBQ, DJ's and a rocking beer patio. To purchase Tailgate Passes Parking Passes head to Alison Nelson's Chocolate Bar located at 140 Main Street on Parker Avenue. Cash is accepted or a check can be made payable to SquanStrong. Tickets are $50 WHAT: Alison Nelson's Chocolate Bar Brownie Eating Contest WHEN: Saturday, 15 June 2013 WHERE: Manasquan Square | Center of Town | Manasquan, New Jersey TIME: 4PM SquanStrong Tailgate begins 5PM Kid's Championship 6PM Adult's Championship FEE: Tailgate Tickets $50 | Eating Contest Entry Fee $10 You think you know how to tailgate? Well, here's your chance to prove it. Buy a parking pass for $50 and plan your best tailgate. You get (2) two parking spaces to spread out and show your spirit. Need more information on SquanStrong? Visit Facebook FROM THE NORTH Parkway South to exit 98. Take Route 34 South to circle. Go halfway around circle and continue south on Rt 34. Take "MANASQUAN" exit (Jug handle) to yield sign. Turn right. This is Atlantic Ave. Stay East and go halfway a r o u n d circle, continue east on Atlantic Ave. At the "T" in the road (high school on your left), go right onto Broad Street. Go 1/2 mile until stop sign. Turn left onto Main Street. Continue east until the traffic light. Manasquan Borough Hall is on the right side of Main Street past the intersection. FOR THE BEACH: After turning left on Main Street, continue east all the way to First Avenue. FROM THE SOUTH Take Parkway North to exit 90. Go right at stop sign on to Chambers Bridge Road. Stay in left lane. After McDonalds, make your first left on to Rt. 70 east. Stay on this road for at least 5 minutes. Go over bridge (Peterson's Restaurant is on your left). Continue east on Rt. 70 to circle. Go halfway around circle, taking Rt 35 North. Continue to next circle and go only one quarter around circle (right). This is Atlantic Avenue. Continue on Atlantic Avenue to the "T" in the road (high school is on your left), go right onto Broad Street. Go 1/2 mile until stop sign. Turn left onto MainStreet. Continue east until the traffic light. Manasquan Borough Hall is on the right side of Main Street past the intersection. FOR THE BEACH: After turning left on Main Street, continue east all the way to First Avenue. DIRECTIONS FROM WESTERN NEW JERSEY Take Route 195 East until the end (Changes to Rt. 138 approximately one mile before end). Take Route 35 South approximately 4-5 miles to the Manasquan Circle. Go 3/4 around the circle and take Atlantic Avenue East to the end (approx. 1 mile - High School will be on left). Make a right onto Broad Street to end. Then make a left onto Main St. Continue east until the traffic light. Manasquan Borough Hall is on the right side of Main Street past the intersection. For the Beach: After turning left on Main Street, continue east all the way to First Avenue. SQUANSTRONG Community is a group of people working towards a common goal. We call ourselves SquanStrong. Regardless of your zip code, we welcome you to our community and embrace your involvement. What started as a one day coat & supply drive has launched into so much more. Feeding several hundred people per day, filling supply needs of our communities, sending work crews to help move, demo or clean, being a support system and so much more. We started as what seemed helpless. We now are SquanStrong. We are a 501c3 non profit organization and give 100% of our proceeds right back to our community. SquanStrong merchandise with any of our logo designs supports our efforts to continue to repair, rebuild & restore our community. 100% of the proceeds go right back into our neighborhoods. For any requests, please email and include your FEMA # in the subject line. For volunteer opportunities, please email and put volunteer and a tentative date in the subject line. CHOCOLATE BAR Chocolate Bar: Award-winning candy store for grown ups located at 140 Main Street on Parker Avenue. A native New Yorker, Chocolate Bar founding owner, Alison Nelson, sipped her first cup of coffee with her father at the age of 8 and put herself through college on the tips of customers while waiting on tables at top-notch New York coffee shops. She launched Chocolate Bar twelve years ago and since that time she has been named one of Gourmet News Magazine’s influential “20 under 40”, in 2006, she was named one of Crain’s Business “40 Under 40” and in 2007 received the Inc. Magazine’s award for one of the “Fastest Growing Private Company’s in America”. Her book Chocolate Bar: Recipes and Entertaining Ideas for Living the Sweet Life won the 2005 Gourmand World Cookbook award. Visit www.chocolatebarnyc.com

DeLauro Statement on Sale of Smithfield Foods to Chinese Company

Shuanghui International Foods Has History of Tainted Food NEW HAVEN, CT—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) released the following statement today on the announcement Shuanghui International agreed to buy Smithfield Foods. DeLauro is a longtime advocate for ensuring America’s food supply is safe for consumers and is a former Chairwoman of the subcommittee responsible for funding the Agriculture Department. “This potential merger raises real food safety concerns that should alarm consumers. We know that Chinese food products have been a threat to public health and that Shuanghui was found to have produced and sold tainted pork. This merger may only make it more difficult to protect the food supply. I have deep doubts about whether this merger best serves American consumers and urge federal regulators to put their concerns first. I will be in touch with regulators throughout this process to ensure the public health and safety of the American public is safeguarded.”

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Chairwoman Stabenow Floor Remarks on Conservation Compliance, Crop Insurance in 2013 Senate Farm Bill

Chairwoman Stabenow Floor Remarks on Conservation Compliance, Crop Insurance in 2013 Senate Farm Bill Washington, DC – Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today delivered the below remarks on the Senate floor regarding the historic conservation compliance agreement included in the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of the 2o13 (the Senate Farm Bill). These remarks are prepared for delivery. Senate Floor Remarks of Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) Chairwoman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry As prepared for delivery I want to talk specifically today about the work we’re doing in the Conservation title of the Farm Bill. This is about jobs: Healthy wildlife habitats and clean, fishable waters are not only good for our environment, but they also support hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation that benefits our economy and creates jobs. In fact, outdoor recreation supports over 6 million jobs in this country. And this Farm Bill includes an historic new agreement around conservation – the most powerful conservation work in decades. It is truly amazing what can happen when people sit down, listen to one another, and work out their differences. If farmers want to participate in Title I Commodity programs, including the current Direct Payments Program, they must take steps to use best conservation practices on their land when it comes to highly erodible soil and wetlands. This has been the case for many years. Of course, the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act that we’re debating now eliminates the Direct Payment subsidy program. Instead, we’re strengthening crop insurance, which farmers need to purchase, and we’re making market-oriented reforms to Title I. But here’s the issue: if we eliminate Direct Payment subsidies, we don’t want to create unintended consequences. It is important for all of us that sensitive lands be managed in the best possible way – that’s how we avoid having a dust bowl during droughts. It’s important for us to continue protecting wetlands, which help prevent flooding, and are important wildlife habitats for ducks and other water fowl. Now, commodity groups and conservation groups were on different sides of this issue. They looked at this issue from vastly different viewpoints, and they didn’t agree on the best approach. They could have followed the typical Washington playbook. They could have both gone to their corners. They could have fired off angry, venomous press releases at each other. They could have drowned the Hill in lobbyists pushing for their solution and demonizing the other side. But that’s not what happened. Like farmers and families all across the country, they sat down together around a table, and they did something that’s too rare these days in Washington: they listened. They listened and tried to see the other point of view. They came to understand one another, and it turned out their differences weren’t so great after all. With a little compromise and a lot of hard work, they were able to come up with a plan that conserves soil and water resources for generations to come – and protects the safety net our famers rely on. This has been called the greatest advancement to conservation in three decades. I want to underscore that for my colleagues – this is an important and historic agreement. I know a number of my colleagues today are planning to talk about amendments on crop insurance – and I know a number of my colleagues voted for some of those amendments last time around. But this conservation agreement puts us in a very different situation this year. For one thing, we want to make sure the biggest landowners who control the most acres are using crop insurance which means now they would need to use conservation practices to preserve sensitive lands and wetlands. Amendments that weaken crop insurance would reduce the number of farmers participating in crop insurance – raising premiums for family farmers and reducing the environmental benefits of this historic conservation agreement. With this new agreement, the math is simple: more acres that are in the crop insurance equals more environmental and conservation benefits. Here’s another reason my colleagues should re-evaluate these amendments. This chart shows the counties in the United States that were declared agricultural disaster areas last year. 2012 was one of the worst droughts on record. And in the past, when we had situations like that, Congress had to pass ad hoc disaster assistance for those crop farmers. But we didn’t have to do that last year. Because crop insurance works. The only farmers last year who needed disaster assistance were the ones who cannot participate in crop insurance! Producers purchase crop insurance so they are protected when there are disasters. But if we weaken crop insurance, resulting in premium hikes of as much as 40% on small farmers, we are going to go back to the days of ad hoc disaster assistance – something we cannot afford in today’s tight budget climate. Finally, we need to keep this historic agreement in place through the Conference Committee. I think we owe that much to the folks who sat down together and worked out this agreement. I would ask my colleagues to stand with the commodity and conservation groups who worked hard to find compromise and forge this constructive agreement. If we want to preserve the conservation wins that we have in this Farm Bill, we need to support the farmers and the environmental community, who have been very clear that with the new agreement this year, we should not be weakening crop insurance or making it harder for large producers to participate in the program.

NCFC: Oppose sugar amendment

Washington, D.C. (May 22, 2013)—The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) today expressed its strong opposition to Senate Amendment 925 to the farm bill (S. 954) being debated on the Senate floor today. The amendment, offered by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), would change, and effectively dismantle, current federal policies with regards to sugar. “The U.S. sugar policy has evolved over the years and has a proven track record in providing helping farmers to compete against heavily subsidized foreign competitors,” said Chuck Conner, president & CEO of NCFC. “Ending our sugar programs would simply result in fewer jobs for Americans and more for our foreign competitors.” “The U.S. and global sugar markets have collapsed, with farmers having seen a 55 percent drop in prices received just since debate on the farm bill has gotten underway,” continued Conner. “Now is not the time to weaken or repeal a long-standing element of U.S. agricultural policy. I urge a “no” vote on the Shaheen sugar amendment.”

USDA Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers Seeks Nominations

WASHINGTON, May 22, 2013--The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently published a Notice of Solicitation for Nominations for its Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers for 2-year membership terms in the Federal Register dated April 30, 2013. "Members of the Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers play a critical role in helping USDA ensure modern and equitable service for all of our customers -- a keystone of the Obama Administration's commitment to civil rights," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "I highly encourage the nomination of folks who are interested in serving their community by helping USDA continue our record accomplishments on behalf of all Americans." 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. The Committee considers goals and objectives necessary to implement its recommendations, as well as methodologies that maximize participation of minority farmers in USDA programs. The USDA is soliciting nominations from interested organizations and individuals from the ranching and farming industry, related State governments, Tribal agricultural agencies, academic institutions, commercial banking entities, trade associations and related nonprofit enterprises. An organization may nominate individuals from within or outside its membership; alternatively, an individual may nominate herself or himself. Nomination forms are available on the internet at: http://www.ocio.usda.gov/forms/doc/AD-755.pdf. Nomination packages must include the nomination form along with a cover letter and resume or biographical description documenting the nominee's background and experience. The deadline for submitting nominations is May 31, 2013. Nomination packages mailed should be addressed to: Mrs. Kenya Nicholas, Designated Federal Official, USDA-OAO, 1400 Independence Avenue, Room 520-A, Washington, DC 20250-0170. Nomination packages may also be faxed to the attention of Mrs. Kenya Nicholas using fax number (202) 720-7704. Any inquires may be sent via email to: ACMF@osec.usda.gov. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users). #

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

NCFC supports legislation on spill prevention

Washington, D.C. (May 7, 2013)—The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC) today signaled its support for the inclusion of S. 496, the Farmers Undertake Environmental Land Stewardship Act, as an amendment to the Water Resources Development Act currently being debated on the Senate floor. The amendment seeks to ensure that the Environmental Protection Agency’s pending Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations adequately recognizes the low risk of spills on America’s farms and ranches. “Inclusion of an amendment identical to S. 496 in WRDA will bring much needed clarity to agriculture on the confusing requirements of the SPCC rules,” said Chuck Conner, president and CEO of NCFC. “Throughout this long regulatory process, the EPA has failed to provide solid data, or even anecdotal evidence, of on-farm oil spills to justify such as resource-intensive rulemaking for America’s farmers and ranchers.” The amendment would exempt farmers from SPCC rules for aboveground oil storage tanks that have an aggregate storage capacity of less than 10,000 gallons. In addition to providing this exemption, it will also allow farmers who are regulated and have less than 42,000 gallons of above ground storage capacity to self-certify their own plans. “By providing realistic threshold sizes for tank regulation at the farm level, this amendment would allow farmers and ranchers to focus on running productive agricultural operations instead of on finding engineers and writing plans that address a problem that simply doesn’t exist,” continued Conner. “I would like to thank Senators Mark Pryor and James Inhofe for their leadership on this issue and hope to work with them as the measure moves through the legislative process.” About the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives NCFC is a national association representing America’s farmer cooperatives. There are nearly 3,000 farmer cooperatives across the U.S. whose members include a majority of our nation’s more than 2 million farmers, ranchers and growers. These farmer cooperative businesses handle, process, and market agricultural commodities and related products; furnish farm supplies; and provide credit and associated financial services. Earnings from these activities are returned to their members on a patronage basis. Farmer cooperatives also provide jobs for nearly 250,000 Americans, many in rural areas, with a combined payroll of over $8 billion. Additional information about NCFC can be found at http://www.ncfc.org.

Monday, May 6, 2013

Mother's Day facts: Census Bureau


            Mother’s Day: May 12, 2013
The driving force behind Mother’s Day was Anna Jarvis, who organized observances in Grafton, W.Va., and Philadelphia on May 10, 1908. As the annual celebration became popular around the country, Jarvis asked members of Congress to set aside a day to honor mothers. She succeeded in 1914, when Congress designated the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.
How Many Mothers
4.1 million
Number of women between the ages of 15 and 50 who gave birth in the past 12 months. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011 American Community Survey, Table B1302 <http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_1YR_B13002&prodType=table>
53%
Percentage of 15- to 44-year-old women who were mothers in 2010.
Source: Fertility of American Women: 2010
<http://www.census.gov/hhes/fertility/data/cps/2010.html> Table 1 
81%
Percentage of women who had become mothers by age 40 to 44 as of 2010. In 1976, 90 percent of women in that age group had given birth. Source: Fertility of American Women: 2010 <http://www.census.gov/hhes/fertility/data/cps/2010.html> Table 1
2,449
The total fertility rate or estimated number of total births per 1,000 women in Utah in 2010 (based on current birth rates by age), which led the nation. At the other end of the spectrum is Rhode Island, with a total fertility rate of 1,630.5 births per 1,000 women. Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Table 12, page 42 <http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr61/nvsr61_01.pdf>
 20%
Percentage of all women age 15 to 44 who have had two children. About 47 percent had no children, 17 percent had one, 10 percent had three and about 5 percent had four or more. Source: Fertility of American Women: 2010, Detailed Tables, Table 1 <http://www.census.gov/hhes/fertility/data/cps/2010.html
89.7%
Percentage of all children who lived with their biological mothers in 2012. About 1.2 percent of all children lived with a stepmother. Source: America’s Families and Living Arrangements, 2012 CPS, Table C9 <http://www.census.gov/hhes/families/data/cps2012.html>
Recent Births
3.954 million
Number of births registered in the United States in 2011. Of this number, 329,797 were to teens 15 to 19 and 7,651 to women age 45 to 49.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics <http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr61/nvsr61_05.pdf>
25.4
Average age of women in 2010 when they gave birth for the first time, up from 25.2 years in 2009. The increase in the mean age from 2009 to 2010 reflects, in part, the relatively large decline in births to women under age 25.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Page 6 <http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr61/nvsr61_01.pdf> and <http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr61/nvsr61_01_tables.pdf>
           
29.2%
The percentage of mothers who had given birth in the past 12 months who had a bachelor’s degree or higher and 84 percent of mothers have at least a high school diploma. Source: 2011 American Community Survey, American FactFinder, Table S1301 
Jacob and Sophia
The most popular baby names for boys and girls, respectively, in 2011. Source: Social Security Administration <http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/>
 68
Number of births in the past year per 1,000 women age 15 to 50 with a graduate or professional degree. The number was 57 per 1,000 for women whose highest level of education was a bachelor’s degree.
Source: 2011 American Community Survey, American FactFinder, Table S1301
Stay-at-Home Moms
5 million
Number of stay-at-home moms in 2012 — statistically unchanged from 2009, 2010 and 2011— down from 5.3 million in 2008. In 2012, 24 percent of married-couple family groups with children under 15 had a stay-at-home mother, up from 21 percent in 2000. In 2007, before the recession, stay-at-home mothers were found in 24 percent of married-couple family groups with children under 15, not statistically different from the percentage in 2012.
Source: America's Families and Living Arrangements Table SHP-1 <http://www.census.gov/hhes/families/data/families.html
Compared with other moms, stay-at-home moms in 2007 were more likely:
  •         Younger (44 percent were under age 35, compared with 38 percent of mothers in the labor force).
  •          Hispanic (27 percent, compared with 16 percent of mothers in the labor force).
  •          Foreign-born (34 percent, compared with 19 percent of mothers in the labor force).
  •          Living with a child under age 5 (57 percent, compared with 43 percent of mothers in
   the labor force).
  •          Without a high school diploma (19 percent versus 8 percent of mothers in the labor force).
Source: America’s Families and Living Arrangements: 2007 <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hh-fam/p20-561.pdf>  
Employed Moms  
827,907
Number of child care centers across the country in 2010. These included 75,695 child day care services employing 859,416 workers and another 752,212 self-employed people or other businesses without paid employees. Many mothers turn to these centers to help juggle motherhood and careers.
Source: County Business Patterns: 2010 <http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/> and
Nonemployer Statistics: 2010 <http://www.census.gov/econ/nonemployer/>
62.1%
Percentage of women age 16 to 50 who had a birth in the past 12 months who were in the labor force. Source: 2011 American Community Survey, American FactFinder, Table S1301 
Single Moms 
10.3 million
The number of single mothers living with children younger than 18 in 2012, up from 3.4 million in 1970. Source: America’s Families and Living Arrangements <http://www.census.gov/hhes/families/data/families.html> Table FM-2
5.9 million
Number of custodial mothers who were owed child support in 2009.
Source: Custodial Mothers and Fathers and Their Child Support: 2009, Table 1
36%
Percentage of births in the past 12 months that were to women age 15 to 50 who were unmarried (including divorced, widowed and never married women). Source: 2011 American Community Survey, American Fact Finder, Table B1302 
In 2011, 407,873 mothers who had a birth in the past 12 months were living with a cohabiting partner. Source: 2011 American Community Survey, American Fact Finder, Table B1304
 Mothers Remembered
16,182
Number of florist establishments nationwide in 2010. The 70,575 employees in floral shops across our nation will be especially busy preparing, selling and delivering floral arrangements for Mother’s Day.
Source: County Business Patterns: 2010 <http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/>
 
10,258
Number of employees of the 103 greeting-card publishing establishments in 2010.
Source: County Business Patterns: 2010 <http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/>
14,654
The number of cosmetics, beauty supplies and perfume stores nationwide in 2010. Perfume is a popular gift given on Mother’s Day.
Source: County Business Patterns: 2010 <http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/>
23,739
Number of jewelry stores in the United States in 2010 — the place to purchase necklaces, earrings and other timeless pieces for mom.
Source: County Business Patterns: 2010 <http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/>

Farmers Shoulder Nearly $17 Billion in Losses in 2012




(OVERLAND PARK, Kan.) — Before farmers received a single dime in crop insurance indemnity payments, they shouldered $12.7 billion in losses as part of their deductibles to crop insurance policies, according to a guest editorial published today by Tom Zacharias, president of National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS).

“When combined with the $4.1 billion farmers paid out of their own pockets to purchase crop insurance last year, total farmer investment neared $17 billion,” explains Zacharias in today’s edition of Roll Call/CQ.

Zacharias noted that it was important to get those numbers out because of the ongoing assault on the “the men and women who put food on our tables and clothes on our backs” over their purchasing of crop insurance.   “Critics called crop insurance a farmer bailout and said things like farmers were ‘laughing all the way to the bank’ and were ‘praying for drought, not praying for rain,’” the article notes.   “Farmers even have been compared to cheap drunks at an open bar and told to pay their fair share.”

The article points out that when assessing the value of crop insurance, there are undisputed facts of what transpired after the worst drought our country has seen in decades:

v  Indemnities to farmers cost about $17 billion, but “thanks to crop insurance’s design, these indemnities were not completely borne by taxpayers because farmers and insurers picked up a major portion of the costs and sustained significant economic losses.”

v  “This was the sixth time since 1983 that crop insurers lost money.  Compare that to the property and casualty insurance industry, which has lost money only once as far back as data is available.”

v  “It is also important to note that when crop insurance premiums exceed losses, the government sees underwriting gains that help offset payments in bad years.  In fact, the government experienced nearly $4 billion in gains from 2001-2010.” And just as importantly, “Congress was not asked to fund an ad hoc disaster bill despite the historic devastation endured by our agricultural producers.”

Zacharias welcomed reasoned debate on farm policies, but added that “lawmakers and the American public deserve an intelligent conversation about the future of agriculture that is kept to just the facts.”

To see the guest opinion in its entirety, click here.

80 Million Americans to Have Restaurant Meals This Mother’s Day, According to the National Restaurant Association

(Washington, D.C.) New research from the National Restaurant Association (NRA) shows that more than one-quarter of American adults will celebrate Mother’s Day by dining out, and nearly one in 10 will rely on restaurant takeout or delivery for their special Mother’s Day meal. Overall, the NRA projects that 80 million American adults will enjoy restaurant meals on May 12, 2013. “Restaurants continue to play an important role in holiday celebrations, and Mother’s Day remains the most popular holiday on which to dine out,” said Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the Research and Knowledge Group for the National Restaurant Association. “Restaurant takeout and delivery is also becoming an increasingly popular option for holiday meals, as it also is for many Americans’ every-day meal choices. Eight in 10 consumers say going to restaurants is a better use of leisure time than cooking and cleaning up, and that is especially true on special occasions. ” The NRA’s new research shows that 7 percent of adults plan to order restaurant takeout or delivery for their special Mother’s Day meal this year, with younger consumers and consumers with young children in their household are the most likely to do so. Ten percent of 18-34-year olds and 14 percent of 35-44-year-olds say they will order takeout or delivery on May 12, and so do 11 percent of households with children under 13. Dinner remains the most popular meal for which to dine out on Mother’s Day, with 55 percent of those who plan to dine out on Mother’s Day selecting the evening meal period. Thirty-four percent celebrate mom at lunch, 30 percent at brunch and 12 percent at breakfast. 23 percent plan to have more than one restaurant meal on May 12. The NRA also surveyed moms about which type of restaurant they would most like to visit for their special Mother’s Day meal. Steak, seafood or barbeque was the most popular category at about one-third (34 percent), followed by American cuisine at about one-quarter (24 percent), ethnic cuisine and buffets, both at about one in five (21 and 19 percent, respectively). Among ethnic cuisines, Italian was the most preferred, followed by Mexican and Asian. The National Restaurant Association surveyed 1,000 American adults April 25-28 about their plans for Mother’s Day 2013. The estimate of 80 million Americans dining out or ordering restaurant takeout or delivery this Mother’s Day is based on economic analysis and projections, as well as research conducted by the NRA over the last two decades.

USDA Announces Final Call for 2012 Census of Agriculture

Don't Miss Your Chance to Provide the Facts Straight from the Farm WASHINGTON, May 6, 2013 – With the window to respond to the 2012 Census of Agriculture officially closing on May 31, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is urging farmers and ranchers not to miss this opportunity to be counted and help determine the future of farming in America. USDA has already received more than 2 million completed Census forms. "Our nation needs your help to ensure that decisions about U.S. agriculture accurately represent you, your communities, and your industry," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "For every 158 people in America there is one farm. I urge you to take action today and respond to the Census – your country is counting on the information to help ensure a continued supply of food, fiber and fuel for generations to come." The Census of Agriculture, conducted only once every five years, is the only source of consistent and comprehensive agricultural data for every state and county in the nation. It looks at farms, value of land, market value of agricultural production, farm practices, expenditures, and other factors that affect the way farmers and ranchers do business. The information is used by agribusinesses, town planners, local governments, and policy makers, as well as farmers, ranchers, growers and others to shape farm programs, boost rural services and grow the future of farming. "Agriculture in America is an industry built on tradition, honor and pride," said Vilsack. "We have heard this from the farmers and ranchers who completed their Census of Agriculture form. It's not too late for those who have not yet responded to join the generations of producers who participated in the Agriculture Census since it was first conducted in 1840. Only you can continue to provide the facts straight from the farm." The 2012 Census will provide a complete picture of agriculture that will be used to shape the future of agriculture, rural America, and the lives of those USDA serves for years to come. The deadline to respond to the Census of Agriculture is only a few weeks away on May 31. USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) may contact producers by phone or in person to collect Census information since time is running out. Farmers and ranchers can also return their forms by mail or online by visiting a secure website, www.agcensus.usda.gov. Federal law requires a response from everyone who receives the Census form and requires NASS to keep all individual information confidential. For more information about the Census, including helpful tips on completing your Census form, visit www.agcensus.usda.gov or call 1-888-4AG-STAT (1-888-424-7828). The Census of Agriculture is your voice, your future, your responsibility.