Fresh Produce Discussion Blog

Created by The Packer's National Editor Tom Karst

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Energy Boom Fuels Rapid Population Growth in Parts of Great Plains; Gulf Coast Also Has High Growth Areas, Says Census Bureau



    Oil- and gas-rich areas in and near the Great Plains contained many of the fastest-growing areas in the U.S. last year, according to U.S. Census Bureau population estimates released today. Areas along and near the Gulf Coast were also home to several high-growth communities.
      Of the nation’s 10 fastest-growing metropolitan statistical areas in the year ending July 1, 2013, six were within or near the Great Plains, including Odessa, Texas; Midland, Texas; Fargo, N.D.-Minn.; Bismarck, N.D.; Casper, Wyo.; and Austin-Round Rock, Texas.
      Micropolitan statistical areas, which contain an urban cluster of between 10,000 and 49,999 people, followed a similar pattern, with seven located in or adjacent to the Great Plains among the fastest-growing between 2012 and 2013. Williston, N.D., ranked first in growth (10.7 percent), followed by Dickinson, N.D. Andrews, Texas; Minot, N.D.; and two areas in western Oklahoma (Weatherford and Woodward) also made the top 10, as did Hobbs, N.M.
      “The data released in today’s population estimates report provide an important look at the fastest-growing counties and metro areas,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. “Coupled with yesterday’s Economic Census report results, the Census Bureau’s population report provides a bigger picture of why certain areas may be growing or shrinking, which is critical for business and government decision-making. The Commerce Department’s ‘Open for Business Agenda’ supports making our data easier to access and understand, so that it can continue enabling startups, moving markets, protecting life and property, and powering both small and large businesses across the country.”
      “As the first results from the 2012 Economic Census revealed yesterday, mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction industries were the most rapidly growing part of our nation’s economy over the last several years,” Census Bureau Director John H. Thompson said. “A major reason was the energy boom on the Plains, which attracted job seekers from around the country. Combining data about America’s people, places and economy gives businesses and government the information they need for good investment and policy decisions.”
      The nation’s fastest-growing metro area between 2012 and 2013 was The Villages, Fla. Its population rose by 5.2 percent over the period. The Gulf Coast metro areas of Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, Ala., and Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Fla., also made the top 10 list.
      U.S. metro areas with populations of 1 million or more in 2012 grew 1.0 percent, compared with 0.5 percent for those with populations of less than 250,000. The 1,335 counties not inside either a metro area or micro area had a collective population decline of 35,674 between 2012 and 2013, with more than six in 10 of these counties losing population. Overall, 51 percent of counties in the United States gained population between 2012 and 2013. In 68 percent of counties, births outnumbered deaths. Net migration (including both domestic and international migration) had a positive or neutral impact on population growth in 45 percent of counties.
      Many counties in or near the Great Plains appear in the lists of fastest-growing counties. Williams, N.D.; Stark, N.D.; and Kendall, Texas, were all among the five fastest-growing counties with populations of 10,000 or more (Williams ranked first nationally). Meade, S.D., and Hays, Texas, also in the Great Plains, made the top 10 list as well. North Dakota counties appear many times in the top-five lists when looking at the fastest-growing counties within different total population size categories (such as those with fewer than 5,000 people, those with 5,000 to 9,999 people, those with 10,000 to 19,999 people, and so forth).
      Among the 10 fastest-growing counties in the vicinity of the Gulf Coast were Sumter, Fla.; St. Bernard Parish, La.; and Fort Bend, Texas. See a series of Rankings.
     Other highlights:
Metro areas
Houston had the largest numeric increase between 2012 and 2013, gaining about 138,000 people.
The nation’s metro areas contained 269.9 million people in 2013, up about 2.3 million from 2012.
Most metro areas (289 of 381) gained population between 2012 and 2013, with 92 losing population.
Metro areas grew faster than the U.S. as a whole between 2012 and 2013 (0.9 percent compared with 0.7 percent).
Of the 50 fastest-growing metro areas, net migration was the largest contributor to population growth in all but five. The exceptions (in which natural increase was the largest contributor) were Ogden-Clearfield, Utah; Provo-Orem, Utah; Dallas-Fort Worth; Washington, D.C.; and Salt Lake City.
New York continued to be the most populous metro area, with 19.9 million residents on July 1, 2013, followed by Los Angeles and Chicago.
Sierra Vista-Douglas, Ariz., had the largest rate of decline from 2012 to 2013 (-1.7 percent); Youngstown, Ohio, had the most sizable numeric loss (just under 3,000).
Micro Areas
•         Dunn, N.C., had the largest numeric increase among all micro areas, growing by 2,855 people between 2012 and 2013. The other two micro areas gaining 2,500 or more people over the period were in North Dakota (Williston and Minot).
•         The nation’s micropolitan statistical areas contained 27.2 million people in 2013, up about 8,000 from 2012.
•         All of the 10 fastest-growing micro areas between 2012 and 2013 were west of the Mississippi River.
•         More than half of all U.S. micro areas (306 of 536) lost population between 2012 and 2013.
•         Of the 10 fastest-growing micro areas, Vernal, Utah, was the only one in which natural increase was the largest contributor to population growth. Net domestic migration was the largest contributor in the other nine.
•         Collectively, micro areas of 50,000 or more people in 2012 had a population gain between 2012 and 2013, while those with fewer than 50,000 in 2012 lost population over the period.
Counties
•         Overall, with the exception of Williams, N.D., the growth rates among the fastest-growing counties have slowed somewhat during the last year.
•         The fastest-growing county with 250,000 or more people in 2012 was Fort Bend, Texas, whose population increased by 4.2 percent between 2012 and 2013. Loudoun, Va., and Osceola, Fla., followed.
•         Harris, Texas (Houston) again had the largest numeric population increase between July 1, 2012, and July 1, 2013, adding almost 83,000 people. Following Harris were Maricopa, Ariz. (Phoenix), which added 69,000; Los Angeles, Calif. (65,000); King, Wash. (Seattle), which added 37,000; and San Diego, Calif. (35,000).
•         Los Angeles was the nation’s most populous county on July 1, 2013, with its population surpassing 10 million. It was followed by Cook, Ill. (Chicago); Harris, Texas (Houston); Maricopa, Ariz. (Phoenix); and San Diego, Calif.
•         The fastest-losing county (among those with 10,000 or more people) was Lassen, Calif., whose population declined by 4.4 percent.
•         Los Angeles County, Calif., had the largest number of net international migrants between 2012 and 2013, at 39,000. It was followed by Miami-Dade County, Fla., with a net of 32,000 international migrants, and Queens County, N.Y., with a net of 24,000 international migrants.
•         Eight of the top 10 counties where deaths exceeded births were in Florida.
Puerto Rico
•         Nine municipios (which are similar to counties) experienced population growth between July 1, 2012, and July 1, 2013. Gurabo, whose population rose by 1.1 percent over the period, led the way, followed by Culebra and Toa Alta (0.4 percent each), Naguabo (0.3 percent) and Juncos (0.2 percent).
•         Gurabo also experienced the largest numeric population increase among all municipios, gaining more than 500 people.
•         Each of Puerto Rico’s seven metro areas and five micro areas declined in population between 2012 and 2013. San Juan was Puerto Rico’s most populous metro area in 2013.
      In the coming months, the Census Bureau will release 2013 estimates of the total population of cities and towns, as well as national, state and county population estimates by age, sex, race and Hispanic origin.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Neugebauer Criticizes EPA Power Grab


Draft Clean Water Act Rule Dramatically Extends EPA Control

WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Randy Neugebauer (R-TX) released the following statement today criticizing a draft rule from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that would dramatically expand the agency’s jurisdiction.  The rule redefines what constitutes “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act (CWA).

“This is a power-grab, plain and simple,” Neugebauer said.  “The EPA’s role is to ensure the federal government and states are working together efficiently to reduce pollution in our nation’s waterways.  This rule goes far beyond that.  EPA is giving itself permission to regulate anything from runoff ditches to stock ponds.”  

Neugebauer pointed out that this is yet another instance where the EPA has failed to incorporate adequate peer-reviewed science when drafting regulations.   “This is part of a larger pattern at EPA where the agency ignores or obscures data in order to push its regulatory agenda.”

The new rule could place severe limits on farming, ranching, and construction across the country.

“How exactly does it benefit us to have the EPA regulating runoff ditches and livestock tanks?” Neugebauer asked. “And what will it cost Texas ranchers if they have to apply for a federal permit to graze their cattle near a muddy pond?  Americans need jobs and a healthy economy.  The Administration should be focusing on that—not on centralizing more power in Washington.”

Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on National Agriculture Day



WASHINGTON, March 25, 2014—Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today released the following statement:

“Today and every day, we celebrate the extraordinary diversity and productivity of American agriculture. Farms and ranches of all forms and all sizes contribute to the safe, healthy, affordable food supply we enjoy in the United States.

Fittingly, Dr. Norman Borlaug is honored today with a statue at the U.S. Capitol, joining an array of American heroes commemorated in the National Statuary Hall. Dr. Borlaug’s statue reflects not only the magnitude of his own achievements, but the power of science to change lives in a positive way.

Dr. Borlaug’s legacy influences our work at USDA to equip the next generation of researchers and agricultural leaders with the sophisticated tools they’ll need to address the challenges of a changing climate and a growing global population.

On this National Agriculture Day, we thank the farmers, ranchers, and others at the heart of American agriculture, an industry that provides for our food and fiber needs, supports one in twelve jobs, and drives our nation’s economy.”

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Stabenow, Cochran Commemorate 100th Anniversary of Cooperative Extension System, Expansion of Agricultural Research


New Resolution Recognizes Significance of the Smith-Lever Act for Connecting the Public with Land-Grant College Research

Washington, DC – Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee, today announced the introduction of a resolution commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Smith-Lever Act, which established the Cooperative Extension System, helping to connect the public to research occurring in the land-grant university system. The resolution recognizes the importance of the legislation in extending the concept of land-grant universities and agricultural research into communities across the country, and encourages people to support an innovative and sustainable future for cooperative extension.

“Cooperative extension has played an important role in American agriculture, bringing research-based knowledge to farmers and ranchers across the country, helping to make America the most productive and efficient agricultural producer in the world,” Chairwoman Stabenow said. “Thanks to our nation’s land-grant university system and cooperative extension, American agriculture has set the global gold standard for production and helps to feed the world. As Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee and alum of the nation’s first land-grant college, Michigan State University, I will continue to encourage more collaboration between federal, state and local governments to maximize the benefits of the extension system.”

“Farmers, ranchers and rural families benefit from the latest in technology and innovation through the Cooperative Extension System.  The celebration of its 100th birthday should include a serious commitment to funding its research and educational activities,” Sen. Cochran said.

The Smith-Lever Act, the founding legislation of the Cooperative Extension System, was signed into law in 1914 and helped to create a nationwide educational network bringing together federal, state and local governments with land-grant universities to provide research-based information to people in communities across the United States. Cooperative extension offices are now present in every U.S. state and provide important and practical information to agricultural producers, small business owners, youth, consumers, and others in rural areas and communities of all sizes.

Research is critical to the long-term growth and productivity of American agriculture and was a key priority in the 2014 Farm Bill, which was signed into law by the president on Feb. 7. Under the leadership of Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Cochran, the Farm Bill establishes the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research – a non-profit foundation which will raise private funds to be directed toward agricultural research. The foundation will fund opportunities for enhanced collaboration between agricultural researchers from the federal government, institutions of higher education, land-grant universities and non-profit organizations. The Foundation reinforces a national commitment to funding important research and facilitating further collaboration among diverse entities, much like the Smith-Lever Act did in 1914.

The text of the resolution introduced by Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Cochran can be found here. For more information on the 2014 Farm Bill, please visit http://ag.senate.gov.

Monday, March 3, 2014

"Facts up Front" Is Marketing, Not Nutrition Labeling



Statement of CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson

In 2011 the Institute of Medicine recommended that the Food and Drug Administration design a mandatory, front-of-package labeling system that would instantly communicate a food's overall healthfulness. Whether such a system used red, yellow, and green dots, a numerical score, or a letter grade, such labeling would clearly distinguish truly healthful foods from less healthful ones. CSPI petitioned the FDA to design and implement a front-of-package labeling system back in 2006.
To be clear, the industry's voluntary "Facts Up Front" is not such a system. It is aimed more at preempting an FDA-designed system than at providing easy-to-understand "nutrition in a nutshell" information for consumers. Its voluntary nature means you may not see it on junk foods. And even if you did, it wouldn't successfully highlight the food's unhealthfulness. Facts Up Front is a joke that should be roundly ignored by the FDA and the Administration. We need an FDA-designed front-of-package system that is mandatory, easily understood by even less-educated consumers, and science-based.