03/04/2013

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‘Farm Labor’

Coalition labor proposal fits farmers, ranchers and ag workers | 4 March 4, 2013 Vol. 92

‘Marriott,Tyson’ Shared animal care priorities, different approaches | 3

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New bill repealing HIT good for growers ‘Golden Plow’ Rep. Lucas earns award | 6

‘Food CheckOut Week’ Healthy, nutritious food on a budget | 8

Legislation introduced in the House last month is a major step for farmers, ranchers and small businesses that would otherwise be negatively impacted by health care reform, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

The Jobs and Premium Protection Act of 2013, introduced by Reps.

Charles Boustany (R-La.) and Jim Matheson (D-Utah), would repeal the Health Insurance Tax (HIT).

The bill addresses one of the major concerns that growers have related to health insurance cost. The new HIT will drive up health insur-

ance costs for farmers, ranchers and other small businesses by imposing a levy on the net premiums of health insurance companies.

“The cost of health insurance is a major concern for farmers and ranchers,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “Health insurance costs already have gone up more than 100 percent since 2000 and the HIT will impose even more devastating costs on America’s farmers, ranchers and small businesses.”

A recent Congressional Budget Office report confirms that the HIT “would be largely passed

through to consumers in the form of higher premiums for private coverage.” Health insurance costs for small businesses are already rapidly trending higher, increasing 100 percent since 2000. The new tax would raise insurance costs even more, making it harder for farmers and ranchers to purchase coverage for themselves, their families and their employees.

“Most farmers and ranchers do not have large enough pools of employees to be self-insured,” conHIT Continued on Page 6

Government feels sequestration squeeze

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n e w s p a p e r

THE LOOMING MARCH 27 EXPIRATION of the continuing budget resolution may soon overshadow sequestration. If Congress does not pass a budget for the current fiscal year or approve another continuing resolution, the federal government will shut down.

With sequestration in effect as of March 1, officials throughout the federal government are tasked with figuring out how to reduce their fiscal 2013 budgets by 5 percent. Determining where those reductions will come from and then implementing them will take time, and federal departments and agencies will move at different speeds.

Spending cuts under sequestration are the consequence of the failed Joint Select Committee for Deficit Reduction, which Congress established in 2011 to develop a plan to cut at least $1.2 tril-

lion over 10 years. Automatic reductions of $85 billion for fiscal 2013 were slated to start at the beginning of the year, but legislation approved on Dec. 31, 2012, put the cuts off to March 1.

As the Budget Control Act of 2011 stipulates, 18 percent of the total cuts of $1.2 trillion comes from interest savings, leaving real program cuts of $984 billion to be split evenly between defense and non-defense spending. Some programs considered to help those in need, like Social Security, Medicare and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), are

exempt from the sequestered cuts.

While the percentage of cuts for each federal department may be mandatory, exactly how they are applied within certain budget areas is up to administration officials.

“The sequestration is likely to affect both employees and programs or services, and most federal officials are hard-pressed to predict how this will play out,” said Dale Moore, American Farm Bureau Federation executive director of public policy. “They are asking Squeeze Continued on Page 6

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March 4, 2013

The

Bob Stallman

President, American Farm Bureau Federation

Planting the seeds for ag’s future

S

pring is in the air. When I think of springtime, my mind immediately conjures up such words as “renewal,” “optimism,” “new day”…. Coincidentally, these same words come to mind when I think about the younger generation of farming.

Whenever critics have expressed their doubts about the future of agriculture, I’ve paid them no attention. Traveling around the countryside I’ve seen our current crop of young farmers and ranchers who are excited, energized and optimistic about their industry. I can tell you personally that agriculture’s future is in good hands.

So, when it comes to farming, spring is definitely in the air.

Nature’s first green Just last month, Farm Bureau held its annual Young Farmers & Ranchers meeting, where more than 750 young agriculturalists from

across the nation gathered. These young farmers are taking proactive leadership roles within their farms, communities and the overall farming industry. They definitely have their fingers on the pulse of agriculture.

No longer are all young farmers just carrying on the family business. I am meeting more and more first-generation farmers who have transitioned into agriculture because they see a real future in it.

For example, on the flight back from the YF&R conference, I had the chance to meet such a firstgeneration farmer who produces hay. He gave up his non-agriculture career for farming, not only because it offers him the type of lifestyle in which he wants to raise his kids, but because of the many business opportunities it holds.

Bloom where you are planted And those farmers and ranchers who are carrying on their family’s farm are becoming

more creative in their business approach, using social media to market their goods and finding niches where they can stand out. They are designing business plans based on consumer demand and adapting to the ever-changing world around them.

Former Health and Education Secretary John Gardner once said, “All too often we are giving young people cut flowers when we should be teaching them to grow their own plants.” At Farm Bureau we strive toward this goal both literally and figuratively.

Through Farm Bureau’s YF&R and Partners in Agricultural Leadership programs, young farmers are learning valuable lessons of leadership, consumer engagement, grassroots advocacy and savvy business techniques.

Whether they are first-generation or fifth-generation farmers, we are preparing them for a demanding, yet exciting future in agriculture—a future that holds much promise. We are planting the seeds, now let’s watch them grow.

Beef checkoff chef demonstration sizzles at Annual Meeting

By Melissa Slagle If you missed the smell of New York Strip steak, avocado, peppers, spices and red wine wafting through the trade show during the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Meeting in Nashville in January, you may have had a stuffed up nose. It was sure worth salivating over.

The sole basis of the demonstration stemmed from the fact that for years, chefs have leaned on sodium and fat to perk up flavor for the meals they were preparing. Add a little salt, add a little butter and it tastes better, right? Wrong. Consumers are demanding healthier recipes and the checkoff needs to help meet this demand.

To exemplify the kinds of outreach the beef industry is doing around the country, Dave Zino, executive chef for the beef checkoff, presented “The Flavor Bridge,” an interactive presentation combining PowerPoint and a cooking demonstration, to Farm Bureau members. The PowerPoint quickly reviewed the principles of umami

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(the fifth taste) and then focused on methods of incorporating flavor into recipes without adding fat or sodium.

Umami can best be described as meaty and savory or delicious. Examples of umami-rich foods are beef, tomato products, soy sauce, red wine, tomatoes and Worchestershire sauce. Think about a steak with blue cheese butter, or red wine mushroom sauce, a teriyaki grilled steak or sesame-soy stir-fry.

Those are all examples of umami in action.

Part of umami’s great flavor power comes from synergism, which can be described as the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. When individual umami compounds are combined, they have a magnifying effect on each other. This explains the delicious pairings of mushrooms and steaks, and red wine or tomato sauces with beef. A 50-50 mixture of two umami compounds can produce eight times as much flavor as either one of the compounds alone.

In addition to the strip steak, Chef Zino demonstrated boneless

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March 4, 2013 Vol. 92

short ribs, which are very flavorful when braised. He noted that smell has a lot to do with how we perceive whether food is good or not. Some awesome aromatics include onions, shallots, leeks, celery, carrots, garlic and mushrooms; and concentrating flavor by drying foods can boost umami (sun dried tomatoes, dried figs or dates).

And did you know, doneness has a greater impact on final palatability than USDA Quality Grade.

So how did we like our steaks cooked in 2002? According to checkoff research, 54 percent of consumers liked their steaks medium well to well-done. In 2005, that number went down to 45 percent and in 2012, down to 41 percent.

Chef Zino says: Don’t overcook your steak!

And to meet this changing consumer demand to provide greattasting beef meals without just adding a dollup of butter or a pinch of salt, the checkoff continues to work with chefs through Beef University, a comprehensive resource that educates chefs about the history of the beef industry, modern production, cooking methods and product information. The checkoff also focuses on

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driving consumers to BeefIts WhatsForDinner.com, where they can find great recipes, tips on shopping for beef, cooking with beef, information about beef’s nutritional benefits and instructional videos.

Chef Zino continues to take this “traveling” demonstration on the road to tell chefs, food writers and others about how to produce beef menu items to keep their customers coming back time and time again.

For more information about beef checkoff activities, visit MyBeefCheckoff.com.

Melissa Slagle is the trade media manager for the Beef Checkoff Program.

The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 farm bill.

The checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents per head to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to USDA approval.

Farm Bureau TV: www.youtube.com/farmbureautv

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/farmbureau

“Like” us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AmericanFarmBureau

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Shared animal care priorities, different paths Demanding more information about what’s on their plates, Marriott customers and consumers everywhere want food with a story, Brad Nelson, corporate chef and vice president of culinary for Marriott International, recently told Farm Bureau members.

“The farmer is the new celebrity,” Nelson said. “It’s really more about the product than the execution.”

The hotel company, which recently announced it will shift pork purchases to suppliers who do not house sows in gestation stalls and egg purchases to suppliers who operate cage-free production systems, operates or franchises more than 3,700 lodging properties in 74 countries. Among Marriott’s 18 brands are the Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, Gaylord Hotels, Courtyard, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Residence Inn and SpringHill Suites.

For Nelson and Marriott, this approach is part of that narrative consumers want to hear.

“Without a compelling story, it’s very difficult for us to gain consumers’ trust and gain that engagement,” Nelson explained.

Far from a radical transformation or knee-jerk reaction, Nelson said Marriott’s recent move toward gestation-free pork suppliers and cage-free egg suppliers is an extension of the company’s other food-related policies, like the global trans-fat ban it put in place in 2007 and the FutureFish sustainable seafood programs it implemented in 2010.

Nelson, who recently announced the change on his blog, www.chef blog.marriott.com, emphasized that “change comes as an evolution of our working closely with our major suppliers for several years, many of which have been working toward a similar transition.”

Marriott does not have an affiliation with an animal rights organization, but reports that some, like the Humane Society of the United States, have expressed their support of this action.

Nelson noted that while Marriott’s menus will reference cagefree eggs, you won’t ever see ham or other pork products they’re offering described as “gestationstall free.”

“A caged-free egg and a caged

egg taste exactly the same. There is absolutely no difference in the flavor between the two,” Nelson said. “But when you list ‘cage-free eggs,’ there’s a premium associated with that. There’s an engagement factor that registers with guests when they see those words.”

Also speaking at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Commodity Advisory Committees Conference, Chuck Penry, vice president of federal governmental relations for Tyson Foods, described his company’s FarmCheck program, which is Tyson’s way of verifying that farm animals are well taken care of.

Initially, some of Tyson’s producers were skeptical about the audit program, under which audi-

tors visit farms to check for animals’ access to food and water, proper human-animal interaction and worker training, among other things.

“We’ve reassured producers that the program is designed to teach, prevent and correct, not to eliminate suppliers,” Penry said.

The audit system, based on input from experienced veterinarians and animal welfare experts and current voluntary farm industry programs, was developed and launched last year for pork suppliers.

This year, Tyson is working on an auditing program for beef and poultry suppliers, which is expected to get under way in 2014.

This effort echoes research done

by Tyson that showed that growers, even more than Tyson’s customers or consumers, care about how animals are raised, their access to food and water, and how they are treated.

“For us, it’s about doing the right thing,” Penry said.

The audit program is designed to convey to consumers how important animal care is to the people who raise pigs, chickens and cattle for food.

Also a part of this effort is the creation of an animal care advisory committee that will involve external experts in farm animal behavior, health, production and ethics.

The Commodity Advisory Committees Conference was held Feb. 17-23, in Washington, D.C.

U.S. producers to benefit from new Japan beef trade rules The United States and Japan for the new agreement by reportofficially sealed an agreement ing that the risk from importing earlier this year allowing exports beef from cattle aged 30 months of U.S. beef from cattle less than or younger from the United 30 months of age to enter that States, Canada, France and the Asian market starting Feb. 1. The Netherlands would be negligible agreement was a long time in the to human health. The Japanese making and its government has positive influsince held a ence on U.S. beef series of public “This is great news for markets could consultations mean more than American cattle producers and bilateral an immediate talks on how increase in trade and it should have positive the new safety volume with Jarequirements ripple effects for other U.S. pan, according would be met to the American food and agricultural sectors.” in the supplying Farm Bureau countries.

• AFBF President Bob Stallman Federation.

“This is a big The true bonus win, and it’s the could be the fact result of seventhat an influx of U.S. beef could plus years of resolute work by both lower consumer prices in Japan, the Bush and Obama administraand, as a result, lead to higher tions,” said AFBF President Bob consumption levels in that naStallman. “This is great news for tion, according to AFBF econoAmerican cattle producers and it mist Veronica Nigh. should have positive ripple effects The initial rules, imposed by Jafor other U.S. food and agriculturpan in 2005, permitted U.S. beef al sectors.” imports only from cattle up to 20 According to Stallman, Japan’s months old, after a total ban in action highlights the importance 2003 that followed an outbreak of sticking to sound, validated of bovine spongiform encephascience; using multi-pronged eflopathy (BSE). forts that included U.S. and Can“Japan’s imports of U.S. beef ada pushing for common-sense plunged by 60 percent to some BSE guidelines; Congress sup120,000 metric tons from 2001 to porting funding for the overall 2011,” Nigh said. “Australian beef BSE effort; and multi-agency producers were the main beneficicooperation. aries in an import market worth “We saw a sustained grassroots more than $2 billion.” push to make sure officials knew But, now that could all change. how important this milestone is,” Late last year, Japan’s food safety Stallman said. “It truly sets the organization helped pave the way stage and establishes a process for

other efforts on breaking down non-tariff barriers.”

According to Nigh, the United States produces large amounts of specific meat cuts and offal that bring higher returns in Japan than in domestic markets. She said Japanese beef prices rose significantly following the 2003 trade restrictions, which severely limited supplies of those cuts.

But now, an increased presence of U.S. beef in Japan could bring higher returns for U.S. producers and lower prices for Japanese consumers.

Nigh pointed out a 2010 study

by USDA’s Economic Research Service, which estimated that every decrease of 1 percent in beef prices

in Japan actually leads to increases in consumption greater than 1 percent.

“The positive effects for U.S. beef producers go beyond the actual export volume,” Nigh explained.

“This gives U.S. beef an opportunity to lead a resurgence in beef consumption. Analysis by USDA indicates Japanese consumers are very price sensitive when it comes to beef purchases, and the increased presence of U.S. beef in the Japanese market will lower their retail beef prices and lead to increased beef consumption, and therefore demand. This would be good news for U.S. producers, as much of this increased demand would likely be captured by U.S. beef.”

Farm Lab

Coalition labor proposal fits farmers, ranchers and ag workers The American Farm Bureau Federation, as a member of the Agriculture Workforce Coalition, is asking Congress to draft legislation that ensures America’s farms, ranches and other agricultural operations have access to a stable and skilled workforce, according to AFBF President Bob Stallman.

The coalition has drafted a framework proposal that includes both an earned adjustment in status for current experienced farm workers and a program to ensure that farmers, ranchers and growers continue to have access to a workforce as current agricultural employees move on to other jobs, according to Kristi Boswell, AFBF labor specialist.

“The framework recognizes the unworkable nature of existing agricultural labor programs and previous proposals, such as AgJOBS,” Boswell said. “A key to the coalition’s proposed framework will be ensuring that the needs of all of agriculture— both those employers with seasonal labor needs and those who provide year-round employment opportunities—are met.”

The group envisions a new program under which agricultural employers—including packers and others related to agriculture—would register with USDA. Employers would be allowed, but not required, to offer employees a contract, which the employees would be free to accept or decline.

A worker who declines a contract would

be an “at-will” employee with a visa that is fully portable among employers registered with USDA. This at-will employee visa would provide work authorization for up to 11 months, while a contracted worker’s visa would go up to 12 months.

“The at-will option gives flexibility to farmers who may need workers for only one week’s worth of harvesting, while giving workers the opportunity to work at other seasonal jobs for up to 11 months,” Boswell said.

At-will workers would have to spend at least 30 cumulative days in their home country each year, while contract employees would be required to spend 30 cumulative days at home every three years.

For their part, employers would see their recruitment obligations reduced and they would not have to provide housing or transportation.

Employers would pay at the least the higher of the federal or state minimum wage.

The coalition framework proposal will help American agriculture achieve a market-based, flexible agricultural worker program that makes sense for everyone.

“It’s important for workers, farmers and especially consumers that we have a legal, stable workforce in place,” Stallman said. “It’s time to move the discussion forward and find a solution.”

American agriculture as we know it would not be possible without the contributions of more

than 1.5 million hired workers each year, Stallman pointed out. Beyond the farm gate, each of these workers supports two to three full-time jobs in the food processing, transportation, farm equipment, marketing, retail and other sectors.

Among the most important features of the proposal is an allowance for migrant workers who have been working in U.S. agriculture for a defined period, as well as those who are in management and other key positions at a farm, to stay in the U.S. and continue to work in the agriculture sector. These work authorizations, called “Ag Cards” in the proposal, would be valid for five years at a time and they would be renewable.

Stallman said farmers and ranchers are optimistic about the early work Congress is doing on the issue, especially in the Senate, where a bipartisan group of eight senators in late January released a series of immigration reform principles, which recognized that agricultural labor provisions must be part of any substantive effort to reform immigration policy.

“Immigrant laborers play a vital role in tending our crops and livestock, and we are encouraged by the bipartisan reform efforts,” Stallman said. “American agriculture needs a legal and stable workforce and farmers from across our nation are ready to support a solution that reaches that conclusion.”

California farmers report widespread employee shortages in survey Nearly two-thirds of farmers who responded to a survey by the California Farm Bureau Federation said they experienced challenges finding enough employees to help tend and harvest crops in 2012. The online survey included responses from nearly 800 California Farm Bureau members about their experience during the harvest season.

“Throughout the year and throughout the state, we heard personal accounts from farmers who struggled to find enough people to work on their farms. We wanted to find out more about the extent of the problem,” said Paul Wenger, California Farm Bureau president. “Employee shortages were widespread among farmers who responded to the survey, and they reacted by taking a number of

steps to cope with the problem.”

The voluntary survey brought responses from farm employers across the state who grow a variety of crops, including both laborintensive crops and those that do not require significant employee inputs. Questions included whether or not farmers had seen a shortage of on-farm employees and if so, what sorts of actions they had taken as a result.

Survey highlights included: • Sixty-one percent of total respondents said they experienced worker shortages of varying degrees.

• Among responding farmers who grow labor-intensive crops— tree fruits, vegetables, table grapes, raisins and berries—71 percent reported employee shortages.

• To deal with workforce short-

ages, farmers offered higher wages, delayed pruning and harvesting, used mechanization if possible, or did not harvest some of their crop.

• Although widespread crop losses did not occur in 2012, 19 percent of farmers responding to the survey reported planting fewer acres, not harvesting a portion of their crop or giving up leased land because of a lack of available harvest help.

“Through this survey, California farmers have given us a glimpse into what may happen if current trends continue,” Wenger said.

“Without the creation of a secure, effective program that allows people from foreign countries to work legally in the United States to harvest crops, we could see continuing or worsening problems, especially for small- or mid-sized farms.”

The California Farm Bureau report based on the survey notes that farmers have been forthright about the fact that they rely on a largely immigrant workforce, and that efforts to hire U.S.-born employees on farms have been mostly unsuccessful, even during the deepest part of the recent recession. Wenger said agricultural organizations have been among the leading proponents for reform of immigration law that would allow foreign residents with secure identification to continue to work in agriculture or to enter the U.S. legally for that purpose.

The report, titled “Walking the Tightrope: California Farmers Struggle with Employee Shortages,” is available on the CFBF website at www.cfbf.com.

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Farm Bureau urges new ag labor guestworker program A new, modern guestworker program for agricultural workers is needed so that U.S. farmers and ranchers can continue growing food, tending livestock and contributing to the nation’s economy, American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman told Congress last week.

“We want to keep these jobs in America for U.S. workers, not out-

source them,” Stallman testified to the House’s Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security. Farm Bureau urged lawmakers to implement a new, market-based labor program administered by USDA. The new program would serve as a substitute for and eventually replace the H-2A program now in place, Stallman explained. It would

also provide farmers with access to a legal and stable workforce over the long term. In addition, the new program would provide employers with greater certainty that they will have access to the workforce they need, when they need it and at a competitive cost.

“Ultimately, agriculture’s goal is to develop a program that treats workers fairly, while being efficient and economical for employers to use,” Stallman said, noting that workers would be able to work for multiple employers under a structure that enforces worker rights and protects them from exploitation.

That all types of agricultural jobs are included in this worker program is critical.

“Importantly, it would broaden the program to all of agriculture, including year-round jobs,” Stallman said. “There is currently no program, even H-2A, that provides this opportunity to workers or employers.”

Stallman also addressed agriculture’s short-term labor needs in his testimony.

“In order to provide short-term stability and an orderly, effective transition to a new guestworker program, it is imperative that any legislation approved by Congress include provisions permitting current agricultural workers who

Farmers and ranchers have long needed an agricultural guestworker program that is flexible, adaptable, efficient and economic for producers of all types across the country, American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman recently told members of a House Judiciary subcommittee.

might not otherwise qualify to obtain work authorization,” Stallman said.

“Any new program will take time to be implemented fully,” Stallman said. “Granting existing experienced agricultural workers work authorization is a crucial part of making sure that there is not economic dislocation in the agricultural sector while we transition to a new program.”

AFBF economists estimate that the agricultural economy and the broader U.S. economy are facing $9 billion or more in lost productivity each year if the agriculture labor force issue is not addressed.

In closing, Stallman reiterated the cooperative efforts of a broad coalition—the Agriculture Workforce Coalition—that is working in a unified manner “to construct a model agricultural labor program that will work” for all sectors of agriculture.

He explained that the group considered the needs of fruit and vegetable growers from California and Florida, livestock producers and custom harvesters in the Midwest, dairy farmers in upstate New York, and farmers and ranchers everywhere in between.

“The unity of this group speaks volumes for the importance of this issue for the industry,” he said.

By Kevin Rogers Farmers and ranchers need a reliable workforce to produce food for America. And they accept that most of the workers they need come from other nations. It has been a long time coming, but U.S. lawmakers are increasingly recognizing this as well. It is important that this understanding extend to the fact that agriculture cannot access a sustainable labor supply without reform of the current visa system for non-native workers.

Because the political dynamics have changed, it seems likely that immigration reform can be debated in the future in an atmosphere of lowered emotional rhetoric. This should allow for more thoughtful consideration of the positive economic benefits of ag labor reform, which are considerable. Chief among them is that rural areas thrive with a reliable workforce for agriculture.

Securing a labor supply to sustain agricultural production into the future, hand-in-hand with border security and interior enforcement, has been a key focus for Farm Bureau.

One reason I am optimistic about the recent change in tone

is that a lot of rhetoric over the past few years focused on certain classes of people, which was just not right. That too, is changing. A few years ago when Arizona was proposing harsh anti-immigrant legislation, I often reminded neighbors, “These are our employees we are talking about.”

Following passage of some of these measures in Arizona, we saw an exodus of people, mostly families. Perhaps the employee was legally in this country, but he or she was protecting other family members. Most of these employees were long tenured and much-valued.

They disappeared to face an uncertain future. Leaving did not solve any problems; it just displaced them to the detriment of their family, the employer and the community.

One Farm Bureau member had a long-time manager approach him with the news that he had been living under a false name for years. He was a responsible and key employee, much-involved in the local community. He and his family simply disappeared.

Unfortunately, these are neither isolated nor unique circumstances.

To stabilize and sustain agriculture’s workforce, we must find

photo courtesy of arizona farm bureau

A spark of optimism for ag labor reform

Changing political dynamics are setting the stage for an immigration debate with less emotional rhetoric and more thoughtful consideration of the positive benefits of ag labor reform, says Kevin Rogers, Arizona Farm Bureau president. labor solutions for those that are already here in the U.S. and those who need to come here to work.

Farm Bureau continues to work to advance realistic labor and immigration reforms supported by united agricultural groups and interests. Put simply, we need reform that works for all of agriculture. And we need it now!

As negotiations proceed with Congress and interest groups, my

hope is that our goals will be compatible, allowing for a resolution that works for our industry without reverting to a non-productive tone.

Kevin Rogers, a fourth-generation family farmer from the Phoenix area, is president of Arizona Farm Bureau. He farms with his dad, brother and wife.

Kevin’s family grows cotton, alfalfa, wheat and corn silage.

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Rep. Lucas earns Farm Bureau ‘Golden Plow’ award American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman presented Rep. Frank Lucas (ROkla.), chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, with AFBF’s “Golden Plow” award on Feb. 18 during Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s Annual Leadership Conference in Oklahoma City.

The Golden Plow is the highest recognition the organization grants members of Congress.

The Oklahoma Farm Bureau nominated Lucas for the award because of his critical work on the farm bill in 2012 and legislation to keep agricultural exports growing, as well as helping to ensure reviews of regulations affecting agriculture.

“Chairman Lucas understands agriculture because it is a part of his life,” said Stallman. “He shares a deep understanding of and a true passion for agriculture. From his efforts to pass a farm bill, to his ardent support of conservation programs, there is never a doubt about Chairman Lucas’ commitment to

America’s farm and ranch families.

We look forward to working with him during the 113th Congress.”

Lucas was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1994 and is currently serving his 11th term. Lucas represents Oklahoma’s 3rd Congressional District and is a fifth-generation Oklahoman whose family has lived and farmed in the state for more than 100 years.

“I am honored and pleased to accept this award,” Lucas said.

“Throughout my service in Congress, I have worked hard to be a strong voice for American agriculture because I know how important it is to our state and nation.

I have experienced firsthand the devastating effects of drought and appreciate the many challenges farmers endure to make certain we have a stable food and fiber supply. I will continue to work to maintain our investment in rural America and ensure that poor farm policy is not one of the challenges farmers face.”

AFBF’s Golden Plow award rec-

American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman presents the organization’s “Golden Plow” award to Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), whose critical work on the farm bill in 2012, among other things, earned him the honor. ognizes members of Congress for distinguished agricultural leadership and support of Farm Bureau policies. Recipients are chosen based on having a philosophy or record that demonstrates a com-

mitment to: the private enterprise system; sound agricultural policies supported by Farm Bureau; fiscal conservatism; and reduced federal regulations on businesses and individuals.

U.S.-EU trade negotiations promising for farmers, ranchers The beginning of comprehensive trade negotiations between the United States and the European Union, announced last month, holds the promise of expanded market access and an improved, science-based regulatory approach for agriculture and food, according to American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman.

“Farm Bureau is encouraged that some long-standing issues hindering trade between the U.S. and the EU, such as sanitary standards for beef, have lately been addressed,” Stallman said. “A constant commitment to removing barriers to agricultural trade is necessary in order to achieve a worthwhile agreement for U.S. agriculture.”

“A constant commitment to removing barriers to agricultural trade is necessary in order to achieve a worthwhile agreement for U.S.” The U.S.-EU Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement negotiations will include agriculture, with a specific focus on sanitary and phytosanitory standards (SPS) issues.

Farmers and ranchers are particularly enthusiastic about this as many of agriculture’s long-standing trade disputes with the EU, including those related to chlorine–based poultry washes, rac-

topamine use in pork production and hormone use in beef production, are the result of differing SPS standards that have been used to restrict trade, explained David Salmonsen, AFBF trade specialist.

Tariffs will also be covered in the negotiations, along with the treatment of genetically engineered crops.

“The misuse of sanitary and phytosanitary standards, including the EU’s restrictions on genetically engineered crops, has long been a tactic to impede trade,” Stallman said. “We will look closely to these negotiations to move past this trade-distorting tactic and fully embrace a rules-based trading system with standards based upon scientific assessment.

Three states awarded ‘My American Farm’ kiosks Minnesota Farm Bureau was awarded a “My American Farm” kiosk at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Joint National Leadership and Young Farmers & Ranchers Conference in Phoenix, Ariz., in February. The winner of the kiosk was selected through tweets posted to the social media site Twitter.

The conference’s keynote speak-

er, Michael Abrashoff, selected the winner, asking attendees to tweet examples of how they put the leadership roadmap to work.

MFB member Malissa Fritz tweeted, “I am passionate about being a farmer, a wife, and a mom!

But, as a leader it’s my responsibility to share that passion!” She won the kiosk for her home state’s Farm Bureau headquarters.

In addition, North Dakota Farm Bureau and North Carolina Farm Bureau were each awarded a kiosk at AFBF’s 94th Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tenn., in January.

The My American Farm website, www.myamericanfarm.org, resources and kiosk are made possible through the generous support of title sponsor, DuPont Pioneer.

Federal government feels sequestration squeeze Continued from page 1 the same questions we are: Where, exactly, will the cuts come from?

Will Congress or the president take actions to change the course of this? What are the effects, short- and long-term?”

Nearly half way through the fiscal year, finding that 5 percent for cuts is going to be harder for some departments, agencies and programs than others, Moore pointed out.

“If you’ve already spent half of your budget at this point, taking 5 percent of your total budget out of that remaining half doubles the pain,” he said.

Still, the action to effect sequestration is far from the last, and possibly not even the biggest, budget action on the horizon.

“The fact is the effects of the sequestration budget cutting tool will be a hot topic for a couple of weeks. Then attention will turn

to the next looming budget deadline—the expiration of the continuing resolution,” Moore said.

That deadline is March 27. If Congress does not pass a budget for the current fiscal year or approve another continuing resolution, the federal government will shut down.

“If that happens, we’ll be way past worrying over the consequences of a 5 percent sequestration cut,” he said.

Once the administration submits a notification of the planned negotiations to Congress, a 90-day consultation period that includes discussions with congressional committees of jurisdiction and a public comment period will begin. Formal negotiations are expected to begin in June.

“Farmers and ranchers have been frustrated over the seemingly endless array of non-tariff barriers Europe applies to many of our agricultural commodities and products,” Stallman said. “We are cautiously hopeful that these negotiations will yield positive results for U.S. agriculture.”

Bill repealing HIT good for farmers, ranchers Continued from page 1 tinued Stallman. “Instead, they purchase health insurance in the fully insured market, from which it is solely determined how much HIT an insurance company must pay.

Because of this, the cost of this erroneous tax will be passed through to small businesses that purchase those plans.”

The HIT was passed as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

According to AFBF, it has nothing to do with reforming the health care insurance system but was included in PPACA as a way to raise revenue to offset the cost of the legislation. During 2014, the first year that the HIT takes effect, $8 billion dollars will be collected. In 2018, that will rise to $14.3 billion and continue to climb to reach $101.7 billion in the first 10 years.

fbnews.org

March 4, 2013

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State FB Links

Farm Bureau raises record food, funds for Feeding America The farm and ranch families of Farm Bureau raised a record $971,235 and donated a record of more than 24 million pounds of food to assist hungry Americans as part of Farm Bureau’s “Harvest for All” program in partnership with Feeding America. Combined, the monetary and food donations also reached a record level of the equivalent of more than 28 million meals.

Now in its 10th year, Harvest for All is spearheaded by members of Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers program, but Farm Bureau members of all ages from across the nation contribute to the effort. In all, a record 21 state Farm Bureaus heeded the call to action. The joint effort between Farm Bureau and Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief organization, is a national community action program through which farmers and ranchers can help ensure every American enjoys the bounty they produce.

In addition to raising food and funds for the initiative, farmers and ranchers tallied 11,333 volunteer friend hours assisting local hunger groups in 2012.

“The Harvest for All program is a tangible and visible way for Farm Bureau members to serve their communities,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman. “I am proud of our young farmers and ranchers and each of the state Farm Bureaus who literally helped us feed our great nation, and achieve record contributions in the process.”

Harvest for All is one of the most

Sarah Reynolds, chair of the California Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee, accepts a $1,500 check for donation to a local food bank from Chevrolet/GM in recognition of the group’s donation of 10,143,570 pounds of food in 2012. Also pictured (left to right) are James Borys and Bill Thomas of Feeding America and Allan Ray of Chevrolet. important community service efforts undertaken by Farm Bureau members. While the U.S. economy is beginning to show some encouraging signs, many Americans still need the help provided by Feeding America and its national network of local food assistance organizations, according to Stallman.

“Feeding America greatly appreciates the American Farm Bureau and its Young Farmers & Ranchers for last year’s record-breaking Harvest for All results and for our 10-year partnership that has provided much-needed assistance for the one in six Americans who are struggling with hunger,” said

Bill Thomas, chief supply chain officer at Feeding America.

“By joining together and sharing our bounty, America’s farm and ranch families are helping to feed and nourish those who need help the most,” said Zach Hunnicutt, who chairs the AFBF YF&R Committee. He and his wife, Anna, raise popcorn, corn and soybeans near Giltner, Neb. “America’s farmers and ranchers are stepping up to the table in a coordinated effort to serve our fellow Americans,” Hunnicutt said. “No American should be allowed to go without food and because of Harvest for All, the

equivalent of 28,068,389 meals made it to the tables of those who needed it the most this past year.”

California Farm Bureau took top honors for donating the most food in 2012, 10,143,570 pounds.

Illinois Farm Bureau raised the most money, $786,949. And, Michigan Farm Bureau tallied the most volunteer friend hours, 6,410. Thanks to the generosity of Chevrolet/GM, each of those state organizations received a $1,500 grant to donate to a local food bank of their choice.

Second place winners were the New York Farm Bureau for food donated at 8,583,067 pounds; Michigan Farm Bureau for donated funds at $64,080; and Illinois Farm Bureau for volunteer time at 2,006 hours. Each of the second place winners received a $1,000 grant from Chevrolet/GM to donate to the local food bank of their choice.

In addition, five state YF&R committees received $500 grants from Chevrolet/GM for “most innovative” programs. Those winners included Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, North Carolina and New York.

The awards were presented on Feb. 10 during AFBF’s Joint National Leadership and YF&R Conference in Phoenix, Ariz. Since Harvest for All was launched 10 years ago, Farm Bureau families have Page 7 gathered more than 73 million In Sta pounds of food, logged more than 71,000 volunteer hours and raised nearly $3 million in donations.

Combined, the food and money donations amount to the equivalent of more than 83 million meals.

Newsmakers

State Focus

Montana Farm Bureau pleased with wolf management laws

Nevada Farm Bureau files protest against BLM

New Jersey granting money to preserve farmland

The Montana Farm Bureau applauded the state legislature for passing a wolf management bill, which has since been signed into law by Montana Gov. Steve Bullock. The legislation allows for the purchase of more than one hunting license for wolves, prohibits the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks from drawing buffer zones, allows the use of mechanical calls and lowers the cost of a license. “This is simply another management tool the state has for controlling the growing wolf population,” noted John Youngberg, MFBF vice president of governmental relations. “We’re pleased that this consensus bill brought together agricultural groups, landowners, sportsmen and the Montana Wildlife Federation to support it. We want to thank those groups and the legislators for working together.” Youngberg points out there are currently an estimated 650 wolves in Montana, and keeping their population in check is critical for the health of other animals, such as elk and moose, in the ecosystem.

Nevada Farm Bureau filed a protest with Bureau of Land Management’s Egan office for its decision to significantly reduce a livestock grazing permit and close up to 6,888 acres from livestock grazing under the pretense of the sage grouse habitat. The area in question is not considered a sage grouse habitat under the Nevada sage grouse conservation strategy. The protest filed

by NVFB also addressed BLM’s ineffective management of wild horses.

“There is no documentation provided on the specifics of how significantly over-population of wild horse would be a contributing factor to the resource condition,” said Doug Busselman, executive vice president of NVFB, in the written protest. The Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Sage Grouse Initiative recognizes that “proper grazing practices may be applied to improve or maintain quantity and quality of food and cover available for wildlife, and manage fine fuel loads to achieve desired conditions.”

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signed a package of bills on Feb. 7 that will provide $79.5 million in grant money for farmland preservation throughout the state. A statewide poll conducted

by Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMind and co-sponsored by the New Jersey Farm Bureau found that more than 83 percent of New Jersey residents support the continuation of public funding for the preservation of open space and farmland. “New Jersey may be among the most densely populated states, but that doesn’t mean Garden Staters don’t value the protection of open space,” said NJFB President Ryck Suydam. The bills signed

by Gov. Christie provide funding for a range of farmland preservation projects throughout the state including $38.5 million to assist counties; $16.25 million to help 31 municipalities; $20.64 million for the State Agriculture Development Committee to directly preserve farms; and $4.1 million to assist four nonprofit organizations in preserving farmland.

Joel Rotz, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau’s state governmental relations director, has been named chairman of the Penn State Ag Council. Also in Pennsylvania, Eugene Thompson, who served as president of the Pennsylvania Farmers Association— the precursor to PFB—from 19761981, passed away in November at age 84.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau announced Chris Kidd has been named vice president of organization and membership. Kidd joined OFB in 2009 as a field representative in south central Oklahoma. He began serving as Young Farmer & Rancher coordinator in 2010 and then became the director of state and national affairs in 2011.

Iowa Farm Bureau has two new hires. Nathan Katzer is the new farm business development manager. Katzer’s previous experience includes agriculture business development, financial risk management and grain marketing. Andrew Wheeler is IFB’s new public relations coordinator. With more than a decade of public relations, writing and media engagement experience, Wheeler most recently served as assistant director for Kids Haven, a federally funded academic mentoring program for Des Moines middle school students.

Grassroots

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fbnews.org

March 4, 2013

Yes, it’s possible: Healthy, nutritious food on a budget Farmer and rancher members of many local Farm Bureaus reached out to consumers in their communities to talk about how to cut costs while putting nutritious meals on the table for their families during Food CheckOut Week, Feb. 17-23, 2013.

The American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee kicked off the week by donating food and funds to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Phoenix.

“Farmers and ranchers remain committed to producing safe, healthy food for all Americans,” said Terry Gilbert, a Kentucky farmer and chair of the AFB Women’s Leadership Committee. “And we do share with many American families concerns about putting nutritious meals on the table on a tight budget.”

Over the past few years, rising energy costs for processing, packaging and transportation have been the driving forces behind modest increases in retail food prices, Gilbert noted.

“Plenty of options are available so that consumers do not have to turn to less-nutritious foods that lack essential vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients, to make ends meet,” said Gilbert.

“Tips for better nutrition on a

To commemorate Food Check-Out Week, the American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee spent time at a Bashas’ supermarket in Phoenix, Ariz., to share with consumers the week’s theme of “Stretching Your Grocery Dollar with Healthy, Nutritious Food.” stretched budget, making sense of food labels and understanding USDA’s MyPlate guidelines are among the topics Farm Bureau members talked about with consumers, at supermarket demonstration stations, farmers’ markets and other venues,” according to Gilbert.

“Stretching Your Grocery Dollar With Healthy, Nutritious Food,” the official theme of Farm Bureau’s Food Check-Out Week, reflects the

fact that many Americans continue to look for ways to deal with an economic squeeze. Shopping for food to prepare more meals at home and dining out less frequently are two strategies people are using to cope with the situation.

“Now more than ever before, farmers and ranchers are committed to participating in conversations with consumers, to answer their questions about food,”

Gilbert said. “This holds true during special observances such as Food Check-Out Week, as well as when farmers go about their day-to-day routines and engage in social media.”

Ronald McDonald Houses around the nation provide a “home-away-from-home” for the families of seriously ill children receiving medical treatment at area hospitals.

The Food Check-Out Week connection between Farm Bureau and Ronald McDonald House Charities was forged more than a decade ago. Since the program was initiated in the mid-1990s, Farm Bureau members have donated more than $3 million in food and monetary contributions to Ronald McDonald Houses and other charities during Food Check-Out Week.

Participating county and state Farm Bureaus held similar events throughout Food Check-Out Week. Links to state Farm Bureau websites may be found at: http://www.fb.org/ index.php?action=statefbs.

The third week of February was selected for Food CheckOut Week as a way to celebrate American food and as a bridge to National Nutrition Month in March.

AFBF recognizes PAL graduates for leadership achievement A group of 10 outstanding young farm and ranch leaders was honored in February by the American Farm Bureau Federation as graduates of the organization’s sixth Partners in Agricultural Leadership class. The young agricultural leaders were recognized during AFBF’s Joint National Leadership and Young Farmers & Ranchers Conference in Phoenix, Ariz. PAL is designed to help agricultural leaders accelerate their leadership abilities and solidify their roles as advocates for agriculture.

“Today’s young farmers and ranchers are truly impressive, and this group of PAL graduates represents the very best of the best,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman.

“It’s a pleasure to recognize this outstanding class of young farm and ranch leaders. The young people who completed the program are equipped with the lead-

“Today’s young farmers and ranchers are truly impressive, and this group of PAL graduates represents the very best of the best.”

• AFBF President Bob Stallman ership skills they will need to help set the tone for American agriculture and serve their communities. The skills they acquired will help them effectively engage with the customers we serve, as well as provide needed advocacy for our organization on the many issues that touch our lives.”

Graduates of PAL Class 6 are: Rachel Bina of North Dakota; Jonathan Cavin of Virginia; Travis Gebhart of South Dakota; Megan Gravois of Louisiana; Heather Hill of Indiana; Terri Lawton of Massachusetts; Hilary Maricle of Nebraska; Jason Rodgers of South Carolina; Malissa Fritz Schentzel of Min-

Graduates of PAL Class 6 are (left to right): Rachel Bina. Jonathan Cavin, Travis Gebhart; Megan Gravois; Heather Hill; Terri Lawton; Jason Rodgers, Misty Wall, Hilary Maricle and Malissa Fritz Schentzel.

nesota; and Misty Wall of Utah.

To be eligible for the PAL program, applicants must have previously developed leadership skills built through participating in at least one Young Farmers & Ranchers program. This includes AFBF competitive events, Discussion Meet (“Sweet 16” finalist), Achievement Award (top 10 final-

ist) and Excellence in Agriculture Award (top 10 finalist). Retired members of the AFBF YF&R Committee and retired chairs of state Farm Bureau YF&R committees also are eligible to apply.

PAL training involves four learning modules designed to develop specific leadership skill sets while exploring components of leadership and its theories and philosophies. The modules build upon one another over the two years of the program and include intense, in-person, hands-on training.

The PAL program is sponsored by AFBF, Monsanto and Farm Credit.

Corner Post Organic Food Sales in the United States

*2011-13 values are estimates or projections Source: USDA, ERS using data from Nutrition Business Journal