| 1 Tom Vilsack wows senators in his confirmation hearing
Just as the U.S. Department of Agriculture involves virtually every aspect of government and every citizen, the Senate confirmation hearing Jan. 14 for President-elect Obama’s choice for the next Secretary of Agriculture touched on issues ranging from nutrition, healthcare, organic farming and national energy policy, to civil rights, conservation, crop insurance and eligibility for federal farm program payments. Secretary-designee Tom Vilsack, a former Governor of Iowa, showed himself thoroughly equipped to handle this broad sweep of issues. Suitably deferential, Vilsack did what all prospective Cabinet members are advised to do in their Senate confirmation hearings: he praised members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry for their wealth of knowledge and said he would need more time to become fully familiar with issues such as whether to raise the ethanol blend wall from the current 10 percent to perhaps 15 percent or more. But, along with showing deference, Vilsack demonstrated a thorough familiarity with every question. The only hint of concern came from several southern senators who asked for—and got—assurances that Vilsack, from a corn, soybean, livestock, and ethanol state, will give equal priority within USDA to crops such as rice, peanuts and cotton. (Read more.) Return to headlines
2 DHS approves $450 million biothreat lab at Kansas State
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP)—The Department of Homeland Security has approved a site at Kansas State University for a $450 million lab to study livestock diseases and some of the world’s most dangerous biological threats. The agency’s final record of decision—a document obtained by The Associated Press—confirmed a decision announced in December to build the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility at the Manhattan, Kan., campus to replace an aging lab at Plum Island, N.Y. DHS spokeswoman Amy Kudwa said the document hasn’t been publicly released and declined to comment further about the decision. But the state’s two senators issued statements confirming that DHS Undersecretary Jay Cohen had signed it. (Read more.) Return to headlines
3 ASA president defends the audit of soybean checkoff program
Johnny Dodson, president of the American Soybean Association (ASA), talked about the need for biodiesel tax incentives, record soybean exports and climate change legislation during his presentation at the Kansas Soybean Expo held Jan. 7 in Topeka, Kan. Dodson did not talk about the ASA petition to investigate the United Soybean Board (USB) and the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC). Later, in an interview with High Plains Journal, Dodson said he purposely did not mention the petition. Dodson is a soybean farmer from Halls, Tenn. “These are serious, credible allegations and they are allegations until proven otherwise,” Dodson said. “To try these in the court of public opinion is not the right thing to do.” Dodson said ASA gained knowledge and became aware of some very significant issues that included some firing of whistle blowers and no-bid contracts last summer. Dodson said some of the issues were financial, others were unethical, and others were immoral. (Read more.) Return to headlines
4 USDA issues final rule on mandatory COOL
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Jan. 12 announced details of the final regulation for the mandatory country-of-origin labeling program required by the 2002 and 2008 farm bills. The full text of the final rule will be published in the Jan. 15, 2009 Federal Register. The rule becomes effective on March 16, 60 days after the date of publication. Copies of the final rule and additional information are on display on line at www.ams.usda.gov/COOL. The rule covers muscle cuts and ground beef, lamb, chicken, goat and pork; wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish; perishable agricultural commodities (specifically fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables); macadamia nuts; pecans; ginseng and peanuts. Commodities covered under COOL must be labeled at retail to indicate its country of origin. For fish and shellfish, the method of production—wild or farm-raised—must be specified. Commodities are excluded from mandatory COOL if the commodity is an ingredient in a processed food item. (Read more.) Return to headlines
5 South Korean court rules in favor of U.S. beef imports
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)—A South Korean court on Dec. 26 ruled that a legal notice issued by the government to allow the resumption of U.S. beef imports does not violate the constitution. South Korea’s opposition parties and thousands of people petitioned the Constitutional Court to try to block U.S. beef from entering the country by claiming the notice violated their constitutional rights. The nine-member court rejected the petition, saying that measures in the legal notice intended to protect consumer safety could not be ruled insufficient. (Read more.) Return to headlines
6 Delegates to discuss key resolution, other business at IPPA Annual Meeting
Iowa Pork Producers Association delegates will meet to discuss several resolutions and other business during the association’s 2009 annual meeting in Des Moines Jan. 27. More than 100 producer-delegates from around Iowa are expected to participate in this year’s meeting, which will be held at the Des Moines Marriott Hotel. Among the seven resolutions submitted by county pork producer organizations and the IPPA Board of Directors to be debated and voted on are proposals involving Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling, animal welfare, the Pork Checkoff, ethanol policy and the Renewable Fuels Standard, and a federal bailout for the pork industry. (Read more.) Return to headlines
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