The bold vision created by a renewable energy advocacy coalition calling for 25x’25 is becoming a reality. A new report titled, “Meeting the 25x’25 Goal: A Progress Report,” shows that between 2004 and 2009, renewable energy produced in the U.S. increased by 23 percent. In May of 2009, 11.5% of all energy produced in the [...]
Archive for June, 2010
30 Jun
USDA to Provide Emergency Assistance to Producers
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that disaster assistance will be issued starting today to livestock, honeybee and farm-raised fish producers that suffered losses in 2008 because of disease, adverse weather or other conditions. The aid will come from the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP). “American farmers, ranchers and producers should [...]
29 Jun
Feds Propose Listing Plover as Threatened
Yesterday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) proposed listing the mountain plover as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Citing agriculture, oil and gas, and other alleged threats, a listing would affect activities in Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico. Parts of northeastern Utah, Western Kansas, northeastern Arizona and northwestern Texas could also be affected. The [...]
29 Jun
Wheat Harvest Well Underway
The Colorado winter wheat harvest was approximately 8 percent complete by Monday, June 28, as estimated by USDA. Home to more than thirteen different wheat varieties, Colorado’s wheat harvest is an excellent example of diversity and progress. The harvest was 3 percent complete at this time in 2009, and the five-year average for this date [...]
29 Jun
Vegan Nutritionist Tours Colorado Feedyard
Ryan Andrews, a self-proclaimed “nutrition stud,” vegan, nationally ranked bodybuilder and registered dietitian, recently blogged about visiting a cattle feedlot, Magnum Feedyard in Colorado. Andrews met owner Steve Gabel and was given an exclusive tour of the feedyard. His lengthy blog entry includes extensive descriptions of different types of feed rations in addition to observations [...]
29 Jun
EBT Machines at Farmers’ Markets Accept SNAP Benefits
A new handbook released by the Agriculture Department provides guidance to managers of farmers’ markets on installing Electronic Benefits Transfer machines and accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. A record number of Americans now receive SNAP benefits. At the same time, the number of farmers’ markets participating in the SNAP program has increased. USDA anticipates [...]
29 Jun
Sensorship Threatens Agriculture Advocates
What makes a video inappropriate? It’s like the old quote from a former senator about pornography, “I know it when I see it.” Apparently that’s what employees at YouTube thought about video of hogs living on Chris Chinn’s Missouri farm, when they flagged the video as inappropriate for anyone under 18 and could only be [...]
29 Jun
Alternative Energy Plans Tangled in “Green Tape”
Clean energy is an upfront topic on many politicians’ lists. Ambitious production goals for alternative energy flood political news and are on the forefront of campaign platforms. Colorado’s own lawmakers upped the state’s goal for renewable energy to 30 percent by 2020 and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Andrew Romanoff promises 50 percent by 2030. But [...]
29 Jun
Supreme Court Reaffirms Right to Bear Arms
The Supreme Court ruled Yesterday the second amendment’s guarantee of an individual’s right to bear arms applies to state and local gun control laws. The 5-to-4 decision is a reaffirmation to all citizens of their basic rights. Although the ruling does not outline what kind of laws would offend the Constitution or oppose any gun-control [...]
29 Jun
FDA Releases New Guidence on Antibiotic use in Livestock
The Food & Drug Administration released a draft guidance document this morning laying out new policy goals for the use of antimicrobials in livestock production. This new document could mean greater health risks and higher costs for meat animal producers. According to the National Pork Producers Council, the guidance could cause costly review or elimination [...]
25 Jun
Washington Recap
House Floor: H.R. 5569-To extend the authorization of the National Flood Insurance Program- H.R. 5569 would provide a temporary extension of the National Flood Insurance Program through September 30, 2010. The reauthorization would be retroactive to May 31, 2010, and the bill would reduce the program’s borrowing authority by $50 million. House Committees:
24 Jun
Beef Board Recommends Separating Federation from NCBA
Via The BARN… The Federation of State Beef Councils would continue to be a strong checkoff entity but would be free from the influence of any policy organization if it were a separate entity from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. That’s the conclusion of a recommendation from the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) Executive Committee this week. Acting [...]
24 Jun
2010 American Farm Bureau Public Relations Winners
Public relations and communications professionals from state Farm Bureaus received national recognition last week at the annual American Farm Bureau Federation Public Relations Conference in Madison, Wis. Each year, state Farm Bureau staff members submit their organizations’ best work for national recognition at the AFBF conference. This year, 34 states submitted 284 entries. CFB’s Shawn [...]
23 Jun
Lucas, Others Seek Hearings on Commitment to Clean Water Act
Republican Reps. Frank Lucas of Oklahoma, Sam Graves of Missouri and Doc Hastings of Washington, the co-chairs of the Rural American Solutions Group, wrote to the chairs of four House committees on Tuesday seeking hearings on America’s Commitment to the Clean Water Act. This bill greatly expands the scope of the Clean Water Act by [...]
23 Jun
Ethanol and Biofuels Capture Headlines
USDA research shows corn ethanol is showing a better energy balance mainly because of increased efficiencies in growing corn, but also because of improvements in the distilleries. The USDA report, 2008 Energy Balance for the Corn Ethanol Industry, reveals that corn ethanol supplies twice the amount of energy it takes to produce the fuel. With [...]
23 Jun
California Passes New Imported Egg Bill
California restaurants and supermarkets will be required to import only eggs produced in compliance with the 2008 ballot measure Proposition 2, or Prop 2, according to legislation that has now passed the California General Assembly and is heading to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for his signature. Prop 2 requires that hens have sufficient space to sit [...]
23 Jun
Colorado Takes Stance on Noxious Weed Control
Choking river banks from California to Texas, the tamarisk, or saltcedar, is a noxious and invasive tree. Colorado has not been left out of this weed’s invasion. The Colorado Department of Agriculture has adopted a policy of insectary combined with willow restoration to fight the invasion. Recently however, the United States Department of Agriculture ended [...]
23 Jun
Extreme CAUTION Urged in Farm Hiring Practices
Producers are urged to be extremely cautious when hiring farm employees. The animal agriculture industry is under attack by extremists and animal rights activist. Several of the latest undercover activist videos released to the public are the handy-work of undercover activists. While good welfare and following industry standards on animal handling is the best defense, [...]
23 Jun
NISP Rally Scheduled
The Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) has scheduled a rally for all supporters of NISP. Thursday, July 15 farmers, residents and public officials will gather to show support for NISP and for a barbecue! Individuals from the agriculture community and elected officials will be key speakers at the event. The event will be held at [...]
22 Jun
Small Meat Processors Endangered by New Regulatory Costs
Small and independent meat processors are at significant economic risk due to increased regulatory costs included in a preliminary draft guidance document issued by the Food Safety and Inspection Service, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. The document spells out new and costly requirements for local meat processors under the Hazard Analysis and Critical [...]
21 Jun
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Farmers
The Supreme Court supported farmers in a 7-1 ruling today; the court overturned a lower court’s order that has prohibited farmers from planting Roundup Ready alfalfa for the past three years. “This Supreme Court ruling is important for every American farmer, not just alfalfa growers,” said David F. Snively, Monsanto’s Senior Vice President and General [...]
21 Jun
AFBF Pleased with Livestock Competition Rule
The American Farm Bureau Federation is pleased with the proposed rule issued Friday by the Agriculture Department’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) on competition in the livestock and poultry industries. “For too long producers have had to bear the financial hardship of being at the whim of production contractors, resulting in inequality in [...]
21 Jun
USDA Report Compares Grain-fed, Forage-based Beef Systems
USDA’S monthly Dairy, Livestock and Poultry report released Friday analyzes the similarities and differences between grain-fed and forage-based production systems and the beef they produce. The report notes that grass-finished cattle produce leaner beef than grain-fed animals. Meat from grass-finished animals has more Omega-3 fatty acids Continued growth in “niche-market” demand for forage-based beef could [...]
18 Jun
State Update…
2010 Colorado Legislation As we have passed the 30 day mark following the close of the 2010 Colorado General Assembly Session. All legislation has had to clear the Governor’s desk. Since the legislature adjourned on Wednesday, May 12 (the last day possible under the constitutionally mandated 120 day limit), Governor Ritter had until last Friday, [...]
18 Jun
A weekly recap of action in Washington, DC
House Floor: H.Res. 1368 would resolve that the House of Representatives: • Supports the goals of National Dairy Month • Encourages States and local governments to observe National Dairy Month with appropriate activities and events that promote the dairy industry • Recognizes the important role that the dairy industry has played in the economic and [...]
16 Jun
China’s Corn Demand Could be “Huge”
A U.S. Grains Council official says the opportunity exists for China to import what he describes as a “huge” amount of U.S. corn to meet current demand, before the 2010 crop enters the market. The Grains Council’s assistant director in China made his observation following a recent tour of the corn growing area in northeast [...]
16 Jun
Whitehead to Lead Agriculture Committee
State Sen. Bruce Whitehead, D-Hesperus, has been appointed chairman of the Colorado Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee. As chairman, Whitehead will run the committee’s hearings, organize witnesses and monitor votes. “It’s actually quite an important appointment, and I’m quite pleased to have it,” he said in an interview Tuesday. Whitehead was appointed to the [...]
16 Jun
Free Trade Agreements could Boost Meat and Poultry Industry
Pending Free Trade Agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama represent immediate growth opportunities in both revenue and jobs for the meat and poultry sector. The third largest beef exporter in the world, the United States exports more than 897,000 metric tons valuing more than $3.1 billion in 2009. Pork and poultry exports are equally [...]
15 Jun
Compromise Reached on Rafting Proposals
An agreement has been reached today between commercial rafting outfitters and private property owners along the Taylor River. The compromise clears the way for sponsors of 24 competing ballot measures to withdraw their respective proposals from the November ballot, averting an expensive and divisive election fight. Both parties have reached a settlement privately, avoiding possible [...]
11 Jun
Bovine Tuberculosis Identified in Colorado
Via The BARN… Confirmatory tests show four cows in a Colorado dairy herd have tested positive for bovine tuberculosis (TB). The ongoing investigation by the Colorado Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture began in March 2010 when internal lesions were discovered on a Southern Colorado cow at a slaughter facility. Subsequent tracing and testing has led [...]
Shawn Martini
Chad Vorthmann
Rachel Vermillion
Garin Vorthmann
Crystal Korrey
Troy B
El Sagehorn
Brent Boydston
