Southern Crop Production Association
P.O. Box 7000, Dawson GA 39842
  Phone (229) 995-2125  Fax (229) 995-4000
           southcrop@earthlink.net
 

On Guard                         

 

August 23, 2010

Thumbnail summaries prepared for Busy Executives of underreported events and information recently noted by SCPA.  The views expressed in these articles are not necessarily the views of SCPA but the articles were felt to be worthy of your attention.

Biotech Issues
DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton reported August 16 that, Production of more than half the nation’s sugar supply now hinges on how USDA responds to a federal court order handed down Friday that could stop farmers from planting Roundup Ready sugar beets next spring.

“The ruling from U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White in the Northern District of California came down in the evening following a hearing in which environmental groups specifically pushed for an even broader injunction against the Roundup Ready sugar beet crop. The late ruling left much of the discussion about the potential impact from the decision to begin in earnest on Monday.

USDA officials stated, ‘We are reviewing the judge’s order to determine appropriate next steps.’”

Yesterday’s article indicated that, “Luther Markwart, executive vice president of the American Sugarbeet Growers Association, said Monday that officials at APHIS [USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services], which oversees biotechnology regulation, will have to determine how to proceed. The ASGA was one of several major businesses and industry groups that had intervened in the case and will weigh whether to appeal the ruling.

“‘APHIS clearly understands the urgency in all of this,’ Markwart said. ‘But those discussions are going to happen this week. There are options available, but APHIS is in the drivers’ seat.’”

Mr. Clayton added that, “Markwart said he sees two key points for the industry moving forwardFirst, the crop in the ground can be harvested, processed and the sugar sold. ‘That’s the most important thing,’ he said. ‘There was not an injunction against any of that. Second, people will have to have some patience for USDA officials to sort out the details and see how to proceed. We don’t have a lot of answers today, and we’re not going to get out in front of APHIS on it.”

Rep. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) stated that, “‘This is a ruling which has the potential to disrupt an industry which is vitally important for western Nebraska. Our producers in Nebraska and nationwide need certainty, and I promise to do everything in my power to help ensure sugar beet growers aren’t going to be left out in the cold next planting season.”
FarmPolicy, August 17, 2010

Animal Agriculture
Bill Marsh reported in the August 15 New York Times that, “Which came first — consumer preference for humane farming, or pressure from animal welfare advocates?

Some combination of the two is driving big changes in the industrialized treatment of farm animals, including egg-laying hens, the vast majority of which live out their lives packed tightly in ‘battery cages.’  Ohio, the second-largest producer of eggs after Iowa, is the latest to adjust its standards. Animal welfare advocates and farmers there agreed recently to phase out small crates for gestating hogs and veal calves, and to ban new cages for egg-laying hens. (Existing cages can remain.)”

In related news, Rod Smith reported at Feedstuffs Online that, Ohio agriculture can go forward with ‘predictability’ and ‘stability’ now that the agricultural community in the state and The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) have reached an agreement that took an HSUS ballot measure out of this fall’s state election, according to Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland. The initiative would have had ‘costly, divisive and harmful outcomes’ for Ohio agriculture and other sectors, he said in an exclusive interview with Feedstuffs last week.
Farm Policy, August 17, 2010

EPA Issues
Ken Anderson reported August 16 at Brownfield that, “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency continues to clamp down on small- to medium-sized cattle feeding operations for violations of the Clean Water Act. The agency’s latest move involved eight northwest Iowa feedlots that have been ordered to apply for federal regulatory permits and cease discharges into streams.  We asked Region 7 [which includes Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska] EPA administrator [Karl Brooks] if the agency is concerned about the financial burden its actions might place on smaller producers.”

Mr. Anderson noted that, “‘Every operation is different—every operator has a different set of factors that he’s working with—topography, the way he feeds,’ Brooks says, ‘so in some cases, the changes may be ones that you can make without a huge financial investment. In fact, in most cases, I think it’s not a huge financial investment.’

And Brooks once again denied charges that this EPA is targeting agriculture, and specifically the livestock industry.”
Farm Policy, August 17, 2010

Senate Committee Approves Three-year Extension of Chemical Security Rules
The Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee voted unaminously in July to approve a three-year extension of the current Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards to Oct. 4, 2013.

The committee voted on a modified version of a bill introduced in March by Sen. Susan Collins which originally proposed a five-year extension of CFATS.

Left out of the Senate bill were inherently safer technology, coverage of drinking water and wasterwater facilities and coverage of port facilities – all included in the House bill.
Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, August 2, 2010

Lucas, Lincoln, Chambliss Bill to "Protect" Ag from EPA Pesticide Regs
Seven House members, led by Rep. Frank Lucas (R, OK), ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, introduced a bill clarifying that the use of a pesticide consistent with its registration under FIFRA should not subjected to additional "costly, redundant and unnecessary" Clean Water Act (CWA) permitting. Since 1972, register pesticides under FIFRA have been excluded from National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, but a federal court ruled in a case brought by the National Cotton Council against EPA that exemption is illegal under the CWA. Lucas and several of his colleagues petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review the decision, but were turned down. The identical legislation was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Blanche Lincoln (D, AR), chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee and Saxby Chambliss (R, GA), ranking committee member.
Federal News Friday, August 13, 2010

Texas Joins Court Challenge of EPA Greenhouse Gas "Tailoring" Rule  
Texas joined the growing list of states petitioning a federal appeals court to review EPA's handling of its so-called "tailoring" rule to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA). The rule, designed to target the largest emitters of carbon, is "arbitrary and capricious and is contrary to the Clean Air Act," said Gov. Rick Perry in the lawsuit. Texas says it has standing in the suit because the EPA action would force it to reinterpret or revise its state implementation plan by January 2, 2011, and the state refuses to change its air pollution regulations to comply with a federal rulemaking it considers illegal. The Texas suit joins 17 other actions brought by states, business and trade groups.
Federal News Friday, August 13, 2010

Home]