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NFU: Feds Short Changing Climate and Farmers with Uneven Implementation of RFS
Climate, Rural America Most Affected by Waivers Complicating RFS Implementation, NFU Says
The divisive issue of implementing the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) was center stage at a hearing today of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
In official testimony submitted for the record, National Farmers Union asserted that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has m
Roger Johnson
ade implementation more complicated than it should be and advocated for the agency to consider the several benefits of the RFS when implementing their final rule on renewable volume obligations for 2017.
“It is concerning that a hearing of this nature is even necessary. Again, the EPA has proposed RFS volume obligation levels well below the statute levels mandated by Congress, and I question why they are creating more unnecessary work to implement a law with proven environmental gains,” said NFU President Roger Johnson.
The RFS has tremendous potential to mitigate the harmful effects of climate change by offering a fuel choice that reduces greenhouse gas emissions. According to a study by the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, the RFS will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 138 million metric tons by 2022, the equivalent to taking 27 million cars off the road, if RFS statutory volume obligations are followed.
Enhanced by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the RFS requires the EPA to evaluate the available supply of biofuels, and if sufficient supply exists, EPA must set the annual volume obligation targets at those levels, Johnson explained. While issuing a proposed and final rule on an annual schedule is no small task for a federal agency, it is “a much smaller workload than when the agency considers issuing a waiver for which it does not have the legal authority.”
The statutory language authorizing the RFS limits the EPA’s authority to invoke a general waiver to instances where the requirements in the statute would cause severe economic harm or where there is an inadequate domestic supply of biofuels. EPA claims that there is an inadequate supply of biofuels, justifying a general waiver, but Johnson underscored that this is not the case.
“EPA’s actions on the RFS in the last several years have only contributed to policy uncertainty in the transportation fuels sector, and their proposal completely undermines the broader climate change goals set forth by the Administration. I encourage the EPA to consider the environmental benefits of the RFS over the position of Big Oil when implementing their final rule,” Johnson concluded.
Johnson’s testimony can be read in full here.
Things for livestock exhibitors to remember during fair season in Ohio
by Dr. Tony Forshey, State Veterinarian, Ohio Dept. of Agriculture
Summer marks the beginning of fair season – a time when thousands of 4-H youth all across the state showcase the animal projects they have spent so much time perfecting.
As these hard working kids gear up to show their animals, I want to encourage all exhibitors to be aware of livestock tampering rules so they do not accidentally disqualify their market animal projects.
Some key things to keep in mind as you prepare your animal for the show ring:
- If an animal is sick, the exhibitor should contact the veterinarian.
- Prescription medications must be prescribed by a veterinarian for a valid medical purpose.
- Extra-label use of any medication must be prescribed by a veterinarian and have an extended withdrawal time.
- Over-the-counter drugs must be used according to label directions for a valid medical purpose.
- Showing any livestock which has been administered a drug that exceeds the tolerance level, or a drug for which the withdrawal period has not elapsed, is prohibited.
Other prohibited practices include: exhibiting an animal which has been tranquilized, making a false statement on a drug use notification form, failing to file or update a drug use notification form, negligently causing an unlawful substance to be present in an animal, or failing to sign a chain of custody form.
Farm Safety Courtesy of National Farmers Union
The National Farmers Union is developing a series of videos to promote safety on the farm. Think about it: You have kids, grandkids or just seasonal help that will be working 0n your farm in the near future. Why not expose them to some professionally-made teaching materials that help you keep everyone safe on the farm? All you need is a computer, an internet connection and five minutes or less per video.
Here they are:
Logan: Enough is Enough on Big Mergers
Ohio Farmers Union President Joe Logan said today that “enough is enough” with further consolidation in agricultural industries and related big business that controls more and more of the inputs farmers need to feed America and the world.
He refers to a proposed merger of Dow Chemical Co. and DuPont Co.
“Where are the Teddy Roosevelts and the trust busters of today?” Logan asked.
Two previous waves of mergers in the agricultural inputs sector have already created what is known at the Big Six: Monsanto, Syngenta, Bayer, DuPont, Dow and BASF. The current rumored or announced deals—including Dow-DuPont, ChemChina-Syngenta, and Bayer-Monsanto—would be a third wave of consolidation.
“Competition is eroding more and more with each of these mega deals. While financial markets applaud supposed efficiencies of larger businesses, customers – farmers – have fewer choices, less competition and input prices continue to go up,” Logan said.
The National Farmers Union today joined Food and Water Watch and the American Antitrust Institute in a letter to U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division urging a challenge to the Dow-DuPont merger.
The letter can be read in its entirety here.
The proposed merger would create a powerful duopoly between Dow-DuPont and Monsanto. Together, the two companies would control 76% of the market for corn and 66% of the market for soybeans, giving them the power to charge farmers higher prices and effectively decide which seeds farmers could plant.
Happy Memorial Day!
Ohio CAUV Legislation Update
Ohio Farmers Union Members are receiving their Ohio Country Messenger this week and hopefully they read the front page story on the two bills pending in the Ohio General Assembly regarding tweaks to the formula for Current Agricultural Use Valuations in Ohio.
Unfortunately – and despite overwhelming proponent testimony in the relevant House and Senate committees – neither the House nor the Senate bill were voted out of committee.
Legislators have left Columbus for all practical purposes until after November’s election. Calls to the Governor’s office, House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger and Senate President Keith Faber are in order – ask them to move the bills. The problem with moving this legislation isn’t with rank and file members, it’s with leadership. If you live in Speaker Rosenberger’s or President Faber’s district, ask them about it and let them know what’s happened to property taxes on your farm.
OFU will continue to monitor and work with other Ohio ag organizations to get the wild fluctuations out of CAUV values.
U.S. EPA Falls Short 5 Billion Gallons on 2017 Renewable Fuel Standard
U.S. EPA released the 2017 proposed renewable fuel volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard and according to the National Farmers Union, they continue to fall short of congressionally mandated levels.
NFU President Roger Johnson said, “I’m deeply disappointed to see the EPA undermine the RFS once again by falling significantly short of the statute with their proposed volume obligations. This simply does not track with other admirable, important advances on climate this Administration has made.”
“The oil companies have had plenty of time to build out the distribution infrastructure to deliver more biofuels to the consumer and commercial markets that seek this environmentally-friendly energy source. They have simply refused to do so, and EPA’s negligence in adhering to the statutory levels has significantly undermined the plan laid out by Congress in 2007,” Johnson said.
“Unfortunately, this action comes at a time when economic distress is increasing in farm country and this half-hearted proposal from EPA will add to that distress. It is time that the Administration stop placing the agenda of Big Oil above our own climate objectives,” he added.
According to the EPA, next year’s proposal is still an increase of 700 million gallons from 2016. This year’s volumes were also below what Congress intended in 2007.
In a press release, EPA said, “EPA is proposing to use the tools provided by Congress to adjust the standards below the statutory targets, but the steadily increasing volumes in the proposal continue to support Congress’s intent to grow the volumes of these important fuels that are part of the nation’s overall strategy to enhance energy security and address climate change.”
NFU: Concerns Linger Over Farm Credit
Johnson Expresses Ongoing Concern in U.S. Senate
The Senate Agriculture Committee yesterday examined the current state of affairs at a hearing about the Farm Credit System (FCS) and the farm sector’s credit outlook.
National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson applauded committee members for making this issue a priority. (Check out our recent post on this issue describing some of the problems.)
“The multi-year trend of low commodity prices coupled with higher input costs is becoming ever more challenging for producers,” he said. “Unfortunately, we are seeing this manifest in weakening credit conditions as it relates to loan repayment rates and lenders restructuring debt to manage credit risk.”
Many producers have already tapped capital from prosperous years and now find themselves with liquidity challenges, he explained. If low commodity prices persist, debt restructuring of operating and equipment costs from short-term to medium and long-term debt may present a real challenge for the farm credit sector.
The hearing featured two panels of witnesses that included the Farm Credit Administration Board, Farm Credit Services of America & Frontier Farm Credit of Omaha, community bankers from Iowa and Kansas, and one producer.
In conjunction with the hearing, NFU joined more than 50 agriculture groups signing a letter in support of FCS and other creditors and the critical role ag lending institutions play in ensuring farmers, ranchers and rural Americans have continued access to competitive credit. NFU independently submitted a statement for the hearing record.
OFU Insurance Now Offers MedSupp with Silver Sneakers!
Ohio Farmers Union members save on health insurance and now we offer a Medicare Supplement plan for people aged 65 and over that comes with Silver Sneakers – at no additional cost. Dave Shindollar tells me the Silver Sneakers program is a $500 annual value to you via Medical Mutual and your local YMCA.
Open enrollment applies – no medical questions – call Dave Shindollar at (800) 321-3671 or email him dshindollar@ohfarmersunion.org for prices and more information.
