Ron Sylvester

FSA Update: Margin Protection Program for Dairy Producers

August 5, 2014 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

The following is from USDA Farm Service Agency:

The 2014 Farm Bill authorizes a new dairy program, the Margin Protection Program for Dairy Producers (MPP-Dairy), which will replace the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program no later than September 1, 2014. The MPP-Dairy program is a voluntary program that provides dairy operations with risk management coverage that will compensate producers when the difference between the all-milk price and the average cost of feed falls below a certain level selected by the producers in a dairy operation.

Eligible producers can obtain either a catastrophic level of coverage for their dairy operation by paying a $100 administrative fee annually or they may obtain increased coverage at various levels by paying a premium in addition to the administrative fee. Available price coverage levels begin at $4.00 and coverage may be increased in $.50 increments through $8.00 per hundredweight. Available coverage percentages begin at 25 percent and coverage may be increased in 5 percent increments through 90 percent. A dairy operation’s selection of a $4.00 coverage level with a coverage percentage of 90 is considered the catastrophic level of coverage. Indemnity payments under the program will be triggered when margins fall below the producer-selected levels.

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Johnson Makes the Argument in Favor of COOL to Capitol Hill newspaper

August 5, 2014 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

NFU President Roger Johnson is the author of a guest op-ed which ran in The Hill a Washington, D.C. newspaper and website which covers Congress. Click the link below to read Johnson’s argument in favor of COOL.

Consumers have a right to know where their food comes from

From the National Farmers Union News Release on the Piece:

“Nobody seemed to care where their pet treats came from until dogs started dropping dead from eating tainted food from China,” notes Johnson. “When it was all over, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had received 5,600 complaints from consumers about their pets getting sick and, sadly, about 1,000 of them perished.”

Johnson points out that, thankfully, Congress understood that consumers have a right to know where their pet food, and their own food, comes from, and in 2008 passed a law known as COOL. “In short, COOL says that muscle cuts of meat, and some fruits and vegetables, must be labeled with the country’s name where it was produced.”

COOL doesn’t restrict imports; it simply gives grocery shoppers information to make purchasing decisions that are right for their families. “If a family prefers Vietnamese catfish or Mexican meatloaf, there will be available options. If not, the family can choose locally grown U.S. alternatives,” he notes.

A May 2013 public opinion poll showed more than 90 percent of consumers support COOL. Johnson notes just last week “consumer advocates prevailed when the District Court of Appeals handed multinational meat packers a stinging defeat. By a 9 to 2 majority, the panel upheld an earlier court ruling to deny a request to halt enforcement of the law.”

Foreign countries and their big business partners are also pushing international courts at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to intervene. “The same WTO that helped facilitate lopsided trade deals and outsource U.S. manufacturing jobs will soon rule on what information U.S. grocery shoppers can receive,” he notes.

“Simultaneously, powerful lobbying groups are bankrolling efforts to ‘reform’ COOL in Congress, and by reform, they mean gut it. Instead of ‘Born, Raised and Harvested in the U.S.,’ they’re pushing for ‘Made in North America’ labels so consumers can’t differentiate between products of Mexico, Canada or the United States.”

“What’s next?” he asks. “Made on Earth labels?”

“America has the safest, best homegrown food supply in the world. Let’s be proud, not ashamed, of that accomplishment,” he concludes.

COOL Opponents Lose Again in Court

July 29, 2014 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

from the National Farmers Union

WASHINGTON (July 29, 2014) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued the following statement after receiving news of the District Court of Appeals’ en banc decision on a challenge to enforcement of Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) by the multinational meatpackers and our foreign competitors. By a 9-2 majority, the panel upheld an earlier 3-judge panel decision to deny an appeal to halt the enforcement of the popular labeling law, passed in 2008.

“NFU, and our broad coalition of consumer and producer organizations, have achieved yet another victory in our long battle to uphold the enforcement of the COOL regulation as modified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA). This marks the third time that COOL has won in court. There is no need for this case to proceed.

“The Court ruled that the government may require factual, uncontroversial information to be included on a label. American consumers want to know basic information about where their meat comes from, and livestock producers across this great nation are very proud of what they produce and happy to let consumers know where their meat comes from. USDA’s new COOL rules will significantly improve the information available to consumers by reducing confusion about the origins of meat products. It will also provide U.S. livestock producers the opportunity to differentiate their products, which they are proud to claim as theirs.”

WASHINGTON (July 29, 2014) – National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued the following statement after receiving news of the District Court of Appeals’ en banc decision on a challenge to enforcement of Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) by the multinational meatpackers and our foreign competitors. By a 9-2 majority, the panel upheld an earlier 3-judge panel decision to deny an appeal to halt the enforcement of the popular labeling law, passed in 2008.

– See more at: http://nfu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2575&catid=295#sthash.fEjpVZMc.pOdPJa89.dpuf

Patience, Planning Key for Preparing for Latest Farm Bill

July 28, 2014 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

More than 250 farmers and others interested in Ohio agriculture attended a recent 2014 Farm Bill Forum sponsored by the Ohio Farmers Union.

Passed earlier this year, the latest five-year Farm Bill is not yet fully implemented, but farmers who run the gamut from direct marketing of specialty crops or livestock to commodity producers of corn and soybeans will notice changes in the federal safety net for family farms.

“Because this new law brings change – and a new set of issues for farmers to consider – the Ohio Farmers Union brought together some of the nation’s foremost experts on USDA programs to explain the new law,” said Joe Logan, president of the Ohio Farmers Union.

Speakers at the forum included USDA officials, academics and congressional staff who helped draft the new law.

The major takeaway from this year’s Farm Bill is the move away from direct payments and toward federally-backed crop insurance. In this new world even those farmers who are not producing major commodities like corn and soybeans in Ohio may benefit from new “whole farm” coverage according to Joe Schulz, chief economist for the U.S. Senate Committee on Agricutlture.

Undoubtedly, though, in Ohio there are thousands of farmers growing commodities who are wondering what the new ag safety net has in store for them.

President of the Ohio Farmers Union, Joe Logan, speaks at the recent forum. Members of the first panel, (L-R) include Jonathan McCracken, aide to U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown; Joe Schulz, chief economist, U.S. Senate Ag Committee; and Carl Zulauf, professor at Ohio State University.

Under the new law, farmers will take one of two paths regarding major commodities. One option is Price Loss Coverage, or PLC, a price-based assistance program. The other is Agricultural Risk Coverage, or ARC, a farm revenue-based program. The choice farmers make around the country will stick with them for the next five years.

“I do own farmland – I’ll be making many of these decisions that you are going to make,” said Carl Zulauf, a professor at Ohio State University’s Dept. of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics.

For agricultural commodity producers, Zulauf said there are three major decisions to make regarding participation in USDA-backed safety net programs in the 2014 Farm Bill. They are base yields, the option to reallocate base acres and a choice between a program that serves multiple year losses or shallow losses.

Zulauf went through several scenarios based on how farmers may make those decisions. Ultimately, decisions made regarding the 2014 Farm Bill may come down to whether a producer is attempting to cover losses or maximize federal crop insurance payments.

While the decision-making process is more complex this year – and producers’ decisions will last for the five-year length of the current Farm Bill – there is time and help available to farmers according to Terry Nicholson of USDA Farm Service Agency.

“Until the rules are written and published, there’s not much that Farm Service Agency can do with this program,” Nicholson said.

However, he said that officials understand that the changes are complex and there will be time available – probably over this winter – for farmers to work with their local FSA offices to sign up for programs. Those sign-ups will be retroactive for the 2014 crop year.

Terry Cosby, USDA State Conservationist in Ohio reminded farmers that all producers wishing to participate in USDA crop insurance programs will need to have on file with their local FSA office a Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation Certification, also known as an AD-1026 form. Those forms and assistance in completing them may be obtained from local FSA representatives.

Thanks to Sponsors of OFU 2014 Farm Bill Forum

July 28, 2014 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

We want to take a moment today and thank the sponsors of the Ohio Farmers Union 2014 Farm Bill Forum. First Federal Bank, POET biorefining and Superior Energy helped make our event at Bowling Green State University possible. More than 250 farmers and others interested in Ohio food and fiber benefited from the afternoon of presentations and answered questions. We here at Ohio Farmers Union sincerely thank our sponsors and encourage you to consider their products and services.

Crop Insurance Eligibility Requirements

July 24, 2014 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

USDA has issued a reminder to farmers that they must have on file a Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation Certification, also known as an AD-1026 form, in order to be eligible for support for crop insurance premiums. The 2014 Farm Bill requires farmers to be in compliance with these conservation standards for participation in commodity programs as well as crop insurance. The form is available at the FSA website and at your local Farm Service Agency office.

Reminder: COOL Webinar July 22 – It’s free, so sign up!

July 18, 2014 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

Country of Origin Labeling was passed by Congress in 2002 and it’s still under attack by the multinational meat packers and allied agribusinesses. Learn more about the law, who is behind trying to take away your right to know where your food comes from – and what you can do about it.

Click this link for all of the info and to register for this one-hour online program.

ODNR: CP42 – The Pollinator Habitat Program

July 18, 2014 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

The Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources wants farmers to know that they may enroll in the Conservation Reserve Program’s “Pollinator Habitat” practice which is also known as CP42.

CP42 focuses on providing nectar and pollen sources for a variety of important pollinator species, such as honeybees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. Bee-pollinated plants account for $20 billion in annual U.S. agricultural production. Pollinator numbers, however, are declining because of several factors, including habitat loss.

CP42 calls for the planting of native flowering species that will bloom throughout the spring and summer. Planting species that flower at different times provides food and habitat for pollinators, and provides flowers from April to October.

According to ODNR, incentive and rental payments and cost-share assistance may be available for acres enrolled in CP42. For information contact your local FSA office or an ODNR Division of Wildlife private lands biologist.

NFU Works to Ensure Rural Americans Maintain Access to Broadcast TV

July 18, 2014 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

from the National Farmers Union

WASHINGTON – Doug Sombke, president of South Dakota Farmers Union, visited Capitol Hill last week to urge lawmakers to act on pending legislation that will ensure rural Americans maintain access to their local broadcast television stations.

“Broadcast television is a key tool for rural Americans to obtain local news, weather and market data and emergency broadcast alerts,” said Sombke, who also chairs the National Farmers Union Legislative Committee. “Discriminating against some customers just because they live in smaller markets is wrong.”

Specifically, Sombke met with Sen. John Thune, S.D.-R, and asked him to support the Senate Judiciary Committee version of the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELA), which was recently introduced by Chairman Patrick Leahy, Vt.-D, and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley, Iowa-R.

That bill, he said, was a “clean reauthorization without the special-interest add-ons that some cable and satellite companies are seeking.”

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NFU’s Johnson Speaks Out in D.C. on Renewable Fuel Standard

July 15, 2014 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

from the National Farmers Union:

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson spoke today at a briefing at the U.S. House of Representatives on the importance of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The briefing was hosted by Fuels America in cooperation with Reps. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, and Lee Terry, R-Neb.

“It is crucial that Congress not change the RFS and for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to improve the 2014 RFS targets in order to provide certainty for farmers and the ethanol industry,” said Johnson.

“EPA was originally going to finalize its 2014 Renewable Volume Obligation in June, but is now moving the date until September,” Johnson continued. “NFU has strongly encouraged EPA to fix its flawed proposal. EPA needs to begin to align itself with rural America. It will be difficult to build trust in the countryside if EPA does not greatly improve the 2014 RFS targets.”

“The RFS drives economic growth in rural America and supports around 300,000 direct jobs nationwide,” said Johnson. “A stable RFS will help to develop the next generation of biofuels and provide new market opportunities for farmers, while simultaneously providing significant climate, environmental and national security benefits.”

Other panelists included Brooke Coleman, executive director, Advanced Ethanol Council; Doug Bervin, vice president of corporate affairs, POET; Josh Nasser, legislative director, United Auto Workers; and Geoff Cooper, senior vice president, Renewable Fuels Association.

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