In an expected move, now former U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will join the U.S. Dairy Export Council. The council announced Tuesday Vilsack will become its CEO at the beginning of next month. Vilsack’s final day at USDA was last Friday, leaving Deputy Secretary Michael Scuse as the acting USDA Secretary. However, Scuse was expected to attend a confirmation hearing this week to again serve as the Agriculture Secretary of Delaware. Regarding the move, Vilsack says he looks forward to partnering with the U.S. Dairy Export Council and the agriculture industry to “advance the council’s mission and strengthen trust in American dairy.” As president and CEO, Vilsack will provide strategic leadership and oversight of the council’s global promotional and research activities, regulatory affairs and trade policy initiatives.
The incoming Donald Trump administration is expected to fill its final cabinet seat possibly before Inauguration Day. Interviews are ongoing as of Tuesday, according to those close to the process. That came despite another false report on Tuesday that former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue was to be named Agriculture Secretary. Perdue may still be in the running, but the selection process continues and other candidates are being considered. Incoming Vice President Mike Pence over the weekend said it’s very possible the cabinet will be filled before Friday. When leaving the Department of Agriculture last week, former Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack criticized the incoming administration for delaying the selection of a nominee for the position. Vilsack said the delay will make it difficult for the next USDA leader to “hit the ground running.”
The Farm Service Agency says it will accept 300,000 acres offered by producers in 43 states during the recent ranking period for the Conservation Reserve Program enrollment. The emphasis during this time was placed on smaller-scale livestock operations. The voluntary CRP Grasslands Program allows lands threatened by either development or conversion to row crops to remain as livestock grazing areas while providing important benefits to the environment. Roughly two-thirds of the acres accepted were offered by small-scale producers. “Producers of all sizes are interested in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Conservation Reserve Program,” says FSA Administrator Val Dolcini. “This latest round of enrollments features grasslands that came from smaller livestock operations, which shows that our nation’s farmers and ranchers can have a big impact on environmental conservation.” This was the first ever CRP grasslands practice that was specifically tailored for smaller livestock operations to encourage more participation. Larger producers may offer acres under the normal enrollment process.
The new requirements for the Veterinary Feed Directive were officially in effect as of January first, but not without misconceptions. Producers must obtain authorization or a prescription to purchase medically important antibiotics for use in animal feed and drinking water. Medically important antibiotics are those used in treating human diseases as well. Chris Richards, Oklahoma State University Extension, is a beef cattle specialist that debunked a few of the common myths. One is that antibiotics will not be available to treat animals. “Antibiotics will still be available to treat disease,” he says. Another is that a VFD is needed for any additives. “There are many additives that don’t require a VFD unless fed in combination with antibiotics,” Richards says. Another myth is feed dealers can’t keep feed on hand until a producer has a VFD. Richards says, “Feed mills can make the product ahead of time, they just can’t sell to a producer without a VFD.” Another myth has to do with a lot of paperwork. Richards says, “A producer who has a steady relationship with a vet won’t have any trouble completing the paperwork twice a year.” The last is some species won’t have antibiotics available to them. Richards says, “Guidance documents do give vets some discretion in using antibiotics in species that don’t typically have a lot of antibiotics available to them, like goats, sheep, and llamas.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Waters of the U.S. Rule, or “WOTUS,” was first introduced to the public in May of 2015, and it’s been largely unpopular since then. Ag Web Dot Com says Iowa Republican Joni Ernst and Nebraska Republican Deb Fischer have introduced a resolution that expresses a need for the Senate to vacate the rule. WOTUS expanded the authority of both the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers authority to regulate water, which is already written into the Clean Water Act. Almost 100 percent of the American agriculture industry reacted negatively to the rule, calling it a prime example of government overreach. In a statement this week, Fischer called WOTUS completely unprecedented. “This rule would hurt all Nebraska families, communities, ag producers, and businesses,” says Fischer. “This resolution signifies our intent to get to work quickly and stop WOTUS in its tracks once the new administration takes office.” Ernst calls WOTUS a power grab and wants farmers and landowners to be able to manage their lands without what she calls the “heavy hand of the EPA” determining their every move. Fischer and Ernst both were quick to acknowledge that the Clean Water Act is vital to protecting natural resources but then added that WOTUS took it a step too far.
Over 100 U.S. agriculture groups are urging President-elect Donald Trump not to undo the changes that President Obama made in relation status between the U.S. and Cuba. Politico’s Morning Agriculture Report says they also want the President-elect to give his own stamp of approval on normalizing relations between the countries. The groups want Trump to throw his support behind legislation that would allow private financing for the sale of agricultural products to make those goods easier to sell to the island country. In a letter, the groups say, “It’s time to put the 17 million jobs associated with U.S. agriculture ahead of a few hardline politicians in Washington. Your support for removing outdated financing and trade barriers for exporting agricultural products to our neighbor could significantly strengthen an industry which supports 17 million American jobs.” The letter also says Trump’s support would pave the way for the Cuban people to have access to high-quality American food.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says greenhouse gas emissions from ethanol are 43 percent lower than emissions from gasoline. USDA released the report Thursday that compared greenhouse gas emissions from corn-based ethanol with gasoline when measured on an energy equivalent basis. The study relied on forecasts of future ethanol production systems and expected impacts on the farm sector. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the report “provides evidence that corn ethanol can be a greenhouse gas-friendly alternative to fossil fuels. National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson says the report provides “further evidence that the RFS is working.” The data also shows that when farmers employ a variety of conservation practices including no-till, cover crops, nitrogen inhibitors, and precision fertilizer applications, corn ethanol can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 76 percent when compared to gasoline.