President Obama approved a disaster declaration for Colorado Friday and traveled to Colorado yesterday and today to meet with state and local officials on wildfire response efforts and thank those helping fight the fires. An Army battalion at Fort Carson in Colorado is being trained by the Forest Service and Department of Interior to help fight the fires. The declaration made by the President on Friday ensures federal funding is available to state and local governments – along with certain private non-profit organizations – for emergency protective measures. The Federal Emergency Management Agency also has approved two more Fire Management Assistance Grants for fires in Utah and Wyoming.

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar have directed federal land managers to take additional measures to reduce the risk of new wildfires and prioritize safety for firefighters and communities by prohibiting the use of fireworks on government-managed lands in Western states. This restriction will be in effect until July 8th. As the U.S. celebrates its independence – Vilsack says the aggressive wildland fire fight continues. He wants to thank the thousands of men and women battling the fires.

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and Deputy Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Heather Zichal announced Monday the availability of up to 30-million dollars in funding for commercial scale advanced drop-in biofuels through the Defense Production Act and Energy Department. National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson says the initiative is great for rural America because it helps create more jobs and keeps more money in the U.S. – rather than overseas. Johnson says it also makes sense to utilize home-grown fuel rather than relying on foreign oil – and increased use of biofuels helps moderate fuel costs.

The National Farmers Union held its All-States Leadership Camp – themed Cooperation Across the Nation – June 24th through the 29th. Young adults from across the U.S. participated in cooperative activities and listened to several inspirational speakers at the NFU Education Center in Bailey, Colorado. For example – staff from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Influenza Division simulated an influenza outbreak with campers – who played the role of a CDC investigative team and found the source of the illness during two days. Campers also elected six peers to the 2012 National Youth Advisory Council. Those elected were Mitchell Farmer-Lies of Minnesota; Patrick Swift of North Dakota; Briana Green of Montana; Bre Stafford of Colorado; Cole Musland of North Dakota and William Felzien of Colorado. NFU Director of Education Maria Miller says the youth attending the camp excel as leaders – and NFU is proud they represent the future voice of rural America.

Congress passed a transportation bill Friday – after nine extensions and more than one-thousand days. Senator Mike Johanns of Nebraska – one of the affirmative votes for the bill – says the legislation is good news for anyone who drives the nation’s highways, lives in flood-prone areas or endeavors to begin college. The bill authorizes federal highway programs for the next two-years and includes an extension of the current student loan interest rate. It also includes a five-year federal flood insurance program reform. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President J.D. Alexander says the bill is a big deal to farm and ranch families across the country – as it prevents certain farm vehicles from vigorous federal requirements and provides additional uniformity across state lines. The legislation also waives certain restrictions for farmers transporting commodities during planting and harvesting seasons.

In addition to the disaster declaration approved by President Obama Friday – the Forest Service mobilized the four remaining Department of Defense C-130s equipped with Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems. These airtankers are in addition to the 19 currently available nationally to assist with wildfire suppression efforts. MAFFS aircraft have dropped more than 138-thousand gallons of retardant in the Rocky Mountain Region to date – with a primary focus on the Waldo Canyon fire. Damage surveys are continuing – and once the assessments are fully completed – more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated as part of Friday’s disaster declaration.

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson expressed appreciation for the additional resources announced by USDA and other federal partners to support wildfire response efforts. But he added that budgets and programs to make fire-dependent landscapes less susceptible to extreme wildfires are equally important. According to Johnson – land management agencies need strong budgets to stay at the ready to combat wildfires.

Going forward – Johnson says NFU is calling for necessary funding for reclamation activities to restore fire-damaged natural resources and to manage forest landscapes for greater resilience to impacts from a changing climate like extreme drought and bark beetle infestation.

The White House has reviewed and accepted Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper’s request for an expedited major disaster declaration. This declaration will bring additional federal assistance to Colorado to provide resources for crisis counseling and disaster unemployment assistance; public assistance for emergency work; and a hazard mitigation grant program. Hickenlooper says the funding will allow the state to provide much needed assistance to the communities affected by wildfires. He says it’s clear the whole country is with Colorado in fighting the fires and recovering from their devastation.

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson – in Colorado for NFU’s All-States Leadership Camp – says the current images of destruction to public and private forestlands and homes are troubling. He says it’s important not to forget the need that will remain once the fires are extinguished. He says NFU is deeply concerned about the long-term impacts to the watershed in the areas affected by the wildfires. Rocky Mountain Farmers Union President Kent Peppler – a Colorado farmer – says the fires in the watershed mean even greater challenges to the state’s water supply at a time when Colorado already is facing drought.

The World Trade Organization Appellate Body has upheld an earlier ruling that U.S. Country of Origin Labeling provisions violate U.S. trade obligations under the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade. The ruling does – however – affirm the right of the U.S. to adopt labeling requirements that provide information to American consumers about the meat they buy. U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk was pleased with that finding – as was National Farmers Union. NFU President Roger Johnson says consumers have a right to know where their meat comes from – and want to know. He says the WTO decision confirmed that right. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Vice President Bob McCan says the decision is very similar to the initial ruling made three months ago. Instead of working to bring the U.S. into WTO compliance – he says we wasted three months and taxpayer dollars on an appeal process. McCan says that did nothing more than jeopardize our strong trade relationship with Canada and Mexico – the largest importers of U.S. beef.

According to McCan – cattlemen need a government that demands WTO compliance of our trade partners and ensures the U.S. abides by the same guidelines. He says NCBA will work with the Administration and Congress to find a permanent solution to the issue in order to bring the U.S. back into compliance. He says it’s critical for the U.S. to lead by example.

National Pork Producers Council President R.C. Hunt says NPPC has believed mandatory COOL would be an unnecessary burden to trade from the start. He says the group will also work to achieve compliance with the decision. If the U.S. fails to comply – Hunt points out the U.S. risks retaliation from Canada and Mexico. He says NPPC will work with the government to reform the labeling regime for meat. Hunt adds that NPPC has asked the Canadian government to recognize the U.S. swine herd health status as equivalent to Canada’s and to reform its hog subsidy programs. He says NPPC is hopeful the Canadian government will see the negative effects its programs have on U.S. producers.