The Obama Administration is strongly opposed to the Agriculture Appropriations measure as reported by the House Appropriations Committee. According to the Statement of Administration Policy – the bill severely undermines key investments in financial oversight in a manner that would cripple Wall Street reform. The statement goes on to point to harmful cuts in rural economic development, renewable energy development, nutrition programs, food safety and international food aid. The Administration says investing in these areas is critical to the nation’s economic growth, security and global competitiveness. The Administration also opposes the inclusion of ideological and political provisions that are beyond the scope of funding legislation. This includes the provision that would effectively prevent the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration from further implementing the remaining portions of its marketing rule. If presented with the measure – H.R. 5973 – the President’s senior advisors would recommend he veto the bill.

Following Senate passage of the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act – House Ag Committee Chairman Frank Lucas and Ranking Member Collin Peterson both commended Senate Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow and Ranking Member Pat Roberts. Lucas said moving the legislation was a challenge – and the efforts of Stabenow and Roberts made it possible. Peterson gave the pair high marks for securing bipartisan support and brining the bill one step closer to completion. While stating that he’s not on board with everything they did – Peterson did express confidence that the differences can be worked out in conference committee. Lucas too noted there will be differences between the Senate approach and the House approach. When the House Ag Committee meets July 11th to consider their version of the farm bill – Lucas says they will consider a balanced proposal that saves taxpayers billions of dollars, recognizes the diversity of American agriculture, respects the risks producers face and preserves the tools necessary for food production.

Peterson also stressed the need to finish the farm bill before the current bill expires in September. Waiting for the lame duck session – he said – will not only make it more difficult – but could result in several unintended consequences. Peterson believes if the committee passes a bipartisan bill in early July – House leadership will have little choice but to bring the farm bill to the floor before the August recess. He says he will continue to work with Chairman Lucas and members of the Committee to make that happen.

Several ag organizations applauded Senate passage of the 2012 Farm Bill Thursday and expressed the importance of completing work on the bill before the current bill expires in September.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman says the measure approved by the Senate provides farmers improved risk management tools consistent with the organization’s core principles. He says it includes important reforms and is fiscally responsible while including important provisions to enhance crop insurance, maintain a viable marketing loan program and minimize the potential for farm program provisions to drive producer decisions. But Stallman says the bill isn’t perfect and there is still work ahead to fully secure the kind of policies Farm Bureau believes its farm and ranch families need. He called the Senate measure a workable bill.

Ahead of the final vote – National Farmers Union noted the bipartisan legislation makes significant policy reforms while retaining critical farm safety net programs. NFU President Roger Johnson says it helps farmers manage actual risk, continues to feed our nation’s food insecure, streamlines and strengthens important conservation programs, continues critical investment in renewable energy and supports the rural economy.

American Soybean Association President Steve Wellman says the Senate’s farm bill would establish an effective risk management program for soybean producers that complements crop insurance, consolidate conservation programs and have agriculture do its fair share to help address the nation’s fiscal situation. Major provisions supported by ASA include the Agriculture Risk Coverage program – under which revenue losses exceeding 11-percent will be partially offset at either the farm or county level – and reauthorization and funding of the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development program. Wellman says ASA does disagree with some of the amendments approved on the Senate floor – but on the whole – the group believes the bill will help farmers manage risk, conserve natural resources and develop foreign markets.

American Farmland Trust hailed Senate passage of the 2012 Farm Bill. They were particularly pleased that an amendment to reattach conservation compliance to crop and revenue insurance was adopted. They also pointed to the inclusion of the new agricultural land easement component – patterned after the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program. AFT further noted that language specifically supporting the role of land trusts and state agencies who work with USDA in protecting farm and ranch lands through this program was adopted. AFT President Jon Scholl says the reforms provide more comprehensive and efficient tools for conservation – but says conservation programs shouldered a significant share of cuts to aid deficit reduction. He says more than a quarter of the spending cuts result from reforms and reductions in the Conservation Title.

Gene Schmidt – National Association of Conservation Districts President – says the farm bill approved by the Senate is a reform bill with benefits that stretch far beyond rural America. He says the bill impacts everything from food security, to the economy and to the conservation of the land, air and water we rely on every day. As passed by the Senate – Schmidt says the 2012 Farm Bill includes a strong Conservation Title that streamlines and consolidates programs for increased efficiency and ease-of-use for producers. At the same time – he says critical funding is maintained for all of the conservation purposes needed to implement conservation where it counts. NACD is calling on the House to follow the Senate’s lead in passing a bill that recognizes the role of local-led conservation in protecting and preserving America’s natural resources. Schmidt says we can’t afford not to invest in our natural resource base as we face increased pressure to produce food, feed, fuel and fiber for a growing population.

The farm bill approved by the Senate Thursday addresses many priorities critical to United Fresh members – including programs supporting essential research, market promotion and nutrition and continued support of specialty crops. United Fresh President and CEO Tom Stenzel says the bill supports fruits and vegetables in ways that will boost consumption and help provide healthful options to Americans.

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Vice President of Government Affairs Colin Woodall says NCBA stands firm in its commitment to support the Senate’s farm legislation. He says the amendment process was concerning in its early stages – but all is well for cattlemen and women. As written – Woodall says the legislation incorporates all NCBA priorities. He notes there is no livestock title, conservation programs are maintained and the research title is sustained. Woodall says NCBA will continue working with the House to ensure amendments that would interject the federal government into production agriculture are left out of the legislation or soundly defeated.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa hog farmer who admitted defrauding a bank out of millions of dollars has been given eight years in a federal prison.

Prosecutors say 59-year-old David LeClere, of Coggon, had pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. He was sentenced on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids.

He must serve five years of supervised release when he leaves prison, and he was ordered to make restitution of nearly $8.3 million.

LeClere acknowledged that in order to borrow more money he gave Farmers State Bank in Marion falsely inflated information about the number and weight of his hogs and the amount of money that packing plants owed him. He admitted illegally cashed checks more than once using a remote deposit scanning machine he’d gotten from the bank.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was pleased that the U.S. Senate acted in bipartisan spirit to approve the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act. He said he was grateful with the Senate’s progress toward providing a reformed safety net for producers in times of need, supporting agricultural research and trade promotion, honoring World Trade Organization commitments, furthering the bio-based economy, conserving our natural resources, strengthening local and regional food systems and promoting job growth in rural America. According to Vilsack – the Administration will continue to seek policy solutions and savings consistent with the President’s budget as the legislative process moves forward. He expressed hope that the House will produce a bill with those same goals in mind – and noted that the nation’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities must have the certainty they need to continue strengthening the rural and national economy.

With a vote of 75 to 24 – the Senate has approved a farm bill amendment that sets a hard cap of 75-thousand dollars on marketing loan gains. The amendment was introduced by Iowa’s Chuck Grassley – a long-time advocate of limits on farm program payments. Grassley says the reform will help to bring more defensibility for the farm program.

Of the amendments that went to a roll call vote Tuesday – the Senate rejected amendments to limit categorical eligibility for the supplemental nutrition assistance program to those who receive cash assistance, to end the state bonus payments for administering SNAP and to improve the program of value-added agricultural producer grants. But amendments to require Federal milk marketing order reform, to require more frequent dairy reporting, to strengthen rural communities and foster the next generation of farmers and ranchers and to encourage the purchase of pulse crop products for school meals programs were approved.

Votes continued through the evening. Amendments to establish an average adjusted gross income limitation of 250-thousand dollars for all payments and benefits under the farm bill, to provide that any entity receiving a business and industry direct or guaranteed loan for a wind energy project is ineligible for any other Federal benefit, assistance, or incentive for the project, to eliminate the organic certification cost share assistance program and to strike a reduction in SNAP and increase funding for the fresh fruit and vegetable program with an offset limiting crop insurance reimbursements to providers were each rejected. Senators agreed to an amendment to require a study into the feasibility of an insurance product that covers food safety recalls.

The Senate rounded out Tuesday’s farm bill voting by rejecting three amendments offered by South Carolina’s Jim DeMint. One to prohibit mandatory or compulsory checkoff programs was opposed by the American Soybean Association. The other two were to prohibit the Secretary from making loan guarantees and to maintain funding at current levels for programs providing access to broadband telecommunications services in rural areas.

BOONE, IOWA – June 20, 2012 – Forage Genetics International (FGI), one of the world’s leading alfalfa seed providers, and Syngenta announce the launch of NEXGROW™ alfalfa, a new brand equipped to bring growers the traits and technology they need – now and in the future. The brand will be managed by FGI and sold through existing Garst®, Golden Harvest® or NK® brand alfalfa resellers.

“Growers will see this new brand as a continuation of FGI’s 20 year collaboration with Syngenta in coordination with our leadership in diverse genetics and critical industry traits,” said Brent Johnson, NEXGROW™ alfalfa brand manager. “The only change for growers is the new brand name.  They will have the same great service through their Garst, Golden Harvest or NK brand alfalfa reseller when purchasing alfalfa for fall planting.”

NEXGROW™ alfalfa brings producers the same top yield potential, high forage quality and exceptional persistence they have come to expect from Syngenta and NK brand alfalfas – now unified under one name.

“NEXGROW™ alfalfa has all of growers’ favorite Syngenta and NK brand alfalfa varieties, plus seven new varieties,” said Grant Ozipko, Syngenta crop portfolio head. “Grower favorites like 6422Q, the top winner at World Dairy Expo’s 2011 World Forage Analysis Superbowl, will be available along with varieties that are glyphosate tolerant or highly resistant to potato leafhopper.”

The new alfalfa brand will also offer elite next generation glyphosate tolerant varieties, such as Revolt. Superior late fall dormant varieties with exceptional winter hardiness which dramatically increases yield potential will also be available.

For more information on NEXGROW™ alfalfa, talk to your local Garst, Golden Harvest or NK brand alfalfa reseller or visitwww.plantNEXGROW.com.

According to the Humane Society of the United States – Sonic Drive-In has announced its intention to only accept pork products from suppliers that do not use gestation-sow stalls by the year 2022. Sonic is just the latest in a growing list of restaurants and retail chains to state similar objectives. The National Pork Producers Council has voiced concern with this growing trend – stating that retailers are succumbing to pressure from groups like HSUS without considering the impact on American farm families. University of Missouri Ag Economist Ron Plain recently found that only 17.3-percent of sows spend a portion of gestation in open pens. He surveyed pork operations with one-thousand or more sows and received responses from 70 operations that altogether own about 3.6-million of the nation’s 5.7-million sows.

NPPC President R.C. Hunt – a North Carolina pork producer – said Plain’s survey shows that the food companies haven’t thought through the complexities, logistics or implications of their requests. NPPC says these forced changes on producers’ choice of sow housing could put hog farmers out of business and will certainly increase the price of pork for consumers.