2012 marks the 25th anniversary of Farm Safety 4 Just Kids.  The organization has promoted farm safety to more than 6-million people through local programs and education since 1987. FS4JK has a network of more than 120 chapters across the United States and Canada that offer farm safety presentations on a local level.

Marilyn Adams founded the non-profit organization in 1987 after the death of her 11-year-old son in a gravity flow grain wagon accident. Its mission is to promote a safe farm environment to prevent health hazards, injuries and fatalities to children and youth. What started as a tribute to her son has touched nearly 6 million people so far.

Adams says – I didn’t really know what to expect when I started FS4JK. The organization has grown and evolved so much in the past 25 years. It’s exciting to think about what lies ahead for the farm safety movement. FS4JK focuses on prevention through education. Education Director Shari Burgus says – our goal is to teach the next generation of farmers to be safe. The entire industry depends on it.

Courtesy: NAFB News

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will publish in the Federal Register a comprehensive rule forBovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, or BSE. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Associate Director of Legislative Affairs Kent Bacus says – NCBA has been pushing for this rule since the first case of BSE was detected in the United Stated in December 2003. This has been a long time coming.

According to Baucus, this proposed rule will show the United States is willing to talk the talk and walk the walk with regard to following international standards developed by the World Organization for Animal Health. He says – it is important for the U.S. government to take all necessary steps to properly address risks related to BSE by adopting this proposed comprehensive rule.

Baucus adds, – it is very difficult for the United States to demand our trading partners follow OIE standards when we are not here at home. The comprehensive BSE rule will change that and will solidify the United States’ commitment to basing our trade relationships on internationally-recognized, science-based standards. Comments on the proposed rule must be submitted within 60 days, once published.

Courtesy: NAFB News

After all was said and done, amendments to the transportation bill dealing with the Keystone XL pipeline project, offshore oil and gas production and EPA regulations failed muster in the U.S. Senate on Thursday. Nebraska Senator Mike Johanns found himself in the minority, voting on these issues. Each amendment fell short of the required 60 votes.

The Keystone amendment, of which Johanns is a cosponsor would use Congress’ Constitutional authority to oversee foreign commerce to approve the Keystone XL project, allowing pipeline construction to begin immediately outside of Nebraska. Nebraska would continue to have all the time it needs to complete its route selection. Johanns also voted to support an amendment to expand offshore oil and gas production areas.

The Senator said – we need an all-of-the-above energy policy. Energy independence is one of the most pressing economic and national security issues facing our country. It makes no more sense to lock up our natural resources than it does to increase our dependence on oil from unfriendly sources.

Courtesy: NAFB News

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) – Newly released figures show Kansas agricultural exports grew by 35 percent last year to set a record high.

The U.S. Agriculture Department’s Foreign Agricultural Service reports more than $3.68 billion in farm exports from Kansas in 2011.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture says the previous state record of $3.06 billion was set in 2008.

Kansas Agriculture Secretary Dale Rodman says in a news release Thursday that the numbers show just how important agriculture is to the state.

Total exports in Kansas grew 17 percent to $11.68 billion. Agriculture accounted for nearly 32 percent of the state’s total
exports.

The United States Department of Agriculture is calling on America’s farmers and ranchers to sign up for the 2012 Census of Agriculture and to share stories about how Census data benefits them. Renee Picanso, director of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service’s Census and Survey Division, says – census data can help us to better tell the amazing story of American agriculture, but that story will be incomplete if farmers aren’t all counted.

NASS has launched the “Share your Census Story” web page, where producers can tell how local, state and national farm services, programs and policies were shaped by Census of Agriculture data. Picanso says – sharing information about how agricultural and rural programs enhance their quality of life will help others understand the importance of Census information and encourage them to sign up and be counted.

To put together a complete list of agricultural producers, NASS has sent out the National Agricultural Classification Survey. This initial survey helps identify all potential agricultural activities in the United States and who should receive the Census form later this year. Producers who do not complete the inquiry can still sign up for the Census by visiting www.agcensus.usda.gov and clicking “Be Counted – Make Your Voice Heard.”

Courtesy: NAFB News

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced new steps to enhance the delivery of USDA services. USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service is collaborating with six states on new demonstration projects to connect eligible low-income children with free school meals based on information received from Medicaid. The Secretary says – the new process will allow for administrative efficiencies, reduce improper payments and streamline efforts to provide access to critical nutrition for kids across the nation.

Secretary Vilsack explains – by relying upon existing data, we streamline operations, reduce payment errors and improve the efficiency of operations at the federal and local level. At the same time we are ensuring that we deliver healthy meals to more eligible kids so they have access to the nutrition they need to learn and excel.

Alaska, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, New York and Pennsylvania will begin their respective projects on July 1 for school year 2012-2013. Kentucky and Pennsylvania plan to conduct statewide projects while the others will do so in select locations.

Courtesy: NAFB News

The leadership of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers & Ranchers program has released the results of a survey of participants that shows an even split when it comes to concerns about top challenges they face today. A total of 21 percent of young farmers surveyed ranked burdensome government regulations and “red tape” as a top concern; an additional 21 percent cited securing adequate land to grow crops and raising livestock as their top challenge today.

Other issues ranked as top concerns included economic challenges, particularly profitability, 11 percent; availability of farm labor and related regulations, 8 percent; and willingness of parents to turn over the reins of the farm or ranch, 7 percent. When asked to name the top three steps the federal government should take to help young farmers and ranchers, cutting government spending was the number 1 response, with 20 percent listing this as most important.

Glen Cope, AFBF’s national YF&R committee chair and a beef cattle producer from Missouri, explains – one of the biggest challenges many of us have faced is getting enough capital to start farming. And then, once we are established, regulatory costs can be the wildcard that determines whether we can be successful enough to stay on the land. The 2012 survey also shows 94 percent of the nation’s young farmers and ranchers say they are better off than they were five years ago.

Courtesy: NAFB News