In an effort to foster a more balanced conversation about farm-animal care and to provide credible feedback to promote continuous improvement, the Center for Food Integrity has created an Animal Care Review panel. The panel, which includes an animal scientist, a veterinarian and an ethicist, has already studied the most recent undercover video released by Compassion over Killing.  The video was recorded at an Iowa hog farm.

After reviewing the video the panel reports that most of what is shown in the video are normally accepted production practices and there was nothing that could be considered abusive. It was noted that employees appeared to be competent and well-trained and that the barn floors and the pigs themselves were clean. In one part of the video an employee is seen using tape on a piglet’s incisions following castration. One of the experts noted such a practice is considered more welfare friendly than stitches because it is less intrusive and requires less handling of the pig.

The experts did see several flies in a farrowing room. They determined that was a point of concern and something the experts felt the farm needs to correct. They also questioned the use of the practice of “back feeding”. The experts noted it is unclear if this practice involves sows or pigs and its exact purpose.

The pig panel includes: Dr. Temple Grandin, an animal scientist at Colorado State University: Dr. Candace Croney, associate professor of animal science at Purdue University; and Dr. Tom Burkgren, DVM, executive director of American Association of Swine Veterinarians. CFI officials say they will apply the review panel concept to other animal agriculture sectors as they show interest.

Courtesy: NAFB News

Obama Administration officials have announced three significant actions to expand the government’s purchase of biobased products, promote regional rural job creation and develop a rural healthcare workforce. In a Presidential Memorandum, Mr. Obama directed the Federal Government to take decisive steps to dramatically increase the purchase of biobased products over the next two years. The Memorandum will also result in a 50 percent increase in the number of new products that are designated as biobased.

The Rural Jobs Accelerator was also announced.  This program is a national competition that will provide about 15-million dollars for projects that promote innovation-fueled regional job creation.  And the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor signed a memorandum of understanding to connect community colleges and technical colleges that support rural communities with the materials and resources they need to support the training of Health Information Technology professionals that work in rural hospitals and clinics.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who chairs the White House Rural Council, says – the actions we are taking will bring new economic investments to our rural communities, to ensure the people who live in these towns have a better, brighter future.

Courtesy: NAFB News

United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk says the free trade agreement between the United States and South Korea will be implemented on March 15, 2012. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President J.D. Alexander says – this may very well be the most monumental bilateral trade pact our industry has ever witnessed. He says – when the KORUS FTA is implemented, our competitive advantage will be secured.

Alexander points out that – with increasing demand and tightening supplies, movement of the KORUS FTA should encourage cattlemen and women to think beyond the current prices for live cattle and think long term. Think about where demand is heading and look beyond the borders of the United States. Now is the time to retain heifers and rebuild what has now become the smallest U.S. cowherd more than five decades.

NCBA was a key player in working vigorously to ensure passage of the trade pact with South Korea. Alexander says the KORUS pact – will phase out tariffs on U.S. beef over the next 15 years and will make U.S. beef a more affordable and appealing choice for our valued Korean customers.

Courtesy: NAFB News

The American Soybean Association has submitted comments to the Senate Ag Committee, which held a hearing last week which focused on the energy component of the upcoming Farm Bill. ASA President Steve Wellman, a soybean farmer from Syracuse, Nebraska, pointed to Farm Bill energy programs that have a direct and tangible impact on the soybean industry—namely the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program and the Biobased Market Program.

According to Wellman, – the Biodiesel Education Program plays a vital role in helping expand marketplace acceptance and use of biodiesel as a low-carbon, renewable diesel replacement fuel. He says – it supports technical outreach efforts to engine manufacturers, truckers, and fuel marketers that will eventually allow the use of higher biodiesel blends in conventional diesel applications.

Wellman also spoke to the importance of biobased products as successful market vehicles for soybeans.  He said – this is an effective and important program for promoting the emerging biobased industry, which has significant potential to enhance agricultural markets, displace foreign petroleum and fossil fuels, and contribute new “green” jobs to the economy.

Courtesy: NAFB News

Investigators raided a Butterball plant in North Carolina last week and arrest a half-dozen workers who officials say were operating outside of Butterball’s rules and regulations when the group Mercy for Animals filmed them being cruel to turkeys on the farm late last year. Also arrested was North Carolina Department of Agriculture employee, Dr. Sarah Mason, for alerting the company of Mercy for Animal’s video.

Mason said she acted on her own and reached out to a fellow veterinarian to immediately curtail any avian abuse. Mason has appeared before a judge and pleaded guilty to obstruction and resisting a public officer. A 45-day jail sentence was suspended if she completes 12 months of probation.

Butterball says it was cooperating fully with the investigation. The company said it fired four employees last month due to their failure to comply with company animal care standards. Two current employees were also charged and they have been suspended.

Courtesy: NAFB News

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has given the go-ahead for the sales of a mixture of 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline. Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis says – now it is up to the retailers and individual fuel companies to register for approval to sell E15. Another hurdle might be any laws the states have governing sales of gasoline mixed with ethanol.

Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association have championed E15 for three years, after they first filed its petition seeking federal approval to increase blends of ethanol in fuel from the current 10 percent to 15 percent in March 2009. Buis says – we’d encourage all Americans to ask their local filling station how soon they will see more-affordable E15. Growth Energy has committed to the American public that we will work with the retail industry to bring E15 to their stations.

The Renewable Fuels Association says the health effects testing is a significant milestone to have passed. RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen says – EPA’s action puts E15 on the precipice of commercialization and means that consumers may be able to choose a more affordable E15 option in time for the expensive summer driving season. The RFA expects companies to begin the registration process immediately.

Courtesy: NAFB News

The Department of Agriculture has released 27 grants to local organizations to build community food systems and fight hunger and food insecurity. The new projects, totaling 4.8-million dollars in funding, include a teen-run community kitchen incubator, faith-based community food assessments, a program to help indigenous people return to healthful eating, and a youth-led food security movement. The awards were made by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture through its Community Food Projects program.

The primary goals of the Community Food Projects program are to (1) meet the food needs of low-income individuals; (2) increase the food self-reliance of low-income communities; (3) promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm and nutrition issues; and (4) meet specific state, local or neighborhood food and agricultural needs.

Last year, 17.2-million households faced food insecurity—meaning they lacked consistent access to adequate food. According to USDA Under Secretary Kevin Concannon, – the grants supported by the Community Food Projects empower local organizations to respond to food and nutrition needs in their own communities.

Courtesy: NAFB News

The Federal Communications Commission says it will block the planned development of a nationwide wireless network by communications company LightSquared over concerns it cannot be fixed to coexist with global positioning systems. Steve Wellman, President of the American Soybean Association and a Syracuse, Nebraska, soybean farmer, says the FCC’s decision – is certainly a great relief for more than 600-thousand soybean farmers across the country who use GPS technology.

Wellman pointed out that – farmers invest thousands of dollars in high-precision GPS equipment and applications to run more efficient, sustainable, cost-effective and productive farms. The LightSquared network would have rendered that investment all but useless. But, Wellman did note – LightSquared’s efforts do underscore the pressing need for better broadband service, especially in rural America.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says – now that the interference issue is settled, we need to find out more than ever why the FCC did what it did.  The agency put this project on a fast track for approval with what appears to have been completely inadequate technical research. Mr. Grassley says – that’s not the way the people’s government should work.

Courtesy: NAFB News