Click here for this week’s Commodity Comments, a weekly newsletter designed to provide agricultural producers with an analysis of current market trends by Farm Bureau Market Analyst Jonah Bowles.
This Week’s Commodity Comments: June 18, 2014
Author: VFB Governmental Relations
4-H’ers Honor the History of 4-H While Working Toward a Better Future at the 2014 State Congress
More than 500 teens, volunteer leaders, and Virginia Cooperative Extension agents will gather on Virginia Tech’s Blacksburg campus this week for the 94th annual 4-H State Congress.
This year’s theme, “Celebrating the Past, Making It Last,” draws on the history of 4-H and demonstrates the power of 4-H to assist teens in developing leadership, citizenship, and life skills through hands-on educational programs.
Special this year, State 4-H Congress will host a Centennial Celebration Luncheon to honor the 100-year anniversary of Cooperative Extension. Delegates will deepen their understanding of 4-H and Extension by viewing displays, a slideshow, and interviews of people whose lives have been impacted by 4-H. Special guest speakers, as well as 4-H alumni, retirees, and former employees, will join the luncheon.
“I think the most exciting thing we’re incorporating this year is a centennial celebration. Although 4-H is more than 100 years old, we have an exciting opportunity to celebrate 100 years of Extension, which is being celebrated nationally,” said Mike Martin, Extension 4-H specialist. “4-H is the youth development organization of Cooperative Extension and has served an important role in the history of Extension.”
During the Congress, 4-H delegates will also participate in the Great Summer Showcase — a series of fun and innovative educational workshops taught by Virginia Tech faculty members covering topics such as animal science, communications and expressive arts, healthy living, environmental education, technology, engineering, and math.
Participants will have exciting, hands-on workshops to choose from, including fashion merchandizing and horticulture. Another workshop will let 4-H’ers explore art and computer graphics while working at the DREAMS Lab on campus, which houses a 3-D printing station. The workshops are designed to introduce the students to interesting subjects and engender a love of learning.
4-H Congress will continue a program introduced in 2013 that gives participants the opportunity to explore college and career tracks at Virginia Tech; Virginia State University, the commonwealth’s other land-grant university; and the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine with an in-depth look at their departments and programs.
The service learning project this year benefits the nonprofit Project Linus, an organization that donates new, handmade blankets to children in need. Delegates are encouraged to bring two yards of fleece fabric to Congress. Finished blankets will be sent home with local units to distribute to area chapters of Project Linus.
Congress participants will also have an opportunity to compete for awards in dozens of areas, such as culinary arts, forestry, soil and plant science, and drama. In some competitions, winners will advance to regional and national contests.
Delegates will also enjoy a welcome picnic and mixer, dances, a carnival, a mid-week pizza party, and an All-Star ice cream social hosted by the 4-H All Stars.
“State 4-H Congress provides teens the opportunity to build on positive experiences in their county programs. Through structured interactions, teens gain new skills, provide service to the community, and have the opportunity to expand their vision for their future, whether they choose to go to college or enter the workforce,” said Cathy Sutphin, associate director of 4-H youth development.
As the youth development service for Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia 4-H engages youths ages 5 to 19 in hands-on educational programs and activities designed to help them gain the knowledge, life skills, and attitudes needed to further their development as self-directing, contributing, productive members of society.
For information about 4-H State Congress or other 4-H activities in your community, locate your county or city office on the Virginia Cooperative Extension website.
Stop EPA Overreach, Farm Bureau’s Stallman Tells Congress
The EPA’s proposal to regulate everyday farming practices isn’t just impractical; it’s illegal, American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman told the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment this morning.
“The EPA ‘Waters of the U.S.’ proposal broadly expands federal jurisdiction,” Stallman said. “It threatens local land-use and zoning authority, and is an end-run around Congress and the Supreme Court.”
The EPA claims that farmers would face less regulation under its latest proposal. In fact, the rule would micromanage farming via newly-mandated procedures for fencing, spraying, weeding and more. Permitting, meanwhile, could delay time-sensitive tasks for months, potentially ruining crops in the process.
“EPA is deliberately misleading the regulated community about the impacts on land use. If more people knew how regulators could use the proposed rule to require permits for common activities on dry land, or penalize landowners for not getting them, they would be outraged,” Stallman said.
The Clean Water Act was signed into law in 1972 with the clear purpose of protecting the nation’s waters from pollution of all sorts. Congress gave states, not the EPA, the primary responsibility to oversee land use. The latest proposal would turn that relationship on its head.
In a statement issued yesterday, Stallman said EPA’s decision to extend the time available to comment on the proposed rule is a victory for farming families and a clear signal that America’s farmers know how to stand up and be counted.
“The new schedule gives us until October 20 to comment on the Waters of the United States rule, and until July 7 to comment on the accompanying interpretive rule. Rest assured we will use that time to its best advantage. We will ditch this rule,” Stallman said.
To help Farm Bureau members and others express the need for EPA to “Ditch the Rule,” Farm Bureau has launched a website at ditchtherule.fb.org. Focused on topics and analysis related to the “waters of the U.S.” proposed rule, the easy-to-navigate site includes several sections: Take Action, Go Social, Find Answers and Get Resources. Visitors may also sign up to learn more, comment on the proposed rule and send tweets using the hashtag #DitchTheRule.
This Week’s Commodity Comments: June 11, 2014
Click here for this week’s Commodity Comments, a weekly newsletter designed to provide agricultural producers with an analysis of current market trends by Farm Bureau Market Analyst Jonah Bowles.
EPA Extends Waters of the U.S. Comment Period
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers have extended the public comment period for a proposed rule that defines the Waters of the U.S. that fall under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act.
The extension was in response to a number of requests received by the agencies involved with the rule, EPA said. Originally slated to end July 21, the extension gives the public an additional 91 days – or until Oct. 20 – to submit comments.
According to the EPA, the rule is designed to clarify protection under the Clean Water Act for streams and wetlands. Farm Bureau has carefully analyzed the proposal. Simply put, EPA and the Corps are now attempting to regulate virtually all water, something Congress has explicitly chosen not to allow and which two U.S. Supreme Court decisions have rejected.
The EPA proposal also includes an interpretive rule that the agency says ensures that 56 specific conservation practices that protect or improve water quality and are conducted in conformance with the standards of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service will not be subject to Clean Water Act Section 404 permitting requirements for discharges of dredged or fill material. The comment period on the interpretive rule has also been extended by 30 days, until July 7.
American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Bob Stallman released the following statement regarding the extension of the comment period.
“The American Farm Bureau Federation is pleased the EPA has extended the time available to comment on new and highly burdensome clean water rules. This is a victory for farming families and a clear signal that America’s farmers know how to stand up and be counted.
“EPA has misled the regulated community about the rule’s impacts on land use. If more people knew how regulators want to require permits for common activities on dry land, or penalize landowners for not getting them, they would be outraged.
“This latest rule broadly expands federal jurisdiction and threatens local land-use and zoning authority. Simply put, it is an end-run around Congress and the Supreme Court. I look forward to expanding on our position in testimony tomorrow before the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment.
“The new schedule gives us until October 20 to comment on the Waters of the United States rule, and until July 7 to comment on the accompanying interpretive rule. Rest assured we will use that time to its best advantage. We will ditch this rule.”
Breaking News: Sandy Adams Named VDACS Commissioner
Governor Terry McAuliffe has announced Sandra “Sandy” J. Adams as Commissioner of Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Sandy Adams most recently served as Acting VDACS Commissioner. This was Adams’ second time serving as Acting Commissioner.
Prior to leading VDACS in an acting capacity, Adams served for three and a half years as the agency’s Deputy Commissioner.
In her new role as VDACS Commissioner, Adams is responsible for managing an agency that promotes the economic growth and development of agriculture, provides consumer protection, and encourages environmental stewardship.
Prior to serving as Deputy Commissioner, Adams served ten years as VDACS Director of Administrative & Financial Services and three years as the agency’s Financial Director. In addition to her almost 20 years at VDACS, Adams served 12 years in a number of positions at the Department of Taxation.
Adams received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Mary Washington College and a post-baccalaureate Certificate in Accounting from Virginia Commonwealth University.
VFLEP Newsletter Now Available on Plows and Politics
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| Andrew Smith Senior Assistant Director, GR |
A majority of Virginia’s forestland is privately own, much in conjunction with farms. The Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program (VFLEP), develops a newsletter to inform landowners of information and opportunities to best manage their forest resources. We plan to begin sharing this newsletter as it’s available on Plows and Politics. You can read the latest issue here. June 2014 issue
From the Field: County Farm Bureaus Provide Big Time Incentives for Advanced Education
From the Field is a bi-monthly column written by Mark Campbell, Farm Bureau Field Services Director for the Central District. He writes about Farm Bureau member benefits and County Farm Bureau activities.
In my last post, I discussed the major financial support of youth livestock shows and exhibitors by county Farm Bureaus. Since graduation time has just now wrapped up around most of the country, I wanted to enlighten you on another major area of youth support. This area is scholarships, and they are offered in many styles and amounts. The most common type is for high school students entering college and pursuing a degree in agriculture. The agriculture field being very broad these days allows numerous students to be eligible. Some counties don’t restrict eligibility to agriculture only. One county Farm Bureau that I know of even budgets a certain amount of scholarship money for advanced educational courses that farmers want to take.
The typical scholarship amount is $1,000, and counties may offer one or more. Some counties extend the scholarship every year for the full four years of a college degree as long as certain criteria are met.
The county Farm Bureaus advertise their scholarships through the county Farm Bureau newsletter, website, newspaper, high school guidance department, ag teacher/FFA advisor, and any other way they can think of to get the word out. Once the scholarships are awarded, many counties have a representative make a presentation of the scholarship at the awards ceremony that most high schools have. This gets some recognition for the county Farm Bureau.
Now here is the amazing part. Total scholarship money offered by county Farm Bureaus state wide is an astounding $157,400. So if you have any family members that will be entering college next year, it is definitely worth checking with the county Farm Bureau office for available scholarships.
The county Farm Bureaus are very dedicated to supporting the next generation of agriculturalists and dedicate some serious funding to back up their commitment. This is another reason to join Farm Bureau or renew your membership.
The county Farm Bureaus do a ton of good things in the local communities. Your membership dues pay dividends back into your own county. With more members, think of how much more could be done. So ask your friends and family to join if they are not members.
Until next time,
Mark
This Week’s Commodity Comments: June 4, 2014
Click here for this week’s Commodity Comments, a weekly newsletter designed to provide agricultural producers with an analysis of current market trends by Farm Bureau Market Analyst Jonah Bowles.
Washington Post: GMOs Could Improve the Lives of Millions
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| Lindsay Reames Assistant Director, GR |
The Washington Post recently published the editorial below on the misguided movement to restrict the use of biotechnology in crop production. The editorial makes a number of good points regarding the responsibility that we in agriculture have to feed the growing world population in a responsible manner and how the use of biotechnology is integral to addressing that challenge.
Plows and Politics 