Vilsack addresses crowd at general session

By Holly Martin

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack spoke to a packed house at the general session of 2010 Commodity Classic. He addressed a number of issues including trade, biofuels and the local food movement. In a news conference following the speech, Vilsack said the proposed reduction in direct payments would affect only 32,000 out of 3.2 million producers receiving those payments.

Vilsack said the cuts would affect those producers earning more than $250,000 in off-farm income and $550,000 in total income. The primary cuts in the Obama administration’s fiscal year 2011 budget would not only affect farm payments, but also Social Security, Medicare and Medicade.

“This will send a statement that we are focused on a forward looking position,” Vilsack said.

In this video, Vilsack talks about a new approach to trade that the Obama administration believes should benefit U.S. farmers.

Impacts of Cap and Trade on U.S. agriculture

By Jennifer M. Latzke

As the 2010 Commodity Classic gets underway in Anaheim, Calif., the National Association of Wheat Growers committees are meeting to hash out issues that will affect the wheat industry in the coming year, including trade policies, the 2012 farm bill, and climate change legislation.

Climate change legislation, or cap and trade, is of particular interest to the NAWG Environment and Renewable Resources Committee, and its Chairman Paul Penner. Here at Classic, the committee heard from analysts with Informa Economics. The study, "The Impacts of HR 2454 on U.S. Agriculture" should be made public in the next month or so. It was conducted by Informa Economics, was sponsored by American Farmland Trust, and covered the affects of the house cap and trade bill on corn, soybean and whet farmers across the United States.

"The committee heard from Informa Economics and the basic preliminary findings were that the implication of cap and trade depends primarily on the location of farms and what they raise," Penner said. A more refined executive summary of the study, as well as the full 300-page report, should be available from NAWG in a few weeks.

NAWG's policy stance, adopted last September, is that it is opposed to greenhouse gas legislation or regulation that has a negative impact on production agriculture, and that any policy that is passed must have a net economic benefit to farmers, agriculture and food production. You can see the full resolution here: http://www.wheatworld.org/issues/climatechange/ .

"The most important thing is agriculture has to have a seat at the table," said Kansas Wheat Communications Specialist Bill Spiegel. "If we don't get in the game, we stand to lose a lot more than if we stay on the sideline."

Chip Foose designed 4020 makes splash at trade show

John Deere unveiled a tricked out 4020 to attendees of the 2010 Commodity Classic trade show. Legendary automotive designer Chip Foose designed a 1970 John Deere in his own unique style. The tractor will now tour the country as a part of the Drive Green Tractor Experience Tour and will be given away to one winner as part of the John Deere Big Buck Promotion, which ends June 30. Rules for the promotion as well as a complete schedule of Drive Green events can be found at www.JohnDeere.com.

Watch the video of the unveiling.

NCGA president stresses education to consumers

By Jennifer Bremer

National Corn Growers Association president, Darrin Ihnen, of Hurley, SD, said during a news conference, that corn producers continue to show everyone how they can produce more with less.

"Comparing 2009 to 2007, we produced the same amount of corn—13 billion bushels—in 2009 on 7 million fewer acres. This shows the continued innovation by seed companies and good management by corn producers," he said.

He also discussed the push by NCGA to get the ethanol blend to 15 percent.

"Our cars can handle it and it would be good for producers," he added.Ihnen said consumers could expect to see 15 percent blended ethanol as soon as late summer.

He also stressed that corn producers and all farmers need to speak out for the agriculture industry.

"We are the best spokespeople for our industry. We need to tell the public what we do and how important it is for the future," he said.

California ag secretary speaks at Corn Congress

By Jennifer Bremer

California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura told corn producers that the entire agriculture sector must work together to continue to produce food, fuel and fiber for the world.

"We need to tell the 98 percent of people who aren't involved in agriculture production about how we, in agriculture, are producing products to the best of our ability for them to survive," he said.

Kawamura, a producer himself, said most people don't understand that agriculture producers rely on good weather, the proper amount of water and available markets to be able to continue to produce the products for the world.

"When you live in the luxury of abundance, like we do in our country, we can give people choices. Then those consumers think their opinion matters and they can vote on policy to regulate our industry," he explained. "That is why we need to educate these consumers about what we do, so we don't lose out on producing the way we know best."

New sorghum traits debut

By Larry Dreiling

Two new herbicide-tolerant sorghum traits were introduced Thursday at the general session of the National Sorghum Producers at the 2010 Commodity Classic.

Wayne Schumacher, sorghum trait and herbicide product manager for DuPont Crop Protection, told attendees to the general session that a new acetolactate synthase (ALS) tolerant trait and new quizalofop tolerant trait will be introduced in the 2012 crop year,

The ALS tolerant trait will be called Inzen Z to work with new Assure II herbicide. The quizalofop tolerant trait will be called Inzen AII to work with new Zest herbicide. The two traits are designed to work independently to solve weed and grass problems in sorghum.

Schumacher told the growers that a stewardship program will be included in the sale of these herbicides to endorse Best Management Practices to ensure continued use of these products.

Sorghum checkoff acceptance growing

By Larry Dreiling

Results of a new farmer/elevator operator survey indicates awareness of the checkoff is growing but needs continued exposure for better understanding.

The survey data was released Wednesday by the United Sorghum Checkoff Program.

Conducted for USCP by McCormick Co., the survey shows just 40% of sorghum growers are aware of the checkoff and only 14% recently recalled any news coverage about it, though what news they collected was positive.

The survey indicates that awareness builds support, with 60% among those aware of the checkoff approving of it. Forage sorghum producers, the survey said, were less aware of the checkoff than grain sorghum producers.

"Sorghum farmers need to see compelling benefits to continue the checkoff," said McCormick's Kathy Cornett. "The results show that producers need more information about why the program is in their best interest. This is because they have many expectations for new initiatives coming from the checkoff."

Those expectations, Cornett said, include increased demand for sorghum and sorghum products, and further research into higher yielding hybrids.

"There must be continued reassurance that you (the checkoff program board) have taken steps to ensure the effectiveness, accountability, fiscal discipline and low overhead of the program," Cornett said,