November 5, 2012
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Capitol View
IFYE participants share experiences during, after exchange This is the sixth in a series of articles about the International Four-H Youth Exchange program. Since its founding in 1948, the International Four-H Youth Exchange (IFYE) program has helped thousands of young people from across the United States, Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the South Pacific learn about life in other lands. The IFYE program is an in-depth learning experience in which 4-H alumni and other young adults and adults aged 19 to 30 live with host families in other countries to increase global awareness, develop independent study interests and improve language skills. Programs vary from country to country, with some emphasizing an agricultural work experience, volunteering at an adult training center or working with a local youth development program similar to 4-H. All have living with a family and learning about the culture as the key component. In our ongoing series of articles you have read about the experiences of young people from other countries, what host family experiences are like, the orientation process for participants and some other general points. This article
IFYE participant Kelly Moyer (right) of Colorado makes her grandmother’s apple dumplings with her German host sister in 2010. concentrates on what is expected of participants representing the United States. IYE representatives should become involved with the partner youth program in their host countries whenever possible. Depending on the country, this involvement could include helping with
camping programs, studying youth development issues or working with the formation of youth clubs in various settings around the host country. Participants are expected to share their own culture while learning about that of the host country. Through this sharing and learning, they will enhance global awareness and understanding. Some states require outbound delegates to prepare a cultural project that they can share with their host families. This project should focus on an aspect of American culture that is important to each participant. The project can be in any form and on any topic. For instance, previous delegates have: • Demonstrated how to throw a lasso. • Prepared their favorite food dish. • Sung a favorite pop song (with accompanying dance moves). • Taught their favorite sport/ game and then played it with their host family. The main goal of this project is to share a piece of American cul-
ture with host families and new friends and to have fun. While in the host country, participants regularly send newsletters home to the hosting organization, post on Facebook, write blogs and more, ultimately reaching out to thousands of people. After the IFYE delegate returns home, a debriefing is required to counter reverse culture shock and to begin engaging the delegate in promotional activities, such as a follow-up newspaper article, radio or TV appearances, and scheduling speaking engagements with community, civic, 4-H, school or church groups. The participant will be invited to join state and national IFYE associations and information urging them to participate in meetings or conferences will be given. If you or someone you know is interested in IFYE and would like more information, please contact Alan Lambert, president of the IFYE Association, at alanelambert @gmail.com.
www.ifyeusa.org
Many U.S. farm goods now duty-free in Panama Continued from page 1 “Panama has long enjoyed duty-free access to the U.S. market, while our products were facing excessive tariffs when sold to the Panama market,” explained David Salmonsen, American Farm Bureau Federation trade specialist. “Implementation of the Panama FTA is leveling the playing field
for U.S. farmers and ranchers by eliminating these tariffs.” The agreement also provides immediate duty-free access for specified volumes of standard grade beef cuts, chicken leg quarters, pork, corn, rice and dairy products through tariff-rate quotas. Most of the remaining tariffs will be eliminated within 15 years.
Farmers could face the ‘fiscal cliff’ Continued from page 1 Matt Erickson, an American Farm Bureau Federation economist. “While commodity program and crop insurance spending does impact farmers and ranchers, programs like rural development, agricultural research and Extension also spread throughout rural communities.” The fiscal cliff will also have a tremendous impact on tax breaks for the entire country, and specifically for farmers and ranchers. For example, the estate tax will revert from a $5 million exemption at a 35 percent tax rate to a $1 million per person exemption at a top tax rate of 55 percent. This could be disastrous for many farm families. It is estimated that one out of every 10 farms would owe estate taxes in 2013 if conditions dictate a transfer. Barriers are already steep for young farmers and ranchers to carry on the farming business. With the average age of a farmer being 58 years old, exorbitant estate taxes would make it almost impossible for a family to transfer the farm to a willing, younger member. When estate taxes exceed cash and other liquidated assets, sur-
viving family members are forced to sell illiquid assets, such as land, buildings and equipment. “Understand that 86 percent of a farm’s assets are illiquid, leaving farmers and ranchers few options to pay for estate taxes,” said Erickson. “This means it becomes a lot harder for farmers and ranchers who are in partnerships with family members to pass on the farm to the next generation.” Also on Jan.1, the capital gains tax rate will increase from 15 percent to 20 percent. The impact of capital gains taxes on farming and ranching is significant because production agriculture requires large investments in land and buildings that are held for long periods of time. On average, farmers own their farmland for 30 years, during which time land values can more than triple, as they have in the last 25 years alone. Because capital gains taxes are imposed when buildings, breeding livestock and farmland are sold—or typically transferred to a new or expanding farmer—it becomes more difficult for farmers to shed unneeded assets to generate revenue to adapt and upgrade their operations.
“Last year, U.S. farmers and ranchers exported more than $504 million worth of their products to Panama,” Salmonsen said. “With the FTA in place and Panama’s growing economy, those exports will only go up from here.” Looking at pork and pork variety meats only, the U.S. Meat Export Federation says the FTA would eliminate duties of 60 percent to 70 percent on most cuts; eliminate duties of 15 percent on bacon, cured hams and pig fat; and eliminate duties of 30 percent and 15 percent on prepared and preserved items. The U.S. is the top supplier of pork to the Panama market. Taking in the bigger picture, when the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement is fully implemented, it will increase agricultural exports by $46 million per year, according to estimates from USDA’s Economic Research Service. The Panama FTA was one of
three bilateral trade agreements completed in 2006 and 2007. The others were with Korea and Panama. All three were approved by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama in 2011. Together, the three agreements represent nearly $2.5 billion of additional agricultural exports from the United States and would support as many as 22,500 new U.S. jobs. Panama’s legislature in early October passed the last of four bills that had to be approved before the FTA was put in place. The Panamanian government also had to sign an executive decree that would adjust the way the country administers its tariffrate quotas for agricultural products in order to meet its FTA obligations. The Korea FTA went into effect in March, while implementation of the agreement with Colombia began in May.