August 31, 2012 NATIONAL NEWS Comment period open on new soybean varieties Comment periods are open until September 11, 2012, on three new herbicide tolerant soybean varieties. Monsanto is seeking deregulation of Dicamba tolerant soybeans, and Dow is seeking deregulation of two different 2,4-D tolerant soybean varieties, one of which is a stacked trait with Round-up Ready 2 technology. Arkansas Farm Bureau is submitting comments in support of the release of these technologies, based upon policy that states: We believe that our competitive advantage in world markets will be maintained only by the continued support and encouragement of technological advancements. We encourage USDA to take a lead in coordinating efforts to evaluate and move approved products and technologies to the marketplace in a timely manner. Farmer comments are also needed, and due by September 11, 2012. It is important that farmers participate in the regulatory comment process. Usage instructions and release of the soybean seeds will be based in part on comments received from farmers and industry experts. Farm Bureau recognizes that we will have farmer members with different viewpoints on this issue. Our competitive advantage in the world market is dependent of the development and proper use of cutting edge technology. We encourage all to comment and give constructive feedback on these varieties. To submit comments on all three releases, please follow these instructions. 1. Visit www.regulations.gov 2. Do a search for the docket number on the variety you would like to comment on. You will have comment separately on all three dockets. a. APHIS-2012-0047 – Monsanto’s Dicamba tolerant soybean b. APHIS-2012-0019 – Dow’s 2,4-D tolerant soybean c. APHIS-2012-0032 – Dow’s phenoxy auxin group, glyphosate and glufosinate tolerant soybean 3. Just typing in the first few letters of APHIS will bring up a list of docket numbers. Be sure to select the proper number. 4. After you have located the correct docket number, click on the link to the notice of comment. The notice of comment will have more information on each variety. 5. In the upper right hand corner will be a blue button that says Comment Now! A click on that button will take you to the comment form which is easy to operate 6. Remember that comments are public record and viewable by the public. You will be required to include your name, city and state in comments but no other personal information is required. You can find suggested comments and more information about the varieties on www.arfb.com.
Visit the Farm Bureau website to comment on Renewable Fuels Standard waiver The EPA is allowing comments on a possible wavier for the Renewable Fuels Standard. The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program began in 2006. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 establishes annual national renewable fuel volumes required through 2022 for four categories of renewable fuel: cellulosic biofuel, biomass based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total
renewable fuel. The EPA Administrator is allowed to grant a waiver from the standards when fuel volumes are insufficient or significant economic harm is caused by the standard. Governor Mike Beebe and the North Carolina governor submitted separate requests for a waiver along with governors of the states of Virginia, Texas, Georgia, New Mexico, North Carolina, Maryland and Delaware. Other organizations and individuals ranging from the National Pork Producers Council to the Dairy Farmers of America, as well as various members of Congress have also submitted letters either requesting the Administrator to utilize her authority to waive the RFS volume requirements or expressing support for the granting of a volume waiver. Written comments must be received on or before Sept. 26, 2012 and it is thought that EPA will render a decision on the waiver requests no later than mid-November. With regard to the RFS, The closest related Farm Bureau policy supports “the use of renewable fuels to the maximum extent practicable.” Arkansas Farm Bureau has no position on the waiver request, however many of our members feel strongly about the RFS. On the Arkansas Farm Bureau website, there is a place for members to offer their comments to the EPA about the waiver and/or the RFS. If you would like to submit comments use this link. More information is available on the website about how to offer comments in other ways. Comments must be submitted before September 26. EPA requests comment specifically including (but not limited to) information on: (a) whether compliance with the RFS would severely harm the economy of Arkansas, North Carolina, other States, a region, or the United States; (b) whether the relief requested will remedy the harm; (c) to what extent, if any, a waiver would change demand for ethanol and affect prices of corn, other feedstocks, feed, and food; (d) the amount of ethanol that is likely to be consumed in the U.S. during the relevant time period, based on its value to refiners for octane and other characteristics and other market conditions in the absence of the RFS volume requirements; and (e) if a waiver were appropriate, the amount of required renewable fuel volume appropriate to waive, the date on which any waiver should commence and end, and to which compliance years it would apply.
STATE NEWS Deadline extended for Livestock Grants – September 4 Livestock producers will now have until September 4 to submit their application for disaster assistance. This program is NOT first-come, first-served. Incomplete and/or unsigned applications will not be considered. Information provided in the application form will be subject to on-site verification. To be eligible for the Livestock Assistance Grant Program, a producer must meet ALL of the following criteria: Suffered livestock forage production losses from drought during the period of April 1, 2012– August 1, 2012. Owned eligible livestock for commercial use as part of a farming operation on August 1, 2012. Eligible livestock include beef and dairy cattle, goats and sheep. Owned the livestock claimed for compensation by this program for at least 30 Days. An application for the grant is attached.
Discovery Farms gets $969,000 USDA Grant The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded a nearly $1 million grant to the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture's Cooperative Extension Service. The $969,299 grant will be used to test water-monitoring equipment at Arkansas' Discovery Farm installations. Discovery Farm is a project where research is conducted on commercial farms, rather than in laboratories. Researchers say they'll study how much water is running off from the farm - and what's contained in that water. Researchers are studying the problem of hypoxia - or low oxygen - in the Gulf Mexico, where all drainage in the Mississippi River basin eventually ends up. Research partners include the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Arkansas State University, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, University of Wisconsin-Platteville and the Soil and Water Conservation Society. Discovery Farms
are up and running on five farms in the state. Those farms represent both crop and livestock production in multiple watersheds. Supporters of the program hope to expand the program to include another poultry farm and a forestry operation. New customers can get a discount on high-speed Internet by Satellite from HughesNet. $99 INSTANT CREDIT at time of Activation of NEW HughesNet account for Farm Bureau Members! CALL 1-866-556-9661 Looking for a great recipe? Check out Arkansas Farm Bureau’s new blog at http://www.tastearkansas.com. It features new recipes almost daily and Arkansas farmers. VISIT THE ARKANSAS FARM BUREAU WEBSITE AT http://www.arfb.com HOW TO UNSUBSCRIBE You are receiving this newsletter because you requested that your email address be added to the electronic newsletter. To unsubscribe please reply to this email with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line, or send a separate email to Teresa.smith@arfb.com ----------------------------------------------------Arkansas Farm Bureau 10720 Kanis Road Little Rock, AR 72211 501-224-4400