New FDA rules to limit antibiotics for livestock

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Vol. 59, No. 46 Wednesday, December 18, 2013 Phone [phone]
New FDA rules to limit
antibiotics for livestock
given to animals. Until now, the government has
By JIM RUTLEDGE done little to change the practice, critics claimed.
D.C. Correspondent The Natural Resources Defense Council has issued
a statement saying the measure falls short of what it
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U. S. Food and Drug wanted. Its health attorney, Avinash Kar, called the
Administration (FDA) issued new rules last week to policy “an early holiday gift to the industry. It’s a hol-
cut the amount of certain antibiotics farmers use in low gesture that does little to tackle a widely recog-
livestock, a measure also to ensure drugs pre- nized threat to human health,” he told a reporter.
scribed by veterinarians are used to prevent and In the FDA’s guidance, the agency laid out a road
treat disease, rather than beef up animal growth. map for the drug companies to voluntarily revise the
The rules affect more than 75 antibiotic drugs the FDA-approved use conditions on the labels of drug
FDA has identified, 18 specifically rated as critical- products to remove production indications. The plan
ly important to be limited in animal food produc- also calls for changing the current over-the-counter
tion. Historically, certain antibiotics have been (OTC) status to bring the remaining appropriate ther-
used in the feed or drinking water of cattle, poultry, apeutic uses under veterinary oversight.
hogs and other animals for the purpose of fattening Once a manufacturer “voluntarily” makes these
them up; these new rules change that. changes, it’s medically important that antibiotic
As part of these new regulations, the FDA is asking drugs will no longer be used for production purposes,
animal pharmaceutical companies to notify the and their use to treat, control or prevent disease in
agency of their intent to sign on to this voluntary animals will now require veterinary oversight. The
strategy within the next three months. These compa- FDA has issued the following guidelines for farmers
nies would then have a three-year transition process. and the public to comment on the changes.
“This action promotes the judicious use of impor- The rules are in final form and open for public
tant antibiotics to protect public health, while ensur- comment for 90 days starting Dec. 12. To electron-
FARM WORLD wishes its readers a safe and Merry
ing that sick and at-risk animals receive the therapy ically comment, go to www.regulations.gov and
they need,” said Bernadette Dunham, director of the enter Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0155. Send USPS Christmas and happy holiday season! The newspaper
FDA’s Center of Veterinary Medicine. “We realize that comments to: Division of Dockets Management, office will be closed next week and will not print another
these steps represent changes for veterinarians and Food and Drug Administration, Room 1061, 5630
edition until Jan. 1, 2014.
animal producers, and we have been working – and Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852. (Shelly Strautz-Springborn photo)
will continue to work – to make this transition as
KDDC chief: $7 milk hike is unlikely
seamless as possible.”
The Animal Health Institute, which represents a
number of animal drug companies, said in a state-
ment it supports the policy and pledged to “contin- “I equate it to when the little boy cried ‘Wolf!’ it started
ue to work with the FDA on its implementation.” By TIM THORNBERRY to get old,” he said. “The people that are saying this want
Representatives from the National Pork Producers Kentucky Correspondent a particular farm bill and they particularly want the
Council and the American Veterinary Medical Dairy Security Act (DSA) in that bill.”
Assoc. (AVMA) said they had worked with the regu- FRANKFORT, Ky. — As was the case last year at this The DSA would eliminate elements of current dairy pol-
latory agency to determine the scope of the guide- time, a new farm bill has not passed and the likelihood icy that are no longer useful to producers and the indus-
lines and indicated they were pleased with the that it will before the end of 2013 is slim. Once again, try, according to proponents of the legislation. The Milk
results. “We don’t really foresee any bumps in the horror stories about what will happen because of the Income Loss Contract (MILC) program is one of those ele-
road in terms of our membership,” according to inaction of Congress are surfacing. ments it would eliminate.
AVMA’s Dr. Christine Hoang. The idea that dairy prices are about to double because MILC compensates dairy producers when domestic milk
Also supporting the FDA move was the National of “permanent law” has grabbed the attention of the pub- prices fall below a specified level. The DSA states it would
Chicken Council, which praised the federal agency lic, lawmakers and the U.S. secretary of agriculture. If replace some of the existing programs with “a voluntary
for undertaking “an open and collaborative process the current farm bill extension expires without another, margin protection program, which includes a market sta-
… to phase out the use of subtherapeutic … uses of legislation passed in 1949 will take effect; this was the bilization element, should dairy farmers choose to protect
antibiotics that are medically important to treating last year a permanent farm bill was enacted. their equity with the margin protection program.”
humans.” In theory, a return to permanent law would increase Cox doesn’t think consumers will see $7-$8 per gallon
In a 10-point endorsement strongly supporting the price the government pays for milk products. But not because the Congressional decision-makers don’t want it
the FDA rules, Zoetis, the world’s largest animal everybody agrees. to happen.
health company, said it would implement the FDA’s According to a report by the Congressional Research “I think, as much as anything, this country has a cheap
guidelines: “This reflects our continued commit- Service: “Milk is supported currently, and in permanent food policy, and what consumers go to the store for more
ment to antibiotic stewardship and represents the law, by compelling USDA to purchase manufactured than anything else is milk and bread,” he said. “If you
many ways that Zoetis promotes the responsible dairy products (nonfat dry milk, cheddar cheese and want to get the consumer outraged, the voters upset, you
use of antimicrobial drugs in animals.” butter) in sufficient quantities to raise demand in order go pricing milk at $8 a gallon and you’re going to have
One member of Congress, Rep. Louise M. to raise the farm price of milk to the desired support level folks upset.”
Slaughter (D-N.Y.) – self-identified as the only (the Dairy Product Price Support Program). He thinks the extension is coming again, and that an
degreed microbiologist in the House – came out “Under permanent law, those purchase prices ($37.20 agreement for a total farm bill will come soon into next
strongly critical of the FDA action. per cwt., based on November 2013 data) would be 3.8 year. The KDDC has supported, because of its benefits to
“The FDA’s voluntary guidance is an inadequate times as high as the current support price ($9.90) and Kentucky producers, keeping the MILC program to some
response to the overuse of antibiotics on the farm 1.7 times as high as recent market prices ($21.30). degree, said Cox – followed by some type of insurance
with no mechanism for enforcement and no metric “The high purchase price mandated under permanent program.
for success,” she said. “Sadly, this guidance is the law could result in the government outbidding commer- “We need a farm bill; something stable and something
biggest step the FDA has taken in a generation to cial markets for a sizable share of processor output at to go forward, not just something for dairy but for all
combat the overuse of antibiotics in corporate agri- considerable government cost, and that subsequently aspects of (agriculture), because dairy farmers do a lot of
culture, and it falls woefully short of what is need- could raise the retail price of milk.” other things such as grain,” he said. “Whatever the case
ed to address a pubic health crisis.” Maury Cox, executive director of the Kentucky Dairy may be, we’ll take what comes. It’s our job to try and
Environmental groups and consumers have hound- Development Council (KDDC), said those kinds of increas- educate dairy farmers and work with them no matter
ed Congress and the FDA for years, urging the agency es are highly unlikely – and there’s a reason the issue isn’t what the outcome is, to help them be able to succeed
to regulate more rigorously the amount of antibiotics getting quite as much attention this time around. with whatever comes.”
I T F W :
N HIS ARM ORLD
I C E
S ELLULOSIC THANOL
•Farm bill negotiators still hopeful
C P &
OMPETING WITH ULP for January deal . . . . . . . . Page 5
P ? — M (cid:127)Couple fall in love with Ohio B&B so
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RMA chief: Crop insurance to expand even with no farm bill
base of eligible crops as the crop this season. insurance programs are working.
By MATTHEW D. ERNST insurance program expands, said Major crops under protection of crop His comments about the future of
Missouri Correspondent Brandon Willis, RMA administrator. insurance have increased from 25 per- crop insurance came as Corn Belt
“There are still regions of the country, cent in 1988 to between 85-90 percent grain growers anticipate lower prices
ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Crop insurance there are still crops, there are still this year, according to him. That in 2014, likely increasing the percent-
will continue as the primary safety net farming practices, that don’t have the expansion has lessened the need for age of revenue insurance grain pro-
for U.S. crop producers, the head of coverage we would like them to have,” ad hoc crop disaster relief programs. ducers will purchase. An analysis
the USDA’s Risk Management Agency he said. “What’s interesting is that when they released Dec. 10 by Gary Schnitkey,
(RMA) told the National Grain and More crop insurance products will be do pass the farm bill, the only disaster University of Illinois agricultural econ-
Feed Assoc. (NGFA) at its Country offered in the future for hay and forage assistance that they’re probably going omist, indicates crop insurance would
Elevator Conference and Trade Show crops, said Willis, such as an annual to include is for livestock producers,” not cover likely corn costs for 2014 in
Dec. 6. livestock forage program started this he said. The lack of ad hoc crop disas- Sangamon County, Ill.
The RMA will focus on maintaining year. Rice and organic crops are other ter assistance in the past 18 months,
program integrity and expanding the sectors where the program expanded said Willis, shows the agency’s crop (continued on page 5)
Brown recaps farm bill debate, criticizes delay on its passage
Nutrition Assistance Program,” said potential for growth in developing new manufactures and spurs new agricultural
By SUSAN MYKRANTZ Brown. “These major SNAP cuts are not agricultural products, but there is a gap innovations.
Ohio Correspondent acceptable; I cannot support a bill that between developing and manufacturing Brown added if the farm bill doesn’t get
harms those in need or down on their these products. He noted the proposed passed this year, it could create chal-
WOOSTER, Ohio — The farm bill is luck.” farm bill also includes provisions for rural lenges for dairy producers, as the laws
about more than just farming, according Second, he said improvements must be development to have the tools, programs would revert back to 1940 and milk prices
to U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), who made to farm safety nets. “As I travel the and capital it needs, strengthens biobased would increase sharply for consumers.
told staff and faculty at the Ohio state, Ohio farmers have told me they
Agricultural Research and Development don’t want or need direct farm payments,”
Center major farm groups are in agree- he added.
ment with much of the proposed farm bill. Brown said he teamed up with Sen.
The challenge is getting the House and John Thune (R-S.D.) to introduce a bill to
Senate to come together to iron out their streamline the farm safety net and make
differences by the end of the year. “One farm programs more market-oriented. He
out of seven jobs in Ohio is dependent on added the Senate version would end
food and agriculture,” he said. direct payments, because they have little
”Agriculture is a major economic driver in to do with risk or safety nets, deficit
the state.” reduction or other programs for farmers.
Brown said after the Senate passed its “Ohio corn and soybean farmers must
version of the farm bill and sent it to the have a farm program that separates
House, the House passed a partisan, planting decisions from government pro-
party-line bill and separated nutrition grams,” he said. “Most farmers don’t need
programs from commodity and rural subsidies, but when they have a drought
development. “If we don’t get it passed by or other natural disaster, or low prices,
the end of the year, it will be pushed into they need assistance in the form of crop
next year,” he pointed out. insurance.”
“That is not a good way to do it. Farm Brown said the Senate’s version also
groups are pushing for this and they hope includes portions of the Local Farms,
to see some progress.” Food and Jobs Act, which would expand
He said one of the big sticking points are farmers’ markets, keeping more money
the proposed cuts to food and nutrition local and strengthening the local econo-
funding. He said the Senate version is my, plus giving Ohioans access to locally
proposing a $4 billion cut to these pro- grown food.
grams. “The House version of the bill cuts He said Ohio ranks third in manufactur-
$40 billion from the Supplemental ing in the country, and there is huge
To Subscribe: Call 1-800-876-5133 www.farmworldonline.com Farm(cid:224)World— Wed., Dec.18, 2013 —5
Negotiators: New farm bill looking likely – next month
ers return from recess Jan. 6. nearly six weeks to try to settle differ- a farm bill that we can take action on
By STEVE BINDER One of the driving forces to getting a ences between the chambers’ two bills, in January.”
Illinois Correspondent new farm bill before the end of the including changes to the new bill’s One detail she confirmed she is sup-
year was that without new legislation, commodity programs and cuts to the porting is the elimination of a practice
WASHINGTON, D.C. —Congressional price supports for dairy products Supplemental Nutrition Assistance by some states of issuing a small
leaders couldn’t gift-wrap a new farm would revert to levels under 1949 leg- Program (SNAP). amount of energy assistance – in some
bill and have it waiting under the islation – something most feared The Republican-led House wants to cases as little as $1 to a family – which
Christmas tree this year, but leaders would more than double the price of cut funding for SNAP by about $40 bil- now triggers an automatic increase in
negotiating a deal say they believe milk to consumers. lion over 10 years; the Democratic- SNAP assistance. Restricting the prac-
they’re close enough to finish the job But Lucas and others, including his controlled Senate’s measure calls for tice could save upwards of $8.7 billion
next month. counterpart in the Senate, Michigan cuts of $4 billion over the same in SNAP funds over 10 years, accord-
Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), chair of Democrat Debbie Stabenow, indicated decade. ing to the CBO’s newest information.
the House Agriculture Committee, said Friday any impact from such reversion How much closer the two sides are Overall, a new farm bill will not
Friday negotiators are “moving right could be administratively stalled by now remains unclear in part because include the direct-cash payment pro-
down the path” for a House-Senate the USDA for a short period of time. Lucas, Stabenow and other leaders are gram to growers, something begun in
conference report that could lead to Negotiators for a new farm bill have remaining tight-lipped as negotiations 1996, while crop insurance options
votes in both chambers after lawmak- been working behind the scenes for continue. But the two ag panel leaders likely will be expanded.
both said Friday there was movement Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), a member
on SNAP cuts based on new figures of the House’s ag committee and the
obtained by the Congressional Budget conference committee to develop a new
Office (CBO). five-year farm bill, is also optimistic a
“We’ve gotten (information) back resolution will be reached next month.
(from CBO) that look very good, very “I will continue to work diligently with
workable,” Stabenow told reporters at Chairman Frank Lucas and the other
the Capitol. “It puts us in good shape. conferees to get a completed five-year
There’s no question in my mind that farm bill to the President’s desk in
we’ll be able to come together and have January 2014,” he said.
RMA chief ...
(continued from page 4)
“In most cases, premium levels Schnitkey wrote in the U of I farmdoc
across coverage levels will be slightly daily blog. “Given guarantee levels,
lower in 2014 as compared to 2013. farmers who have not purchased at the
Guarantee levels will be much lower highest coverage levels should consid-
and losses will occur at per-acre guar- er higher coverage levels due to lower
antee levels offered by crop insurance,” guarantee levels.”
His complete analysis, Crop
Insurance Premiums and Guarantee
Levels in 2014, is available online at
http://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2013/
12/crop-insurance-premiums-guaran
tee-2014.html
Crop insurance spending has been
When our competitors find out we built a Class 8 combine questioned in farm bill debate. Willis
opined it is important to maintain pro-
gram integrity as government spending
that weighs several tons less than theirs they’ll turn...
on crop insurance increases.
“You have a program that’s more
well... green, red and yellow.
important than ever for producers, but
it’s also more in the spotlight than
ever,” he said. “The quickest way to
give a program a bad name (is) through
stories of fraud, waste or abuse.”
Willis said an RMA field employee in
North Carolina discovered fraud in a
tobacco program, leading to dozens of
convictions. “When there are very
small instances of fraud, we will go
after them, and we’re going to continue
to, because if the crop insurance pro-
gram has a bright future, it has to be a
program that continues to spend tax-
payer money wisely,” he said.
The Senate’s version of the farm bill
contains additional money to maintain
crop insurance program integrity, as
well as conservation compliance meas-
ures, said Willis. A coalition of 300
groups, mainly conservation interests,
submitted a letter on Dec. 6 encourag-
We can’t blame our competitors for getting a little upset. After all, they’ve spent years designing combines that weigh a lot more ing the conference committee to main-
than ours, but still have less threshing and separating area. And if that does not make them envious, wait until they see that our tain conservation compliance language
combine does not need a beater or prethresher that damages crop and robs horsepower away from the separator. We can’t in farm bill legislation.
blame them if a discussion on complexity makes them duck and hide. Regardless of the farm bill’s outcome,
he said RMA plans to expand crop
insurance. “We’re going to try to offer
However, we weren’t looking at the competition when we designed the new S8 Series. Instead, we were looking at farmers like
new products for more producers,” he
you. Because when you get a look at this new combine, you’ll want to turn silver.
said.
“If you believe that agriculture does
Visit your local Gleaner dealer or visit gleanercombines.com to see the combine built with the farmer in mind.
have unique risks that merit a safety
net; if we do believe that safety net
should respond to market signals; if
you do believe that farmers should be
able to plant what they want, when
they want, based upon their farm
practices; if you also believe farmers
should have skin in the game, then I
believe the crop insurance program is
a pretty good program.”
Specific to grain production, the RMA
is awaiting an analysis by the
University of Nebraska that may lead
to clearer rules on prevented planting.
Willis said that study should be avail-
able next spring.
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V O
IEWS AND PINIONS
Without a farm
bill, the pricey
milk cliff looms
As I start to write my last column of 2013, my mind wanders
back over all the issues we have covered together in the past
year. Many are old friends that we have rehashed and trashed
many times. But there were a few new oddities this year.
There was the Dodge truck commercial in the Super Bowl
that caused American agriculture to sit up and say “Wow!”
Besides giving agriculture a big head, the commercial raised a
lot of money for FFA and undoubtedly sold a
lot of Dodge Ram Trucks.
Another issue that came up for the first
time this year was the phenomena of the
fluffy cow. One photo of a cow went viral on
social media and got a whole generation
interested in livestock shows. But, as I com-
pare my last column of 2013 with my last of
2012, I find some disturbing similarities.
In mid-December 2012, we were lamenting
the lack of a new farm bill, just as we
are today. In 2012, the Senate had
HOOSIER AG TODAY passed a farm bill and was trash-talk-
By Gary Truitt ing the House who had not. This
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus
December the House has passed a farm
bill extension and is thumbing their political noses at the
Senate who is refusing to take up the extension measure.
So we are in exactly the same spot with no farm bill in place, Editor’s note: Farm World is pleased to reprint this be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There
and no extension being passed. And, just like last December, holiday favorite. would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no
the milk cliff is looming once again. Eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote a letter to romance to make tolerable this existence. We
Like the fiscal cliff that Congress jumped off earlier this year the editor of The New York Sun. The quick response should have no enjoyment, except in sense and
and the shutdown cliff that our government drove over, the was printed as an unsigned editorial on Sept. 21, sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills
milk cliff is a series of unfortunate events that may occur as 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis the world would be extinguished.
the result of no new dairy program as part of a farm bill. Pharcellus Church has since become history’s most Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not
In theory, with no new farm bill and no extension of the old reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire
farm bill, on Jan. 1, 2014 the dairy price support program will whole in dozens of languages in books, movies and men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve
revert to levels set in the 1940s. This (again in theory) would other editorials, and on posters and stamps. to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see
send the retail price of milk and other dairy products sky- “Dear Editor: I am 8 years old. Some of my little Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove?
rocketing. While only a very few in Congress understand the friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, ‘If Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that
dairy price support mechanism, everyone on Capitol Hill you see it in The Sun it’s so.’ Please tell me the there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the
knows what would happen if American consumers woke up truth; is there a Santa Claus?” world are those that neither children nor men can
one morning to $10 a gallon milk. Virginia O’Hanlon see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn?
That fear is what forced a compromise last December which 115 West 95th St. Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not
allowed for the passage of a 9-month, farm bill extension. That Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the won-
is not likely to happen this year. been affected by the skepti- ders there are unseen and
This December the House and Senate are playing a game of cism of a skeptical age. They unseeable in the world.
chicken. The Senate is refusing to take up an extension, betting do not believe except (what) HHHHOOOOLLLLIIIIDDDDAAAAYYYY TTTTRRRRAAAADDDDIIIITTTTIIIIOOOONNNN You may tear apart the
that the USDA will not move quickly to implement the provi- they see. They think that baby’s rattle and see what
sions of the old dairy price support program. nothing can be which is not makes the noise inside, but
They are betting that by mid-January the farm bill conference comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, there is a veil covering the unseen world which not
committee will have done its work and a new farm bill will be Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are the strongest man, nor even the united strength of
ready for passage. little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear
At this point this seems a safe bet, since Secretary Vilsack insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can
has indicated he is in no big hurry to jump off the milk cliff. boundless world about him, as measured by the push aside that curtain and view and picture the
However, should this process break down and no new farm bill intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah,
be passed in January, USDA will be forced to take action. and knowledge. Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real
Exactly why the price of milk is such an emotional trigger for Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as and abiding.
American consumers baffles me. When gasoline jumps 70 certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, No Santa Claus! Thank God he lives, and he lives
cents a gallon overnight for no apparent reason, we complain and you know that they abound and give to your life forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay,
– but we fill up. its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to
(continued on page 7) be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would make glad the heart of childhood.
A Christmas awakening while sharing good cheer
The Christmas tree was a scrub cedar hacked from them how to find breakfast at their mamas’ side. One “Well Hoard,” I said a quiet minute later, “I better go.
the edge of the woods that bordered the farm. Big- was a bull, the other a heifer. We both have got to be at the barn early tomorrow.”
bulbed lights, strung in barber pole fashion, generated “We ought to name ‘em Mary and Joseph,” Howard He led me to the back door. “Don’t forget,” he said,
almost as much heat as the nearby wood stove. now said as we rehashed the day, “on account of them “we’ll call those calves Mary and Joseph.”
Yellowed Christmas cards, saved over the years and being born today.” And more than 40 Christmas Nights later, I have not
perched like doves in the untrimmed branches, served Mary and Joseph? forgotten two calves named Mary and Joseph and
as ornaments. Generally, Howard had only one name for all cows: Howard’s priceless gift of simple giving.
“I believe this is the prettiest tree Succum. None of us knew what it meant or where it
The truth about Santa
I’ve ever had,” Howard proclaimed came from, but from the time he arrived on the farm in
as we stood in its glow. “And its the mid-1960s every cow was Succum and every heifer Of the many memories I have of Christmas on the
smells good, too.” was Little Succum. A group of cows or calves were sim- farm, I don’t have a single memory of ever telling Santa
The only scent evident to me was ply Big Succums or Baby Succums. what I wanted for Christmas.
a mixture of wood smoke and the “Mary and Joseph they will be,” I said. I do remember being told innumerable times that I
remains of a fried pork supper. But Silence hung in the stale air. Howard reached for his had better be good or Santa wouldn’t bring me what I
I lied and said, “Sure does.” pipe and the big red can of Velvet that had been my wanted. How could he, was my sassy reply, when I
Howard beckoned me to sit. We Christmas gift to him that morning. hadn’t told him what I wanted.
had shared this Christmas Day in “You want to roll yourself a smoke, Allie? I got some A black-and-white photograph does exist of my two,
the dairy barn and it was his papers here.” older brothers, sister and me with some department
request that we share a bit of I shook off the offer. store Santa in, maybe, 1960. Could I have slipped the
the night. He knew I was alone FOOD & FARM FILE “Yep,” Howard said to himself, “that’s the prettiest fat man a slim list that day?
because my family, his employ- By Alan Guebert tree I’ve ever had and this is shaping up to be the nicest I doubt it because the picture shows his tired, bored
er, was visiting relatives. I knew Christmas I’ve ever had because you came by.” eyes staring blankly into the camera while we are star-
he was alone because he was always alone, a bachelor I looked at the tree and then at the old man ringed in ing to the right. Eyes don’t lie; the disconnect between
for nearly 40 years. tobacco smoke staring at it and I felt sad. Not for him. that St. Louis Santa and we Illinois farm kids couldn’t
“I’ll get us some Christmas cheer,” he offered as I sank I felt sad for me. I had agreed to come to his house as be more obvious.
into the sofa. He shuffled toward the kitchen in untied a favor for a hired man. I do have a clear memory of Santa bringing me a bat-
work shoes and, a minute later, returned with two But he had not wanted a favor. All he had wanted was tery-powered, toy electric razor one year. The proof is
water glasses filled with rhubarb wine. the chance to share his Christmas good fortune with another photo that shows me holding the razor while
“It’s been a good Christmas, ain’t it Allie-Boy?” he me. He had some homemade wine, a warm fire, his sporting a smile brighter than the tinsel-draped cedar
asked as he sat in a ladderback chair by the stove. best Christmas tree ever and week’s worth of tobacco. tree behind me.
He had called me Allie-Boy for as long as I could He was happy and he wanted to share that happiness That razor was way cool, but I didn’t ask Santa for it.
remember. I had taken to call him Hoard the Dairyman, with me. A couple of Christmases later my two older brothers
after a farm magazine my father subscribed to. As I stared at the silhouette of Hoard the Dairyman in received BB guns, the top of every boy’s Christmas
I nodded. It had been a good day. Two wobbly new- the glow of the Christmas lights I saw a man of great pyramid. Had they asked Santa for ’em? They must
born calves greeted us when we arrived at the dairy warmth, wealth and honesty. He didn’t have a check- have because I had not asked Santa for one and I did-
barn 16 hours earlier. Wet and shivering, we dried ing account or credit card but he was richer by far than n’t get one.
them with the past summer’s straw before showing the condescending college boy on his sofa. (continued on page 7)
To Subscribe: Call 1-800-876-5133 www.farmworldonline.com Farm(cid:224)World— Wed., Dec.18, 2013 —7
Without a farm ...
(continued from page 6)
A new brand of water or super energy
drink will cost $20 a gallon, but no one
(ISSN # 1535-010X)
marches on Washington. Yet, let the
P.O. Box 90 — 27 N. Jefferson St.
price of milk go up 50 cents a gallon,
Knightstown, IN 46148-0090
and there will be panic in the streets.
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FAX NUMBER 1-800-318-1055 (24 hours) the milk cliff? That depends on if
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Farm Worldis published weekly, except for Christmas week, by
which will provide the certainty and the
MidCountry Media, Inc., 27 N. Jefferson St., Knightstown, IN
opportunity for American agriculture to
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thrive, prosper, and produce.
tional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to
That is where we will start in 2014.
Farm World, P.O. Box 90, Knightstown, IN 46148.
Farm Worldwas founded in 1955 by R. Thomas and Margaret The views and opinions expressed in
Mayhill. this column are those of the author and
not necessarily those of Farm World.
STAFF
Readers with questions or comments for
Tony Gregory, Publisher
Gary Truitt may write to him in care of
E-mail: [email protected]
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Toni Hodson,Associate Publisher
E-mail: [email protected]
A Christmas awakening while ...
Dave Blower Jr., Associate Publisher
(continued from page 6)
E-mail: [email protected]
Ann Hinch, Assistant Editor Anyone with a thinner skull might have picked up that box was like looking at the sun: blinding, spec-
E-mail: [email protected] on that ask-Santa thing that year. Not me; like tacular, incomprehensible.
Mark Butzow, Assistant Editor some budding journalist, I needed confirmation. I can’t believe it, I finally stammered.
E-mail: [email protected] Finally, in 1964 or so, I learned the full Santa “Believe it,” David replied coolly. “I knew I was get-
truth. I remember it like yesterday. ting it.”
OFFICE HOURS: 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST, Monday and Friday, 8
That Christmas Eve we were at Grandma’s. We What?
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST Tuesday through Thursday, or answering
kids were eying the beautifully wrapped gifts under “Yeah, I knew because I asked for it.”
machine evenings and weekends; office closed Saturday.
her tree while the adults were eating pickled her- You asked Santa for it?
ILLINOIS FARM WORLD OFFICE ring and raw oysters, Grandpa’s Christmas gift to “No, goofball; Grandma. She asked me what I
12109 Mennonite Church Road all, in the kitchen. (How, ah, kind.) wanted Santa to bring and I told her.”
Tremont, Illinois 61568 As I tunneled through the tottering heap, I uncov- You told her you wanted Santa to bring you a slot
309-635-2147-Office; 309-925-5044-Fax ered an enormous box that was ticketed for my car race track?
older brother David. Wow, David had hit the “Yeah, that’s the way it works,” he said.
DISPLAY ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT
Grandma jackpot, the Grandmother Mother Lode. I looked at the gift, then David – the owner of both
MELISSA PEGGS David, I said in hushed awe, look. a BB gun and a slot car race set – then at Grandma.
ASSISTANT SALES MANAGER He glanced at the huge package. “Yeah, I saw The scales finally fell from my eyes: Santa was
Central and Southeast Indiana; Southwest Ohio; that.” real and his pipeline was a little, gray-haired lady
Phone: [phone], ext. 222 No, I insisted, this could be the Big One, the... in southern Illinois named Grandma. I became a
E-mail: [email protected] Before I could finish the adults appeared and the believer then and there.
RON GHOLSON great gift giveaway began. I quickly snatched the Still am.
Central and Western Indiana; bed-sized package and handed it to David with a This year, for example, I asked for the annual bot-
Phone [phone] plea to open it. Before he had it half unwrapped I tle of single malt medicine from Scotland’s Isle of
E-mail: [email protected] saw what it was. Skye and ratcheting wrenches – SAE and metric,
Oh. My. Goodness. An electric slot car race track please – from some mechanic named Sears
SCOTT THOMPSON
set. Roebuck. Santa’s helper filled the order Saturday.
Central and Northern Illinois;
I fell to my knees in complete disbelief. Looking at All I have to do now is be good until Christmas.
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Kentucky to break record in ’13, ag economists say
weather conditions. 15 percent over last year. income, which will have to be earned
By TIM THORNBERRY “Even though we had these extreme The USDA notes this would be the from the marketplace after our last
Kentucky Correspondent weather outcomes, the economic out- highest level since 1973, once adjust- payment in January.”
come is very similar between 2012 and ed for inflation. In fact, 2013’s forecast Snell pointed out that Kentucky pro-
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The state’s agri- 2013, and that is very, very, very would be the fourth time net cash jections are better than national fore-
culture economy is set to break a robust Kentucky and U.S. ag income, after adjusting for inflation, casts basically due to the state being
record according to projections from economies,” he said. has exceeded $100 billion since 1973, more livestock dependent and grain
the University of Kentucky (UK) College Last year, at this time these same according to information from the yields here being higher than in other
of Agriculture, Food and Environment economists told the crowd that 2012 agency. parts of the country.
ag economists. would likely see receipts of $5.3 bil- In Kentucky, the net farm income for The poultry sector still remains on
The group told Kentucky Farm lion, a record in itself, which by the this year is projected to be above that top, moneywise in Kentucky’s agricul-
Bureau Federation members at the time the USDA came out with final seen over the last two years. ture industry accounting for 21 per-
organization’s annual conference that numbers last summer the total for ag “It’s likely that Kentucky net farm cent of the estimated cash receipt
agricultural cash receipts could reach cash receipts amounted to $5.29 bil- income will remain above the $1.5 bil- total. The equine industry came in
or exceed $6 billion for 2013. The lion. lion level we saw in 2011 and 2012, second with 16 percent.
surge was brought on by strong poul- Snell added that even though some though still fall well below the $2.1 bil- The horse industry, which once stood
try, equine and cattle markets along crop prices had fallen, record produc- lion record high in 2005, when lump atop state ag commodities continues to
with record or near-record crop pro- tion, strong livestock and export mar- sum tobacco buyout payments inflated rebound from recession era drops. Last
duction levels. kets left the state ag sector in a favor- income levels,” Snell said. November’s Keeneland thoroughbred
Economist Will Snell broke the good able financial position. “In recent years, tobacco buyout pay- breeding stock sales saw an increase of
news to a capacity crowd. He said 2013 Nationally, net farm income is likely ments have averaged around $150 38 percent over 2012 numbers.
was an interesting year for agriculture to set a record of $131 billion this million annually, accounting for
(continued on page 9)
having had another year of extreme year. Snell said that was an increase of approximately 10 percent of net farm
House proposes to cede rights deciding fracking to the states
In this process, so-called fracturing flu- critics’ assertions that fracking is not safe 20 by a vote of 235-187, has a 14 percent
By KEVIN WALKER ids are pumped into an underground and could contaminate groundwater, chance of being enacted, according to
Michigan Correspondent geologic formation to generate fractures there have been no “confirmed reports of Govtrack.us which also says only about
or cracks, thereby increasing rock per- groundwater contamination from HF.” 23 percent of bills that made it past com-
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A bill that meability near the wellbore and improv- The bill, which passed the House Nov. mittee in 2011-13 were enacted.
would give states the exclusive right to ing production of natural gas or oil.
regulate hydraulic fracturing, or frack- “Every time you fracture a well, that’s TRAIL FARM SUPPLY
ing, for oil and gas has passed the U.S. millions of gallons of water that’s being
House and is being considered by the used,” he explained. “There’s all sorts of
Senate. potential impacts. I think there’s legiti-
Manufacturer of Custom Horse & Dairy Barn Equipment
The bill, House Resolution 2728 or the mate concerns about the health and
Protecting States’ Rights to Promote environmental effects of this. There’s Gates are made the full width of your box stalls for
American Energy Security Act, would people in Michigan and other places that easy access with horses and for easier cleaning.
require the Department of the Interior to are very concerned.”
recognize and defer to state regulations, With few exceptions, however, fracking
permitting and guidance for all activities projects are moving forward. According to a
associated with fracking related to oil, House GOP summary of the situation, the
gas, or geothermal production activities recent shale oil and shale gas revolution is
on federal land, according to a summary largely attributable to innovations in hori-
by government transparency website zontal drilling and fracking.
Govtrack.us “These advances have unlocked vast
Although the prospects of the law mak- domestic oil and gas reserves – some of
ing it through the Senate and being the largest in the world – many of which Call For Questions & Pricing
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the proposal. ment of unconventional domestic oil (FAX) 330-893-4001 alloyed steel tubing design for strength and rust resistane.
“We oppose the bill. The concern here is resources, such as the Bakken
that they’re doing that on federal lands,” Formation in North Dakota and
said Alex Taurel, deputy legislative direc- Montana, which is thought to hold 4 bil-
tor at the LCV. “That includes national lion barrels of oil (second only to Alaska)
forests. It would turn management of and has kept North Dakota’s unemploy-
these lands over to the states, no matter ment rate the lowest in the nation.
how minimal the regulations are.” “However, much of this production
Taurel said it’s the oil and gas industry occurs on private and state land, as
behind fracking efforts. This includes developers aim to avoid burdensome and
major oil companies such as Exxon time-consuming federal regulations.
Mobil and British Petroleum, but some Currently, 93 percent of shale wells are
smaller players as well, he said. Taurel located on private land, with 7 percent
stated the members he represents are located on federal land,” it stated.
agitated about fracking. According to the GOP summary, despite
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Indiana, Illinois going to feds for OK on Illiana Expressway
its chair, Secretary Ann Schneider of the ate and maintain a project. Private invest- said the state hopes to leverage private
By JO ANN HUSTIS Illinois Department of Transportation. ment can include a team of engineering sector innovation and competition to
Illinois Correspondent MPOs are a Congressional initiative to firms, construction companies and finan- advance the Illiana Expressway construc-
ensure existing and future expenditures ciers. Toll collections or other fund tion. He said Indiana has noted with other
WILMINGTON, Ill. — One of two major of governmental funds for transportation sources will be used to reimburse the public-private partnerships the private
roadblocks to construction of the pro- projects and programs are based on a investor over an agreed-upon period of sector delivers a better value for taxpayers.
posed Illiana Expressway was cleared continuing, cooperative and comprehen- time. The Illiana Expressway proposal was put
Dec. 12 when the Northwestern Indiana sive planning process. Statewide and met- Will County Executive Larry Walsh noted before the public for comment this fall at
Regional Planning Commission approved ropolitan transportation planning earlier the Expressway would improve three separate meetings each in Indiana
the $1.3 billion project in a 76-20 weight- processes are governed by federal law. safety for residents, as truck traffic would and Illinois. Critics say the proposal is too
ed vote. Democrat Reps. Bill Foster of the 11th be removed from local roads and commu- costly, takes out of production valuable
On Oct. 17, the Chicago Metropolitan Illinois District and Robin Kelly of the 2nd nity downtowns. farmland in the path of the expressway
Agency for Planning had removed the District, and Republican Rep. Adam Commissioner Michael Cline of the and that the roadway would have little
other major roadblock, in an 11-8 vote in Kinzinger of the 16th District, noted in the Indiana Department of Transportation impact on economic development.
favor of the proposal. letter the public-private partnership pro-
The two agencies can now submit the posed to finance the Expressway is an Kentucky Ag ...
48-mile project that would link Lowell, option to reduce the state’s investment in
Ind., to Interstate 55 just north of the project and help ensure its economic (continued from page 8)
Wilmington, Ill., to the federal government viability. The Congressional districts are Record grain production helped soy- reach $110 million in 2013. UK exten-
for approval. Although no timeline has in northeastern Illinois and include Cook beans and corn finish the year repre- sion professor Tim Woods said it was
been announced, the work could begin as (Chicago) and Will (Joliet) counties. senting 15 percent and 13 percent, another great year for horticulture in
early as 2015 if Washington approves the “Given the challenges faced by the respectively of the total ag cash the state with a number of new mar-
project, according to The Times of Highway Trust Fund, the (public/private receipts. The increase in yields will kets opening up, especially on the pro-
Munster, Ind., Oct. 18. partnership) proposed for the Illiana will help counter grain prices that have duce side and the opportunities were
Both Indiana Gov. Michael Pence and help … toward what may be the best fallen off from last year’s record levels. still looking “pretty bullish” for 2014.
Illinois Gov. Patrick Quinn have thrown option for the state to leverage existing The cattle sector came in at 12 per- The forestry sector is also proving to
their support behind the proposal, saying resources,” the letter read, in part. “The cent, helped in part by those lower be a driving force in ag economy num-
it will promote economic development. Illiana Expressway is not a speculative grain prices. Tobacco, dairy and all bers. Jeff Stringer, with UK’s
“It’s a big project,” Quinn’s spokesman, gamble on future growth, but an invest- other ag sectors comprised the Department of Forestry, estimates the
Dave Blanchette, noted. “You’re talking ment that will help manage economic remainder of receipts. industry provided a total contribution
9,000 construction jobs and many miles growth that has already occurred. We … Snell said the tobacco industry, once of $12.7 billion to Kentucky’s econo-
of interstate highway. Construction will be request … full consideration to this proj- a billion dollar enterprise, could reach my, an increase of 3.3 percent during
over several years’ time.” ect with the understanding the freight a post-quota buyout high this year. 2011.
Three Illinois Congresspeople who repre- economy in the southwest suburbs pro- The value of Kentucky tobacco is If the Kentucky ag economy is
sent districts in the path of the proposed vides benefits to all.” likely to top the $400 million mark expected to remain at current levels, it
expressway released a letter of support Public/private partnerships are agree- with market prices expected to be in will do so in part because of the strong
last weekend to the Metropolitan Planning ments between a public agency and a pri- the $2.05-$2.10 per-pound range. export market. Exports figure promi-
Organization (MPO) Policy Committee and vate entity to design, build, finance, oper- Kentucky’s horticulture sector con- nently for state producers. Snell said
tinues to make strides expecting to that Kentucky is still one of the most
trade-dependent agricultural states in
the country.
“We rank no. 4 in terms of trade
dependency with almost half of our
cash receipts being consumed or pur-
chased by international consumers,”
he said.
The outlook meeting also included
projections for 2014. The economists
foresee similar numbers for the com-
ing year especially if livestock markets
continue to thrive and with much of
this year’s record grain crops to be
sold in 2014. Official numbers for
2013 will be released by the USDA
next summer.
Snell said cash receipts could be
between $6 billion-$6.2 billion in
2014.
“Certainly I think we all realize there
are some clouds on the horizon with
lower crop prices. We’ll have to do a
better job in monitoring our marketing
and management practices but again,
I think our message today is a very
vibrant and strong Kentucky agricul-
tural economy,” he said.
To view the outlook publication, go to
www2.ca.uky.edu
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Farmers to Congress: Support young farming leaders via RFS
bushels of corn per acre and my prices erships, restaurants, movie theatres, “Those hog and layer operations in the
By DOUG SCHMITZ based on December futures are around hardware stores and construction out- area won’t allow a ton of them to be
Iowa Correspondent $4, which is below my cost of produc- fits have seen increased and sustained shipped elsewhere, as they know the
tion. Why now, when I have a record vigor in their businesses. Livestock oper- value of them in their feed rations and
ARLINGTON, Va. — Iowa farmers were yield and the USDA predicts bushels ations in general and cattle operations buy all they can get their hands on.”
among a group of producers and policy and bushels of corn to spare, would we in particular have reaped significant Grant Menke, Iowa Renewable Fuels
leaders testifying before Congress during consider reducing the ethanol require- economic benefits from reduced feed Assoc. (IRFA) policy director, warned the
a Dec. 6 U.S. Environmental Protection ment, resulting in a massive surplus of costs that come from feeding the co- EPA farmers “feel betrayed. They feel lied
Agency (EPA) hearing in Arlington on the corn and one less market for my crop?” products of the ethanol industry. to. They are frustrated. And they are
economic impact of ethanol on younger Mark Thomas, Louisville, Ohio, a dairy “Livestock numbers increase in areas angry.
people in agriculture as well as rural farmer, has already felt the proposal’s near ethanol plants due to the lower feed “And, although they would never use
communities, telling them to support impact on his farm. “We in the agricul- costs achieved by feeding gluten feed the word, they are also scared – scared
the current federal Renewable Fuel ture industry need access to all the mar- and distillers grains (DDGs),” he said. that a gutted and useless RFS will lead
Standard (RFS). kets for our products that we can get, Mark Wigans of Renwick, Iowa, told to either another Farm Crisis or a return
“I could stand up here and tell you that and rolling back the RFS just opens the Congress Midwest livestock producers to government-controlled farm policy
the co-products from ethanol plants door for a massive oversupply of corn, like him have long embraced distillers where decisions are based on govern-
have been great for our business, and artificially cheapening it, and that will grains as a favored feed ingredient. ment programs instead of market
that for the first time I see a renewed hurt all of us,” he said. “Customers of mine who buy calves from demand.”
optimism from the Midwest cattle feed- “Does anyone remember the challenges our ranch, and feed them out, depend Menke added it was “Big Oil’s back-
er,” said Rick Hansen, a Hinton cattle of 2009 that the livestock and dairy on a reliable consistent supply of dis- ward reasoning for calling for a reduc-
feeder and crop farmer. “Or, I could industry had, when we had the privilege tillers co-products for their business tion in 2014 RFS levels” that has been
mention how for the first time in decades of working 24/7 to lose a ton of money success,” he said. “The Iowa ethanol the problem.
farmers are making a living without the and equity and were exhausted and plant near me sells over 500 tons of “The fear of high gasoline prices was a
help from government farm programs. depleted? This was a result of too cheap dried distillers products every day into bluff from Big Oil,” he said.
“Or, I could tout the number of young of inputs leading to an oversupply of local feed markets. (continued on page 11)
farmers and cattle feeders returning to milk and other commodities crashing
their homeplace to follow their dreams the markets and creating one of the (cid:1) DON’T DROP DEAD!(cid:1) CLIENTS’ COMMENTS
and make a living. These are just a few most challenging years of my farming
STRAUSS HEART DROPS
of the reasons why an Iowa cattleman life.” “My blood pressure was
like me loves ethanol and the RFS, and Mark Leonard of Holstein, Iowa, said corrected after one month.”
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there’s many more.” as a cattle feeder, cow herd operator and
“I feel so much better all over.”
Hansen also warned the EPA “if for rural banker in western Iowa, “I have SYMPTOMS: • Cold Feet
some unknown reason, you choose to seen the benefits of renewable fuels and • Chest Pain • Low Energy “In one month my doctor cut my
slash the RFS and cripple the ethanol the RFS in every facet of my profession- • Elevated Blood • Cholesterol medication in half and after two
industry, please keep in mind that I al and personal life. Unfortunately, the Pressure • Heart Failure months he stopped all medication.”
truly believe your decision goes a lot current EPA proposal to cut the RFS • Breathless • Impotence “I Used about a half a bottle and the
deeper than you think.” would see those benefits reversed. Call Now For Your FREE Information angina pain went away.”
At the hearing, farmers represented “Our feed mills, livestock equipment
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They and other ag leaders said the EPA’s
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corn ethanol required under the 2014
RFS by 10 percent, which would affect
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According to the Illinois Corn Growers
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of Illinois’ record crop, farmers are
already seeing corn prices falling below
the cost of production.
“In 2012, during the worst drought I’ve
ever experienced, I raised 78 bushels of
corn per acre. Yet the ethanol plants
around me continued to run and still
produced enough ethanol to help our
country meet the requirement in 2013,
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