Ag Secretary Vilsack Tells Ag Committee His Hands are Tied by Sequestration 

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was summoned before the House Agriculture Committee to answer questions about how his department will handle budget cuts due to the sequester. Prior to Vilsack's opening remarks, committee chairman Frank Lucas took issue with previous statements Vilsack had made that his only course of action was to cut meat inspectors.

"Mr. Secretary, without hesitation, I know you are a great friend of agriculture and rural America, but I am disappointed to see the administration's comments on meat inspection. You have stated that the sequester provisions in the Budget Control Act will cause you to furlough Food Safety Inspection Service inspectors. Members of this Committee have heard from constituents that these statements about the interruption of production have affected prices, caused concern among financial markets, and alarmed buyers and sellers in the retail and food service community. I anticipate that my colleagues will have questions for you regarding your statements and the evolution of administration policy in this critical area."

Vilsack then delivered his opening remarks which covered several topics, including the sequester. He said he understood the need for a comprehensive farm bill as soon as is practical. He addressed the erection of unscientific barriers to U.S. exports of beef by Russia and China. Vilsack then assured the committee that he took budget cuts and the sequester very seriously.

Following his opening statement, Lucas questioned Vilsack about the potential furlough of meat inspectors. Vilsack told Lucas that furloughs would involve a very complex process, part of which is in the hands of union representatives.

He later told committee members that the only solution to his sequestration dilemma would be to provide more funds to the Agriculture Department.

You can read more and listen to Vilsack's opening remarks by clicking here.

Vilsack Confirms to Lucas that Sequester Will Disrupt Meat Inspections 

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas questioned the Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, during a committee hearing on Capitol Hill Tuesday. The hearing was convened to determine what specific cuts would be made by the Agriculture Department following the phase in of budget reductions as a result of the sequestration.

Lucas focused on Vilsack's earlier statements that the sequester would force him to furlough federal meat inspectors which, beef industry analysts have cautioned, might throw the industry into chaos. Vilsack reiterated that he believes his hands are tied.

"Eight-seven percent of the budget is front-line inspectors and the support system for those front-line inspectors," Vilsack said. "We have a limited amount of time in which to implement the sequester-six, seven months. The impact of it is, basically, ten to 12 percent of our remaining budget and no matter how you slice it, no matter how you dice it, there is nothing you can do without impacting the front-line inspectors. You don't have the luxury you do under normal circumstances of transferring money, because there is no money to transfer based on the way the sequester is structured."

Click here for more from the Agriculture Committee hearing with Lucas and Vilsack. 

Sequester This: Coburn Calls on USDA to Sober Up, Cancel Wine Tastings

Senator Tom Coburn sent a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack calling on the agency to cancel two planned conferences in California and Oregon scheduled to take place in the coming weeks that will feature guest chefs and exceptional wines for department employees.

"While these conferences may be fun, interesting and even educational getaways for department employees, food inspecting rather than food tasting should be USDA's priority at this time," Coburn said.

This is the sixth letter Dr. Coburn has sent the Administration on how they can prioritize sequestration and better manage agencies by eliminating wasteful and questionable spending.

You can read the full text of Coburn's letter by clicking here.

Soybean Farmers Chart ASA Policy Course During 2013 Commodity Classic

Members of the voting delegates of the American Soybean Association (ASA) reaffirmed the association's commitment to a comprehensive long-term farm bill, as well as additional critical soybean industry priorities, including exports and trade, transportation and biotechnology, among many others during its annual meeting Saturday during the final day of the 2013 Commodity Classic in Kissimmee, Fla.

"The resolutions process is a great reminder that ASA's policies come directly from the ground up," said ASA President Danny Murphy, a soybean farmer from Canton, Miss. "The policies are raised, voted on and established as ASA priorities through an entirely farmer-driven process. It keeps farmers involved and it keeps ASA firmly tied to the everyday concerns of soybean farmers."

Click here to read more about the policies adopted by the ASA.

House Lawmakers Push to End Extra Permit Requirement for Ag Producers

A group of bipartisan lawmakers introduced H.R. 935, The Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2013. This bill would amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA) to clarify Congressional intent and eliminate the requirement of a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for the use of pesticides already approved for use under FIFRA.

This legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives on March 31, 2011 as H.R. 872, The Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2011. Additionally, it advanced out of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, but the full Senate failed to consider it during the last Congress.

H.R. 935 is necessary to address the negative economic consequences of the ruling posed by the case National Cotton Council v. EPA (6th Cir. 2009). Under the court ruling, pesticide users are required to obtain a redundant permit under the Clean Water Act (CWA) or be subject to a costly fine.

You can read more of this story by clicking here.  

Senate Approves Emergency Drought Protection Special Fund

A measure to provide financial assistance to Oklahoma's agricultural community during droughts passed the Senate unanimously Tuesday. Senate Bill 996 would create the Emergency Drought Protection Special Fund. Sen. Ron Justice, author of the legislation, says the state's current drought is a tragic example of why the fund is needed.

"Oklahoma is in one of the worst droughts in state history. Many farmers and ranchers have lost crops and been forced to sell livestock because there simply isn't enough water to maintain them. Some have even stopped farming or ranching because they couldn't make ends meet and were near bankruptcy," said Justice, R-Chickasha. "Agriculture is the backbone of our state's economy. We must do all we can to protect this industry and this fund is one way we can do that."

The Oklahoma Conservation Commission would maintain the fund which would consist of certain funds appropriated to it. Monies from the fund could only be spent when the Governor declared a drought emergency to exist.

Click here for more.  

This N That- Hall-Coyote Hills Sale Set for Saturday, Superior Livestock Selling Friday and CME Group Backs Off of Longer Trading Day

The Hall-Coyote Hills Ranch, Mostly Black Black, All Polled Bull Sale is scheduled for this coming Saturday, March 9, 2013 at the ranch, Chattanooga, Oklahoma.

Selling 96 Black ~ 1 Red ~ All Polled
Limousin & Lim-Flex Cattle

7 Fall Yearling Purebred Bulls. Lots 1-7
66 Fall Yearling Lim-Flex & Percentage Bulls. Lots 8-72
24 Y earling Lim-Flex & Percentage Bulls. Lots 73-97
84 Homo Black * 75 Homo Polled * 66 Double Homo
5% discount with purchase of five or more bulls; 10% on 10 or more bulls  

For more information, click here and jump over to where you will find the full sale catalog with details of this high quality offering.

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The folks at Superior Livestock have their next regular live video auction of cattle coming this Friday morning, beginning at 8 AM central time on RFD-TV and via the internet.  

This week's sale will feature 25,500 cattle from across the country- including 400 Holsteins, 7,500 Yearling steers,  4,700 Yearling heifers, 12,300 weaned calves,  100 calves on cows, 500 bred heifers, bred cows & cow/calf pairs.  

Click here for the specific details of this week's auction- complete with how to tune in or log on- how to bid and contact details as well.    

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They have talked to their customers and the CME group is changing everything AGAIN when it comes to ag futures trading hours. The decision is that their experiment in ag futures trading 23 hours a day is not working- so significant changes are coming as of April 8, 2013.  The early day before opening of trade in the afternoon at 5:00 pm is being moved further into the evening at 7:00 PM central- with electronic trade going to 7:45 AM the next morning- pausing and reopening with the open outcry pits at 8:30 AM central- with trade to run in electronic and open outcry til 1:15 pm.  This is for the grain and oilseed ag futures in Chicago and Kansas City- nothing changing for now with Livestock futures.  

The BIG change in all of this is that the open that has been in place forever at 9:30 AM central time (for pit trading) is moving to 8:30 AM.  In addition, that afternoon 2:00 pm close that was established just a few months ago- getting rolled back to 1:15 pm central time- which was the old longstanding closing bell time for Chicago and Kansas City grain futures.  

More details on this "flavor of the month" approach to agricultural futures trade can be had by clicking here.