NFU Leaders Explore Policy Issues With Canadians CHARLOTTETOWN, Prince Edward Island The president of the National Fanners Union and several state Fanners Union presidents explored cunent poli cy issues with their Canadian counterparts during the Cana dian Federation of Agriculture’s semi-annual meeting here. The U.S. country-of-origin la beling, or “COOL” law, the cur rent World Trade Organization talks and Canada’s incidence of Bovine Spongiform Encephalo pathy (BSE) were, expectedly, the hot topics. NFU President Dave Freder ickson began the discussion with a speech in which he addressed all three issues. On trade, Freder ickson outlined a series of what NFU Testifies On Impacts Of The Sale Of Farmland Foods To Smithfield Foods WASHINGTON, D.C. Dur ing a U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing, Missouri Farmers Union President Russ Kremer outlined the concerns of independent pork producers related to the potential acquisition of Farmland Foods pork division by Smithfield Foods and the competitive mar ket implications of the proposed sale. Kremer presented testimony before the Senate Judiciary sub committee on Antitrust, Compe tition Policy, and Consumer Rights on behalf of National Farmers Union. “The loss of our nation’s larg est farmer-owned cooperative is not only devastating to America’s independent agricultural produc A focus on the latest forage varieties will be part of the Sept. 13 issue of Foraging Around. Also scheduled: update on pastured poultry research at Penn State and the latest haymaking and grazing information from various field days. 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We are a farmer run and controlled grass roots co-op and milk marketing division of Allied Federated Co-op, Canton, New York Call us today 1 We are truly farmers coming and working togethei 315-858-0312 - 717-789-9685 - 717-993-6808 • »•••••• • • * - * *«•*«**••*•*•»*,• « 4U.U 4 .< he called “myths” about trade policy. Included on the farm leader’s myth list was the notion that “trade agreements create free and fair trade.” It’s not true, said Frederickson. “Often they ignore issues that directly impact competitiveness or distort pro duction market signals.” Frederickson’s second of such myths is the assertion that trade agreements will increase markets and income for farmers and ranchers. He says that since rati fication of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Uruguay Round WTO agreement, “U.S. market share has generally declined, imports of competing products have in creased and net farm income at ers, but also furthers the goal of Smithfield Foods to gain greater control of the pork production and processing sector,” Kremer said. “If this sale is approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and the U.S. Department of Justice, Smithfield Foods will control 27 percent of the pork processing in dustry and the only market op portunities for independent pro cuders in my area.” “t'he loss of family farms and other independently owned busi nesses is not inevitable. To allow this proposal to be approved prior to Congress conducting a thorough review to ensure anti trust laws are adequate, would be like shutting the gate after ail the pigs got out,” Kremer said. tributed to the sale of farm com modities, excluding government payments, has declined.” Frederickson’s group has pro posed a broader trade agenda. “Such an agenda should recog nize the need to achieve domestic food safety and security for all countries,” Frederickson said. “It should also address the preva lence of an agricultural commod ity supply-and-demand imbal ance that results in inadequate economic returns to producers, and we should consider the im pacts of the concentrated market power that exists among a limited number of agricultural market participants.” The farm leader also discussed the mandatory country-of-origin Kremer said that Smithfield officials have indicated that if the proposal is approved, they would continue to operate and maintain production levels at all Farmland plants. What has been left unsaid is the fate of the other plants pur chased by Smithfield via previous acquisitions and mergers that may now be determined ineffi Etherton To Head Animal Science Society PHOENIX, Ariz. The Amer ican Society of Animal Science (ASAS) has announced that Dr. Terry Etherton, head of the De partment of Dairy and Animal Science, and distinguished pro fessor of animal nutrition at Penn State will serve as president for 2003-2004. The announcement was made at the annual meeting conducted June 22-26 in Phoenix, Ariz. The American Society of Animal Sci ences is a professional scientific society that represents more than 5,000 animal scientists world wide. Etherton is a native of Illi nois and received his B.S. de gree in agricultural science DANIELS FARM STORE 324 Glenbrook Rd„ 1 cold, P\ 717-656-6982 Mon.-Fri. 7-8, Sat. 7-12 labeling law passed as part of the current U.S. farm bill. Frederick son said he makes “no apologies” for the law, noting that more than 60 countries have some form of country-of-origin label ing. “We are the largest market in the world and our farmers are not afraid to compete,” he said. “But, one key element in that competition is providing the con sumer with the information needed to be able to differentiate our products from those of our competitors.” Finally, on the troubling topic of the incident of BSE in Alberta earlier this year, Frederickson ex pressed sympathy with the plight of Canadian beef producers who are reportedly losing more than 10 million Canadian dollars a cient. National Farmers Union noted it is concerned about the ripple effects this acquisition will have on independent pork pro ducers, local businesses, and rural communities if the proposal is allowed to proceed before Con gress has time to review anti trust laws. In his testimony, Kremer high- from the University of Illinois in 1971 and was awarded the M.S. degree in animal science from the University of Illinois in 1974. He received his Ph.D. degree in ani mal science from the University of Minnesota in 1978. Etherton was an NIH postdoc toral fellow in the Department of Medicine at Stanford University from 1978 to 1979. In 1979, Etherton joined the faculty in the Department of Dairy and Animal Science at Penn State. He assumed the posi tion of department head at Penn State in 1998. “I am excited about serving the leading animal science society in the world. There are tremendous opportunities for the society to Premier Wart Relief • Environmentally Friendly • No Copper Wrap Formula Protocol The wrap formula is designed to be topically applied directly on the wart with the use of a wrap product for clinical animals. Apply one scoop of Premier Wart Relief™ wrap formula to the wrap. Wrap the hoof taking care to cover the wart m its entirety. Leave wrapped for 7-14 days. Footbath Formula Protocol The footbath formula is designed to be used m the dairy’s footbath initially to eliminate the existing warts and as a maintenance product to reduce the likelihood of reoccurrence Mix 24 lbs ol Premier Wart Relief™ footbath powder pei 50 gallons of water (12 lbs. per 25 gallon footbath) Change as neccssaiy to maintain a clean and effective footbath day as a result of the closing of the U.S. border to Canadian beef imports. However, the farm lead er said, “We do so only because we must take the steps necessary to protect our domestic beef in dustry, consistent with the simi lar restrictions that have been ap plied to other nations that have discovered a (BSE) case.” In addition to Frederickson, NFU board members attending the joint meeting were NFU Vice President Alan Bergman, North Dakota Farmers Union President Robert Carlson, Minnesota Farmers Union President Doug Peterson, Ohio Farmers Union President Joe Logan, Wisconsin Farmers Union President Sue Beitiich and Missouri Farmers Union President Russ Kremer. lighted 10 possible reforms that the subcommittee could create to update and strengthen current anti-trust laws. These reforms will help ensure fairness, trans parency, protection, and bargain ing rights for producers, which would restore and enhance com petition for agricultural markets. proactively communicate with consumers and policymakers about important science-based information that the scientists in our society discover,” Etherton said. Established in 1908, ASAS is a professional organization for ani mal scientists designed to help members provide effective lead ership through research, exten sion, teaching, and service for the dynamic and rapidly changing livestock and meat industries. The society publishes monthly the Journal of Animal Science as a means of disseminating scien tific and educational information; promotes research that discovers and expands knowledge in ani mal science; fosters high stan dards of education; promotes the profession and vocation of animal science; serves as a re source for information on issues of public con cern related to animals; and interacts with other national organizations that have similar goals. FSA Seeks Candidates HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is looking for candi dates for the farmer elected county com mittee election to be conducted this fall. There will be 46 such elections across the state. “It is crucial that every eligible agricul tural producer take part in this election be cause county commit tees are a direct link between the farm com munity and the U.S. Department of Agri culture,” said Richard B. Pallman, state exec utive director . Nomi nation forms can be obtained from FSA county offices. Com pleted nomination forms are due back to the FSA office by Sept. 5.
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