The Pork Checkoff has launched an ‘Adopt-a-Retailer’ program. According to Pork Checkoff Channel Marketing Assistant Vice President Jarrod Sutton - key retailers are being linked with pork producers. Through this program pork producers demonstrate the Pork Checkoff’s We Care message…
“Having the opportunity to bring the We Care story to life through producers who are well versed in the Operation Main Street training, and that are comfortable and confident talking through some of the issues that our industry is faced with today. Most, importantly, answering questions directly with the retailers, with these key influencers, the decision makers, that they may have regarding today’s pork production. So, what better way to tell our story of how our pork producers do what they do better than any body else in the world to feed a hungry world.”
Russia Sets Poultry Import Quotas
The USA Poultry and Egg Export Council says, according to a Russian official, Russia will cut in half its poultry import quota for 2011 to 350-thousand metric tons. Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov is quoted as saying - we have left pork and beef quotas unchanged.
USB & ASA Tentatively Agree to Begin Reconciliation Talks
Pending approval next month by their respective boards - the United Soybean Board and the American Soybean Association will launch direct talks in January aimed at putting their longstanding differences over USB’s management of the national soybean checkoff behind them.
Eight farmer-leaders of the two organizations have hammered out a process to guide what USB Vice Chairman Marc Curtis says will be a non-binding discussion of issues in dispute...
“It’s a facilitated discussion, where both organizations sit down together for a couple, three days with a facilitator, not an arbitrator, and when we get through with the process, if either side isn’t happy with the results, they don’t have any obligation to adhere to it.”
Although no agenda has been set for the initial meeting - officials hope the dialogue will identify areas where USB and ASA responsibilities overlap so the two groups can work together to avoid turf battles.
After an 18-month USDA Inspector General audit of USB found insufficient evidence to support ASA’s allegations of misuse of checkoff dollars - Curtis says it’s important for the soybean industry’s checkoff board and primary lobbyist to...
“Try to develop the relationship, and see where we can go forward together. See what commonalities we have, so on and so forth.”
ASA President-elect Alan Kemper says his group looks forward to formal talks with USB...
“It’s a brighter time for soybeans, with that. The historical blinders have to come off, and I’ll be chatting further with our organization coming up here in December. There’s no room for looking back in my agenda. We’re looking forward, we have so many things in the fore front with Free Trade Agreements, Farm Bills, the great initiatives US beef is putting out for the producers. And so, I look forward to a brighter future.”
Funds Released To Cut Energy Costs
USDA has announced funding for projects to stabilize and reduce energy costs for residents of remote rural areas where the current cost of producing electricity is extremely high. Much of the funds, provided through USDA’s High Energy Cost Grant program, will be used to construct renewable energy projects. The funding totals more than 12-million dollars.
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