Agriculture Exports an Essential Part of American Recovery
Rebecca Blue Deputy Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs talks about what agriculture has meant to the recovery of the US economy and the benefits of exports:
“Last year we had a record in ag exports, we had $137 billion in exports. This is really helping to fuel our economy, in that 1 in 12 jobs are ag related. We are taking about a very significant impact on our recovery.”
Farm Bill on the Calendar
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid now says publicly he plans to bring up the Senate farm bill next month. It wasn’t the first time Reid’s mentioned the farm bill - but it may be the first time he’s committed publicly on the Senate floor to bring it up - while announcing his June schedule:
“We will deal with the farm bill, flood insurance, a small business tax program, cyber security and some appropriation bills.”
The commitment now brings greater certainty the farm bill will move forward. American Farm Bureau Deputy Director Dale Moore…
“We are excited that it is on the calendar. We are hoping that the chair and the ranking member of the Senate ag committee can take the necessary steps to make that penciled in date becomes inked.”
Senate floor action - Moore says - gives House Ag Chair Frank Lucas and Ranking Member Collin Peterson the certainty they’re looking for to move to House Committee action
Free Fishing Weekend for Virginians in June
The Virginia Department of Inland Fisheries is offering a chance for anglers to fish without a license.
The agency said in a release that the free fishing weekend will take place June 1-3. No fishing license will be required for recreational rod and reel fishing - except for a special trout license in designated trout waters. All state fishing regulations, including size, catch and gear restrictions will remain in effect.
Hurricane Evacuations in South Carolina No Longer Voluntary
When hurricanes threaten South Carolina, there no longer will be any voluntary evacuations.
Gubernatorial orders to evacuate as a hurricane approaches will not be considered voluntary. Officials say that will cause less confusion. Derek Becker of the Emergency Management Division says South Carolina was one of the last states to use voluntary evacuation orders given well in advance of a storm. They told people who didn't feel comfortable staying that they should leave the coast.
Becker says a mandatory evacuation will be ordered by the governor in the future.
Two Meat Organizations to Merge July 1
July 1 is the start date for the North American Meat Association (NAMA) - the brand new association created by the consolidation of the two venerable meat industry association leaders – the National Meat Association (NMA) and the North American Meat Processors Association (NAMP). On that date, both associations literally will cease to exist – and the entirely new association NAMA will start.
The decision to merge because there are a lot of similarities between the two groups: members of both associations are the same type of companies, but the overlap of both processor members and supplier members is surprisingly very low.
The geography of the membership is complimentary as well; the majority of NMA members are in the western U.S., and NAMP members are mostly in the Midwest and Northeast, Canada and Mexico.
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