USDA Launches Biobased Product Label

The Biobased Products Coalition (BPC) commended the U.S. Department of Agriculture's introduction of the "USDA Certified Biobased Product" voluntary labeling program. NCGA is part of the BPC, which has advocated for the implementation of this labeling program. It is an important milestone toward greater use of biobased products by government agencies as well as the many businesses and consumers seeking American-made products that reduce dependence on foreign oil and benefit the environment.

Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) coauthored the biobased provisions in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. That landmark legislation recognized the benefits of biobased products for America's environment, energy security and economy, particularly the rural economy. It called on federal agencies to buy biobased products, which would serve as a market driver for the nation's transition to these products that use renewable agricultural resources to reduce the petroleum content in thousands of products.

The Farm Bill also required USDA to work with other government agencies to launch a labeling program for biobased products that would increase awareness of the products as well as make it easier to identify them for purchase.

The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 expanded the federal biobased program. It also directed USDA to designate intermediate ingredients and feedstocks that are or can be used to produce items (including complex products such as furniture with biobased foam, vehicle parts with biobased plastics, electronic products with biobased casings) that will be eligible for the biobased purchasing preference.

The federal biobased initiative is also an important model for state and other governments. Arkansas, Indiana and Ohio have legislation that requires state agencies to buy biobased products that are designated through the federal biobased program. Midwestern Governors have launched a biobased procurement initiative and counties across the nation have started using biobased products as well.

To listen to an interview with Research and Business Development Chair Larry Hasheider on this subject, click here.

NCGA Supports USDA's Option to Fully Deregulate Roundup Ready Alfalfa

NCGA supports the U.S. Department of Agriculture's option to fully deregulate glyphosate tolerant alfalfa events J101 and J163, as published in the Final Environmental Impact Statement this past December. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) is pressing USDA to fully deregulate Roundup Ready alfalfa in a committee forum today. Roundup Ready alfalfa was found to pose no risk to health or safety.

The U.S. regulatory system for biotechnology derived agricultural products has been the world leader for 25 years based upon a science-based decision-making process.

"Biotechnology benefits the environment and helps to provide food, feed, fiber and fuel to the world's growing population." said Bart Schott, NCGA president from Kulm, ND. "A full deregulation of this important crop would allow farmers to move forward with alfalfa production this spring."

An order issued in 2007 by the U.S. District Court in San Francisco required USDA to conduct a full Environmental Impact Statement regarding Roundup Ready alfalfa. USDA has since put in place reforms to address the court's concerns regarding compliance. NCGA also strongly supports continued efforts to adequately fund USDA's biotechnology regulatory program to address compliance issues regarding deregulation. A Record of Decision for these alfalfa events is expected beginning on January 24.

 Expert Examines Corn Demand, Pricing

Corn farmers who came to St. Louis for the National Corn Growers Association's Priority and Policy Conference this week enjoyed a presentation by Bruce Scherr, CEO of Informa Economics and one of the nation's leading agricultural economics research firms. In his presentations, Scherr reviewed the historical trends in corn prices and looked at how changing global demographics are shifting the agricultural commodity market paradigm.

"What we see in increased corn prices today is the ripple effect of economic expansion," Scherr said. "The expansion of commodity values is not over. It's just beginning."

Noting that commodity prices remained, on average, stagnant for three decades despite significant inflation in the market as a whole, Scherr explained that it is essential to keep current price increases in perspective because prior values were unsustainably low. He also pointed out that, while demand initially surged, increases have leveled off and are now trending to more gradual growth.

To read more on the speech, click here.