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July 2012
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Click this seal to go to the top of the newsletter |
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NTF Staff
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President
Joel Brandenberger; Ext. 7226
Legislative
Damon Wells; Ext. 7232
Leslee Oden; Ext. 7228
Scientific & Regulatory
Lisa Picard; Ext. 7233
Andrew Bailey; Ext. 7224
Communications
Sherrie Rosenblatt; Ext. 7227
Kimmon Williams; Ext. 7234
Membership
Jen Dansereau; Ext. 7229
Clara Sackey; Ext. 7221
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President's Message
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Greetings!
With the NTF Leadership Conference less than a week away, it's a safe assumption that most NTF members' travel plans are set. The 140 or so members who are confirmed to join us in Washington are going to have a heavy lobbying schedule ahead of them, because Congress' agenda is fuller than one typically expects in July of a presidential election year.
At this point, Congress and the administration would normally be in full posturing mode, debating bills and offering amendments that have little chance of passing, but that are guaranteed to score points with the electorate. There's still plenty of that going on this July, but there's a surprising amount of real legislating going on too.
The Senate has already passed its version of a new Farm Bill, and the House Agriculture Committee begins debating its bill next week. Animal welfare amendments, the future of the EQIP program and new GIPSA marketing language are among the issues on the table. Similarly, the agriculture appropriations process will be moving forward in the next two weeks, with many of the same issues -- plus food safety and antibiotic resistance -- on the table.
Those who make it to Washington will have a chance to engage in the best, most effective form of lobbying available: grassroots lobbying. In this era of evolving communications tools, NTF is crafting a new grassroots communication program that will build on the Leadership Conference and allow members to more easily deliver messages to their local legislators (and editorial boards) year-round. Special thanks to the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association for their support of this program.
Stay tuned . . .
Now, on a related note, it is my sad duty to tell you that one of the architects of this new grassroots strategy is leaving NTF. Sherrie Rosenblatt, our vice president for marketing and communications, will be departing July 20 after almost 14 years with the federation. She will become the new vice president for marketing and communications at the Can Manufacturers Institute.
For Sherrie, it is a great opportunity to continue focusing on marketing at a time when NTF's communications program is shifting its focus more to issues management. Everyone who knows Sherrie's passion for marketing will understand why this opportunity appeals to her.
I've worked side-by-side with Sherrie longer than with anyone else during my tenure at NTF, and it has been a real privilege. It is terribly difficult to lose such a good friend and colleague, but knowing that she'll be spending every day doing what she loves makes the loss a little bit easier.
Good luck, Sherrie, and thank you for your excellent service on behalf of NTF and the turkey industry.
Sincerely,
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Economic Update written by Tom Elam, FarmEcon, LLC
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Weather has obviously been hot and dry across most of the Corn Belt for the last six weeks. Much of the Midwest is now abnormally dry or in a moderate drought. A blocking high pressure system has been diverting needed rain north into the Northern Plains and Canada. While temperatures are not setting records, it has also been unseasonably warm. On June 20, the 10-day forecast called for only scattered thunderstorms across much of the Midwest.
Click here to read the article in full.
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Legislative
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Senate Passes 2012 Farm Bill; House Prepares to Move Forward: The Senate approved its version of the 2012 Farm Bill, shifting the debate over to the House. On June 21, the Senate passed the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012 (S. 3240) by a vote of 64 to 35. The bill included several key provisions important to the turkey industry, which includes a provision to study a poultry farmer insurance program, reauthorized funding of the Market Access Program at $200 million annually, and continued funding of the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP). As the House Agriculture Committee moves forward on the 2012 Farm Bill, NTF will continue to work with committee members to lay the groundwork for responsible farm policy. NTF will be focusing on improving opportunities for poultry farmers to access EQIP funding to help with environmental stewardship and cost savings. The House Agriculture Committee is scheduled to consider its version of the 2012 Farm Bill on July 11. Congress hopes to pass the bill by the end of July before heading back to their districts and states for the August recess. The current Farm Bill is set to expire in September.
House Appropriations Committee Passes Agriculture Appropriations Bill: In early June, the House Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 Agriculture Appropriations Bill. The legislation funds several important and necessary government programs and services, including food safety, animal and plant health, rural development and farm services, and nutrition programs. The legislation includes $19.4 billion in discretionary funding -- a cut of $365 million below last year's level and $1.7 billion below the president's budget request. Specifically, the bill includes a provision that prohibits GIPSA from spending any money in FY2013 to re-promulgate its controversial livestock and poultry marketing rule from FY2011. Meanwhile, the bill maintains critical funding for meat, poultry and egg product inspection and testing activities, and supports the implementation of the new poultry inspection system to improve safety and inspection efficiency. The legislation will now move to the House floor for final passage. NTF will continue to be engaged throughout the budget process to ensure that priorities for the turkey industry are implemented and oppose efforts to dismantle the legislation from its current form. In the report accompanying the bill, House appropriators pressed USDA to complete work on its New Poultry Inspection System rule by Oct. 1. They also instructed FDA to gather more information on the amount of antibiotics used in animal agriculture. Bipartisan Group of Senators Create RFS Study Group: Sens. James Inhofe, R-Okla., and Christopher Coons, D-Del., have initiated a bipartisan study group to examine the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The goal is to examine several aspects of the RFS in an effort to determine which provisions are working and which can be improved. The Biofuels Investment and RFS Market Congressional Study Group began its work in mid-June, and will continue its sessions until late September, when Congress takes its election-season recess. Other reported senators participating include Max Baucus, D-Mont.; Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M.; John Boozman, R-Ark.; Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.; Ben Cardin, D-Md.; Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa; Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; Lisa Murkowski, R-Ala.; Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.; John Thune, R-S.D.; and Ron Wyden, D-Ore. As the group continues to examine the RFS, NTF will remain an active leader in efforts to rollback new federal support of corn-based ethanol. NTF Supports Permanent Trade Relations with Russia: NTF, along with the National Chicken Council and USA Poultry and Egg Export Council, applauded the introduction of a Senate bill that will establish permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with Russia by repealing the 1974 Jackson-Vanik amendment. A press release about the Senate bill was picked up by a variety of poultry trade media, including MeatingPlace.com and MeatPoultry.com. Coalition Responds to Rep. Slaughter Questions about Antibiotic Use: NTF, along with a coalition of agriculture groups, sent a letter to Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., in response to her attempt to restrict antibiotic use in animal agriculture.
Slaughter requested that meat and poultry companies, along with many of their customers, respond by June 15 to a request about guidelines for using antibiotics in animal production. In anticipation of media attention surrounding Slaughter's request, the coalition also released a statement that pointing out the stringent federal approval process and regulation of antibiotics, the lack of human health risks from their judicious use in livestock and poultry production, and the benefits they offer in food animal production.
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Scientific and Regulatory
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Technical and Regulatory
FSIS Notice on Adulterated and Misbrand Product: NTF continues to work for reasonable implementation of the new FSIS notice, "Responsibilities Related to Receiving Notice of Adulterated or Misbranded Product, and Verifying Written Recall Procedures and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Reassessment Documentation." FSIS, after several conversations with NTF staff, announced the agency's position will be that if a product remains within "corporate control," the product is not considered "in commerce." FSIS will develop a document to standardize the agency's position. This clarification is an improvement from the original interpretation of the notice.
Food Defense Practices for Deli Meats: NTF participated in the USDA Vulnerability Assessment Update for Non-Comminuted Deli Meats. Current industry food defense practices, vulnerabilities and countermeasures on ready-to-eat meat were explained by NTF staff and this information will be used by USDA to update the food security reports for 2012. NTF will also be a key player in the next vulnerability assessment for ground meat products, scheduled in early 2013.
Comment Period Extended for HACCP Systems Validation: FSIS is extending the comment period 30 days for the notice that clarifies requirements for HACCP system validation and for the guidance document to assist establishments in meeting the validation requirements. The original deadline to submit comments on both documents was July 9; the new deadline is Aug. 9. The Technical and Regulatory Committee is currently developing these comments.
Live Production and Environment
CVM Implements New Process for Feed Mill Registration: CVM announced a more streamlined process for licensed medicated feed mill facilities. The improved process for registration uses a new online interface that is supposed to make it easier for users to navigate. This process will apply to new and existing feed mills.
Worker Safety and Health/Human Resources
Joint Poultry Industry Safety Awards: Sixty-eight turkey and chicken companies were recognized for their outstanding safety performance at the first annual awards banquet during the 2012 National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. The annual safety awards are based on injury statistics over three years and an evaluation of written applications by three judges. The following NTF members were recognized: Butterball, LLC; Cargill Turkey Production, LLC; Cargill Value Added Meats; House of Raeford Farms; Keystone Foods, LLC; Moroni Feed Company; Perdue Farms, Inc.; Sara Lee Foods; and Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative.
A press release on the awards was picked up by 12 media outlets, which includes Dow Jones Factiva and PerishableNews.com.
Safety and Health Council Meeting Successful: The Joint Poultry Industry Safety and Health Council met in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., during the National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry. Speakers provided an update on citation trends, recordability of temporary job transfers and OSHA regulations. Committee discussion focused predominantly on the potential plant-level impacts of the USDA's proposed New Poultry Inspection Rule, the hours-of-service amicus brief (see below) and chemical safety.
Driver Hours-Of-Service Litigation: NTF continues to actively oppose Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration's efforts to change transportation regulations regarding driver's hours of service. NTF is a "friend of the court" in litigation being led by the American Trucking Association. The court should grant the petition in favor of the status quo and reject Public Citizen's petition that states the proposed changes do not go far enough in improving driver safety. NTF's position is to maintain the current 11 hour driving time standards and oppose changes to the 34-hour restart requiring two consecutive nights off; limiting use of restart to once every 168 hours and opposes the mandatory 30 minute break that excludes on-duty non-driving activity.
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Marketing Communications
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Marketing
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Michaela Rosenthal's winnng Turkey Broccoli Stir-Fry photograph
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Winner Announced in NTF's Recipe Photo Contest: Michaela Rosenthal won the NTF recipe photo contest
by sending in a snapshot of the Turkey Broccoli Stir-Fry. Rosenthal won an Indoor Butterball Turkey Fryer donated by Butterball, LLC. NTF would like to thank those members that helped promote the contest by posting it through social media.
Average Betty Creates the "Man Loaf" Sandwich Video: Average Betty creates a man-loaf sandwich from a turkey chipotle meatloaf for NTF's video library to show how ground turkey is versatile and tasty. Sara O'Donnell, food blogger and creator of Average Betty, shows viewers how to create this simple, but tasty new recipe using turkey because of its natural ability to combine readily with different seasonings.
Along with the video, a press release was sent out through BusinessWire. The release has been viewed more than 1,200 times and has been posted on websites such as Nation's Restaurant News, Yahoo! Finance and American Public Media. Affiliate news programs, coast-to-coast, shared the release on their websites, as well.
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Mark Bucher grilling turkey burgers.
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NTF Promotes Turkey Burgers in Satellite Media Tour: NTF embarked on a satellite media tour in mid-June with Mark Bucher, owner of
BGR: The Burger Joint. On a rooftop deck in New York City, Bucher cooked turkey burgers, while speaking to 19 different media outlets, which included television, radio and bloggers. Bucher talked about ground turkey's versatility and excellent nutrition profile, while promoting good at-home food safety practices. Initial reports show that Bucher's messages reached more than 3 million viewers, listeners and readers.
Bucher's interview was also included in a multimedia news release (MNR) that has been picked up by a number of outlets, including LA Daily News, Reuters and MSNBC. The release received close to 2,000 page views. The media campaign has reached close to 12 million unique readers, through the combination of page views, web clippings and social media.
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Issues
Food Safety E-Card: Through the Partnership for Food Safety Education, NTF sponsored an e-card that reminds consumers to safely enjoy poultry products on the grill and links to a video that shows how to grill poultry safely. The e-card is sent to thousands of food safety professionals.
Bank of America Partners with HSUS: Bank of America recently announced another partnership with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) after releasing a new HSUS-themed credit card. This new credit card provides the animal rights organization with $60 for every new account opened and an additional 25 cents for every $100 spent. In mid-June, the Animal Agriculture Alliance wrote to Bank of America's President Brian Moynihan to request that the bank stop funding animal rights organizations such as HSUS that seek to eliminate animal agriculture. A copy of the letter can be viewed here.
If you are a Bank of America customer, ask them to drop their support for HSUS and remind them that local animal shelters are most in need of financial support.
Animal Agriculture Responds to Consumers Union Campaign, "Meat Without Drugs": Using results from a survey that shows consumers prefer antibiotic-free meat, Consumers Union is pressuring supermarket chains to adopt the group's campaign, "Meat Without Drugs." NTF is part of a large coalition that will be sending a letter to Consumers Union that states the need for consumer choice when purchasing meat, while noting that it is unhelpful to stigmatize one type of production system to boost another. Meanwhile, Scott Hurd, D.V.M., Ph.D., responded to the Consumers Union report by pointing out that the results from this survey are based on opinion polls and secret shopper surveys of labels and not on any kind of scientific risk assessments. You can read Hurd's blog here.
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Member Services
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 | | Sen. Patrick Roberts, R-Kan. |
Sen. Patrick Roberts to Keynote 2012
Leadership Conference: Sen. Patrick Roberts,
R-Kan., ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, will be the keynote speaker at the 2012 Leadership Conference Breakfast and General Session
on Tuesday, July 10.
For 16 years Roberts represented Kansas' first district
in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1996 he was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he is currently
serving his third term.
Roberts was the first in history to be the top Republican on the Agriculture Committee in both the House and the Senate. He has built a reputation as a national leader in agriculture, health care and defense. He is an advocate of a strong education system, free and fair trade policies, increased investment in science and technology, a focused foreign policy and a strong military.
Political Analyst Stuart Rothenberg will Speak at 2012 Leadership Conference Luncheon: Stuart Rothenberg, editor and publisher of The Rothenberg Political Report, will provide an election outlook at the Leadership Conference luncheon on Monday, July 9. Rothenberg's presentation is sponsored through the generous support of Elanco Animal Health.
The Rothenberg Political Report is a non-partisan political newsletter covering House, Senate and gubernatorial campaigns, as well as presidential politics and political developments. Rothenberg is also a twice-a-week columnist for Roll Call, Capitol Hill's premier newspaper.
Rothenberg has served as an election night analyst for the Newshour on PBS in 2008 and 2010 and for CBS News in 2006. Prior to that, he was an on-air political analyst for CNN, covering election nights from 1992 through 2004. He has also provided on-air analysis for Voice of America.
Remember to Renew
Your 2012 NTF Membership!
by calling 202/730-9642, or by mail.
If you have questions about your
membership, contact
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Giblets
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Dan Sinn, passed away last week. Sinn was an independent turkey producer in Tremont, Ill., for 72 years and operated a turkey processing plant for 11 years. To express condolences online, visit www.davismortuaryinc.com.
NTF staff attended two state association meetings last month. Leslee Oden attended the Iowa Turkey Federation's summer meeting and Sherrie Rosenblatt attended Minnesota Turkey Grower's Association meeting. Both staff members presented an NTF update.
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Sherrie Rosenblatt provided welcoming remarks at the Minnesota Turkey Grower's Association summer meeting.
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 | Leslee Oden with John Menges of
Hybrid at the Iowa summer meeting. |
Shane Acosta, complex general manager of Cargill in Springdale, Ark., received the 2012 Industry Leader of the Year from the Poultry Federation of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri.
Virginia Poultry Federation (VPF) members donated more than 8,500 pounds of turkey to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank (BRAFB). VPF President Hobey Bauhan said the donation was in response to the challenge set by Gov. Bob McDonnell in his "Governor's Bowl" Food and Fund Drive and to highlight McDonnell's recent proclamation designating June as "Virginia Turkey Lovers Month."
 | | From left to right: Hobey Bauhan, VPF; Matt Lohr, Virginia Department of Agriculture Commissioner; Christian Simmers, Cargill; Kevin Saxton, Perdue; Rick Reeves, Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative; Larry Zippen, BRAFB; Frank Tamberrino, Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce. |
Cargill Value Added Meats' complex in Waco, Texas, is seeing excellent results from its Valuing Imagination in People (VIP) program. Employees provide ideas on how to improve working conditions or save money in operations that are then submitted and reviewed; ideas are recognized with a gift depending on the value of the idea.
Joel Coleman, vice president and general manager of international sales, Butterball, LLC, has been elected secretary-treasurer of USA Poultry and Egg Export Council.
Hillshire Brands Company is the new name for the Sara Lee Corp. North American business.
Pfizer Animal Health is preparing to file a registration statement in the United States for a potential initial public offering (IPO) of a minority ownership stake in Animal Health. The company will be named Zoetis™.
Turkey Summer Sausage and Turkey Snack Slices are new additions to Old Wisconsin's offering, which is the only meat snack brand to offer turkey meat snack in sticks, bites, slices and summer sausage.
Nine Aiken County, N.C., public schools have begun serving rotating breakfast options that include an "incredible" bowl of cheese, eggs, potatoes and turkey sausage.
According to the 2012 Food & Health Survey: Consumer Attitude Toward Food Safety, Nutrition & Health, commissioned by the International Food Information Council Foundation, 80 percent of Americans believe proteins are part of a balanced diet, but a quarter believes that they are too expensive.
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