The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) published a notice in the November 26th Federal Register seeking comments on the document entitled "Technical Update of the Social Cost of Carbon for Regulatory Impact Analysis under Executive Order 12866".  Under the Executive Order, the "social cost of carbon" (SCC) is meant to be a comprehensive estimate of climate change damages such as changes in net agricultural productivity, human health, and property damages from increased flood risk.  It is used by EPA and other federal agencies to estimate the climate benefits of rulemakings and has come under fire by Republicans who charge that the Obama Administration overestimates the SCC.  

The November 2013 Intra-Agency Working Group document can be found here.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service announced that as it is starting the new Fiscal Year with the FY2013 sequestration-level funding under a continuing resolution, it is unable to reinstate the programs that were suspended in March 2013.  The following

• July Cattle Report
• Potato Stocks Reports
• June Rice Stocks Report
• All Hops and Hops Stocks Estimates
• Annual Mink Report
• June on- and off-farm stocks for Austrian Winter Peas, Chickpeas, Dry Peas and Lentils
• July acreage forecasts for Austrian Winter Peas, Dry Edible Peas and Lentils
• All Catfish and Trout Reports including Catfish Feed Deliveries and Catfish Processing; however, NASS will publish the annual catfish and trout report using data collected during the census of aquaculture.
• NASS will publish the Non-Citrus Fruit and Nut Annual Summary; however, there will be no forecasts, no preliminary summary and no monthly prices in FY2014.
• NASS will publish the Vegetable Annual Summary; however, there will be no forecasts or monthly prices in FY2014.

Helene Dillard, a plant disease expert, associate dean and head of Cooperative Extension at Cornell University, has been named the new dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of California, Davis.

Dillard, a native Californian and UC Davis alumna, will on Jan. 27 assume leadership of the college, which is ranked among the very top agricultural and environmental research institutions in the world.

"Helene Dillard is both an accomplished scientist and a highly skilled administrator," said UC Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi.  "She has been a strong supporter of fundamental research and, through her own educational and research efforts, has demonstrated a commitment to solving practical societal problems, especially through Cooperative Extension and its service to agriculture, the environmental community and the general public."

In her new position, Dillard will be the chief academic and administrative leader for UC Davis' founding college, home to 15 departments focusing on the agricultural, environmental and human sciences.    

• Read full press release.....

Charged with linking transformative research with partnerships to address challenges and opportunities at the intersection of food, agriculture and health, acclaimed plant biologist Roger Beachy today was named founding director of the new World Food Center at the University of California, Davis.

Beachy, internationally known for his scientific leadership and groundbreaking research related to disease-resistance in crops, will assume the new position Jan. 1.

"Roger Beachy brings the perfect blend of scientific acumen, experience and vision that are critical for launching the new World Food Center on its proper trajectory," said UC Davis Chancellor Katehi. "We are delighted to have him join us and quite excited about what he and the center's future partners will accomplish as they work together to achieve global food security for the next generations."

The World Food Center, announced by Katehi in March during the international Climate-Smart Agriculture Conference at UC Davis, is intended to increase the economic benefit from campus research; influence national and international policy; and convene teams of scientists and innovators from industry, academia, government and nongovernmental organizations to tackle food-related challenges in California and around the world.

• Read full press release.....

• GFIC Program and Schedule of Events 
   
• Registration Form

• Sponsorship Opportunity Form 

• Hotel Reservations (831) -393-1115  - Group Rate of $139.00 reserve now.
• 1-800-Embassy: Be Sure  to the say  "2014 Grain Feed Conference" or by referencing the group code "CGF".