The Farm Post eNews

Friday eNews from the Pike and Scott County Farm Bureaus

MARCH 11, 2016

FBs Call on Congress to Fund NESP

The Pike and Scott County Farm Bureaus joined 53 other agricultural groups in sending a letter to leaders of the House and Senate appropriations committees to express support for funding waterways infrastructure.

The Farm Bureaus signed on to the letter drafted by the Waterways Council, Inc. calling for funding of the Navigation Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP), which includes the LaGrange, Saverton and Clarksville locks. The letters specifically call for appropriations to improve area locks and dams on the Illinois and Mississippi rivers.

For Fiscal Year 2017, the industry supports full funding (the amount supported by revenue derived from the barge fuel fee) of the Inland Waterways Trust Fund, which is expected to be $390 million as well as a minimum of $3.1 billion for Operations & Maintenance.

From an agricultural perspective, having access to a modern and efficient inland waterway system is vital to the efficient production, marketing and shipment of commodities in international commerce.

Take Big Data Survey

AFBF recently launched an online survey to collect feedback from farmers about farm data. The survey, which is open to all farmers and ranchers, will help gauge progress on big data issues and give some important insight into new issues.

Take the survey.

Groups call to stop ag spending cuts

The House and Senate Agriculture committees made difficult choices to contribute to bipartisan deficit reduction goals when they crafted the farm bill just two years ago, and any calls for additional cuts to the programs they administer should be rejected, according to AFBF.

In a letter sent Wednesday, AFBF and 255 other groups called on congressional Budget and Appropriations leaders to oppose additional cuts that would further reduce spending for programs such as conservation, nutrition assistance and the nation's farm safety net.

Thank a Consumer

The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance is urging all agriculturists to "Thank a Consumer," because in agriculture, customers are the people who eat, wear and use the commodities that farmers grow and raise every day.

"We as farmers and ranchers sometimes don't take the time to stop and show our appreciation to our neighbors, our Facebook friends and all those people we don't know who buy and use our products," said Nancy Kavazanjian, USFRA chairwoman and a Wisconsin farmer.

"In the U.S. and abroad, all consumers help sustain farmers and ranchers' livelihood and contribute to their overall profitability," she said. "Many campaigns justifiably thank farmers and ranchers, but now it's our turn to share that gratitude and thank consumers for their continued support in buying the food and products that we grow and raise for them."

USFRA launched "Thank a Consumer" at the Commodity Classic, held last week in New Orleans.

Ag safety is NO accident

Agricultural Safety Awareness Program Week, now in its eighth year, runs through Saturday. In Newsline, Marty Tatman, director of program development at AFBF, explained that safety is especially important as planting season approaches.

"Whether it's the actual farmers going into the fields or families coming out to visit the farmers and ranchers, it's important that we always keep in mind that safety should be our number one priority," Tatman said. ASAP Week will highlight a different safety focus each day and provide additional best practice resources, as well as real life stories.

TODAY IN HISTORY

Tohuko Earthquake
March 11, 2011

The March 11, 2011 magnitude 9.0 Honshu, Japan earthquake generated a tsunami that was observed all over the Pacific region and caused tremendous devastation locally.

The National Police Agency of Japan reported there were 15,890 deaths and 2,590 missing and presumed death; and 6,152 injuries in 12 Japanese prefectures. The tsunami also caused one death in Papua, Indonesia and one death in Klamath River, California.

The earthquake and tsunami caused $220 billion damage in Japan and resulted in a nuclear disaster with an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) rating of 7 at the Fukushima I (Daiichi) Nuclear Power station.

The tsunami also caused $30 million damage in Hawaii; $55M in California; and $6M in Chile 9,600 miles away.

This was the first time observational evidence from satellites linked a tsunami to ice-shelf calving in Antarctica.

NOAA details.

USGS details.

Learn more about Farm Bureau

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