WASHINGTON, D.C. -- This week, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced key dates and deadlines for decisions regarding programs authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill.  Decision tools are now available online to help owners make choices on base acre reallocation and yield updates before visiting their local FSA office.  Owners have until February 27, 2015 to make these decisions.

Between November 17, 2014 and March 31, 2015, producers can elect whether to use Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) for the 2014-2018 crop years.  The enrollment period for both programs is set to open mid-spring and run through summer 2015 for both the 2014 and 2015 crop years. 

Specific program information and detailed deadline information is available from FSA.  For updates on Farm Bill progress and useful links, visit our website.

Contact:  Reece Langley (703) 236-1471

In high cotton

WASHINGTON, DC -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced today that that the United States and Brazil have reached an agreement to settle the longstanding cotton dispute in the World Trade Organization (WTO).

According to the USDA, Brazil will drop the cotton case and has agreed not to bring new WTO actions against U.S. cotton support programs while the current Farm Bill is in place, or against agricultural export credit guarantees under the GSM-102 program as long as the program is operated consistent with the agreed terms.

Under the agreement, the U.S. government will make a $300 million payment to the Brazilian Cotton Institute and in turn the Brazilian government will give up its right to impose retaliatory tariffs on $830 million in U.S. products.

The USA Rice Federation joined several agricultural export groups in a joint statement of support of the settlement.

"We believe the settlement negotiated provides a positive path forward for both countries...[and]...removes the threat of retaliation against U.S. exports and provides certainty to U.S. producers and exporters of U.S agricultural products," the statement reads.

It continues, "[t]he GSM export credit guarantee program remains vital to ensuring the smooth operation of agricultural export markets....Most importantly, the settlement preserves the program for times when the capital markets become constrained, as they were in 2008, and when purely private sources of export financing become far more limited."

Groups joining USA Rice in signing onto the statement included the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, North American Export Grain Association, U.S. Grains Council, and U.S. Wheat Associates.

Contact:  Bob Cummings (703) 236-1473

Foreground from left: Richard Fontenot, Senator Manchin, and Jeffery Sylvester

VILLE PLATTE, LA -- Senator Joe Manchin, III (D-WV) visited a rice farm here yesterday to learn about the Louisiana and U.S. rice industries.  Louisiana Farm Bureau Rice Advisory Committee Chairman Richard Fontenot and Louisiana Rice Growers Association President Jeffery Sylvester hosted the visit on Morein Farms.

"We had a great conversation with the Senator about rice, soybean, and crawfish production," said Fontenot.  "We also touched on various legislative and regulatory concerns that impact these industries, including the EPA proposed Waters of the U.S. rule and the need for trade agreements that ensure equal access for U.S. rice to export markets."

Senator Manchin serves on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and its Water and Power Subcommittee.  He is also a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security and International Trade and Finance.

Contact:  Randy Jemison (337)738-7009

ARLINGTON, VA -- Applications for the USA Rice Federation's National Rice Month Scholarship Program, sponsored by Dow AgroSciences, are due October 13.  To enter, high school students from the Class of 2015 must detail a U.S.-grown rice promotional program conducted in September.

Eligible students who live in rice-producing counties of Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri or Texas will be awarded three scholarships totaling $8,500.  The national grand-prize winner will be presented a $4,000 scholarship award in December at the USA Rice Outlook Conference in Little Rock, AR.  Trip expenses for the national grand-prize winner and one chaperone are included.

Entries will be judged on creativity and impact in promoting U.S.-grown rice, National Rice Month and the importance of rice in their state.

Applications and further details are available on www.usarice.com.

Contact: Amy Doane (703) 236-1454

Around the Country

The Battle in California to Save Waterfowl from Ending Up as Dead Ducks Aljazeera

This year's twin punches of drought and botulism now have wildlife biologists bracing for what could be a third blow: avian cholera. That disease, transmissible from bird to bird, breaks out in wintertime, when food is most scarce, and when waterfowl burn the most calories to keep warm.

Morning Agriculture Politico

USA Rice: not too early to talk Christmas in Ghana.

Around the World

China Launches Media Campaign to Back Genetically Modified Crops Reuters

China has spent billions of yuan developing its own GMO crops and approved two pest-resistant varieties of rice and a biotech corn for commercialization in 2009. But, wary of strong opposition to the GMO technology, never proceeded to cultivation. The safety certificates on the products expired last month.

Global Survey Says We're Eating Better, But Our Diet is Still Not Sustainable  

National Geographic

Just 34 percent of consumers think they know enough about the quality, origin, and safety of the meals on their plates, and 43 percent believe they have little influence over how their food is produced. Consumers in every country are more concerned about food safety than in 2012, with the Chinese worrying the most, after a recent series of tainted-food scares in their country.

Trade and Tariffs

Momentum for the Trans-Pacific Partnership Needs to be Revived Washington Post

For all of Mr. Abe's talk of bold steps and confronting special interests in Japan, his negotiators have not yet backed up the prime minister's talk with concrete proposals, even though the prime minister has said repeatedly that opening agricultural markets is in Japan's interest.