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On our final day in Washington during our annual Washington Watch event with other farm broadcasters from across the US, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas outlined the progress made on the current farm bill. The process began with the "Hurry-Up Farm Bill" from last fall that was not adopted and has continued through a series of hearings and field hearings by his committee.

He said he was disappointed to hear that the Senate has delayed action on the bill in their chamber, but said he hopes "they would be able to get back on track and move forward soon. If anything, I can assure you Chairwoman Stabenow will move heaven and earth to get her work done in the United States Senate. I have complete confidence."

Lucas said he has been paying very close attention to the work being done in the Senate, but has remained steadfast on what the final farm bill must include.

"If you're going to have a farm bill, it has to address certain points. A federal comprehensive farm bill, in the commodity title, has to address all regions and all crops. Everyone needs to be able to participate. And to that end, I would note to you, achieving that is a real challenge."

Lucas is very concerned with maintaining a strong safety net for producers. He is not convinced that a shallow loss program being discussed in the Senate will address those concerns.

You can read more of Chairman Lucas's comments or hear his full address and a Q&A that follows by clicking here.  

In this morning's RON Ag Network Farm News- we feature comments from Congressman Lucas and what he contends is NOT a safety net- the so called Shallow Loss Program that may be a key part of the Commodity Title coming out of the Senate Ag Committee.  Click here to listen to our Thursday morning farm news to hear these specific comments from the House Ag Committee Chairman.  

Senate Ag Committee Back on for Thursday Morning Mark Up, Commodity Groups React 

LATE WORD- Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow announced late Wednesday evening that the Senate Ag Committee will begin the "mark up" process for the 2012 Farm Bill this morning at 9:30 AM central time. Details on amendments are expected sometime this morning- apparently, after intense closed door meetings much of Wednesday by the Ag Committee Leadership, enough consensus was found to proceed with the business session this morning.  Click here for the Senate Ag Committee website's home page- there should be a webcast link available here around 9:30 AM central this morning.  

During the day Wednesday- several commodity groups released statements expressing their disappointment about the delay in the mark up.  The original plan was to begin markup on Wednesday morning- but there was serious objections being raised by several commodity groups- leaving Chairlady Stabenow little choice but to delay and go behind closed doors. 

The delay followed a request this week from rice, peanut and cotton growers that the markup be delayed until mid-May. Reports indicate these producers are not happy with proposed changes to current subsidies in the new bill.

"The National Corn Growers Association is disappointed with the delay in the Senate Agriculture Committee's markup of the 2012 farm bill. Our organization is committed to working with members of Congress and other organizations on this vital piece of legislation. The process needs to be done responsibly and judiciously but it needs to be done as soon as possible," NCGA President Garry Niemeyer said.

National Association Wheat Growers President Erik Younggren echoed Niemeyer's sentiments.

"The next crop year for wheat farmers will be here in a few short months. These producers need to know a strong, crop-insurance-based safety net will be available to them after the current farm bill expires on Sept. 30. Now is the time for forward movement."  

NRCS Chief Sees Chesapeake Bay Watershed Conservation Project as Model For Broader Efforts

The Obama administration has targeted the Chesapeake Bay watershed area for intensive conservation efforts largely to improve water quality. Rapid development in the area over the last 30 years has negatively impacted soil, air and water quality. Although per-acre nutrient and sediment loading is far greater from developed land than cropland, the USDA was tasked with undertaking a program to restore and enhance the quality of the watershed.

That project has largely fallen on the shoulders of Dave White, chief of the Natural Resource Conservation Service. White spoke with us recently and explained how he favors a collaborative approach of working with landowners and producers to enhance the health of their lands while reducing the negative impacts of soil and sediment runoff. Administration officials are watching the Chesapeake Bay program closely as a model to be used in other areas of the country.

White sees the Chesapeake Bay project as "ground zero" in the effort to replicate conservation successes to other areas of the country because, "This is the place where we are going to prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that the voluntary, incentive-based private land conservation approach is the way to go."

Please click here to read more or hear our interview about how White sees the Chesapeake Bay project impacting the rest of the country. 

DuPont Leader Committed to Collaborative Approach for Increasing China Agricultural Productivity

The challenge of global food security should be the top priority of all nations, companies and individuals, according to DuPont Vice President and General Manager of Pioneer China William S. Niebur. He told attendees at the 5th International Biotechnology and Agriculture Summit in Beijing today that it will take everyone - working collaboratively - to ensure every person has enough nutritious and safe food to eat

"With nearly 1.4 billion people in China, a population base that is migrating to large cities, and arable land that is stable to declining - it is imperative that we work together to sustainably increase the productivity of every area of land, every hour of field labor, and every unit of water and fertilizer," said Niebur. "Without question, China will play a critical role in achieving global food security."

"DuPont and its Pioneer seed business are committed to working with China - through collaborations with the government, academia and others in the industry, as well as working directly with millions of China's farmers, to address challenges," Niebur said.

Pioneer's practice for sustainably increasing agricultural productivity requires a comprehensive approach to plant breeding that includes: breeding specifically for local environments; using molecular markers for gene selection; developing plants with more resistance to diseases and insects, as well as tolerance to herbicides; improving nutrient use and nutritional content; and making plants better able to withstand environmental stresses such as drought.

"This comprehensive and collaborative approach that also focuses on bringing increased value to the farmer and to end users has helped to make Pioneer a world leader in advanced plant genetics," Niebur said.

You can read more about Niebur's thoughts on a collaborative approach with China by clicking here.

Lahoma Canola Tour Field Day Features Seminars for Producers and Prospective Producers

The Oklahoma State University Extension Service will hold its 2012 North Central Oklahoma Research Station Public Canola Tour May 3. The research station is located 1 mile west of Lahoma on State Highway 412. The day begins with registration at 8 a.m. and the program starts at 9 a.m.

A series of brief seminars will be held on a variety of topics concerning the production of canola from seed selection through harvesting. The seminars and their presenters include: Variety Selection and Row Spacing with Dr. Chad Godsey, Starter Fertilizer and Soil pH with Dr. Brian Arnall, Row Crop Calibration with Dr. Randy Taylor, Insects and Diseases with Dr. Royer and Dr. Damicone, Canola Harvesting Options with Josh Bushong, and a Combine Clinic presented by Case International.

Immediately following the Canola Tour, the Oklahoma Oilseed Commission has scheduled a meeting. Commission Chair Brent Rendel will conduct the meeting following the conclusion of the field day and the previously announced GPCA meeting.

Click here for a link to the Field Day's complete agenda. 

Farm Service Agency Reminds Producers of Acreage Reporting Deadlines

Francie Tolle, executive director for the Oklahoma Farm Service Agency (FSA), reminds producers to submit their annual report of acreage to their FSA county office in order to meet FSA program eligibility requirements.

Accurate acreage reports are necessary to determine and maintain eligibility for the Direct and Counter-cyclical Program and programs authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill, including the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program (SURE) and Average Crop Revenue Election Program (ACRE). Upcoming acreage deadlines include:

May 15, 2012 - Final date to report fall and spring seeded small grains in all counties except, Alfalfa, Beaver, Cimarron, Ellis, Garfield, Grant, Harper, Kay, Major, Noble, Texas, Woods, and Woodward.

May 31, 2012 - Final date to report fall and spring seeded small grains in Alfalfa, Beaver, Cimarron, Ellis, Garfield, Grant, Harper, Kay, Major, Noble, Texas, Woods, and Woodward counties.

July 15, 2012 - Final date to report all crops other than small grains.

Click here to read more and to find a link to the FSA reporting guidelines. 

California Cow With BSE Not Seen Derailing US Export Markets

The confirmation of a fourth case of BSE in the U.S. cattle herd should not negatively impact beef export trade. Joe Schuele, with the U.S. Meat Export Federation, says the case doesn't change the United States' controlled risk status designated by the OIE. As a result - so far no U.S. trading partners have indicated they will halt shipments of beef.

Schuele, who is our guest on today's Beef Buzz, says that the attitude of the international beef marketplace is much different about BSE here in 2012 compared to when the first case of BSE was discovered in the United States in December 2003. The "knee jerk" reaction seen to the announcement of a dairy cow from Canada having tested positive for BSE, ruined beef export markets to most countries in 2004- and it took several years after that to recover market share in many different markets.

Click here for today's Beef Buzz to hear these comments from Schuele of the USMEF.  Later today, we will be posting a story on our website from our conversation yesterday with Dr. John Clifford, Chief  Vet with the USDA, about how they are investigating this dairy cow from central California that was tested positive for the atypical strain of BSE.  He did tell us yesterday that they got the final positive confirmatory test on the cow from the Ames, Iowa lab on Monday night- and that led to the Tuesday announcement by the Department.  We will detail Dr. Clifford's thoughts tomorrow morning in our daily email.