Farm Bureau Tells Members to 'Ditch' EPA Water Rule 

The American Farm Bureau Federation yesterday asked its members to resist a proposed rule from the Environmental Protection Agency that it says will impose unworkable regulations on the nation's farms.

Published Monday in the Federal Register, the more-than-111,000-word "Waters of the U.S." proposed rule reflects the EPA's latest interpretation of the 1972 Clean Water Act. The rule could ultimately lead to the unlawful expansion of federal regulation to cover routine farming and ranching practices as well as other common private land uses, such as building homes.

"This rule is an end run around congressional intent and rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court, alike," AFBF President Bob Stallman said. "Congress and the courts have both said that the 50 states, not EPA, have power to decide how farming and other land uses should be restricted. It's time to ditch this rule."

Among other things, the rule would expand federal control over land features such as ditches and areas of agricultural land that are wet only during storms.

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New Report Shows Renewable Fuels Support 852,000 Jobs and $46 Billion in Wages

The Fuels America coalition today released an economic impact study by John Dunham & Associates showing the far-reaching benefits of renewable fuels for America's workers and the U.S. economy - including supporting more than 850,000 American jobs.

Renewable fuels now represent nearly 10% of America's fuel supply and have helped reduce U.S. reliance on foreign oil to the lowest level in years. The analysis takes into account the entire supply chain for renewable fuels and quantifies the impact to the U.S. economy, including:

-- Driving $184.5 billion of economic output

-- Supporting 852,056 jobs and $46.2 billion in wages

-- Generating $14.5 billion in tax revenue each year 

You can read the rest of the story by clicking here. 

Ag Secretary Vilsack Announces Scientific Breakthroughs from USDA in 2013

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack yesterday announced a new report on scientific breakthroughs discovered by USDA researchers that led to new patents and inventions with the potential for commercial application and potential economic growth. Innovations included in the report range from flour made out of chardonnay grape seeds that prevents weight gain to antimicrobial packets that keep food from spoiling, efforts to protect U.S. troops in Iraq from diseases carried by sand flies, new processes for turning grass clippings and raked leaves into bioenergy, and many more.

"Studies have shown that every dollar invested in agricultural research returns $20 to the economy. We have accelerated commercialization of federal research and government researchers are working closely with the private sector to develop new technology and transfer it to the marketplace," said Secretary Vilsack. "USDA has a proven track record of performing research that benefits the public."

USDA reports receiving 51 patents, filing 147 patent applications, and disclosing 180 new inventions in the last fiscal year, which are detailed in the Department's 2013 Annual Report on Technology Transfer released yesterday.

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Oklahoma Beef Council Supports 'Farmland' Documentary as Bridge Between Producers, Consumers

The Oklahoma Beef Council is one of a coalition of ag groups that has underwritten the documentary "Farmland," which takes a look at young farmers and ranchers and how they are trying to establish themselves in production agriculture.

Heather Buckmaster, executive director of the Oklahoma Beef Council, spoke with me following the movie's premier screening for opinion leaders in Oklahoma.  She said participating in the project is one of many ongoing ways her organization is trying to bring food producers together with consumers.

"It's important because we in agriculture need to do a better job of connecting with the consumer. We need to answer their questions and concerns and so there's a variety of media in which we can do this. One of them is that you can visit fooddialogues.com. It's a website we encourage consumers to visit. But also this documentary 'Farmland' provides kind of an unconventional medium for us to connect with farmers and ranchers."

Buckmaster said she believes the movie will be well received by the public and it fulfills a goal of the Beef Council to help educate the public about the true nature of modern American farming..

"I think one of the important things about this movie is that it was a third-party, unbiased view of agriculture. I think that one of the things that comes out in this film and becomes very clear whether the farmer or rancher is large scale are a small farmer or rancher like they have with the one woman represented in Pennsylvania, or if they are conventional or organic, I think the theme that comes out in this movie is the passion that each one of them brings to the job of growing and raising food for the American public and the thoughtfulness and the decisions that make in how they raise that food."

You can listen to our conversation or read more of this article by  clicking here.

Runners Fueled with Beef at 2014 Boston Marathon

The national beef checkoff, through its Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative (NEBPI), partnered with the South Dakota Beef Industry Council to ensure that runners fueled up with beef prior to the 118th Boston Marathon on Monday, April 21.

Runners and their families made their way to the John Hancock Sports & Fitness Expo between April 18 and April 20 to pick up their race numbers and packets. During the three-day event there, an estimated 110,000 health-conscious athletes and supporters had the opportunity to learn about lean beef's role in a heart-healthy diet. More than 36,000 of the world's most elite athletes -- up by 9,000 compared to 2013 -- ran the Boston Marathon on Monday morning. Additional participants were allowed to register this year to help mark the one-year anniversary of the 2013 Boston bombings at the finish line of the marathon on April 15, 2013.

National Beef Ambassador Team members Tori Summey, Justana Von Tate and Sierra Jepsen were on site to distribute about 3,000 lean beef sticks, recipe brochures and beef nutrition information to expo participants.  

The rest of this story is available on our website by clicking here.

This N That- Express Ranches Grass Time Sale Set for Tomorrow and the Latest Rainfall Totals Across Oklahoma

Express Ranches is pleased to invite you to their 2014 Grass Time Sale tomorrow, Friday, April 25, 2014 at 11:00 AM- the sale to be held at the Ranch on the north side of Yukon, Oklahoma


The team at Express will sell 500 head at their annual Grass Time sale. Included in the offering:150 Angus Bulls

125 Registered Angus Pairs

13 Angus Show Heifer Prospects

50 Registered Fall Calving Bred Heifers

51 Commercial Angus Replacement Females

40 Commercial Angus Fall Bred Cows 

Click here for more information or you can call Express Ranches at 800-664-3977.