NAFB TradeTalk: Jason Hogue

Jason Hogue with Monsanto visited with us at this year's NAFB convention in Kansas City about DeKalb's evaluation of hybrids this season and what's in the pipeline for the upcoming years.

NAFB TradeTalk: Kurt Wickstrom

Kurt Wickstrom th Monsanto visited with us at this year's NAFB convention about Vistive soybeans.

NAFB TradeTalk: Rob Elliot

Rob Elliot with Monsanto visited with us at this year's NAFB convention in Kansas City about Monsanto's Processor Preferred program.

Ag News: Friday, December 2

"Lamy Pushes for Unity Ahead of Hong Kong"
World Trade Organization Director General Pascal Lamy is urging aWTO member- nations to make progress ahead of the meeting of all WTO ministers in Hong Kong.

In a written statement - Lamy urged WTO members to - in his words - exercise good will and intensify their efforts to find as much harmony as possible ahead of the Hong Kong ministerial. And Lamy himself will be hard at work ahead of the conference as well.

During a meeting of the Trade Negotiations Committee - Lamy said he plans to present a revised version of the Draft Ministerial text in the very near future. In fact - Lamy told committee members he intends to have the revisions completed by the end of the week.

According to Lamy - the revised draft will only reflect non-controversial issues and will capture the current state of the negotiations without trying to push the envelope.

"U.S. Farm Group Leaders Scheduled to Speak from Hong Kong Ministerial"
A who's who of U.S. farm group leaders will hold a series of press events during the meeting of all WTO ministers that starts December 13th in Hong Kong.

The AgTrade Coalition - a group of more than sixty U.S. ag groups - will start with a kickoff press conference Monday night, December 12th, at seven o'clock Central. American Meat Institute President Patrick Boyle - National Milk Producers Federation Director Tom Camerlo - and National Corn Growers Association Chairman Len Corzine are all scheduled to speak at the event.

Finishing out the week - the Coalition has two AgTrade Press Conferences scheduled. On Thursday the 15th - representatives from the American Potato Trade Alliance - National Oilseed Processors Association - and International Dairy Foods Association - will be joined by former Special Negotiator for Agriculture Joe O'Mara at 7 p.m. Central.

Then on Friday night at 7 p.m. Central - American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman and American Soybean Association Chairman Ron Heck will speak at the final scheduled AgTrade Press Conference.

"Chinese Wheat Buyers Make Two-Week Trip to the U.S."
Through the sponsorship of U.S. Wheat Associates and the support of USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service - a team of thirteen Chinese wheat buyers is in the U.S. for a two week trip across the country. According to U.S. Wheat Associates - the agenda for the team is packed with visits to wheat organizations in D.C. - New York - Kansas City and Portland - as well as meetings with U.S. government officials - grain companies and traders.

But if you're thinking this trip could end with the announcement of a million-ton sale - which happened two years ago when the Chinese government's grain buying agency came to the U.S. - don't bet on it. USW Regional Vice President Matt Weimar says this visit is about the future - learning about U.S. wheat choices - and the reliability of the U.S. market system.

So far in the 2005-2006 marketing year - the U.S. has sold 285-thousand metric tons of wheat to private millers in China. At this time last year - according to USW - the U.S. had sold two-million metric tons to China through their state trading enterprises.

Why the drastic reduction? USW says China had a good domestic crop this year - and they've also imported over 10-million of wheat tons in the past 18-months - both of which have built China's domestic wheat stocks..

"USDA Makes $2.7 Billion Available for Voluntary Conservation Programs"
USDA is releasing nearly 2.7-billion dollars of fiscal year 2006 funding for voluntary conservation farm bill programs on working lands.

According to U.S. Ag Secretary Mike Johanns - who made the announcement Thursday - the timing of the announcement gives farmers and ranchers a better opportunity to develop conservation plans and investments - and get started with conservation before the next planting season.

Farmers, ranchers and other landowners will address soil, water, air and wildlife habitat concerns on privately owned working lands - with financial and technical assistance from USDA's Natural Resources and Conservation Service.

Allocations for fiscal year 2006 include just over one-billion in financial assistance - and nearly 1.3-billion for technical assistance for NRCS voluntary conservation programs - like the Conservation Security - Grassland Reserve and Wildlife Habitat Incentives programs.

"USDA Plans Purchase of Dry Beans & Canned Pineapple"
USDA's planning to purchase up to 30-million pounds of dry beans - and up to 2.8-million pounds of canned crushed pineapples for donation to child nutrition and other domestic food assistance programs. U.S. Ag Secretary Mike Johanns announced USDA's intent on Thursday.

The announcement is in addition to the 9.9-million pounds of canned pineapples and 1.1-million pounds of dry beans already purchased this fiscal year - which started October 1st. In FY 2005 - USDA purchased 22.9-million pounds of dry beans and 28.9-million pounds of canned pineapple.

Each year - USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service purchases a variety of high quality food products for distribution by the Food and Nutrition Service. Products are used for the national school lunch - school breakfast - and summer food service programs - among others.

Ag News: Thursday, December 1

"Japan Zeroed In on Age Verification"
The Japanese government hasn't actually approved it - but a draft document outlines the requirements for exporting beef to Japan - and USDA officials were in Omaha, Nebraska Tuesday to discuss them. According to the Chief of Audits, Review and Compliance for the livestock and seed program at USDA's Ag Marketing Service - Japan's main focus is age verification. Proving an animal is 20-months of age or younger requires a lot of paperwork - but some new programs are designed to ensure the U.S. can meet Japan's demands. USDA officials say negotiations to reopen Japan's borders have led to some new terms for the cattle and beef industries. The Beef Export Verification program details the beef shipment demands a country has placed on the U.S. - while the Quality Systems Assessment program is the plan companies and cattle producers use to ensure they meet those requirements. According to USDA - the Quality Systems Assessment program must create a trail of paperwork that can be audited - and affidavits by producers have to be detailed. Some U.S. companies are already working to get producers certified for these programs.

"Decision on U.S. Beef Imports Delayed"
Many believe South Korea's probe into the safety of U.S. beef could be the key to reopening that market to U.S. beef. But an announcement on the country's investigation has been delayed. According to a Korean newspaper - the delay followed a farmer's group threat to stage rallies if the government removes its ban on U.S. beef. South Korean Ag Ministry officials say opposition remains strong among those who believe lifting the ban is a result of American pressure. But an Ag Ministry spokesperson also said another meeting will be held on the matter in a couple of weeks - after quarantine documents are reviewed.

"Johanns Jets to Genrva for More WTO Talks; Goodlatte Bows Out of Hong Kong"
U.S. Ag Secretary Mike Johanns is praising a recent decision by the European Union to reduce its internal sugar price by 36-percent - a move required by a recent WTO ruling against the EU sugar program. Johanns - in a interview with USDA Radio Newsline Wednesday - says any reform is welcome. But Johanns says the EU still hasn't matched the U.S. proposal on agriculture in the Doha Round of WTO talks. That's why Johanns says he's again traveling to Geneva this week - and will be there pretty much all weekend - in an effort to make progress ahead of a meeting of all WTO ministers in Hong Kong starting December 13th. Johanns continues to insist if a new WTO trade deal doesn't happen soon - it could be many years before any such deal is reached.One major power-broker who won't be going to Hong Kong is House Ag Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte. Goodlatte made that announcement during a fund-raiser in Little Rock, Arkansas on Tuesday. Congress will be in session during the Hong Kong meeting. And Goodlatte says he wants to stick around D.C. to participate in House floor votes - and to help move an ag disaster aid package through Congress. That thinking may also keep several more lawmakers from going to the Hong Kong meeting. But Senate Ag Committee Chairman Saxby Chambliss is reportedly still planning on going - at least for now.

"No New Deal Coming from the EU"
European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson made it official Wednesday - the EU will not make another offer on agriculture ahead of the Hong Kong ministerial. Mandelson says the concessions he put on the table in the Doha Round of World Trade Organization talks were more substantial than any other offer ever made by the EU. In an address to the European Parliament - Mandelson said further EU concessions would throw the balance of the negotiations off. Negotiators have lowered their expectations for the Hong Kong ministerial - and U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman and U.S. Ag Secretary Mike Johanns continue to say the fate of the round rest in the hands of the EU. Mandelson - on the other hand - accuses the U.S. of dawdling, posturing and focusing excessively on farm trade issues. He says that's been at the expense of other areas of world trade liberalization - and is urging the U.S. to take a serious role in creating market access.

"No Deal Could Put Some U.S. and EU Products at Risk"
The disagreement between the U.S. and EU on reducing ag subsidies could lead to legal problems - according to trade and agricultural experts. Oxfam International released a report Wednesday highlighting three American crops vulnerable to WTO lawsuits. The report also notes eight ag products in the EU could be vulnerable. Oxfam says U.S. corn, rice and sorghum programs could face WTO complaints - because farm payments for those crops account for 9.3-billion of America's 19.5-billion dollars in total farm program payments each year. Of those three U.S. crops - experts say corn is more vulnerable to a trade challenge now than ever before. That's because two big crops in a row and low prices have resulted in record payments to farmers. Oxfam says tomatoes, tobacco, butter, wine and spirits, citrus juices and processed fruits are at risk in the European Union.

"GOP Leaders Strategizing for Year-End Congressional Action"
House and Senate GOP leaders are putting their heads together to devise a strategy for the remaining weeks of the first session of the 109th Congress. Leaders are attending a closed-door retreat on Maryland's Eastern Shore to discuss - among other things - how to deal with the last two fiscal year 2006 appropriations bills - and if it's even possible to finish this year's budget reconciliation measures to cut taxes and federal spending. The House and Senate passed very different budget reconciliation packages. So GOP leaders have to iron out the differences between the House measure that cuts 50-billion in spending over the next five years and the Senate version that cuts 35-billion. But that's not all. Conferees will also have to address drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - a provision only included in the Senate version.

"CRP Signup Delays Remedied"
Signup for the Conservation Reserve Program - Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program - and others - has been delayed in some states because of a funding issue with the Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. In order to complete CRP applications - a technical plan must be drafted. Due to a lack of funds - FSA was unable to pay NRCS to complete that technical work. Now - according to NRCS Chief Bruce Knight - FSA has provided about 15-million dollars for technical assistance. Knight says that means he's given field staff the OK to resume processing applications - and farmers who were waiting can once again move forward with the signup process.

©2005 NAFB News Service. All rights reserved.

Missouri Soybean Update: CardioTrim

Alex Stemme, Director of Identity Preserved Products with the Missouri Soybean Association, visited this week about a CardioTrim, a heart-healthy product from SoyLabs (a joint venture with 1Soy).

Kansas Soybean Update

Charlene Patton with theKansas Soybean Association, visited this week about using soy in your holiday cooking.