Letter
No. 3283 October
22, 2004
JAPAN AND U.S. CONSULT ON BSE – The Government of Japan
and the United States Government are holding a consultation, October 21
and 22, in Tokyo (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) on the BSE issue. At the
consultation, the two Governments will discuss issues related to the resumption
of mutual trade of U.S. and Japanese beef, based on the progress made
regarding the issues since the Third Consultation that took place on April
24, 2004. For more information, visit www.usda.gov
or http://japan.usembassy.gov.
AGRICULTURE SECRETARY VENEMAN COMMEMORATES SLAIN FOOD INSPECTORS
– An Alameda County, CA, jury has found (October 19) Stuart Alexander,
the owner of a San Leandro, CA, sausage factory, guilty of first degree
murder in the slayings of Food Safety and Inspection Service compliance
officers, Jean Hillery and Tom Quadros, as well as Bill Shaline, a California
Department of Food and Agriculture investigator. Agriculture Secretary
Ann M. Veneman said, “We extend our appreciation for the very hard
work and dedicated cooperation of the Alameda County District Attorney's
Office and the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District
of California in prosecuting this case against Alexander. Our thoughts
and prayers go out to the families of these brave public servants who
were murdered mercilessly in the line of duty on June 21, 2000. They embodied
the commitment to their profession and dedication to public service that
are at the very core of our workforce. We will never forget their sacrifice,
and their memory will continue to live through the efforts of their colleagues
in ensuring food safety for all Americans."
$207 MILLION FOR WATER CONSERVATION – Agriculture
Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced (October 18) a $207.3 million Conservation
Reserve Enhancement Program to voluntarily improve water quality in Ohio's
Scioto River Watershed, the main source of drinking water for the city
of Columbus. "This partnership among USDA, the state of Ohio and
local groups will result in cleaner drinking water for nearly 2 million
Ohioans", said Veneman. "The program will have wide-spread benefits,
and improve water quality as far away as the Gulf of Mexico." More
information on the Ohio Scioto River Watershed CREP is available at: www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/cepd/default.htm.
Contact: Jillene Johnson (202) 720-9733.
HISPANIC ASSOCIATION PRESENTS PUBLIC PARTNER AWARD TO USDA
– In recognition of the many USDA efforts to promote educational
and employment opportunities for Hispanic students, Agriculture Secretary
Ann M. Veneman accepted (October 18) the Public Sector Partner of the
Year award from the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
(HACU). "President Bush has been a strong leader in improving educational
opportunities to prepare our workforce for the 21st Century," Veneman
said. "We are pleased that the Hispanic Association of Colleges and
Universities has recognized the many USDA internship, scholarship, fellowship
and grant programs available to improve the educational achievement of
Hispanic students and prepare them for successful and rewarding careers."
Contact: Ed Loyd (202) 720-4623.
WORLD FOOD DAY MESSAGE – Agriculture Secretary
Ann M. Veneman honored (October 16) World Food Day and its theme "Biodiversity
for Food Security" by highlighting increased U.S. commitments and
pledging continued high-level attention to issues of food availability
and quality in the United States and around the world. "World Food
Day is a way to acknowledge our accomplishments around the world, and
to examine how we can do even more to meet the goal of reducing by half
the number of people suffering from chronic hunger by the year 2015,"
Veneman said. "Our country is the world's largest provider of food
aid and the leading contributor to the World Food Program. But that and
other aid programs are only temporary solutions to food insecurity. Increasing
agricultural productivity is one of the pathways to a permanent solution.
Science and technology have the potential to raise agricultural productivity,
increase income, and ultimately improve nutrition and health across the
world." For more information, visit www.worldfoodday.org.
Contact: Ed Loyd (202) 720-4623.
$1.1 MILLION TO ERADICATE INVASIVE PESTS – The
U.S. Department of Agriculture announced (October 14) awards of $1.1 million
in grants and cooperative agreements to determine the economic implications
of combating harmful pests and diseases. Organizations in six states and
the District of Columbia are award recipients. "We are committed
to identifying strategies that are effective in controlling invasive pests
in a cost-efficient manner," said Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman.
"These research projects will help guide our efforts to protect our
natural and agricultural resources." The grants and cooperative agreements
will provide funding to research institutions in Indiana, Massachusetts,
Montana, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington, DC. For more
information, go to: www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/invasivespecies.
Contact: Mary Reardon (202) 694-5136.
FUNDING ANNOUNCED FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE AND NUTRITION RESEARCH–
Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced (October 14) $1.1 million
in grant and cooperative agreement awards for research on food assistance
and nutrition programs in seven states and the District of Columbia. "USDA's
food assistance and nutrition programs help ensure that all Americans
have access to nutritious, healthful diets," said Veneman. "This
research will help evaluate and meet the changing nutritional needs of
our nation's most vulnerable families and individuals." The goal
of the research is to examine, evaluate and enhance USDA's food and nutrition
assistance programs. The grants and cooperative agreements will fund projects
in California, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey,
New York, Tennessee, and Virginia. For more information, visit: http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/FoodNutritionAssistance/Funding.
Contact: Vic Oliveira (202) 694-5434.
NEW CLASSICAL CHINESE GARDEN – Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman
signed (October 14) a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Yang Jiechi,
ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the United States, for
the construction of a classical Chinese garden at the U.S. National Arboretum
in Washington, D.C. "This Chinese garden will be a wonderful addition
to the world-class display gardens already at the Arboretum," Veneman
said. "The new garden will deepen the American people's understanding
of Chinese garden culture, and provide research opportunities to study
Chinese plants and flowers. Upon completion this will be the finest Chinese
garden outside of China." Contact:
Alfredo Flores (301) 504-1627.
Edited by Elizabeth Conley
FROM OUR RADIO SERVICE
AGRICULTURE USA CD # 43.04 – For consumers, Brenda
Curtis reports on the best ways to select the perfect peach, pear or plum
at the grocery store.
CONSUMER TIME CD # 43.04 – Science helps bring
ripe, juicy and flavor-filled fruit. Get ready for winter driving. Pasta
sauce the gourmet way. Sampling traditional American Indian food. The
art and science of fall leaf disposal.
AGRITAPE CD # 43.04 – More corn and soybeans than
expected. Brighter outlook for wheat. Record rice and cotton crops expected.
USDA makes new citrus forecast after assessing hurricane damage. The tobacco
buyout.
UPCOMING ON USDA RADIO NEWSLINE – October 25-27,
USDA Obesity Conference (Radio stories from that conference will be available
each day). October 29, agricultural prices and the Trick or Treat weather
forecast. November 1, crop progress. November 2, crop/weather update.
November 8, crop progress. November 9, farm sector income update, crop
/weather update. These are USDA reports we know about in advance.
The newsline carries many stories every day that are not listed in this
lineup.
USDA Radio Newsline, 202-720-6776, 5:00pm ET
Or go to www.usda.gov, click on Newsroom
at top of the page, scroll down on right side of page until you see Radio
and TV. Then click on Daily Radio News Service or Weekly Radio Feature
Service. To request radio features on CD, fax name, station,
and address to 202-690-2165.
FROM OUR TELEVISION SERVICE
Features:
NEW USDA WEBSITE DESIGNED FOR EASIER USE – A new USDA
website allows users to customize a personal web page to make it easier
to find the information they need rapidly. Bob Ellison reports.
USDA HELPS WITH RURAL DEVELOPMENT – The USDA is working
with electric cooperatives to offer renewable energy in the Northern Plains
of the United States. Bob Ellison reports.
TV SATELLITE NEWSFEED – The feed is available Thursdays
from 4:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET from TELSTAR 5
(C-Band) Transponder 16, orbital slot 97 degrees west, downlink
frequency 4020 MHZ, polarity horizontal, audio 6.2/6.8, TWTA power 20
watts, trouble number: 703-642-8585.
Comments and suggestions are welcome regarding USDA broadcast
services. Call Larry Quinn, (202) 720 4623, or write: 1400 Independence
Avenue S.W., Mail Stop 1300, USDA, Office of Communications, Washington,
D.C. 20250 1300. Internet e mail:
larry.quinn @usda.gov.
OFF MIKE
NAFB’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR . . . plans to leave
his position at the end of 2004, according to Jeff Nalley
(Cromwell Ag Network, Owensboro, KY), president of the National Association
of Farm Broadcasters. Ken Root, who became Executive
Director in 2002, announced his plans at an NAFB Board of Directors’
meeting late last week. Ken said, “I love NAFB…I’ve
been attached for 30 years, and I hope that I can remain affiliated and
serve in some capacity as a volunteer in the future.” About Ken’s
work, Jeff said, “His passion for agriculture and farm broadcasting
is reflected in every aspect of his work for NAFB. Ken has assembled an
effective and dedicated staff to serve the members of our association.
NAFB is better today because of Ken’s work.”
LEAVING FARM BROADCASTING . . . to begin a career in
farm market consulting is Joe Gangwish (Rural Radio Network,
Lexington, NE). He leaves the network at the end of October. As a licensed
commodity broker, he will assist farmers with marketing decisions on corn,
soybeans, wheat and cattle. He spent this past summer studying and preparing
for this change, which comes after 12 years of farm broadcasting with
Rural Radio Network, KMMJ (Grand Island, NE) and WOW (Omaha, NE). Joe
says this year’s corn crop developed late in central and western
Nebraska. Cool, wet weather has left an estimated 60 percent of the crop
to be harvested. Corn is mature so dry weather and a heavy frost would
lower corn moisture levels and speed up harvesting.
RECORD YIELDS FOR CORN . . . in South Dakota are ranging
from 120 bushels per acre in drought areas to more than 200 bushels per
acre in areas having sufficient moisture, according to Michelle
Rook (WNAX, Yankton, SD). She said that soybean yields are more
variable, ranging from 20 to 70 bushels per acre. Presently serving as
Vice President of NAFB, Michelle becomes President-Elect next year and
will chair program planning for the 2005 NAFB Convention.
LARRY A. QUINN, Assistant Director
Office of Communications
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