News from March 5

 

CONCERN EXPRESSED WITH NEW AMERICAN ROYAL INITIATIVE

 

     KLA Executive Vice President Dee Likes was part of a group of beef breed and trade organization leaders who met with the American Royal Executive Committee earlier this week to discuss the show’s surprising new emphasis on locally grown and raised food. Beef leaders expressed concerns about the Royal’s Good Food Good Futures Institute. Spokespersons for the institute have expressed the need to “reorganize agriculture” by moving away from conventional production and more toward natural, organic and more environmentally sustainable operations.

     The beef groups told American Royal leaders mainstream ranchers and feeders don’t oppose natural, organic or locally produced systems, but are concerned when marketers disparage conventional meat and agricultural products in an effort to create differentiation. These are growing segments of agriculture, but represent only a single digit percentage of food production. Beef executives emphasized farmers and ranchers involved in conventional agriculture, which includes most producers, will be challenged to meet projections that food production needs to double by 2050 in order to feed the expected growth in world population.  

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News from March 4

AMERICANS HAVE INACCURATE PERCEPTION OF ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUP

 

     A new nationwide poll of Americans has found 71% wrongly believe the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is an umbrella group for local humane shelters. The survey showed 59% believe HSUS contributes most of its money to local organizations that care for cats and dogs.

     According to the 2008 federal income tax return filed by HSUS, less than .5% of the organization’s budget was allocated to hands-on pet shelters. The Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) points out HSUS does not run a single shelter for companion animals and is not affiliated with any local humane societies.

     “Very few Americans understand what HSUS really is: a super-rich lobbying group that puts more money into its executive pensions than in the hands of local humane societies,” said CCF Director of Research David Martosko.

     The poll sampled opinions of 1,008 Americans. It was commissioned by CCF and conducted by Opinion Research Corporation of Princeton, NJ.

     HSUS officials have publicly stated the organization’s goal is to eliminate livestock production and meat consumption in the U.S. Strategies used to meet this objective include state ballot initiatives, such as Proposition 2 in California; public information campaigns disparaging food animal welfare; and lobbying for legislation to restrict livestock production practices.  

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News from March 3

U.S. HOUSE RESOLUTION SPONSORED BY KANSAS REPRESENTATIVES CHALLENGES EPA RULING

 

     Kansas Congressmen Jerry Moran, Todd Tiahrt and Lynn Jenkins are sponsoring legislation to overturn the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that man-made greenhouse gas emissions are a danger to public health. More than 80 members of the U.S. House are co-sponsoring the disapproval resolution.

     “The Clean Air Act (CAA) was never intended to regulate greenhouse gases and the EPA must be stopped from making decisions that circumvent Congress,” said Moran.

     Language in the Congressional Review Act of 1996 provides a process for Congress to invalidate regulations believed to exceed a federal agency’s authority. Moran initially introduced a disapproval resolution directed at EPA’s endangerment finding in December 2009. Terms of the act required the resolution be re-filed at the beginning of the second session of the 111th Congress, which began in January 2010.

     U.S. Sens. Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback of Kansas are co-sponsors of a similar resolution in the Senate that would block EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions under CAA.   

     NCBA has taken several actions designed to stop EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions. The beef group filed a petition asking EPA to reconsider its finding based on information uncovered as part of the “climategate” scandal. Much of the data discovered in a series of secret e-mails calls into question the scientific validity behind EPA’s finding. NCBA also has filed a legal appeal challenging EPA’s endangerment ruling.

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News from March 2

BROWN NAMED TO REPLACE TEAGARDEN AS LIVESTOCK COMMISSIONER 

     The Kansas Animal Health Board has named accomplished veterinarian and retired U.S. Army Reserve Colonel Bill Brown as the state’s new livestock commissioner. He will replace George Teagarden, who will retire in May after 16 years in the position. Brown will assume his new role March 8. He and Teagarden will work together during the transition. 

     Brown most recently served as health services veterinarian for Newsham Choice Genetics of West Des Moines, IA. In that capacity, he was responsible for maintaining the health and biosecurity of the company’s swine operations in the U.S. and Canada. He previously held similar positions with Monsanto and DeKalb. In addition to working for these leading companies in the swine industry, Brown owned and operated mixed practice veterinary hospitals in western Kansas from 1974 through 1992.

     The Ford County native graduated from the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1971. After graduation, he started a long career in the U.S. Army Reserve, serving several tours of active duty. Brown has provided veterinary expertise to the Army throughout his military career.

     Brown is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Kansas Veterinary Medical Association (KVMA), American Association of Swine Practitioners, United States Animal Health Association and American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. He was named “Kansas Veterinarian of the Year” by KVMA in 2004.

     “The Kansas livestock industry is fortunate to have an individual with Dr. Brown’s credentials as the new livestock commissioner,” said Kansas Animal Health Board Chair Heather Donley, who serves as director of quality assurance for the Beef Marketing Group, headquartered in Great Bend.

     As commissioner, Brown will lead the Kansas Animal Health Department (KAHD). The agency is assigned to protect the health, safety and welfare of Kansas citizens through the prevention, control and eradication of infectious and contagious diseases in livestock and domestic animals. Agency officials also regulate companion animal breeding facilities, investigate livestock thefts and maintain the livestock brand registry.

     KAHD has achieved numerous important milestones under Teagarden’s direction. His tenure includes attaining cattle tuberculosis-free status in 1995. USDA declared Kansas free of both cattle brucellosis and swine pseudorabies in 1999. Earning free status from USDA for these three infectious diseases was the culmination of years of work led by Teagarden, his predecessors in the position, the KAHD staff and the livestock industry.

     Another major accomplishment occurring under Teagarden’s leadership is planning for an emergency response to a potential foreign animal disease outbreak in Kansas. In addition to forming a statewide plan, KAHD has fostered the creation of 105 county-level animal disease emergency plans. According to Donley, Kansas serves as a model among states in terms of emergency animal disease response planning.

     “Commissioner Teagarden deserves a big thanks from livestock producers and the citizens of Kansas,” said Donley. “His efforts to eradicate major food animal diseases in the state has saved livestock producers countless millions of dollars and enhanced food and public safety.”

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News from March 1

 

INCREASED EXPENSES REDUCE USE-VALUE ON AG LAND

 

     Several county commissioners have raised concerns with declining agricultural land valuations for ad valorem tax purposes. Agricultural land is valued for property taxes on its “use-value”, the net income typically received by the landlord, not on market comparisons. In calculating the landlord’s net income, the state considers rental rates, expenses and a capitalization factor. The values are computed on an eight-year rolling average to ensure stability in the tax base.

     State Sen. Janis Lee of Kensington and KLA staff recently met with the Kansas Department of Revenue to review 2009 data. The conclusion was valuation declines are largely due to increased expenses. As expenses increase, net income and valuations decrease. 

     A similar scenario has been taking place in urban areas where residential property, valued on market comparisons, also is showing a decline. Local budgets are affected when valuations increase or decrease if mill levies are not adjusted.
     For a further explanation of this issue, scroll down to watch video of KLA Vice President and General Counsel Allie Devine.

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