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after the Flow Cytometry test how does one know if the myeloma is hiding somewhere else in the body besides where it was tested. Is it a complete test or only a really really good guess?
Will this flow test need to be approved by the FDA before it can be used on a wide spread basis by all myeloma specialists?
How soon could patients expect to see this in everyday use?
Could the Flow Test Cytometry test be a viable method to track those with Non-secretory Multiple Myeloma?
Is this the same as the MULTI parametric FLOW CYTOMETRY (MFC) used at Mayo Clinic?
The Mayo team is introducing the new method now.
MRD is interesting but to the layman what is the definition ? I can guess that there is an indication that Multiple Myeloma, which my wife has, no longer shows as a cancer in a treated patient. But there somehow lies the cancer in a somewhat dormant state. So, though the there is no apparent indication of MM Cancer, there lies some residual low level cancer which can be detected through a special test.
Please let me know if this is correct and how MRD is detected in a patient.
Thank You
Is it possible for anyone (aka me) to read the full Kumar-Rajkumar editorial?
I want to share with all myeloma patients that my father is cancer free of myeloma
After taking Alpha lipoic acid. This natural antioxidant is cheap and effective.
He was very close to death. After two weeks of taking two capsules a day the
doctor couldn't find cancer cells on the blood test. We never told the doctor
because he never aloud any suggestion that we ask him. Well this time
my father felt that he had to take a chance. It never interfere with the doctor therapy .
You can't go wrong to try it. Best wishes to all.
Hi Omar,
Good to know about your dad. Can you tell me what stage of Myeloma was your dad in and what treatment he was undergoing? Is it okay to still take Alpha lipoic acid if Velcade is already used for treatment?
Thank you for this information, since I was diagnosed a year ago with "smoldering multiple myeloma at age 83 yrs of age, I have wondered if there is any link to this diagnosis and the diagnosis of severe osteoporosis, I was diagnosed at 65 years of age and have been on continuous treatment of different brands of bisphonates?
I appreciate the learning opportunities from the web site Thank you Margaret Dennis
It might also be interesting to follow those with increased porosity in surface bone and reduced bone strength with no MGUS to see if MGUS develops in these folks more often than in those with normal bone density. Perhaps "putting the cart before the horse", but I've often wondered whether people with osteopenia/osteoporosis are inviting a nice "snack" that healthy solid bone tissue doesn't easily permit, even before abnormal cells are present...
I have M-Gus for many Years and wonder if a PET/Cat Scan Is advised of full Body? I do take Calcium/VitaminD and Magnesium Supplements...Was never told to do anything other than yearly Blood Tests Thank you LInda Lieberman
I had been diagnosed with several compression fractures of my back when I fell about two years ago. Never fell or had been sick. Very athletic. Ortho dr said it will heal although he mentioned I had osteoporosis. I am a healthy 68 year male. Well, 6 months later and no healing or diagnosis, I was admitted to hospital. And got hooked up with an oncologist who put two and two together and came up with Stage 3 Multiple Myeloma!! To our family shock, we did not know where or how this happened. Shortly after that, my sternum fractured and collapsed with much pain! After 8 months of chemo, we finally were ready for bone marrow transplant last March. All went well there and put my myeloma into very good partial remission (inactive) and was put on a follow up clinical study at Moffitt Cancer center of Velcade shots 4 weeks on 4 weeks off for one year, almost coming to an end in April 2014. Meanwhile, my lesions/bones have never really healed to the point of no pain. Still have much pain and on pain medication. Too late for cyphoplasty surgery because of late diagnosis. Getting Zomata IV once a month to strengthen bones. So if you could find some way to lessen bone pain in myeloma patients other than strong pain meds, this would help a lot of myeloma patients with bone pain. Appreciate your blog and am in a myeloma support group.
I find that very interesting as I probably had MGUS for several years before the progression to what was ultimately initially diagnosed as a single solitary plasmacytoma. However, the destruction was significant. T3 was toast, T4 was affected as well as the 3rd and 4th left rib. I guess the initial weakness made it more likely to have so much bone destroyed once the disease geared up. There was never anything alarming in my blood work to indicate disease....just that bone density indicated osteopenia. Wow....wish I'd known that years before. I have been living with myeloma for 7 years now. Hopefully, you will come up with a cure soon! I appreciate all the work you do.
Do the same density, porosity, and strength characteristics and trends prevail after identification/ classification (e.g. CRAB) of multiple myeloma?
Any studies available?
Thanks much!
Hello Dr. Durie,
I found out first hand that patients with MGUS can have bone abnormalities. When I was diagnosed with Myeloma in Feb. 2011, it was approx. 6-7 months after being diagnosed with MGUS.( I was 52 yrs. old) My blood work did not show full blown Myeloma as of yet. So, we were at a watch and wait period, with no major concerns about progression at that time. In Dec. of 2010, I was doing heavy work at my job after the big post- Christmas snowstom, when suddenly, my neck cracked at c-4. I did not know that that was what actually happened, so I continued to work for the next 10 days, until I literally could no longer move. An MRI revealed abnormalities inside my cedrvical spine, and a PET SCAN revealed several lessions. Sure enough, there was a plasmacytoma, which I had removed during surgery, in addition to having titanium rods placed in my neck. So yes, it is possible to have bone abnormalities with MGUS, AND IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOMETHING MAY BE GOING ON WITHOUT SHOWING UP RIGHT AWAY IN THE BLOODWORK. Thank you for your column, Gary Soccorso
I was diagnosed in 1996 at the age of 36 with MGUS. At this point I am still considered smoldering or a stage 1. I had 10 years of Aredia so my bones seem to be very strong, however, I was recently diagnosed with HLA-B27 and do have some form of arthritis. I also do have osteopenia which I think many women my age have. My only concern and I do see my doctor every 6 months and still have avoided any treatment is that my freelite ratio is high ....30.82 mg/dl . It has been as high as 44.50 mg/dl. I feel good so have chosen and have really been advised by my doctor to not start any treatment. I hope I am doing the right thing.My IGG level fluctuates between 3900-4200. I would be curious as to what other people think of my situation. I have been extremely lucky all these years. Debbie
I really don't know we should take 81-mg or 320-mg aspirin?
I am a 5+ year survivor of MM and am completely confused about taking aspirin. I have spoken to many specialists in the field and some say take only 81 mg of baby aspirin; some say take full strength (325 mg and others say they do not recommend aspirin at all while on maintenance Revlimid therapy.
I'm totally confused as to the right answer!!! It sounds like this is trial and error and no one has the absolute right answer!
Please comment!
Henry, you may wish to call the hotline, but from my own experience, it is very important that you talk with the specialist that is treating your myeloma and your primary care physician and make sure that they are talking to each other!
I was on 81 mg aspirin when I was on Revlimid because Revlimid can cause blood clots. But if you take another blood thinning medication while on Revlimid, it is very possible that you do not want to be on aspirin as well.
Aspirin can also upset and cause damage to the stomach and esophagus. So you may want to avoid it if you have those issues. This is why you want to make sure that your doctors are talking with each other as your myeloma specialist may not be aware of other medical issues that you that your primary care physician does (and vice versa).
Aspirin is an outstanding drug, but is not a benign one for those with GI and/or bleeding problems. Talk with the right doctors.
You are right, though, a lot of this does seem indeed like trial-and-error, because in a sense, it is. The report above was based on a study. If I recall these studies correctly, the participants self-selected whether or not they take aspirin rather than being randomized to it. People who self-select may be more health conscious to begin with which may also lower the risk of myeloma (healthier eating, less exposure to toxins, etc.). These are some initial (and promising) findings, but there isn't absolute certainty yet.
All the best to you!
I am also a 5+ year survivor of MM diagnosed March of 2008 and also confused about taking aspirin. I have been on 81mg aspirin throughout my treatment and continue on it after my Rev/Dex/Velcade maintenance therapy has ended.
How should I discuss this with my Doctors?
If I'm in remission with MM can adult aspirin help
Prevent it from progressing? I have been taking it
For almost 2 yrs now one adult aspirin a day?
Thanks for your help
reducing inflammation, NF-KB, IL6 ... this sounds really familiar to those of us who take curcumin... studies have shown that curcumin works this way as well.
Are there or have there been any studies using aspirin to prevent progression from smoldering myeloma to active myeloma?
Dr. Durie,
I am Smoldering MM and have been told not to use NSAIDS in order to preserve kidney function (my kidney values have always been WNL); I will use acetaminophen for pain relief/inflammation.
Since aspirin is an NSAID, how do we assess this new study info ? Is the thought the potential benefit might outweigh the potential risk of kidney damage?
Hope to hear a response from the IMF team ! Thanks so much.
I hope to see you at the Boca Seminar this month.
lazy year in the breakout session you told me some very good news. I am smoldering since 2008 there is no and you said that the chance of becoming full blown lessens myeloma lessens with each additional year.
There are studies that the possibility of treating "early MM "
is being studied . The ASH 2013 has some info on that.
I am wondering your feelings on that thought.
Thank you,
Katherine Morgan
Six years cancer free following diagnosis MM treated with chemo and stem cell(own cells)transplant .Clinical trial thalidomide/prednisone 5 yrs. current drugs Coversyl 8mg,Rosuvastatin 10 mg , Aspirin 81 mg all once daily. Exercise three times weekly. blood pressure ok ,lower pulse rate. mental health good. Age 70 years 20 pounds over ideal weight. Wondering if anyone has thoughts or experience regarding Viagra or Cialis to share. Some say "caution " Thanks in advance of your response.
Dr. Durie:
Have you read Dr. Perlmutter's "Grain Brain"? He recommends a lot of the items you have suggested: aspirin or anything that reduces inflammation, reduce your blood sugar. Sleep enough. Exercise. as well as NO GLUTEN. I have been following most of his advice since November (hard to keep down the carbs! but I have been eating 85% chocolate...oh my)
--am on Pomalidomide (ok, Pomalyst) and my oncologist admitted to a "75% miracle" on my last visit.
I'm Kappa, double stem cell transplant (chemo/radiation at COH, Duarte), diagnosed 2007 (back collapsed--lost 3 inches-- hiked to the top of mt Hoffman 10,000 plus elevation2013 summer...) relapsed 2012 and had flavor of the month for the last 2 years...
Try his diet! Helped improve my recall and brain function after all the drugs.
Reading this article seems to imply that treatment should begin as soon as possible. What is the implication for early myeloma, I.e., what the medical profession calls smoldering?
I encourage all who read this to support the BSRI. It is an exciting approach that could yield fantastic results. Think outside the box and help fund this project!! God Bless
Are you referring to daratumumab and T-cell therapy clinical trials as leading us astray?
The genetics discussed here are abberations caused by myeloma, not the genes you were born with. There may be some hereditary susceptibility, but it is not implied in the genome sequencing referred to here. I think. I'm not an expert.
My Mother passed away with Multiple Myeloma. Are these new studies showing that her children could be at a greater risk genetically ?
Just wanted to thank you, Dr. Durie for your dedication to find a cure and inform us all about MM!!
Could you please comment on the recent
trials from Abramson Cancer Center
HUP on genetically modifying stem cells
prior to transplant?
Thank you
this article in a way confirms Dr. Bart Barlgie approach of kitchen sink (i.e. hit them so hard!)
at any rate, it's crapshoot all over.
Should we begin treatment as soon as possible for smoldering myeloma? What is the most reliable indicator?
Are there any other cases involving a young (37)patient with 1 lesion, 2 weeks into treatment dying from a heart attack? We recently lost a relative this way.
Thank you
I find it very depressing that you say that the hope of finding specific individual genetic triggers is fading. My husband (who has a Ph.D. in biology) and I still hold out hope that this approach will lead to new drugs that can target the chromosomal (and genetic) abnormalities that lead to this disease.
Interestingly enough the data provided continues to talk about early treatment for MM, however the standard testing during any physical exam does not call for this M protein screen or any other specific tests to be done to try and isolate a person having this disease until bone pain is exhibited, renal failure or other symptoms of advanced disease. In today's world being fatigued is part of the day to day to an extend and while someone may show as anemic the normal treatment is to prescribe iron and dietary changes rather than look for additional markers for myeloma. This would be especially true in younger patients that don't meet the "standard" criteria for at-risk individuals
What is being done to include MM screening as part of normal CBC style testing we would have on an annual basis.
My wife was recently diagnosed with MM only after experiencing severe back pain due to a compression fracture of her T12 vert. She had just had a surgery for a hysterectomy that entails a "complete" blood work up 6 months prior which would have caught this before we are at this point.
It screams of more action early!
Where can I have a Multicolor Flow Cytometry test performed? I have had no M-spike since 12/2009 but my doctor insists that I am not cured. I need to know if there is any residual disease for my piece of mind as well as discussing further treatment.
Thank you.
Thanks for all you are doing. I am a new lay diagnosed patient. Your research gives me hope and encourages me to stay positive at all times.
Does anybody have any data on a Dr. Rubio and the Dr. Rubio Cancer Clinic in Tijuana, Mexico?
I have visited his clinic for a day in October 2013, had an interview with him while there and was somewhat impressed by his research and his treatment. He has been doing this for almost 25 years, with improvements in his "vaccines" over the years.
His " vaccines" are individually blended for the patient depending upon blood test results. They presumably "crack" the protein wall protecting the cancer cell from invasion by white blood cells, who just can't penetrate the protein shell.
Any rational answers would be appreciated, as I am seriously considering signing up for a 4 week stay at his clinic in early 2014.
I currently am diagnosed with Smoldering Myeloma, after being downgraded from Stage 1 initially. It's been 4 years since my diagnosis, and 3 years since my downgrade to Smoldering. I've began taking a product called Poly MVA and various supplements, from D3 , Curcumin 95,COQ10, probiotics, No table sugar , minimize red meat, etc. No treatment from my doctor, except for "watchful waiting", which I interpret as " you'll get worse, so we'll watch and hit you with drugs when you're worse". My personality is opposite that .
I began taking Revlimid last month and have just completed my first 21 days. I'm doing this based upon the recent NEMJ publication in July 2013, which published the results of a Spanish clinical trial for "high" risk Smoldering patients. My Oncologist says The decision is mine to start. The results looks statistically significant to me, so we started.
Dr. Rubio says the Revlimid should help his "vaccines" get rid of the cancer, though he doesn't normally include Revlimid in treatment.
Please advise
Thank you and Merry Christmas,
Jim Swelgin
I was diagnosed in March of 1993 with stage III-b Multiple Myeloma, type lambda, with 90% plasma cells. I achieved a three-year remission through intermittent high-dose dexamethasone until early 1996, when a small amount of Bence-Jones protein was detected. I was enrolled in a clinical trial at The Toronto General Hospital entitled ''Intensification of Stem Cell Transplantation,'' with Dr. Keith Stewart as the site PI. My SCT took pace on November 15, 1996. Since that time, I have been monitored first at 3-month intervals, and for the pasvera yers at 6-month intervals, using a protocol developed by Dr. K. Imrie, then on staff at the Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre, who was my oncologist.
My latest monitoring series of blood and urine tests showed no detectable markers for myeloma, a result that has been consistent since my transplant.
It has been over 20 years since my diagnosis in a late stage of MM, and over 17 years since my SCT. I do not think that this kind of result is being recorded as I have, over the pat several years, twice contacted the University Health Network in Toronto in order to report my survival to someone who reports to the cancer registry. I was told I should volunteer with a hospital network to make use of y survival story,l but I have moved from the area and am not necessarily interested in a volunteer position.
My question for Dr. Durie is this: Is there a role for a long-term survivor who is possibly cured of Multiple Myeloma in the Black Swan Research Initiative? I have previously been a patient representative on the Research Advisory Committee of Cancer Care Ontario (CCO), as well as on the Terry Fox New Initiatives grants review panel for the National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC). I am at least able to provide my story and my statistics to add to the life history of Multiple Myeloma, which I think might modify the stats and provide a more reality-based element of hope for those newly diagnosed.
This story further emphasis the need for 'Single cell research' in understanding cancer cell behavior for a particular patient with myeloma which is still considered to be an incurable disease despite tremendous achievements in its management in recent years.
This is good news for people suffering from Myeloma, More research is needed
I've been reading a lot of conflicting information about asparagus. Should people with myeloma avoid eating asparagus the same as people with certain kinds of leukemia?
Thank you yet again for all you do for the MM community and patients in particular.
I didn't see any indication that the use of multiple antibodies targeting both CD38 and CD138 might be an option. These therapies appear to be well tolerated on their own or in combination with Revlimid. Might they also be tolerated in combination with each other?
It is my understanding that it is common for MM to express a few antibodies and often they are both CD38 & CD138 (a potential population which might show significant synergistic efficacy from such a combination).
Being a bit of math geek I see that with all the drugs currently available there is no way to find the best combination via clinical trials. There are just too many potential combinations. I am sure you are also aware that the only statistic that really matters pertains to the patient in question.
Has there been any significant movement on patient specific therapy guidance?
Thanks again!
I was diagnosed with MM in 2008; I never had any fractures. I had an autogolus stem cell transplant. For 6 months prior to transplant, I was on Rev and Dex. I am still in remission. I have never been on any maintenance drugs. I have CBC and M-protein blood tests every 6 months. I have had one bone marrow draw/biopsy since 2008 transplant. I am age 70 now.
I take Vit D and Calcium and B-12.
Do you have any recommendations for further post-transplant maintenance and/or diagnosis?
I still work part time (at desk job). I snow ski and play tennis and do lite weights 3 times a week.
Phone 360 773 5199
Great news on the research .
I was diagnosed 4 years ago with Stage 1. Didn't like the sound of watchful waiting, or some such phrase.
Began taking PolyMVA along with Curcumin,COQ10, Omega 3, 10,000 IU D3, liver pills, cut out sugar in my diet ( as much as you can in today's food) and others. After 9 months my diagnosis was changed to Smoldering.
When I learned about the results of the Spanish trial for High Risk Smoldering myeloma presented in July 2013 in the NEMJ, I talked to my Oncologist, and have started the regimen of 25 MG Rev for 21 days, and Dex 20 MG, once a week. No side effects for either drug.
Am now looking into Immune system treatments.
I'm a 71 year old male of normal height and weight for my size.
I believe it is important to be proactive, since, after all, it's my life.
Thanks for reading,
Jim Swelgin
Fallbrook, CA.
any news on pomalyst?...s theoly drug that has helped me and it is relly helping!
Thanks for the excellent review of ASH. I had some questions with regard to frontline therapy. Dr. Mikhael made the point that CyBorD had less side effects than PI/IMID/DEX and no one seemed to challenge him. I have seen early studies that around 10% of patients had a Grade 3 or 4 heart failure with Kyprolis. I also saw the the rate of PN is about 30-40% with Kyprolis/REV/DEX. Also taking into account the short overall survival of patients that are resistant and not responding to IMIDs and PI's I think CyBorD sounds like the better choice. Kyprolis/REV/DEX induction is not a cure and using it early starts building resistance to PI's and IMIDs. IMO myeloma therapy should be viewed as a marathon and not a sprint. Starting to make a patient resistant to IMIDs and PI's as soon as therapy starts seems like a major disadvantage to using a PI/IMID/DEX combo upfront. I would be most interested what your thoughts are on that subject?
I have recently gone out remission and my protein has started to climb to the point that I will start on revlimid and dex this tuesday. I have 4;14 iga myeloma and wonder if any of the new drugs mentioned have better results for intermediate risk patients
I am a multiple myeloma survivor (7 1/2 years) who has not been able to find a drug that I could stay on for any length of time. I have had two stem cell transplants (tandem) which brought me a remission of two years and nine months. I have also been on Velcade, Revlimid, Carfilmazib, and a variety of different medications. Both Velcade and Revlimid worked but I was not able to tolerate them. Most recently I have participated in a clinical trial of the new monoclonal antibody, SAR650984 which worked for seven and a half months and then stopped working. I have stopped even hoping for a cure and would just like to find a medicine that would bring me into remission and keep me there on a long-term basis. For me, Minimum Residual Disease is a concept with very little meaning, as is the whole notion of cure. I have donated to the IMF in the past and would like to do so again, but I want to know that my money is going to find new drugs that will help people like me who are less interested in knowing if they are "cured" than in just surviving on a day-by-day basis.
Australian university (UNSW)have recently found a way of collapsing the structure of cancer cells without killing the heart. Killing the heart and therefore the patient apparently caused this line of research to be abandoned around 25 years ago. 5 compounds are now being tested in the US for toxicity. A drug may be available as early as 2015. See article http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/breakthrough-cancer-cell-treatment-from-the-university-of-nsw-offers-new-hope/story-fneuzlbd-1226697364320 Is there any potential relevance of this approach to mm? Are any researchers in the mm area starting to look at this avenue? If so, who?
Keep up the good work - Guy
Hello, Dr. Durie
My mother died from myeloma years ago. I am very worried if it's inherited cancer.So, according mo the abstract with SAMSN1 in somatic mice it has to be strongly inherited. But, how many other children of myeloma sufferers did not become sick. I was told by my GP that it's not inherited, not like breast cancer and so on. Please, clarify, I have kids and tremendously worried about.
Thank you, Kira
Hello Dr. Durie,
I was wondering. Since there are a few drugs available right now to use as a first line of defense in treating multiple myeloma patients, are researchers now creating (or attempting to create) drugs specifically for the second line or perhaps even the third line of defense? Please let me know.
Thank you,
Elisa Smith
Any clear cut protocols regarding long term Velcade maintenance therapy for those with Deleted Chromosome 13?
I am on maintenance therapy with velcade, slightly higher dosage, subcu, once a month and dex 40mg/once a wk, since nov2012, after restaging was done following ASCT in first wk of sept 2012.I had a CR, even a sCR and maintaining the response. Hardly any side effects. There is no set protocol, supported by any study so far. The use is empirical and work in progress.
What schedule you are on and how you are doing.
I was most excited this paper:
"High Progression-Free Survival At 10 Years After Tandem Autologous/Nonmyeloablative Allogeneic Transplants For Multiple Myeloma In a Cohort Of 93 Patients: Impact Of Disease Remission Status At Transplant and Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease"
"We report a very high PFS of 44% at 10 years in a large cohort of 93 NMA alloHSCT recipients. Despite the high incidence of chronic GVHD, we observed a low NRM of 10% and an acceptable prevalence of immunosuppressive therapy of 15% at 10 years. Chronic extensive GVHD and achievement of disease control before HSCT were both associated with better PFS."
Since late relapses after 10 years are rare a good number of these patients are likely cured! You should use some of the proposed Black Swan MRD tests on these patients to confirm that they are likely cured.
Dr. Durie - your dedication to the MM community is SO much appreciated. Thanks again for all you do for us.


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text: Willie Vogt Archives Email Author Follow @Willie Vogt Farm Show Highlights...After Some Time Farmer Iron Now that the dust has settled from the National Farm Machinery Show, it's good to look back a bit. Published on: February 27, 2012 Tweet Post to Your Wall. Email Blog RSS Permalink Print No one who goes to a farm show sees everything, even after three days, but you can sure try. The 2012 National Farm Machinery Show was a true "sole searing" event (catch that spelling). And while I found my fair share of new stuff, there were a few items of note I'll highlight here - just a very few. First, Geringhoff is trying to rewrite how a combine corn head works. The company has already been recognized for its folding corn head with its chopping design. But now they're thinking in new ways, thinking that you don't have to really worry about the rows when you pull into a field. That's right, row-independent corn harvesting.ROW-LESS HEADER: This Independence combine head from Geringhoff is designed to enter a corn field at any angle, those arms at the top gather the crop into the unit. Opening fields will be easier for sure. The Independence System (see the picture in this blog) uses a unique "capture" system to pull the corn into the rows and get it harvested. Farmers watching video of the prototype at work commented on how easy it would be to open a new field with the system. It caught our attention and chances are you'll want to know more once manufactured models make to field demos. Funny thing, a few years ago at the Farm Progress Show we had to bump up our speed limit to take into account the needs of vertical tillage equipment. Wonder how our show team will manage a corn harvesting system that can cut on the diagonal. We'll let you know.FLEX TIRES: Michelin designs a combine-only series of tires using the IF and VF designation, which the company first pioneered with large tractors. The extra flexion allows the combine to carry more weight without the need to boost tire pressure. Second, and this too is combine related, Michelin has new tires. The company has launched CerexBib tires with their VF and IF high-flexion sidewall technology aimed squarely at the combine market. They tell me that these tires are specifically designed for the big harvesters, not a re-fit of a sprayer tire. And here's something interesting, they're thinking about stalk damage, because the new tires have a tread designed to push stalks away. ROOMY CABBED MID-SIZE: The new Grand X series of tractors from Kubota make a statement with their wide, spacious cabs. But you'll find a top level transmission and a high-tech interim Tier 4 engine with this machine as well The idea of that high-flex tire design is that you can put more weight on them, but keep tire pressure lower. That reduces compaction and boosts footprint traction. It's the first type of product for the combine market. You can see from the pictures that this is a fat tire for sure. The folks at Kubota have pushed up the mid-size tractor volume with the Grand X series - four tractors with larger cabs, a new 24x24 powershift transmission and the latest emission technology. The M135GX is the largest in the line at 135 engine hp, 118 PTO hp. The transmission is interesting because it has four speeds below 1 mile an hour. The creeper option on the M Series has been popular in the past because buyers in Kubota's key markets do go-slow things like plant transplants or run a snow blower. That new transmission may mean they don't have to add the creeper option. That remains to be seen. But that new, roomy cab is definitely designed for more Western posteriors, and with its new instructor seat, you'll get added value there too. Those are just a few items that crossed my path, there were dozens more. As with all big farm shows, there's plenty to see, why not add to the list; let me know what you saw by commenting below.


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(Photo by Mario Sorrenti)
I'm excited to give you the first look at the single artwork for "Who You Love," shot by the great Mario Sorrenti. Get it at the iTunes Store, and then head over to Vanity Fair to see exclusive photos from the shoot. And yes, we look like this at home pretty much all the time.


text:
Softball Coaches
Damian Williams
- Head Coach
- (16th year, 302-243)
- BA, Seattle Pacific
- Sparks 217
- (503) 370-6656 voice
- firstname.lastname@example.com
Damian Williams is in his 16th season as the head softball coach at Willamette University in 2013-14. He has achieved a 302-243 overall record at WU and has led the Bearcats to a 223-157 mark in the Northwest Conference.
During the 2012 season, Willamette achieved a 21-15 overall record and went 19-9 in the NWC and played three games at the NWC Softball Tournament. The Bearcats were in a rebuilding year in 2013 and finished 14-24 on the season, 10-18 in the NWC.
In 2011, the Bearcats went 16-9 in the final 25 games to overcome a slow start and finish the season at 19-19. Willamette went 16-12 in the NWC and qualified for the NWC Tournament.
Williams led the Bearcats to six straight 20-win seasons from 2005-10. WU has achieved a record of 199-133 over the past nine years.
Williams was selected NWC Coach of the Year in 2000, after leading the Bearcats to a 25-10 overall record and a second place tie in the NWC at 15-6. The 2000 team led the nation with an impressive 0.76 earned run average and was ranked #5 in the West Region.
The success of the 2000 team shows how much the team improved after Williams arrived. In 1998, the year before he took over, the Bearcats were 5-33. Two seasons later, WU was the most-improved squad in NCAA Division III in 2000, up 16 games from 1999 and 21.5 games from 1998.
Prior to joining the Willamette coaching staff for the 1999 season, Williams was the head coach at Shoreline Community College in Seattle for four years. Williams gradually improved the team, which went 25-12 in 1998 on its way to qualifying for the NWAACC Tournament.
Williams graduated from Seattle Pacific University in 1995. He earned a bachelor's degree in Physical Education and Sports Administration. Williams resides in Salem with his wife, Genesis, and his newborn son, Everson.
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Library Home Page > Mission & Policies > Library Behavior
Library Behavior
The Fauquier County Public Library encourages people of all ages to visit the library. Those using the library and its resources have the right to expect a safe, comfortable environment that supports appropriate library services.
People demonstrating disruptive behavior will be required to leave the library after one warning from library staff. Disruptive behavior includes, but is not limited to, noisy, boisterous actions; inappropriate behavior, including eating, smoking, running, or loud talking; misuse of library property; uncooperative attitude; or actions that deliberately annoy others or prevent the legitimate use of the library and its resources. Abusive language and behavior toward staff will not be tolerated.
Personal appliances, such as computers, cassette players, and calculators, may be used if the noise level is low and use does not interfere with others. Portable telephones and pagers should be turned off or switched to a non-audible signal. These devices should be answered outside the library.
Young children are not safe when left unattended in the library. Staff cannot know if children are leaving with a parent, a friend, or a stranger. Library staff will not deliberately seek out unattended children; however, unattended children frequently become disruptive when they become bored. Parents are responsible for ensuring the appropriate behavior of their children while in the library. Under no circumstances will library staff take a child out of the building or transport children to another location. If a parent or other responsible adult cannot be located, unattended children who are disruptive will be placed in the care of the police department. The police may be called to claim children left at the library after closing.


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The video pulled up on a laptop in the infield media center showed him just exactly what a 0.002-second margin looked like.
As he stared at the screen, just one word came out, "Wow."
But at a track that's known for its raw, unbridled power, what Johnson attributed as the move of the race drew a much different word: Huh.
The defending five-time series points champion said his win wasn't because he had the accelerator shoved to the floorboard. It was because he hit the brake.
With Hendrick Motorsports teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr.
pushing, Johnson edged Clint Bowyer at the start-finish line by the slimmest of margins to move into his familiar home, the NASCAR record book.
Behind the two car tandems of Jeff Gordon-Mark Martin and Clint Bowyer-Kevin Harvick, Johnson knew he needed a little extra to get to the finish line first. He said he drug his brake to allow teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. to make solid contact with his rear bumper, and "build up energy."
With that energy built up, Johnson dove to the bottom of the track, flirted with the taboo yellow line and edged Burton and Gordon, getting his Chevrolet bowtie sticker across the finish line first. The slim margin tied for the closest in NASCAR history since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993, when Ricky Craven edged Kurt Busch at Darlington in 2003.
"Right there, I drug the break," Johnson said while watching the video, popping his fist into the palm of his hand three quick times.
The whole day seemed to be on a bit of a delay for Johnson. With as tight as the racing was, he had no way of knowing instantaneously whether or not this would be his first win of the season.
But even on the radio, there was reluctance with showing him the love.
"There was some mystery," Johnson said. "I didn't hear anything on the radio, and then first voice I heard as we went into Turn 1 was Junior, and it was something like, 'Hell, I think the 48 won.'
"(Crew chief Chad Knaus) didn't know what radio to talk to me on, and I didn't know whether I had won or not, so I was going to stay in the throttle until I heard different."
After Johnson and Bowyer, Hendrick Motorsports took the next two spots with Jeff Gordon and Earnhardt. Harvick, who was pushing Bowyer, rounded out the top five.
From the way things shook out in qualifying to the racing on Sunday, Johnson and Earnhardt took BFF to a whole new level, seldom separating bumpers no matter where they were in the field. The two swapped out leadership roles at times, finally going with the final order on the prompting of Earnhardt, who said he felt they would be better with him in the back.
Their laps times proved as much, and their finish just solidified it.
With other jockeying going on among the days dancing partners, the way it all shook out at the end was hardly a surprise to anyone.
Hendrick Motorsports set the tone with a record qualifying run, sweeping the top four spots. The Richard Childress Racing cars of Bowyer and Harvick weren't a shocker either, as each had won a race here last season.
For Bowyer, the frustration of missing out on the win seemed to outweigh the accomplishment of two second-place finishes in as many weeks. For him, it wasn't so much that he lost, but the way in which he lost.
Bowyer ran up front and in the lead pack for most of the day, a far cry from the more conservative approach taken by the Hendrick stable of drivers.
Of the crew, Johnson was out front the most, leading three different times for 13 laps, but all total, the four Hendrick drivers combined to lead only 33 laps, just six more than Bowyer did by himself.
"The only thing that bums me out about that is those guys lagged back all day long," Bowyer said. "That's what makes it tough, losing by somebody that did that.
"We were up front for our sponsors and our team and digging all day long. When you get it taken from you at the end by somebody who lagged back all day, it's hard to take."
Johnson however made no apologizes for his strategy. With the unpredictable nature of racing at Talladega Superspeedway, Johnson has been caught up in wrecks at various points in the race when running in various positions.
Part of the reason, he said, for the strategy working out was luck.
"Today we had our Jedi sense in order," he said. "We were up front at the right times, we road at the right times. There were wrecks around us, in front of us …
"It's really a gut feeling."
Or luck.
And at Talladega, it's always be better to be lucky than good.
Sunday, however, Johnson and his Hendrick Motorsports teammates were both.
Bran Strickland is the sports editor for The Star. He can be reached at 256-235-3570 or follow him on Twitter @bran_strickland.


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FSU Hands Outs Season Awards
Four Seminoles earned multiple honors at the end of the year award banquet.
Noles Defeat Canes
The FSU women's swimming and diving team defeated Miami in its final dual meet of the year.
Seminoles Finish Strong at Auburn
The nationally-ranked FSU swimming and diving teams finished the three-day invite in third place behind strong performances.
FSU Doubles Up the Wins
The FSU swimming and diving teams grabbed a pair of wins each in front of a fantastic home crowd on Friday night.
Noles Cruise to First Dual Meet Victories
The Florida State women's swimming and diving team captured a pair of wins over Tulane and West Florida on Friday.
Top Times:
500 free: 4:54.16
1000 free: 9:54.31
1650 free: 16:42.41
2012-2013: Took fourth in the 1650 free with a season best of 16:52.19 at the at the Georgia Tech Invite...also placed sixth in the 500 free with a season best time of 4:55.30...took seventh in the 500 free at the Bulldog Invite and fifth in the 1650.
High School: Qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials in the 800 free while representing the North Baltimore Aquatic Club...placed seventh in the 1500 free and was a member of the fourth place finishing 4x200 free relay at the 2010 Summer Junior Nationals...was the champion of both the 1000 and 500 free at the 2012 Maryland State Championships.
Personal: Born June 24, 1994...daughter of Roger and Barbara Hine...graduated from Commonwealth Connections Academy where she was on the Distinguished Honor Roll for all four years...member of the National Honors Society and was a Scholastic All-American...volunteered at an elementary school where she help students with their work and taught basic sign language to third graders...has two younger brothers that are also swimmers...a 12-year swimmer that is a member of NBAC where she is coached by Erik Posegay under FSU alumni Bob Bowman...majoring in Special Education.


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Westridge at Hilltop
Westridge at Hilltop
Westridge at Hilltop is a 401 Unit Multi-Family Community.
We feature an array of modern amenities and many extras for your convenience. We have beautiful landscaping with 3 pools and a fitness center. There is an abundance of living spaces designed to meet your every need. Easy access to I-80, and minutes from Hilltop Mall, Restaurants and Entertainment. Call today to make Westridge at Hilltop your new home. We look forward to meeting you and showing you our community!
Quick Facts
$825 - $945
Studio - 1
1 Bath
Square Feet
470 - 580


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The Fallacy of COOL -
Thursday, May 30, 2013
By Scott George, NCBA President With the recent action by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in releasing their amended Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) rule, it seems COOL is once again the talk of the sale barn and the cafe. That has me thinking quite a bit about the subject and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association's (NCBA) policy on COOL. The NCBA sets its policy at the beginning of every year, with members and state affiliates bringing forward resolutions to be discussed in committees made up of cattle producers, and then finally voted on by a mail-in ballot sent to all 24,000-plus members of NCBA. And it is well known that NCBA has long been opposed to any mandatory country of origin labeling rul
(full story)
ADUFA/AGDUFA Reauthorization Advances in the House -
Thursday, May 23, 2013
By Rep. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) Similar to human drugs, we have in place a process for ensuring that animal drugs distributed in our country are safe and effective. Keeping our animals healthy is crucial in insuring our own health. The Center for Veterinary Medicine and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are responsible for ensuring that animal drugs are safe and effective, and manufactured to the highest quality standards. Reauthorizing the programs that support the testing and review of new and generic animal drug applications will continue to secure a safe supply for our livestock and family pets. On May 15, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved by voice vote H.R. 1407, which would reauthorize the Animal Dru
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EPA's Data Sharing is a Debacle -
Thursday, May 16, 2013
By Nebraska Sens. Mike Johanns and Deb Fischer The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is adding yet another chapter to the dismal saga of its strained relationship with American agriculture. Its sordid history of aerial surveillance over ag operations, attempts to regulate farm ponds and ditches and efforts to corral dust clouds are just a few examples of how the agency has actively made life difficult for the folks who dedicate their lives to putting food on the plates of millions of people around the world. But this time, the agency really outdid itself. Earlier this year, EPA provided information on 80,000 livestock operations to activist groups Earth Justice, the Pew Charitable Trust and the Natural Resources Defense Council
(full story)
Immigration Reform, Border Security Benefits the Beef Industry -
Thursday, May 09, 2013
By Scott George, NCBA President NCBA members have made immigration reform one of the organization's key issues for my term as president, so I have been pleased to see our elected officials also take it up as a priority. Although we are a long way from final legislation, we are optimistic about what we have seen so far from both the House and Senate. As you know, agriculture relies on a viable year-round workforce for our success. We depend on these workers and so a workable, common-sense, guest worker program is vitally important to our future. When I was growing up, my father and a lot of neighbors depended on migrant laborers. We would get together as a community to feed and house them and in return the laborers would come
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FUELS Act Will Provide Relief from Overreaching EPA Regs -
Thursday, May 02, 2013
By Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) When I talk to farmers and ranchers who run small operations in my congressional district in Arkansas, they consistently tell me how regulations from Washington hurt their bottom line. When I ask them which agency seems to impose the most oppressive regulations, I always get the same answer: the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In 2003, the EPA quietly passed a rule requiring farmers and ranchers to prepare a spill containment plan for oil products stored on their property. The program, commonly referred to as the Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) program, requires oil storage facilities with a capacity of more than 1,320 gallons to make costly infrastructure improvements
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The Renewable Fuels Standard: Reforming an Unworkable Federal Policy -
Thursday, April 25, 2013
By Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) Who's paying the costs of the federal ethanol mandate? The American people are paying for this mandate. Every livestock producer who faces higher feed costs, every family who shops in a grocery store or dines at a restaurant and every motorist who fills up their tank at the gas station pays the price of this unworkable policy. The Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) debate is no longer just a debate about fuel or food. It is also a debate about jobs, small business, and economic growth. The federal government's creation of an artificial market for the ethanol industry has quite frankly triggered a domino effect that is hurting American consumers, livestock producers, food manufacturers and
(full story)
President's Budget Would Increase Grazing Fees, Lower Estate Tax Exemption Levels -
Thursday, April 18, 2013
The thought of a balanced budget in Washington is one that many of us find hard to believe. President Obama released his 2014 budget proposal last week, and though the proposal won't likely fly with Congress, it is important to note the impacts the president's budget would have on agriculture, including $38 billion in cuts over 10 years to agricultural programs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) budget would be $146 billion dollars, which would be a $10 billion dollar cut from fiscal year 2013. And, despite all the talk of budget cuts, the president's plan would increase government spending by 2.5 percent over this year alone. There are a couple of glaring issues outlined in the president's budget
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Catastrophic Wildfire Prevention Act Protects Producers and Preserves Our National Forests -
Thursday, April 11, 2013
By Andy Groseta, President, Arizona Cattle Growers' Association, Past President of NCBA and PLC Member As an Arizona rancher and President of the Arizona Cattle Growers' Association, I am all too familiar with the devastating effects catastrophic wildfires have on livestock producers in the West. Fire is a natural occurrence that is beneficial when it happens on healthy forests, where it removes excess debris and allows more sunlight and nutrients for upcoming growing seasons. Back before the forests became overcrowded and under-grazed, old timers in many areas used to strike a match and start a blaze behind them as they rode out with the last fall gather. But after four decades of mismanagement of our federal forests, cata
(full story)
NCBA Continues to Take Action to Protect Producers -
Thursday, April 04, 2013
By Ashley McDonald, NCBA Deputy Environmental Counsel Agriculture is not only the backbone of communities in rural America, but provides jobs and opportunities across the entire U.S. More than two million farmers and ranchers work hard each day to provide our nation and the world with a safe, abundant and affordable food supply. However, one of the biggest obstacles facing the ranching industry is the regulations coming out of Washington. Much of this red tape comes from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which so often engages in sweetheart settlement agreements with environmental extremist groups, leading to regulations the agency claims it is "forced" to issue. Family farmers and ranchers across the country endur
(full story)
Food Safety Inspectors Escape the Line of Fire — For Now -
Thursday, March 28, 2013
By Colin Woodall, NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Last week Congress passed what is known as a continuing resolution, a type of appropriations legislation which will keep the federal government operating through the end of this fiscal year on Sept. 30. The continuing resolution funds government agencies if a formal appropriations bill has not been signed into law, and takes the form of a joint resolution, providing funding for existing federal programs at current, reduced or expanded levels. An amendment included in the continuing resolution, authored by Senators Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), shifts $55 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funds in order to prevent furloughing Food Safety Inspection
(full story)
U.S. and the EU to Engage in Trade Talks -
Thursday, March 21, 2013
By Bob McCan, NCBA President Elect Over the last few years there has been success in developing Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. These agreements offer great potential to increase market share in key markets for U.S. beef in Asia and South America. In fact, according to the International Trade Commission, the three agreements translate into 250,000 jobs, a boost to our nation's economy. For cattlemen, the trade agreements increase beef demand and profitability. These agreements give U.S. beef a foothold in growing markets in two continents, Asia and South America. Now that the FTAs have been implemented in these three countries, the U.S. will ultimately have free trade for U.S. beef with approx
(full story)
Bridging the Gap -
Thursday, March 14, 2013
By Philip Ellis, NCBA Policy Division Chair Springtime in Washington, D.C., is quite nice. Temperatures are typically in the 50s and 60s, the sun is shining and the famous cherry blossom trees which dot the city and line the Tidal Basin are in full bloom. Also present in our nation's capital is the 113th Congress, which is why it is important for cattlemen and women to attend the 2013 National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) Legislative Conference, scheduled for Apr. 16-18. Attending the NCBA Legislative Conference will give farmers and ranchers the opportunity to bring their "hats to the hill" – literally. This important event provides NCBA members the chance to meet with key congressional and agenc
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Grazing Improvement Act Gives Ranchers Much Needed Certainty -
Thursday, March 07, 2013
By Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) In Wyoming and throughout the West, we understand the important role our ranchers play in providing safe, high quality beef and lamb for America's dinner table. Ranching operations are the backbone of many of our communities, providing jobs and economic opportunities across much of rural America. Today, two of the biggest obstacles facing our ranching communities are the rules and regulations coming out of Washington. Our nation's ranchers should be focused on running their operations—not dealing with Washington red tape. Ranchers continue to face too much uncertainty surrounding their grazing permits. This is a common occurrence in the West, where much of the land is con
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How Federal Actions Hurt Family Farmers -
Thursday, February 28, 2013
By Chuck Folken, Owner/Operator, Folken Feed Yards As a cattle feeder from Nebraska I have been well-versed for more than 20 years on Clean Water Act regulations. I take great pride in the practices I've put in place to protect the environment, as well as the fact that what I do everyday helps feed my family and yours. What discourages me is the constant berating beef feedlots like mine must endure by environmental organizations who know little to nothing about my farm or rural America in general Being a family farmer means I work - a lot. Farming is a 24/7/365 job, which means that I don't have much downtime, including time to cruise the internet. Which is why I was shocked to learn last week that the Environmental Prot
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Weathering Through the Storms -
Thursday, February 21, 2013
By Leon LaSalle, President, LaSalle Ranch Inc., Havre, Mont. Farmers and ranchers deal with a lot of uncertainty. Helping feed the nation and the world is not easy. It's a 24/7/365 job, one which requires cattle producers like myself to weather through drought, wildfires, blizzards and tornadoes, along with other issues such as declining herd numbers and overreaching government regulations. Even though being a cattle producer is challenging job, it is one that has been in my family for many years. My maternal grandfather and his sons were among the first residents of Rocky Boys Indian Reservation, located in central Montana, to become cattle ranchers. Today, as in the past, we manage our ranching operation with future generati
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Looking Ahead: NCBA's 2013 Policy Priorities -
Thursday, February 14, 2013
By Philip Ellis, Chugwater, Wyo. As a fifth-generation rancher and Policy Division Chairman for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), I am pleased to announce our association's policy priorities for 2013. These priorities, along with other important issues affecting cattlemen and women across the country, will serve as the focus of NCBA's policy team in Washington, D.C. This organization is producer-owned and member driven. It's important that the policy priorities set by NCBA are geared toward sustaining this industry for future generations. A full, five-year farm bill remains an important priority for NCBA. The fiscal cliff package passed by Congress in January, which extended the 2008 Farm Bill
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Gardner's Transparency Bill Sheds Light on Use of Judgment Fund Dollars -
Thursday, January 31, 2013
By Rep. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) The federal government gets sued often. Sometimes these lawsuits are high profile, like when the states sued the federal government over the President's healthcare law. Other cases garner far fewer headlines. Yet, no matter how big or small, all of these lawsuits end up costing the public money. For many who sue the federal government their legal bills may even be covered by the taxpayers — the very people they are suing — out of a pot of money called the Judgment Fund. The Judgment Fund is administered by the Treasury Department and used to pay certain court judgments and settlements against the federal government. Many groups continuously sue the federal government, and the
(full story)
A Future Farm Bill Must Include Cattlemen's Priorities -
Thursday, January 24, 2013
By Kristina Butts, NCBA Executive Director of Legislative Affairs We can't deny that 2013 has gotten off to a rocky start, legislatively speaking. The fiscal cliff package passed by Congress earlier this month left much to be desired for the cattle industry, especially when it came to a five-year farm bill. The fiscal cliff package extends the 2008 Farm Bill until Sept. 30, 2013, and authorizes limited disaster assistance for fiscal years 2012 and 2013. Funding for these programs is subject to receiving the money from appropriations committees. However, realizing the importance of getting the ball rolling on agriculture policy, the Senate re-introduced its version of the bill (S. 10), which was passed last June with heavy
(full story)
NCBA/PLC Battle in Court to Represent Cattlemen -
Thursday, January 17, 2013
By Ashley McDonald, NCBA Deputy Environmental Counsel, and Dustin Van Liew, NCBA Director of Federal Lands and PLC Executive Director Litigation is considered a dirty word in today's world, but unfortunately for the cattle industry it has become a necessary evil. Turning to legal action is a last resort when federal agencies do not listen to or work with our industry and instead promulgate disastrous regulations that could cripple cattle operations. Petitions, interventions and other forms of legal participation by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) and the Public Lands Council (PLC) have been on the rise as the number of dangerous federal actions has increased. Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court hea
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In 2013 We Need a Farm Bill, Spending Cuts -
Thursday, January 10, 2013
By Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) As we ring in the new year, we reflect on the hope, promise and challenges that 2013 will hold. Many individuals stop to consider the personal improvements and changes they can make to their lives to ensure that 2013 holds even more opportunity than 2012. As we begin this new year, Congress must try even harder to solve short-term problems and achieve long-term goals that will keep America secure and financially stable. The drought-stricken landscape and the loss of crops, hay and pastures in 2012 presented numerous challenges for cattlemen and women not only in my home state of South Dakota, but across our nation. Following the excessive spring moisture and record floods of 2011, no one would have predic
(full story)
Looking Forward for Agriculture -
Thursday, January 03, 2013
By Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) America's farmers and ranchers have faced a lot of uncertainty over the past several years. With new regulations coming down the pipeline constantly and the threat of higher taxes and consequences of inaction on a farm bill always on the horizon in 2012, our agriculture community has rightly been on edge. This coming year should bring a little more certainty. Just this week an extension of the current farm bill was approved through the end of the fiscal year. I have been fighting tooth-and-nail for a full, five-year farm bill, but unfortunately, the clock ran out. When that happened, the priority became locking in some certainty for our crop producers and livestock owners that need to make decision
(full story)
A Look Back at 2012 -
Thursday, December 20, 2012
By J.D. Alexander, NCBA President NCBA has a lot to be proud of in 2012. We continue to be the trusted leader and definitive voice serving the U.S. beef industry. We continue to successfully represent cattlemen and women in Washington, D.C., making sure that rural America's voice is heard loud and clear. As I look back on this year a few important events come to mind. One of the highlights of this past year has been the great opportunity I have had to travel the country and meet so many outstanding cattlemen and women. Over the past several weeks I have been fortunate to have a chance to attend a number of state conventions. Many of them have seen record attendance this year and it has been good to see old friends and make new
(full story)
Costa Calls on Congress to Reform RFS -
Thursday, December 13, 2012
By Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.) My grandparents scratched out a living in the dairy business when they first came here from the Azores and my parents carried on that tradition. But today in my home state and nationwide, cattlemen, dairymen and livestock producers are facing the perfect storm of shrinking corn supplies and soaring feed prices. One of the toughest droughts in over 50 years has stricken the heart of our country and scorched this year's corn and wheat crops. These challenges are only compounded by a misguided policy to divert food into our gas tanks. Since June 2012, feed prices have jumped over 60 percent nationwide adding pressure to producers already struggling to stay afloat. The Renewable Fuel Standard
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Overreaching Regulations Continue to be a Burden on Cattlemen -
Thursday, December 06, 2012
By Ashley McDonald, NCBA Deputy Environmental Counsel If you haven't heard by now, the fiscal cliff is looming. Congress and the White House remain locked in tough negotiations over the "cliff" which is a set of tax hikes and spending cuts that will go into effect in January if Washington doesn't get its act together. Inaction by the government will undoubtedly affect farmers and ranchers. However, another looming issue that may not be receiving as much attention during this critical time in our government is the "environmental cliff," the overreaching environmental regulations which continue to plague cattle producers. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) continues to lead the cha
(full story)
Study's Anti-Grazing Myths Debunked -
Friday, November 30, 2012
By J.D. Alexander, NCBA President, and Brice Lee, Public Lands Council President A recent study published by a journal called Environmental Management has called for the end of grazing on public lands due to climate change. With funding from the Wyss Foundation, a radical environmentalist, foreign-based organization, researchers produced " Adapting to Climate Change on Western Public Lands: Addressing the Ecological Effects of Domestic, Wild, and Feral Ungulates ," which proclaims that global warming necessitates the end of livestock grazing—in fact, any grazing—on public lands. The study makes a series of claims and citations, each of which can be countered by credible studies. As elected officers of organizati
(full story)
Florida Ranch Educates Students About Cattle As Well As Conservation -
Thursday, November 15, 2012
By Casey Wohl, Rafter T Ranch and Gray Dog Communications If you are in the ranching business, then you are aware that to the general public, ranching and environmental conservation do not typically go hand in hand. However, those of us who have been in the cattle industry for most of our lives know that ranchers are the original stewards of the land, making sure the land they own and manage not only provides their cattle the ability to graze, but also employing many conservation practices which provide great returns to the many wildlife species which cohabitate with cattle on a ranch. Environmental stewardship and conservation have long been the focus of America's farmers and ranchers. I grew up on my family's cat
(full story)
Farm Radio's Rich Heritage -
Thursday, November 08, 2012
By Chase Adams, NCBA Director of Communications I traveled to Kansas City, Mo, this week to attend the 69th Annual National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) Convention. The theme for this year's convention is "Our Rich Heritage: A Bridge to the Future." For over 80 years, farm broadcasting has been an important part of rural America, providing an efficient means to connect farmers and ranchers with the news, markets and commentary that are so important to our daily routine. Broadcasting information to farmers started just after the invention of AM radio. The first broadcasts began in 1921, when WHA in Madison, Wis., began broadcasting weather reports. Two months later, James A. Bush, a Tuscola, Ill.
(full story)
Despite Setbacks in 2012, Future Looks Bright for US Beef Trade -
Thursday, October 25, 2012
By Kent Bacus, NCBA Associate Director of Legislative Affairs Drought, fires, floods, skyrocketing input costs and record herd shortage; factors we have unfortunately become very familiar with over the past couple of years and all of which would send cattlemen and women running to the hills. In fact, many cattle families are wondering if right now isn't the best time to hang it up while prices are good and land values are high. But before you make that decision, I encourage you to consider what you will be missing. At the end of this year, we will be fortunate enough to see the implementation of three free trade agreements (FTA); the Korea-U.S. agreement; the Colombia-U.S. agreement; and the Panama-U.S. agreement, which
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Livestock Express: Coming Soon to a Ranch Near You -
Thursday, October 18, 2012
By Tony Clayton, President of Clayton Agri-Marketing, Inc. As the world's population continues to grow toward 10 billion people by the year 2050 and if expanding economies that are providing better living conditions are factored in, it equals an unprecedented world-wide demand for animal protein and dairy products. Breeders, farmers and ranchers from across the United States have been exporting live cattle in record numbers over the past few years, and the exporting of live cattle has turned from a hobby industry when someone might have talked about sending a few bulls to Mexico at the local coffee shop a few years ago, to a billion-dollar industry due to markets that have opened in Egypt, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Russia and other cou
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Wilson Will Take on Tough Issues in Washington -
Thursday, October 11, 2012
By Heather Wilson, U.S. Senate candidate, New Mexico One of New Mexico's oldest industries is farming and ranching. It was the Indian Pueblos, Spanish settlers and 19th century homesteaders of the Southwest that created the idea of the American dream. Today, thousands of New Mexicans rely on farming and ranching for their livelihoods. But those jobs are now under siege by politicians like Congressman Heinrich who believe Washington knows what's best for rural America. They're wrong. There is nothing more important in America right now than creating jobs and growing the economy. If we want to protect New Mexico's agriculture industry, we're going to need Washington to work for us again. That means lowerin
(full story)
As NCBA's New Communications Director, Adams Advocates for Agriculture -
Thursday, October 04, 2012
By Chase Adams , NCBA Director of Communications I am pleased to join the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) as the Director of Communications for NCBA's Washington, D.C., office, filling the position left by Mike Deering, who returned to Missouri as the Executive Vice President of the Missouri Cattlemen's Association. As a native of Wyoming, I grew up in cattle country. I have always had a passion for agriculture and ranching. During my career I've held a number of positions in agriculture from working at the sale barn in Belle Fourche, S.D. to agriculture journalism, which was a nice change from doing to the work to talking about it. I received my bachelor's degree in political science
(full story)
Young Ranchers Bring Fresh Ideas to Five Nations Beef Alliance Meeting -
Friday, September 28, 2012
By Travis Hoffman and Ben Neale, NCBA Young Producers Council Members As members of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association's (NCBA) Young Producers Council (YPC), we recently traveled to Canada to represent NCBA during the Five Nations Beef Alliance (FNBA) meeting as part of the Young Ranchers Program. We were nominated by YPC to share our knowledge and develop relationships with other young ranchers from Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. Also in attendance were NCBA President J.D. Alexander and NCBA President-Elect Scott George, along with NCBA staff. The FNBA is represented by the Cattle Council of Australia, Canadian Cattlemen's Association, Confederación Nacional de Organizaciones Ganade
(full story)
National Farm and Ranch Safety and Health Week: Be Aware of the Dangers -
Thursday, September 20, 2012
By Mike Deering, NCBA Director of Communications President Obama signed a proclamation last week declaring Sept. 16-22 National Farm Safety and Health Week. This week is a perfect time to focus on farm and ranch safety before it is too late. Let this week be your wakeup call. Nearly everyone directly or indirectly involved in the farming and ranching business knows someone who has been injured, paralyzed or killed in a farm-or-ranch related accident. In fact, according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, farming and ranching is the fourth most dangerous occupation with 38.5 deaths per 100,000. The main ingredient necessary to prevent farm and ranch injuries and deaths is a relatively simple concept – awa
(full story)
Senate Candidate Deb Fischer Stands Up for Ranchers, Small Businesses -
Thursday, September 13, 2012
By Deb Fischer, Nebraska U.S. Senate candidate This is an important election year. We have an opportunity to change the direction our country is headed. I entered the U.S. Senate race because I'm very concerned for the future of America and for our industry. My family ranches in the Nebraska Sandhills, south of Valentine. Our three grown sons have all chosen to return to the ranch and now manage the business. As a rancher, I know how the current administration's policies have affected our industry. Burdensome regulations are choking our businesses; the estate tax makes it difficult to leave our operations to our children; and complicated red tape stymies emergency assistance in times of need. The slow response of the
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As Congress Comes Back to Washington, the Future of the Farm Bill Should be Discussed -
Thursday, September 06, 2012
By Colin Woodall, NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs As many of you know, Congress comes back to Washington, D.C. on Sept. 10. Our senators and representatives will only be here for eight short days, and here at NCBA we hope during that time that they will address the important issue of the 2012 Farm Bill before the current 2008 Farm Bill expires at the end of this month. As I said in this week's Beltway Beef audio , Congress has the option of passing a full 2012 Farm Bill, or it can also decide to extend the 2008 bill and its programs for up to a year and return to the debate at a later point in time. A one-year extension of the current 2008 Farm Bill would continue programs such as commodity programs, crop insurance, cons
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After 30 Years as a Livestock Veterinarian, Yoho is Ready to Bring Repair to Washington -
Thursday, August 23, 2012
By Ted Yoho, Candidate for U.S. Congress Last week, I was incredibly honored as the people of north central Florida's third congressional district chose me to be their Republican nominee for Congress. It was a great victory in so many ways. For one, we were a rag-tag campaign with only one paid staffer (our campaign manager, Kat Cammack) and a handful of dedicated interns and volunteers. We raised only $300,000 compared to the massive war chest of $2.5 million that my opponent Rep. Cliff Stearns was sitting on. I had never run for or held political office in my life. We were facing a conservative congressman who had been in office for 24 years. There were two other local politicians in the race as well, making it a difficult
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USDA Does Right in Scrapping Meatless Monday Statement -
Thursday, August 16, 2012
By J.D. Alexander, NCBA President It's disturbing when those who are supposed to be advocates for agriculture instead choose to advocate against it. That happened last month just as NCBA kicked off the 2012 Cattle Industry Summer Convention in Denver, Colo. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a release on July 25, expressing support for the "Meatless Mondays" campaign by saying that USDA would work to reduce environmental impacts in the agency's cafeteria. It was a statement which shows just how out of touch our government is with the difficulties faced by farmers and ranchers who are working hard every day to produce the food which our citizens depend on. The "Meatless Monday" campaign is an effort starte
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Waiving the Ethanol Mandate to Provide Relief to Producers and Consumers -
Thursday, August 09, 2012
By Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) Food or feed? We should not put our nation's livestock producers in the position of having to choose one over the other. But federal law has done just that. As a severe drought continues to hold our nation in its grip, concerns over the corn crop and soaring prices are on the minds of nearly every livestock producer. Drought maps show that farmers from Nebraska to Virginia are facing some of the driest conditions seen in the United States in nearly 50 years. Unfortunately, government policies are only adding to this difficult situation by diverting increased food and feed stocks into fuel, leading to diminished supplies for livestock and food producers. The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) man
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Beef Biz Better Off Without Big Government -
Thursday, August 02, 2012
By Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) When my friends in Washington, D.C. ask me about Florida, like many people outside the state, they often think of Florida only for its sunshine and beaches. Many of them are surprised to hear that Florida is also home to some of the largest cattle ranches in the country. For almost 500 years, the cattle industry has contributed significantly to Florida's economy and natural resources. Multi-generational family ranches have cared for the land, provided employment for many residents and contributed greatly to the local tax base. I've had the opportunity to meet with several Florida ranchers and I am encouraged by their love for their country and for their state. As a 22- year veteran
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The Protect Interstate Commerce Act Offers State Trade Solution -
Thursday, July 19, 2012
By Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) The food standards maintained by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) keep food in our country safe. Imagine going to the grocery store, and instead of finding several varieties of food products, only certain brands are available and many are out of stock. This is exactly what is happening in Europe. The Wall Street Journal has reported that egg prices have jumped as much as 76.5 percent as of March of this year, and the price of eggs has more than doubled in the Czech Republic from 2011 to 2012, the result of costly over regulation of chickens. Our Founding Fathers understood states would erect trade barriers against each oth
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The Regulatory War -
Thursday, July 12, 2012
By Ashley McDonald, NCBA Deputy Environmental Counsel Always a hot topic in Washington, D.C. is "regulatory overreach." This phrase has been the battle cry for many industries over the past few years, and the cattle industry is no exception. As one of the top two enforcement priorities for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the cattle industry has seen an attack from all sides. We are fighting issues from dust and greenhouse gas regulation to preventing your ditches and dry washes from becoming a "water of the United States." EPA is a power hungry bureaucratic machine, and it is in their own self-interest to continue to stretch their authority and gain power over every aspect of our operations. War has no doubt been
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A Look Back -
Thursday, July 05, 2012
By J.D. Alexander, NCBA President At NCBA we're all busy with summer work and the staff is working hard to prepare for the 2012 Cattle Industry Summer Conference at the end of the month in Denver, Colo. With nearly half of my term as NCBA president behind me it seems like a fitting time to look at some recent industry events and some of the major accomplishments we have achieved together. In June we saw major victories on several fronts as a result of our hard work in Washington, D.C., including a major win as the Senate passed its version of the farm bill. Early drafts of the Senate farm bill and several amendments included language which could have been harmful to agriculture in general, and livestock producers in par
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Against All Odds, Senate Moves Ahead on Farm Bill -
Thursday, June 21, 2012
By Colin Woodall, NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs The Senate's version of the 2012 Farm Bill concluded today, June 21, 2012. The Senate finalized votes on the 73 amendments selected for consideration. The bill passed by a huge bipartisan majority with a 64-35 vote. Like many of us who have a vested interest in this legislation (S. 3240), I was pleasantly surprised by the bipartisan efforts made to move this bill through the Senate very efficiently and without much partisan rhetoric. Both Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Minority Leader Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) should be commended for their leadership on this very important piece of legislation. Their transparency and willingness to listen to all vested inter
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Rough Road Ahead for Highway Bill -
Friday, June 15, 2012
By Kent Bacus, NCBA Associate Director of Legislative Affairs In November 2011, I wrote a somewhat optimistic article about the Highway Bill and the positive momentum it was gaining in both the US House and Senate. For the first time in several years it seemed as if meaningful transportation reform was within reach—an opportunity to lift unnecessary and burdensome transportation rules from farm and ranch operations. Unfortunately, six months have passed and all we have witnessed are extensions of current transportation law and continued discussions between House and Senate negotiators. The question remains if Congress will be able to overcome what seem to be insurmountable differences and manage to secure enough
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Ranchers' Rights are Being Trampled -
Thursday, May 17, 2012
— The Grazing Improvement Act of 2012 By U.S. Representative Raúl Labrador (R-Idaho) Livestock grazing is an important part of the rich ranching tradition in America. One need to look no farther than the iconic images of cowboys driving huge herds of cattle across open land to realize how big a part ranching has played in American history. Today, my home state of Idaho produces some of the world's finest tasting lamb and beef, which makes its way to dinner tables across America and as far away as Korea. Food production is a major part of Idaho's history and is an integral part of our cultural fabric and our economic security. These traditions are under attack and we must preserve them for future generations.
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Clearing up the CLEER Act -
Thursday, May 10, 2012
By U.S. Representative Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) In July of 2011, a huge dust storm nearly a mile high at its largest point rolled from Tucson to Phoenix in my home state of Arizona. Bringing visibility down to absolute zero at several points on its 50 miles wide warpath across the desert, the storm grounded planes for an hour and a half and left thousands of cars, buildings and homes caked in a thick coat of grime. Not surprisingly, this huge dust storm caused pollution levels in the area to skyrocket. It's been reported that the level of particulate matter - the scientific term for dust - reached more than double the level federal standards consider healthy the day after the storm hit. Under the Clean Air Act (CAA
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Fear Not the Ides of March -
Thursday, April 05, 2012
By Kent Bacus, NCBA associate director of legislative affairs I'm not one who typically quotes Shakespearean literature but one thing I remember from high school is Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, where the soothsayer utters these ominous words to Caesar: "Beware the Ides of March." Historically, there's actually nothing ominous about the definition of Ides. It was used in the Roman calendar to denote the fifteenth day of March, May, July and October. For years, I've used that quote to remind my friends and colleagues of my ability to quote some of the great literary minds and not just Larry the Cable Guy. But in 2012, the Ides of March took on a brand new meaning. March 15, 2012, marked the implementation of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade
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Time Has Come To End the Destructive Death Tax -
Friday, March 30, 2012
By U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D) Yesterday, I joined with 34 of my Senate colleagues to introduce the Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act (S 2242). This legislation will permanently abolish the federal estate tax, better known by ranchers, farmers, and family business owners across America as the "death tax." I believe the death tax is destructive, misguided, and inefficient, and that our economy, small businesses, family farms, and ranches that are expected to be transferred to future generations will benefit enormously from its demise. America's family businesses, farmers, and ranchers were spared from the wrath of the federal estate tax in 2010, but unfortunately this was merely a short reprieve.
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Preventing Barbecued Chicken since the 1800s -
Thursday, March 22, 2012
By Mike Deering, NCBA Director of Communications Livestock have been roaming the western range since post-Civil War years because ranchers didn't have a dime to buy their own ground after the war. Today, ranchers still utilize 157 million acres of public lands to feed a world population that is expected to grow from 7 billion today to 10 billion people by 2050. America's ranchers haven't missed a beat in producing safe, nutritious beef for a growing global population. They do this by adopting the most sustainable production practices. An important part of this equation is the cattle still roaming the public lands out West. Without a viable public lands sector of the livestock industry, food security would undoubt
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Protecting the Chesapeake Bay While Preserving Agriculture and Local Economies -
Monday, March 19, 2012
By Congressmen Bob Goodlatte and Tim Holden Farming is a tough business – no one can deny that. Regardless of whether you run a large scale operation or a small family farm, many in the agriculture community have felt the impact of tightening federal regulations. Farmers and producers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed are no different. With new environmental regulations looming overhead, there is much uncertainty for those who call the watershed home. The Chesapeake Bay watershed stretches across portions of six states – New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia – as well as the District of Columbia. Home to more than 17 million people, the watershed includes all
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Saving our Border Beef -
Friday, March 09, 2012
By Congressman John Carter (R-Texas) The Presidential debates highlighted varying national opinions on how best to secure the troubled southern border. Our Governor Rick Perry pointed out that fencing the entire 2,000 mile border with Mexico was not the way to go, and that more boots-on-the-ground was the correct approach. Governor Perry may be out of the Presidential race, but he was dead right on this issue. The difference in opinion is largely from the fact he knows the border. The new border fence already completed in the Arizona desert, El Paso, Del Rio, and elsewhere is a tremendous tool in securing our border, and I thoroughly support constructing additional fencing in similar areas where we know
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Protecting the Future of Agriculture -
Friday, March 02, 2012
By U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) In communities across our nation, no tradition runs deeper from generation to generation than that of working on a family farm. By working alongside their parents, grandparents and neighbors, young people learn important life skills and values - the values of hard work, personal responsibility and perseverance. They learn how to problem solve and work on a team to get things done. Agriculture is a way of life; but now the federal government wants to fundamentally change that way of life. In September 2011, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) proposed a new child labor rule that would ban youth under the age of 16 from participating in many common farm-related tasks. The government is now trying
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Beef Producers, Exports Hurt by Stalled BSE Rule -
Thursday, February 23, 2012
By U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa International trade bolsters job creation here at home and helps foster economic activity in communities across the country. The beef industry plays a big role in the United States' trade portfolio. Last year alone, U.S. beef producers exported to countries around the world nearly $5.5 billion worth of product. And, it's generally agreed upon that increasing exports are the key to increasing demand for U.S. beef products. Unfortunately, our own government is hindering progress in opening new markets for these products. The problem lies in a comprehensive BSE rule for beef imports that would make the United States compliant with international trade standards set by the World Organization
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On the Menu -
Thursday, February 09, 2012
By NCBA President J.D. Alexander If you're not at the table, you risk being on the menu. It's a phrase you will hear a lot over the course of my term as National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) president this year. As cattle producers, we have never faced more exciting opportunities or more risk than we do right now. We have come a long way as an industry, and as an organization, over the past year. The spirit of optimism and energy we saw in Nashville, Tenn., as more than 8,200 cattlemen and women gathered to shape the future of this industry was a testament to how far we have come and it gave me a sense of encouragement about our shared opportunities during the year ahead. As an industry there are significant challenges ahea
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2012 NCBA Policy Priorities Taking Shape -
Thursday, January 26, 2012
By Colin Woodall, NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Next week, thousands of cattlemen and women who are members of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) will make their way to Nashville, Tenn., for the 2012 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show. NCBA members will set policy priorities for 2012 and establish new policy positions for the largest and oldest national cattle industry organization. This is where NCBA's Washington, D.C., staff will receive their marching orders for what will undoubtedly be a very interesting year inside the Beltway. Based on where we left off in 2011, I fully expect that NCBA will hone in on five primary priorities for the new year. The top priority will most likely
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Terrorist Activity Has No Place in American Agriculture -
Thursday, January 19, 2012
By NCBA President Bill Donald One reward of ranch life in rural Montana is that after a hard-days' work, I get to fall asleep listening to the bawl of mama cows near the house. I imagine farmers and ranchers across the nation can relate to that calming sound. While there are many sounds that come from farms and ranches, one thing we don't expect to hear is the sound of our farm equipment exploding outside our windows. Unfortunately, for the men and women who make their home at or near the Harris Ranch feedyard in Fresno County, Calif., that is no longer a foreign sound. Early in the morning of Jan. 8, 2012, they were awakened to the sound of 14 cattle trucks exploding and burning near the feed yard. I thank God that
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Double Deck Trailer Ban in Highway Safety Bill -
Thursday, January 12, 2012
By Cindy Schonholtz, Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Unfortunately, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation recently included the double deck trailer ban in S. 1950, the Commercial Motor Vehicle Enhancement Act of 2011. Section 905 of S. 1950 prohibits the transportation of all horses in double deck trailers, not just those bound for slaughter. This measure is currently waiting for further consideration on the Senate floor. The U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will likely mark up its version of the Highway Bill in early February. You may be curious as to why Congress is trying to expand this provision. This issue has been a strong interest of Senator Kirk (R-Ill.). While Senat
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Make 2012 the Year for Permanent Estate Tax Relief -
Thursday, January 05, 2012
By Kent Bacus, NCBA manager of legislative affairs If you're like me, you enjoy watching the History Channel and Discovery Channel. I enjoy learning about other cultures and civilizations and listening to experts discuss how mankind has advanced throughout the years and make predictions on what the future will hold. Lately, a theme has revolved around what will happen on Dec. 21, 2012. Many ancient cultures have predicted that some major, perhaps apocalyptic, event will happen on that day. Perhaps the ancient Mayans were a few days off. For the beef industry, our real concern is what will happen after Dec. 31, 2012. One of the most important issues facing family farmers and ranchers and small business owners nationwide is the
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How to "Vitalize" Federal Lands Grazing -
Thursday, December 15, 2011
By Joe Guild, NCBA Federal Lands Committee chairman; and John Falen, Public Lands Council president The U.S. beef industry is diverse, with a presence in all 50 states. Despite that diversity, we all have common goals of raising healthy beef in an environment free of overly burdensome government interference and to pass down successful operations and healthy natural resources to future generations. These goals are threatened by the growing number of laws and regulations that govern what we do. Federal lands ranchers have unique challenges. In the West, where the federal government owns roughly half the land mass, more than 22,000 ranchers have the challenge of running our operations, in part, on federal land. Much cost and uncertaint
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Clearing the Air on Dust: Debunking Myths -
Thursday, December 08, 2011
Ashley Lyon, NCBA Deputy Environmental Counsel The opposition to Rep. Kristi Noem's (R-SD) Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011(H.R. 1663) cannot get its arguments straight. On one hand they argue that farm dust regulation is a "fantasy issue" and liken it to fairy dust and children's nursery rhymes. On the other hand, they say the Environmental Protection Agency's authority should not be taken away because it will be the ruin of health of rural America. Unfortunately for these folks, they cannot have it both ways. They cannot claim that farm dust regulation is a fairytale while simultaneously saying that removal of such authority will imperil the health of rural Americans. Either EPA does or does
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Evaluating Certification Programs -
Thursday, December 01, 2011
Tom Field, PhD, NCBA executive director of producer education Beef markets have undergone significant transformation over the past several decades resulting in a variety of market niches and opportunities based on associating breed, management practices, feeding practices and a host of other verifiable claims with beef products. The market has provided economic incentives at a variety of levels to encourage participation in supplying the needs of these various market niches. In some cases, these incentives have been significant and as a result cattle producers have shown increasing interest in learning about program requirements and the process associated with becoming certified for participation. This article is designed to serve
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Big Government Hijacks Clean Water Act -
Thursday, November 17, 2011
By Ashley Lyon, NCBA deputy environmental counsel What you can't legislate, regulate. Such has been the case time and again with the overzealous regulators in the current administration. Fortunately for farmers, ranchers and private property holders nationwide, the U.S. Congress is on the verge of blocking the administration from moving forward with an overreaching, potentially devastating expansion of the Clean Water Act (CWA). The U.S. Senate could vote, possibly this week, on an amendment offered by Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.) to the Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill for fiscal year (FY) 2012 that would defund the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (Corps) and the Environmental Prot
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Time to Move on Highway Bill -
Friday, November 11, 2011
By Kent Bacus, NCBA manager of legislative affairs Over the years, U.S beef producers have been anxiously waiting for Congress to vote on legislation to address our concerns with antiquated and inconsistent transportation rules and regulations that hinder the flow of commerce for small businesses. Legislative solutions are typically consolidated into one piece of multi-year authorizing legislation commonly known as the highway bill. Instead of keeping our transit laws current and reflective of the needs of today's economy, Congress has the unfortunate habit of kicking the can down the road by extending the existing highway bill to a time when political and fiscal forecasts seem brighter. In fact, the previous highway bill expired
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A Change in Japan's Cattle Age Limit Holds Tremendous Potential for U.S. Producers -
Thursday, November 03, 2011
By U.S. Meat Export Federation Staff A recent news report from Japan generated a great deal of talk about increased beef exports, suggesting that Japan was ready to increase the cattle age limit on U.S. beef imports above the current 20 months. While the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) cautions producers that this change in policy is unlikely to happen in the next few months, it holds the potential to become a very big opportunity for our nation's beef industry. USMEF Economist Erin Borror estimates that an increase in the cattle age limit – if it is combined with risk-based criteria for handling products that would still be ineligible for export to Japan (such as products from older cattle) – could boost U.S.
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Chase Adams
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