Sept. 5, 2011
Since 1948, Franklin Baking Co. in Goldsboro, N. C., has been baking up delicious fresh breads and buns. The bakery’s four production lines turn out 2.5 million pounds of baked foods a
week, which the bakery markets to retail and foodservice customers throughout eastern North Carolina and southeast South Carolina. Among Franklin Baking’s top bread brands are
Nature’s Own, Cobblestone Mill, Sunbeam, and Bunny. It also markets Blue Bird snack cakes and pastries. Franklin Baking has earned numerous superior scores for food safety from the
American Institute of Baking. The company is a subsidiary of Flowers Foods (NYSE: FLO), headquartered in Thomasville, Ga., which is one of the nation’s leading bakery foods
companies. For more information, visit www.flowersfoods.com.
Weather & Drought NEWS
Ag Losses Top $320 Million: Gov. Bev Perdue announced on
Friday that preliminary damage assessments have topped $400
million for total losses from Hurricane Irene. Estimated ag losses
have grown to more than $320 million, with damages to corn, cotton,
peanuts, sweet potatoes, poultry, swine and tobacco, and farm
buildings, machinery and equipment. In a letter on Friday to U.S. Ag
Secretary Thomas Vilsack, Perdue requested an expedited major
disaster declaration for 43 counties in Eastern N.C.- Beaufort, Bertie,
Bladen, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Columbus, Craven,
Cumberland, Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Edgecombe, Franklin, Gates,
Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Hertford, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Lenoir,
Martin, Nash, New Hanover, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico,
Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Pitt, Robeson, Sampson, Tyrrell,
Vance, Wake, Warren, Washington, Wayne and Wilson. Perdue
urged that, without help, many producers will go out of business, and
the economic ripple effect will be substantial, resulting in thousands
of additional lost jobs. Thirteen counties have received a Presidential
disaster declaration allowing families and business owners to seek
low-interest loans or grants to help them recover from Hurricane
Irene. Those counties receiving individual assistance include:
Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Halifax, Hyde, Lenoir,
Onslow, Pamlico, Pitt, Tyrrell and Washington counties.
Washington NEWS
House GOP Plans to Cut Regulations and Taxes: House Majority
Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) sent a letter to fellow Republicans
outlining a plan to cut regulations and taxes when legislators return
from break. In the memo, Cantor outlined two areas he plans to
focus on: the repeal of job-destroying regulations to create middle
class jobs and immediate tax relief to create middle class jobs.
Specifically, Republicans plan to address boiler MACT, farm dust,
and greenhouse gas regulations, as well as the 20% small business
tax deduction and repealing the 3% withholding rule.
Campaign NEWS
Dockham Says He Won’t Challenge Kissell: State Rep. Jerry
Dockham (R-80th District) said he will not challenge Democratic Rep.
Larry Kissell for the 8th District seat. Dockham said he thinks he will
better serve his constituents by working in Raleigh.
Business NEWS
STI to Create 62 Jobs in Cleveland County: Kings Plush, Inc.,
doing business as Specialty Textiles, Inc (STI), will expand their
manufacturing facility to increase production capacity for residential
upholstery fabrics in Kings Mountain, N.C. The company expects to
create 62 full time jobs and invest $4.9 million over three years. The
project was made possible in part by a $56,000 grant from the One
North Carolina Fund.
Net Farm Income Forecast Up 31 Percent in 2011: Net farm
income is forecast at $103.6 billion for 2011, up $24.5 billion for a
rise of 31 percent from 2010. All three measures of farm sector
earnings (net farm income, net cash income, and net value added)
are forecast to rise more than 20 percent in 2011. Net farm income
and net cash income are both projected to exceed $100 billion for the
first time in 2011. Crop receipts are expected to increase by $33.6
billion, with corn, wheat, hay, cotton, and soybeans receipts expected
to show the largest percentage gains. The value of the farm sector's
equity (net worth) is forecast to rise 7.7 percent in 2011. Median total
farm household income is expected to increase by 1.9 percent in
2011, to $55,405. Off-farm income is expected to increase by 3.0
percent in 2011, to 51,889. To read the full report, click here.
Record Ag Exports: Recently released data on U.S. farm exports
confirm that ‘Grown in America’ products remain in high regard and
high demand in the rest of the world. The current U.S. export forecast
for fiscal year 2011 is $137 billion, $22 billion higher than the
previous record set in 2008 and $28 billion above 2010. Strong
exports have enabled agriculture to remain one of only a few sectors
of the U.S. economy to enjoy a trade surplus. This year’s surplus is
projected at $42.5 billion—a record—and next year should be $32
billion, the third-highest. The latest export data is available at
http://www.fas.usda.gov/data.asp.
Judge Denies RJR’s Request for New Trial: R.J. Reynolds’ motion
for a new trial in the case of a Connecticut smoker who developed
larynx cancer was denied by a federal judge. The smoker was
awarded $12 million by a jury in New England, the first such award in
New England. RJR was also required to pay almost $16 million in
interest. The smoker had smoked Salem Kings cigarettes for 25
years and survived the cancer, but doctors removed her larynx.
Fuel & Energy NEWS
Project Fuels Interest in Canola: The “Fuel the Force” project,
designed to provide homegrown, renewable fuels for the military and
to strengthen Eastern N.C. agriculture, culminated in July with the
shipment of 800 gallons of biodiesel to Camp Lejeune in Onslow
County. The fuel was made from canola grown on five demonstration
plots in Jones and Craven counties with the help of N.C. State’s
Jacob Morgan, Dr. Matt Veal, John Garner, and Mark Seitz. The
North Carolina Eastern Region Military Growth Task Force
coordinated the collaborative project as a way to meet aggressive
federal mandates to reduce energy consumption by 30 percent by
2015. If the project does gain momentum, it could give growers a
market for what proved to be a promising crop for Eastern N.C.
Canola is used to produce oil not only for fuels but also for cooking,
and the meal is a good source of protein for livestock.
Commodity NEWS
2012 Tobacco Seed Outlook Good: Recent mergers of tobacco
companies have played a role in GoldLeaf Seed Company’s recent
announcement that it would no longer be selling F.W. Rickard Seeds
flue-cured variety. Rickard Seeds now operates under the Altria
umbrella after Altria acquired UST, Inc. in January 2009. But
growers interested in Rickard Seeds stock will be able to buy fluecured, burley, and dark tobacco seed through distributors. Rickard
Seeds does not sell only to Altria’s contract growers, and company
officials say the merger will enable growers to buy new and improved
varieties. Rickard Seeds plans to offer NC 92, a flue-cured variety,
for growers in 2012. The variety was developed through the NCSU
tobacco breeding program and offers moderate resistance to
bacterial wilt and Race 1 black shank. It is also resistant to black
shank race 0, the southern root –knot nematode and the tobacco
cyst nematode.
US Corn Faces a New Competitor in Colombia: With the
implementation of the free trade agreement (FTA) between Colombia
and Canada on August 15, U.S. corn exports will be facing a new
competitor – Canadian feed wheat. U.S. Grains Council trade
sources indicate that Colombian buyers have placed orders for
125,000 mt of Canadian feed wheat in the 10 days since the
agreement went into effect. These imports will further erode U.S.
corn sales opportunities in this vital corn market. According to Kurt
Shultz, USGC regional director in Latin America, because the U.S.
has not ratified the pending U.S.-Colombian FTA, U.S. corn, which is
taxed at 15 percent duty, faces stiff competition from Brazilian and
Argentine corn with a duty of 6.7 percent and from duty-free
Canadian feed wheat. In 2007, Colombia imported 3 million tons
(118.1 million bushel) of corn with the U.S. enjoying a 93 percent
market share. In 2010, however, U.S. market share has shrunk to
only 20 percent.
Egg, Chick Placements Continue to Drop: High feedgrain costs
and sluggish consumer demand have contributed to a decline in
placements since June. 8. Eggs set in incubators for the week ending
Aug. 27 dropped 7 percent from the same week last year to 192
million eggs, according to USDA’s latest report. Average hatchability
was 85 percent. Chicks placed for meat production totaled 164
million, a 4 percent drop. Cumulative placements dropped 1 percent
to 5.75 billion for the period of Jan. 2 through Aug. 27.
Bird Flu Rears Its Head Again: The Food and Agriculture
Organization recently urged heightened readiness and surveillance
against a possible major resurgence of the H5N1 Highly Pathogenic
Avian Influenza amid signs that a mutant strain of the deadly Bird Flu
virus is spreading in Asia and beyond, with unpredictable risks to
human health. The advance appears to be associated with migratory
bird movements, according to FAO Chief Veterinary Officer Juan
Lubroth. He said migrations help the virus travel over long distances,
so that H5N1 has in the past 24 months shown up in poultry or wild
birds in countries that had been virus-free for several years. Recently
affected areas are to be found in Israel and the Palestinian
Territories, Bulgaria, Romania, Nepal and Mongolia. A further cause
for concern, Lubroth said, is the appearance in China and Viet Nam
of a variant virus apparently able to sidestep the defenses provided
by existing vaccines.
People NEWS
National Peanut Board Members and Alternates Appointed:
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack appointed five members and five
alternates to serve on the National Peanut Board. Members and
alternates will serve a three-year term of office beginning Jan. 1,
2012, and ending Dec. 31, 2014. Representing N.C. as reappointed
members are Cindy D. Belch of Conway and Dan Ward of Clarktown,
who will serve as an alternate member.
USDA NEWS
FSA Reminds Producers of Disaster Assistance Deadlines:
Producers are reminded about upcoming deadlines for disaster
assistance. Losses must be the result of a weather event occurring
on or before Sept. 30, 2011. The 2008 Farm Bill authorizes coverage
of disaster losses through these five programs: Supplemental
Revenue Assistance Payments Program (SURE); Livestock
Indemnity Program (LIP); Emergency Assistance for Livestock,
Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish (ELAP); Livestock Forage
Disaster Program (LFP); and the Tree Assistance Program (TAP).
For more info, go to disaster.fsa.usda.gov.
USDA Announces N.C. Recipients of Conservation Innovation
Grants: Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the winning proposals
for the 2011 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG). Through CIG, the
USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is
investing nearly $22.5 million in innovative conservation technologies
and approaches that address a broad array of existing and emerging
natural resource issues. SureHarvest in N.C. received $761,820 for
the Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops (SISC), a multistakeholder initiative to develop a system for measuring sustainable
performance throughout the specialty crop supply chain. The Rodale
Institute in N.C. received $468,519 to study nutrient management in
organic no-till systems
Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for September:
The USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) borrowing ratebased charge for September 2011 is 0.125 percent, unchanged from
0.125 in August 2011. For 1996 and subsequent crop year
commodity and marketing assistance loans, the interest rate for
loans disbursed during September 2011 is 1.125 percent, unchanged
from 1.125 in August 2011. Interest rates for Farm Storage Facility
Loans approved for September 2011 are as follows, 1.875 percent
with seven-year loan terms, down from 2.250 in August 2011; 2.500
percent with 10-year loan terms, down from 3.000 in August 2011
and; 2.875 percent with 12-year loan terms, down from 3.375 percent
in August 2011. The maximum discount rate applicable for
September 2011 for the Tobacco Transition Payment Program is 5
percent, unchanged from August 2011.
NCDA NEWS
Information Hotline for Farmers Affected by Hurricane Irene:
NCDA&CS is offering a toll-free hotline to help farmers affected by
Hurricane Irene connect with resources that can assist their recovery.
Farmers can call the agricultural disaster hotline at 1-866-506-6222.
It will be staffed 24 hours a day through Sept. 6. Operating hours will
be re-evaluated at that time. Information also is online at
www.ncagr.gov.
Mark Your Calendar
To see all upcoming events - click here for the AgCalendar.
U.S. House Committee on Agriculture will meet Sept. 8 & 13 in
Washington, D.C. Click here for more info.
N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will hold public hearings on
Sept. 13, 14, & 28 at various locations. Click here for more info.
NCDA&CS will host Lunch 'n' Learn workshop for value-added
food producers on Sept. 21 in Raleigh. Click here for more info.