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Texas Agriculture Archive
May 21, 2004
The president of the Texas Farm Bureau said that the World Trade Organization's preliminary ruling for Brazil and against the U.S. in a cotton trade dispute was "disappointing." The WTO's ruling is the first step in what could be a long process to determine if payments to U.S. cotton farmers violate international trade rules.
Kenneth Dierschke, a cotton farmer from San Angelo and head of the state's largest farm organization said, "We support the U.S. position that payments to farmers are not linked directly to production and therefore do not distort the global cotton trade."
If a nation is found in violation of WTO rules and does not take corrective action, other nations may impose tariffs on all goods imported from the country in violation.
"Farm Bureau is concerned that an adverse ruling could jeopardize the U.S. farm program and its role in protecting America's supply of food and fiber," Dierschke said.
Dierschke noted that members of the U.S. Congress and the Bush administration have issued strong statements in favor of current U.S. policy.
"All that farmers ask for is a level playing field," Dierschke said. "Brazil has status as a developing nation under WTO, and yet is becoming an agricultural superpower. We are concerned that Brazil has some unfair trade advantages."
The documents submitted by the U.S. said, "U.S. farm programs were designed to be and are fully consistent with the nation's WTO obligations." The U.S. will appeal if the ruling, set for June, goes against U.S. interests.
USDA announced recently in a Federal Register notice that it will use watersheds as a basis to determine Conservation Security Program (CSP) participation.
CSP is a voluntary program that supports ongoing conservation stewardship of agricultural working lands and enhances the condition of America's natural resources.
The $41 million budget for CSP in Fiscal Year 2004 will permit the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to write 3,000 to 5,000 contracts. All CSP applications that meet the sign-up criteria will be placed in an enrollment category regardless of available funding. In addition to legal contract requirements, the categories will consider the applicant's current stewardship (soil condition, tillage intensity, existing practices and activities) and will sort producers based on these factors.
Categories will also examine the producer's willingness to perform additional conservation activites during their CSP contract.
Earlier this year, NRCS issued a Proposed Rule regarding CSP. The agency is continuing the comments' review and hopes to have a Final Rule published by mid-June.
The first sign-up would occur during July and contracts could be enrolled beginning in August.
The Federal Register notice and details regarding the watershed approach and enrollment categories can be found at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/csp/.
The Texas FFA Foundation has recognized the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HSLR) as a Corporate Partner "for its many years of support for the young people of the Texas FFA."
HLSR has a long history of commitment to the Texas FFA that includes support of the Texas FFA Foundation's fundraising efforts and hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual scholarships to FFA members.
"The partnership between Texas FFA and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo contributes in a very significant way to a bright future for all current and future FFA members," said Aaron Alejandro, executive director of the Texas FFA Foundation.
HLSR awards $10,000 scholarships to 70 outstanding Texas FFA members annually. The HLSR promotes the positive development of youth and encourages their development through education.
Alejandro said the strength of the Rodeo Houston organization and the tradition and involvement of FFA in Texas has combined as a powerful pro-education force in Texas.
"We appreciate the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo's investment in our young people and look forward to the many success stories which will result," Alejandro concluded.
USDA will conduct a request for referendum on the Soybean Promotion and Research Program (soybean checkoff), as authorized under the Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act, through May 28.
The request for referendum will determine whether U.S. soybean producers want a referendum on the Soybean Promotion and Research Program. The Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act requires the Secretary of Agriculture to provide soybean producers the opportunity to petition for a referendum every five years.
Soybean producers eligible to participate in the request for referendum are defined as any producer who paid an assessment on the sale of soybeans during the period beginning Jan. 1, 2002 and ending Dec. 31, 2003, and who owned or shared in the ownership and the risk of loss of such soybeans during this period of time.
Information on the request for referendum procedures: www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/mpb/rp-soy.htm <http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/mpb/rp-soy.htm>
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