|
|
|
|
|
|
Check IRS Section 105 for help with health costs
There's more help with medical and insurance costs.
A little-known IRS provision known as "Section 105 Medical Reimbursement Plans" lets you deduct more than just
your health insurance premiums for a spouse who is legitimately employed by your farming operation. Under Section 105, you
can also deduct non-insured medical expenses and premiums for long-term care insurance, disability insurance, and even
life insurance.
Source: Doane's Agricultural Report; Vol. 67, No. 34-1; Aug. 20, 2004
Trimble introduces auto-steer combines
Auto-steer for combines has been introduced by Trimble of Sunnyvale, CA.
Its AgGPS Autopilot system has already been successfully applied to tillage, planting, spraying, and
fertilizer application. So, now it will accurately guide a combine utilizing the very same planting path recorded using
GPS technology to guide the planter that spring.
Source: Doane's Agricultural Report; Aug. 6, 2004
Dairy industry says importers get 'free ride'
The Bush administration blocked a law that would have required dairy importers to pay fees into the dairy
check-off program.
Dairy producers complain that exempting imports allows other countries to get a "free ride," benefiting from the milk promotional programs without paying their fair share. U.S. producers in the 48 contiguous states pay 15 cents per cwt of milk sold.
The administration argues that the law requiring importers to pay into the fund would open the U.S. to
international trade challenges since not all U.S. producers are required to pay.
Source: Doane's Agricultural Report; Aug. 6, 2004
More people eating meat
The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization says that more people around the world are eating meat
compared to 40 years ago. FAO says that several factors have changed people's diets from high in carbohydrates to high in
animal proteins as well as vegetable oils and sugar.
FAO attributes part of the change to the economic accessibility of meat, which has been helped by improvements in
the livestock industry, genetics, nutrition and animal housing. The most evident change has been in developing
countries, which have continued to see increased demand for meat and dairy products.
Source: AFBF; Executive Newswatch; Aug. 19, 2004
Cow pie grocery bags to hit Australia
Australian supermarkets may soon be privy to bagging customer's groceries in clean, biodegradable plastic bags
made from animal excrement or food waste. The bags were among many new technologies showcased at a national
biotechnology conference in Melbourne.
The bags are strong, clean and as cheap as the non-biodegradable plastic alternative, say experts. About 6.9 billion plastic shopping bags are used in Australia yearly. Several towns have banned the use of plastic bags and many more are working to outlaw them.
"We would like to see two things—farmers producing material for sale and secondary products for sale, and recycling
a lot of their waste material on the farm," said a scientist with the Sydney-based Environmental Biotechnology
Cooperative Research Center that produced the bags. Farmers "are one of the most integrated industries and they have been one of
the first to realize what new technologies can lead to in terms of increasing their productivity."
Source: AFBF; Executive Newswatch; Aug. 16, 2004
USDA sued by Canadian ranchers
A group of Canadian ranchers filed complaints with the Agriculture Department seeking a total of $150 million for
losses suffered because of the U.S. ban on Canadian beef imports.
The ranchers accused the United States of adopting a regulatory policy based upon "protectionist politics rather than science," according to five notices of intent to submit claims under the North American Free Trade Agreement.
The United States closed its borders to Canadian beef and cattle in May 2003, following a case of
bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) detected in Alberta. USDA has spent the last eight months trying to decide whether to ease its ban.
Source: AFBF; Executive Newswatch; Aug. 13, 2004
Sales of the Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) and Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) insurance policies will resume Oct. 1. Sales have been suspended since last December when the case of BSE in Washington sent shock waves through the cattle markets.
USDA also plans insurance for pasture, rangeland, and forages. Four approaches to providing the coverage are under study and will probably result in pilot projects over the next three years. These types of crops cover more than half of the total U.S. land area, but insurance coverage has been available on only a very small number of acres in the past.
The first pilot program, based on a precipitation index, is expected to be available in some eastern states for the
2005 season.
Source: Doane's Agricultural Report; Vol. 67, No. 34-1; Aug. 20, 2004
BSE comments flood USDA
USDA is flooded with (BSE) policy comments.
USDA implemented new feed and slaughter regulations immediately and then invited comments on the consequences,
the reverse of the usual process. It has been flooded with more than 35,000 comments but says it will go through them all
and decide what adjustments (if any) need to be made in the rules by the end of the year.
Source: Doane's Agricultural Report; Vol. 67, No. 34-1; Aug. 20, 2004
USDA seeks comments on Food Guide Pyramid
The Agriculture Department is seeking public comments on its review and update of the current Food Guide Pyramid.
USDA is accepting written comments on suggested food intake patterns, graphic presentation of nutrition information, and new educational materials for professionals and consumers. A public meeting on the revision of the food guide was held Aug. 19, in Washington, D.C.
According to USDA, a new graphic will be revealed in early 2005, after the 2005 Dietary Guidelines have been published.
The American Farm Bureau Federation supports the teaching of balanced diet guidelines that follow USDA's food nutrition program research.
For more info: http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/pyramid-update/index.html
Source: AFBF; Executive Newswatch, July 26, 2004
FSA County Committee elections see changes
The Agriculture Department has proposed new guidelines to ensure that Farm Service Agency County Committees
fairly represent agricultural producers, especially minorities and women.
"These guidelines better define the county committee election process," said Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman. "The proposed reforms will help encourage participation by minority and under-represented producers on county committees."
Under the 2002 farm bill, the agriculture secretary has authority to issue uniform guidelines governing the county committee election process. The proposed guidelines were prepared with advice from community groups and leaders, as well by an inter-agency working group convened by the secretary. Public comment on the proposed guidelines will be accepted until September 17.
Source: AFBF; Executive Newswatch; Aug. 24, 2004
