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The Southwestern Exposition & Livestock Show has announced that three of its 2005 Junior Show Champion animals have been officially disqualified and the exhibitors will forfeit all rights to sale proceeds, premiums and prizes.
The disqualifications are a result of substances found in test samples that were in violation of the Stock Show's General Rules and Regulations. The tests were conducted at the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory System in College Station.
"We have outstanding 4-H and FFA programs that are a very valuable educational tool for our young people across the State and we are committed to maintaining the integrity and fairness of these programs," said W. R. Watt, Jr., Stock Show President and General Manager. "Over the last five years, it has been necessary for the Stock Show to disqualify seven Champion animals for violations resulting in exhibitors forfeiting well in excess of $200,000 in sale proceeds."
The Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show strives to promote improvements in the breeding, raising and marketing of livestock and to encourage young people to pursue careers in livestock and agri-business through programs and incentives especially tailored to these interests.
"It is extremely important for exhibitors, parents and 4-H and FFA advisors to be cognizant of the rules and regulations of not only our Show, but all of the Junior Shows throughout the state to protect our youth programs and put an end to violations," said Watt.
EU accepts biotech corn
The European Food Safety Authority has approved Bt-11 corn for cultivation, stating there was not any scientific reason to believe that placing Bt-11 corn on the market, for cultivation, import, processing and use as any other corn (excluding food uses), would cause any adverse effects on human health and the environment.
Before the EU stopped its approval process in 1998, the corn had been approved as animal feed, and its derivatives, such as corn syrup, were approved for human consumption. This approval allows companies to sell canned sweet corn from the Bt-11 strain directly to consumers.
The agency's analysis showed biotech corn kernels in silage were of the same composition as conventional corn, except for the presence of two proteins. No unintentional effects of the biotech corn were discovered.
Biodiesel incentives urged
The many economic and environmental benefits of fueling up with biodiesel, made largely from American-grown soybeans, makes that renewable fuel worthy of extended tax credits, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) recently told members of Congress.
In the House, H.R. 2498, introduced by Reps. Kenny Hulshof (R-Mo.), Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.), Jim Nussle (R-Iowa) and Ron Lewis (R-Ky.), extends tax incentives for biodiesel production through 2010. Meanwhile, in the Senate, similar legislation, S. 1076, has been introduced by Sens. Jim Talent (R-Mo.) and Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.).
In letters to all members of the House and Senate, AFBF President Bob Stallman said there are many benefits to using biodiesel.
"Biodiesel is a home-grown fuel that reduces our dependence on foreign oil and contributes to our national energy security," Stallman said. "It is a clean-burning, sulfur-free fuel that reduces unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matter to help clear our air. It provides a new and expanding market for soybeans and other agricultural feedstocks, which increases earnings for farmers and pumps money into rural economies."
USDA estimates demand for bio-diesel will increase to at least 124 million gallons a year by 2012. That would result in higher soybean and soybean oil prices and a decrease in soybean meal prices.
"Based on USDA baseline estimates for future soybean production, over a five-year time period, the biodiesel tax incentive could add almost $1 billion directly to the bottom line of U.S. farm income," Stallman said.
Tax incentives for biodiesel were created by the American JOBS Creation Act of 2004. The biodiesel tax incentive is structured as a federal excise tax credit that amounts to $1 per gallon for "agri-biodiesel" made from feedstocks like soybean oil and 50 cents per gallon for biodiesel made from other sources, such as recycled cooking oil. The tax incentive is temporary and is set to expire at the end of 2006.
AFBF is strongly supporting both H.R. 2498 and S. 1076, which extend biodiesel tax incentives through 2010.
Notable Quotables
"Farm Bureau policy supports commodity checkoff programs, and the beef checkoff court ruling strengthens other commodity checkoff programs endorsed by Farm Bureau members. Checkoffs have accomplished many things—grown consumer demand, funded research and development of new products, helped increase export demand and ultimately enhanced local agricultural economies.
"Beef is an example of checkoff success. The checkoff has helped grow consumer demand for beef more than 25 percent since 1998. A nearly 8 percent increase occurred last year, and it occurred despite higher retail prices for beef that provided a fair profit for most beef producers."
—Statement by American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman regarding the U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding the beef checkoff.
