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House Ag Committee 
Thu Mar 12, 2009 at 16:18:58 PM PDT
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Yesterday I posted about the first three to testify at the NAIS hearing in the House Ag Committee - the USDA, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, and R-CALF. Here's the next bunch: the National Milk Producers Federation, the American Veterinary Medicine Association, and representatives from Australia and Canada speaking about their versions of NAIS. Unfortunately, the House Ag Committee site does not offer anything that was said by the National Pork Producers Council.
If you are unfamiliar with NAIS, I recommend you start by checking out the New York Times op ed published on it this week. And go here to send the government a piece of your mind. (I'd follow that up with an email to your representative in the House too!)
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Wed Mar 11, 2009 at 17:08:39 PM PDT
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The House Ag Committee has posted the written testimony from today's NAIS hearing. Here's what was said by the first three speakers - one from the USDA, one from the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, and one from R-CALF.
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Wed Mar 11, 2009 at 09:00:00 AM PDT
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Rep. Peterson made news with a quote again (hat tip to Dave Murphy). This time for saying Obama's plan to cut farm subsidies "is a very stupid idea." (Last time, he was calling organic consumers "dumb." Maybe time to pick up an SAT study guide to expand your vocabulary, Rep. Peterson?)
As for Obama's idea... it's stupid, and it isn't. The idea to take away direct payments from rich farmers? Good idea. The specific way Obama wants to do it? Stupid idea. (This is just KILLING me that I am agreeing with Collin Peterson!)
Farmers get payments in a few different ways. One way is a subsidy when prices fall below what the government thinks is fair. One way is a payment for conservation practices. The third way - and the way we're talking about - is a "direct payment." Direct payments don't go to everybody, but in general if you've been growing corn (or any commodity) on your land for years and years, you'll get a check automatically every year that is based on a running average of your past yield and the crop you grow.
Now, if we're talking about taking away direct payments from a farmer who makes $500,000 in NET INCOME (revenues less costs), I'd be OK with that. I'd be thrilled actually. What are we doing giving government payments to a guy making $500,000? But that's not what Obama's talking about if I'm understanding things right.
What Obama wants to do is cut off the direct payments from anyone who makes more than $500,000 in gross sales. So you sell over $500k of corn and we take away your payments - even if you have $600k in costs? How's that fair? Or helpful? Now you've got one more farmer who can't afford to continue farming. How's that good for any of us? We need farmers or else we won't have any more food.
Here's where I have a hunch Sen. Peterson and I differ. He'd probably say that my idea to cut off direct payments from farmers who are making a lot in NET INCOME "stupid" too. After all, he already called me "dumb" for buying organic food.
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Wed Mar 11, 2009 at 05:00:00 AM PDT
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Today the House Ag Committee is having a hearing on NAIS - the National Animal ID System. NAIS itself is very bad, and the panel line-up of those testifying is also very bad. The only bright spot on the agenda is R-CALF (the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, and a group that staunchly opposes NAIS).
From the Ag Committee website:
Wednesday, March 11th - 10:00 a.m.
1300 Longworth House Office Building
Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry-Public Hearing.
RE: To review animal identification systems.
Panel I
* Dr. John R. Clifford, D.V.M., Deputy Administrator, Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
Panel II
* Mr. Bill Nutt, President-Elect, Georgia Cattlemen's Association, on behalf of National Cattleman's Beef Association Cattle Health and Well-Being Committee, Cedartown, Georgia
* Dr. R.M. (Max) Thornsberry, D.V.M., President of the Board, R-CALF USA, Richland, Missouri
* Mr. Donald P. Butler, President, National Pork Producers Council, Clinton, North Carolina
* Dr. Karen Jordan, D.V.M., Owner, Large Animal Veterinary Services, Co-owner, Brush Creek Swiss Farms, on behalf of National Milk Producers Federation, Siler City, North Carolina
* Dr. W. Ron DeHaven, D.V.M., MBA, Chief Executive Officer, American Veterinary Medical Association, Schaumburg, Illinois
Panel III
* Dr. Rob Williams, Counsellor (Agriculture), Embassy of Australia, Washington, D.C.
o Accompanied by Mr. Dean Merrilees, Minister Counsellor (Agriculture), Embassy of Australia, Washington, D.C.
* Mr. Kerry St. Cyr, Executive Director, Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA), Calgary, Alberta, Canada
I'll do my best to cover this hearing on this site, but if anyone here wants to take a stab at it please do. There will be live streaming video on the web but I can't watch it due to my disability. The link is the same one I included above. I think someone I know will actually be there and if so, I'll get all the dirt from her if I can.
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Sun Jul 13, 2008 at 19:00:00 PM PDT
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Collin Peterson (D-MN)
Collin is a 9th term Congressman from Minnesota's 7th district. In 2006, he was elected with 70% of the vote. Collin was born in Fargo, ND, on June 29, 1944. He is Lutheran, and his highest degree was a Bachelors from Moorehead St. University in 1966. He served in the North Dakota Army National Guard from 1963-1969. Before he was elected, he was an accountant. He is divorced.
Collin Peterson is important to us because he chairs the House Ag Committee. He had a LOT of power over this past farm bill. Unfortunately he's a "Bush Dog Dem" - a Dem who votes with Bush all the time. And he called people who buy organics "dumb." Thanks, Collin.
Contact Information
DC: 202-225-2165 (phone); 202-225-1593 (fax)
District Offices: 218-847-5056 (Detroit Lakes); 218-253-4356 (Red Lake Falls); 320-235-1061 (Willmar); 507-537-2299 (Marshall); 320-269-8888 (Montevideo); 507-637-2270 (Redwood Falls)
Chief of Staff: Mark Brownell
Scheduler: Cherie Slayton
Legislative Director: Robin Goracke
Press Secretary: Allison Myhre
Congresspedia entry on Collin Peterson
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