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An update on issues that impact the US Dry Bean Industry
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May 28, 2015 Volume One, Issue 3
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USDBC Expands Social Media presence
with tweets, i
nstagram, and Facebook
In addition to new updates to our facebook page, USDBC is now on twitter and Instagram. Check our website for links to social media and our new blog.
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| USDA LAUNCHES 'NEW FARMER' INITIATIVE USDA is enhancing outreach with a new program to help farmers, who have been engaged ten years or less, make use of all of the resources at their disposal. According to Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, "It is our responsibility to assist beginning farmers and ranchers, including - women, minorities, socially disadvantaged, our returning veterans who are interested in reconnecting with the land. We have a responsibility to enable them to start and stay in the business of agriculture." Some of the resources offered include access to; extension services, local USDA service centers, development of business plans, education and assistance, and a guide to financial resources. A guide to these and other services can be accessed through a new USDA web portal, http://www.usda.gov/newfarmers. USDBC appreciates this initiative to encourage more folks to get engaged in farming, it is absolutely critical to our ability to continue to produce food and keep our land dedicated to agricultural production. We are interested to hear from you if you are a "new farmer," farming ten years or less. If you are please send an email with your information to: Rebecca@usdrybeans.com. |
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USDBC ATTENDS
'TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY'
USDBC participated in a high level briefing with Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, and USTR Chief Agricultural Negotiator Darcy Vetter. The briefing was convened by the Secretary's office to communicate with key representatives of the U.S. agricultural sector on the urgency of passing Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) or Fast Track. TPA grants the President authority to negotiate trade agreements with only an up or down vote from Congress. Granting TPA prevents endless amendments from delaying trade negotiations and sends a strong message of legitimacy to our trade partners. Previously, TPA was in effect from 2002 to 2007 when it expired for new agreements but allowed agreements under negotiation to be "grandfathered" in. The Obama administration has been seeking renewal of the authority since 2012. As of this writing, TPA has been approved by the Senate and will now move to the House for debate. The TPA debate has become a top trade priority in the context of negotiations for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. It will be difficult for the US to achieve a "gold standard" agreement allowing significant new market access gains, without TPA in place. USDBC supports both renewal of TPA and a strong TPP agreement that; provides new market access, disciplines domestic subsidies, and creates a science based forum for technical barriers to trade. Please continue to contact your local Congressional representation to urge passage of TPA. |
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| NEW COLOMBIA CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE US AGRICULTURE USDA's Agricultural Trade Office in Bogota, Colombia will kick off The New Colombia Campaign (TNCC) on July 4, 2015. This is a joint initiative between USDA and several U.S. agricultural trade groups, including USDBC, to showcase high quality agricultural products. US agricultural exports to this strategic market have gained renewed traction with the implementation of the US/Colombia Free Trade Agreement, which allows duty free access for most U.S. agricultural imports. The TNCC will feature a different theme showcasing U.S. agricultural products each month. It will include, a weekly cooking show, internet website, phone apps, and social media. As the campaign will be run in conjunction with the U.S. Embassy's Public Affairs office, the official rollout will be on July 4th at the U.S. Ambassador's residence in Bogota, Colombia. TNCC is an ideal forum to promote U.S. dry beans and coincides with USDBC's own launch of a new pinto beans promotional campaign in Colombia. Watch this space and our twitter feed for updates from Colombia. |
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FOOD AID AGENDA CONTINUES TO LOOK AT CASH VOUCHERS
The Food Aid Consultative Group (FACG) met earlier this month in Washington DC to discuss future programming plans and anticipated budget outlays for the coming fiscal year. The FACG is mandated through the Farm Bill to review and address issues concerning the effectiveness of regulations and procedures that govern U.S. food aid programs. It meets twice yearly and is made up of various representatives of USDA, USAID, agricultural commodity groups, and PVOs. One of the most controversial topics discussed at the spring meeting was the use of cash vouchers in lieu of traditional in-kind food donations. This practice is not supported among members of the US agricultural community, including USDBC, who believe that while cash vouchers may be appropriate in certain isolated situations, donations of food itself is by far, the most effective way to address hunger in food insecure nations. The practice of in-kind food donations has come under increasing fire from both the administration and Congress. These efforts have gained serious traction in the last months through the proposal of the Food Aid Reform Act, known as Corker/Coons. Corker/Coons would in effect, put an end to food aid as we know it, eliminating in-kind donations in favor of cash and the local and regional purchase of food. One of the reasons the agricultural community does not support the broad use of cash vouchers was documented in a recent article regarding the World Food Programme's Cash Voucher program in Syria. According to the article from Fox News, "hundreds of millions of dollars of food vouchers have been confronted with "persistent" diversion and sale of the vouchers to middlemen for cash by the growing flood of Syrian refugees in neighboring Jordan and Lebanon, according to its internal auditors." It is understandable that working in Syria brings numerous challenges and concerns but it seems that in this situation, it would be more efficient to donate food itself. Please keep reaching out to your local Congressional reps to express your concerns regarding Corker/Coons and the elimination of in-kind food aid. USDBC is active with other agricultural commodity groups to ensure this message is heard. |
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Pulse and Bean Trends from USDA/Farm Service Agency
Commodity Market Review
USDA/Farm Service Agency provided a thorough commodity trend briefing at the spring Food Aid Consultative Group meeting in May 2015. Bean production and pricing data as presented is featured below.
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USDA Dry Bean price trends
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Will US Dry Bean prices rebound in 2015?
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USDA production and price Information
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USDA forecasts slight increase for all pulses in 2015.
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Key upcoming events in the US
and around the globe
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| June 10 US Pulse Seminar, Sofia, Bulgaria July 17 & 18 USDBC Summer meeting, Boston MA July 19 - 21 US Dry Bean Convention, Boston MA September 13 - 19 Reverse Trade Mission to US October 10 - 14 ANUGA, Cologne, Germany February 12 - 14, 2016 Mexican Bean Congress, Cancun, Mexico |
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| Click image for details on travel and accomodations |
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- Mark Your Calendars -
US Dry Bean Council Summer Meeting,
July 17 & 18, 2015
And
US Dry Bean Convention, July 19 - 21, 2015
Boston, MA
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Rebecca Bratter,
Executive Director
US DRY BEAN Council 7928 East Drive, Suite 302 North Bay Village FL 33141 202.492.0522 |
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