Here Cropchoice presents an assortment of interesting farm news releases from a variety of sources. You'll find mention of many of these stories in Cropchoice news. Listing here does not imply endorsement by Cropchoice. 2004 October September August July June May April March February January 2003 December November October September August July June May April          March 2003 Ambitious Trade Agenda Outlined in Annual Report Authored By: Office of the U.S. Trade Representative WASHINGTON – The Bush Administration submitted to Congress on Friday the 2003 Trade Policy Agenda and the 2002 Annual Report of the President of the United States on the Trade Agreements Program. The report outlines the Administration's trade initiatives for this year, and summarizes the accomplishments in 2002. Bill Gates Sr. Keynotes Farmers Union Convention Banquet Authored By: National Farmers Union ANAHEIM, Calif. (March 3, 2003) — Bill Gates Sr.’s formula for success: “Get up early, work hard all day, and have a stupendously successful son.” Gates’ formula for estate taxes: reform, not repeal. NFU policy panel focuses on future Authored By: National Farmers Union ANAHEIM, Calif. (March 3, 2003) — A group of political experts and agricultural leaders were asked to address the question: “What’s next for farm policy?” during the National Farmers Union’s 101st anniversary convention. Each of them referred to the 2002 farm bill as the basis for their predictions of what lies ahead for U.S. farmers. Biopharming Could Reap Benefits But Must Be Carefully Regulated Authored By: Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology Washington, D.C. (February 28, 2003) -- Biopharming, an emerging sector of the biotechnology industry that involves engineering plants with genes that allow them to produce pharmaceutical substances, could provide a cost-effective and abundant source of drugs, but both the industry and government regulators must take steps to minimize the risks associated with the technology, according to some of the nation’s top biotech experts who spoke at a conference sponsored last year by the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology, the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. New soybean checkoff initiative focuses on US competitiveness Authored By: United Soybean Board CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Feb. 28, 2003) - U.S. soybean farmers face intense competition to maintain and grow their share of international and domestic markets. During a press conference held today at the 2003 Commodity Classic in Charlotte, N.C., soybean checkoff farmer-leaders announced a new checkoff-funded initiative designed to help U.S. farmers become stronger competitors. NFU adopts special orders at convention Authored By: National Farmers Union ANAHEIM, Calif. (March. 4, 2003) – Delegates to the National Farmers Union Convention in Anaheim, Calif., formed the direction of the family farm organization through policy discussions on Monday. The delegates passed a special order of business urging the administration to undertake a plan of action to address the “social and economic crisis” in rural America. The resolution outlined numerous areas in which the administration failed to constructively address poor rural economic conditions, including the 2002 farm bill, natural disaster aid, agricultural trade negotiations and the president’s economic stimulus package. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST SMITHFIELD FOODS FOR VIOLATING PREMERGER NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS Authored By: U.S. Department of Justice WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Justice today filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Smithfield Foods Inc., the nation's largest hog producer and pork packer, for twice failing to comply with premerger notification requirements before making certain acquisitions of stock of its competitor, IBP Inc., the nation's second largest pork packer. The Department's complaint seeks a civil penalty of $5.478 million from Smithfield. ADM to close Fredonia, Kansas soybean processing facility Authored By: Archer Daniels Midland DECATUR, Ill., March 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) announced today that it will permanently close its Fredonia, Kansas soybean processing facility, effective immediately. The facility was acquired in 1928. This plant closure is part of ADM's continuing review of all manufacturing assets. Farmers Union honors Wellstone, McGovern, and Swenson Authored By: National Farmers Union ANAHEIM, Calif., (March 2, 2003) — Three long-time Farmers Union supporters were honored with Meritorious Service Awards during the National Farmers Union 101st anniversary convention: Sen. Paul Wellstone, posthumously; Sen. George McGovern; and former NFU president Leland Swenson. USDA STRENGTHENS 2003 PERMIT CONDITIONS FOR FIELD TESTING GENETICALLY ENGINEERED PLANTS Authored By: U.S. Department of Agriculture WASHINGTON, March 6, 2003--The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced today that it is strengthening the permit conditions to field-test plants genetically engineered to produce pharmaceutical and industrial compounds. The new requirements will be applied to the 2003 growing season. Additional Information Fact Sheet Fact Sheet PDF File Size 17 KB requires Adobe Acrobat Printer Print this document Agricultural biotechnology: Will it help? Authored By: United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Zoellick, Lamy joint press conference Authored By: Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Local Meeting to Inform Cattlemen on Country of Origin Labeling Rule Authored By: National Cattlemen's Beef Association Country of origin labeling legislation will be the topic when cattle producers participate in an informational meeting in Southwest Missouri March 11. The meeting – to be broadcast live on the Internet – is being hosted and coordinated by Joplin Regional Stockyards in Joplin, Mo., and the joint efforts of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association (MCA) and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). UK/USA: Horizon Organic forms manufacturing tie-up with Yoplait Dairy Crest Authored By: just-food.com US organic food company Horizon Organic has announced that it has formed a manufacturing relationship with Yoplait Dairy Crest in the UK to develop new organic yoghurt products under its Rachel's Organic brand. ACGA Endorses Fuels Security Act of 2003:Peterson-Osborne Initiative Essential To National Security, Environmental Enhancement and Rural Economy Authored By: American Corn Growers Association WASHINGTON, March 18, 2003-The American Corn Growers Association (ACGA) has endorsed the Fuels Security Act of 2003 (H.R. 837), introduced last month in the U.S. House by Representatives Collin Peterson, D-Minn., and Tom Osborne, R-Neb. The new legislation is a companion bill to S. 385, introduced last month by Senators Thomas Daschle, D-S.D., and Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and 14 cosponsors. ACGA President Keith Dittrich, a corn farmer from Tilden, Neb., commended Congressmen Peterson and Osborne, sponsors of the bipartisan initiative, for their action. "As the debate on energy moves forward in the U.S. Congress, we believe one of the goals of energy independence should be to promote the production of renewable domestic fuels. We believe an extraordinary opportunity is at hand to increase energy independence, reduce oil imports, improve our environment and stimulate rural economies." The measure mirrors legislation passed last year in the Senate. It will establish a Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which will capitalize on the nation's growing bio-fuel industry, expanding the use of these domestic, "home-grown" fuels to 5 billion gallons per year by 2012. "ACGA fully understands that the initiatives in this bill will greatly benefit America's farm families," said Dittrich. "Requirements for a portion of the nation's motor fuel to come from domestic, renewable bio-based sources will make this nation less dependent on imported oil and will give additional market opportunities and flexibility to farmers of corn, soybeans, and other crops." The American Corn Growers Association represents 14,000 members in 35 states. See www.acga.org . Farmers Union president defends integrity of organic standards Authored By: National Farmers Union Monsanto and Cargill genetically engineer survey results Authored By: FARM farm, the new campaigning and membership group for working farmers and the public has discovered that employees of biotech. And agribusiness giants, Monsanto and Cargill, have been seeking to exert undue influence over its website poll on GM crops. NFU Urges Further Studies on Impact of GM Commodities Authored By: National Farmers Union WASHINGTON (March 26, 2003) – In a letter to the House and Senate Agriculture committees today the National Farmers Union board of directors urged that additional steps be taken to safeguard crop production from contamination of biopharm and other genetically modified (GM) commodities. Diary farmers urge Congress to limit MPC imports Authored By: National Farmers Union World agriculture towards 2030 - Final study published Authored By: Food and Agriculture Organization February January 2002 December November October September August July June April February January 2001 December August July June May April February 2000 September September