September 18, 2008
AgriNotes & News is published weekly by the Michigan Farm Bureau Information and Public Relations Division.
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Attention Media:
This is an abbreviated issue of AgriNotes & News. Look for AgriTips and Quick Facts to resume in future issues.
AgriPac, Michigan Farm Bureau's (MFB) political action committee,
has endorsed candidates as "Friends of Agriculture" for the Nov. 4 general election. AgriPac-endorsed "Friends of Agriculture" represent qualified candidates who have demonstrated basic beliefs and/or actions consistent with member-developed policy of MFB, the state's largest general farm organization.
For more information, contact Sarah Black, (800) 292-2680, ext. 2040.
click here for the full story
Engineer and author Robert Zubrin outlines a plan for "Energy Victory" at this week's Michigan Bio-Economy Summit in Lansing. See the following press release for more details.
New online Michigan Feed Exchange helps farmers find alternative markets for crops intended to be deer bait/feed
Farmers hurt by deer baiting/feeding ban should go to www.michfb.com/feed
Contact: Ken Nye, (800) 292-2680, ext. 2020, or Ernie Birchmeier, ext. 2024
LANSING, Sept. 18, 2008 - To help crop farmers negatively impacted by a ban on baiting and feeding deer in the Lower Peninsula, the Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) has launched the Web-based Michigan Feed Exchange to help these niche growers find alternative markets for their carrots, sugar beets and other commodities. The site can be accessed at www.michfb.com/feed.
Up until now, no service has been dedicated to finding new markets for perishable commodities displaced by the feeding and baiting ban, according to Ken Nye, MFB horticultural and forestry specialist.
The Michigan Feed Exchange operates as an online clearinghouse where potential sellers and buyers can list and exchange information for free with the intention of finding mutually beneficial partnerships, such as a cattle producer willing to buy carrots from a vegetable grower to feed cattle rather than deer.
The Michigan Feed Exchange is not involved in setting prices, negotiating transactions or making arrangements for shipping. The online service simply provides a framework to connect sellers and buyers, similar to the Hay Exchange which many Michigan farmers are familiar with. The electronic database is searchable by location and commodity.
Crops intended to be sold as deer bait and feed were being harvested or were near harvest when the Michigan Department of Natural Resources implemented the feeding and baiting ban on Aug. 26 to help prevent the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease in the state's privately owned and wild deer herds.
Finding alternative markets for these crops can be challenging. In the case of sugar beets, for instance, Michigan Sugar Co. has already contracted with growers and is at capacity for its yearly production. Apples, carrots and other vegetables sold for deer bait and feed can have bruises or other flaws that make them unsuitable for the fresh and processed fruit and vegetable markets. Transportation costs associated with shipping the perishable commodities limit options as well.
"The Michigan Farm Bureau clearly recognizes the immediate marketing challenges that face farmers who produced crops for the 2008 deer hunting season. The Michigan Feed Exchange won't resolve the challenges entirely, but it's one viable solution," said Nye. "We've been consulting with commodity organizations and agricultural partners like Michigan State University (MSU), and we're optimistic the Michigan Feed Exchange can help growers uncover some alternative markets."
The most promising alternative is cattle feed. According to a nutritional analysis performed by MSU Extension specialists, root crops such as carrots and sugar beets can be successfully fed to cattle to complement traditional feed such as corn silage, hay and corn grain.
"These available commodities may be an excellent opportunity for cow/calf producers to supplement rations, especially during a year when hay shortages exist in some areas of the state and feed costs are high," said Ernie Birchmeier, MFB livestock and dairy specialist.
Feedlot operators are also being encouraged to explore how alternative feedstuffs may be worked into a ration. "With normal feed costs at record levels, there are opportunities for feedlots as well," said Birchmeier.
MFB will continue to pursue additional means to help growers. "For the short-term, though, we encourage growers and potential buyers to give the Michigan Feed Exchange a try," said Nye.
Individuals who are interested in using the Michigan Feed Exchange but lack Internet access should call Andrena Reid at (800) 292-2680, ext. 2022 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
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Editor's Note: The Michigan Farm Bureau has also activated a Web page devoted to state and national information concerning Chronic Wasting Disease, methods/regulations to control disease spread, and the practice of deer baiting and feeding. You can find this information at www.michfb.com/issues/cwd.
Farmers hurt by deer baiting/feeding ban should go to www.michfb.com/feed
Contact: Ken Nye, (800) 292-2680, ext. 2020, or Ernie Birchmeier, ext. 2024
LANSING, Sept. 18, 2008 - To help crop farmers negatively impacted by a ban on baiting and feeding deer in the Lower Peninsula, the Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) has launched the Web-based Michigan Feed Exchange to help these niche growers find alternative markets for their carrots, sugar beets and other commodities. The site can be accessed at www.michfb.com/feed.
Up until now, no service has been dedicated to finding new markets for perishable commodities displaced by the feeding and baiting ban, according to Ken Nye, MFB horticultural and forestry specialist.
The Michigan Feed Exchange operates as an online clearinghouse where potential sellers and buyers can list and exchange information for free with the intention of finding mutually beneficial partnerships, such as a cattle producer willing to buy carrots from a vegetable grower to feed cattle rather than deer.
The Michigan Feed Exchange is not involved in setting prices, negotiating transactions or making arrangements for shipping. The online service simply provides a framework to connect sellers and buyers, similar to the Hay Exchange which many Michigan farmers are familiar with. The electronic database is searchable by location and commodity.
Crops intended to be sold as deer bait and feed were being harvested or were near harvest when the Michigan Department of Natural Resources implemented the feeding and baiting ban on Aug. 26 to help prevent the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease in the state's privately owned and wild deer herds.
Finding alternative markets for these crops can be challenging. In the case of sugar beets, for instance, Michigan Sugar Co. has already contracted with growers and is at capacity for its yearly production. Apples, carrots and other vegetables sold for deer bait and feed can have bruises or other flaws that make them unsuitable for the fresh and processed fruit and vegetable markets. Transportation costs associated with shipping the perishable commodities limit options as well.
"The Michigan Farm Bureau clearly recognizes the immediate marketing challenges that face farmers who produced crops for the 2008 deer hunting season. The Michigan Feed Exchange won't resolve the challenges entirely, but it's one viable solution," said Nye. "We've been consulting with commodity organizations and agricultural partners like Michigan State University (MSU), and we're optimistic the Michigan Feed Exchange can help growers uncover some alternative markets."
The most promising alternative is cattle feed. According to a nutritional analysis performed by MSU Extension specialists, root crops such as carrots and sugar beets can be successfully fed to cattle to complement traditional feed such as corn silage, hay and corn grain.
"These available commodities may be an excellent opportunity for cow/calf producers to supplement rations, especially during a year when hay shortages exist in some areas of the state and feed costs are high," said Ernie Birchmeier, MFB livestock and dairy specialist.
Feedlot operators are also being encouraged to explore how alternative feedstuffs may be worked into a ration. "With normal feed costs at record levels, there are opportunities for feedlots as well," said Birchmeier.
MFB will continue to pursue additional means to help growers. "For the short-term, though, we encourage growers and potential buyers to give the Michigan Feed Exchange a try," said Nye.
Individuals who are interested in using the Michigan Feed Exchange but lack Internet access should call Andrena Reid at (800) 292-2680, ext. 2022 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
-30-
Editor's Note: The Michigan Farm Bureau has also activated a Web page devoted to state and national information concerning Chronic Wasting Disease, methods/regulations to control disease spread, and the practice of deer baiting and feeding. You can find this information at www.michfb.com/issues/cwd.
MFB's AgriPac endorses candidates for 2008 general election
Contact: Sarah Black, (800) 292-2680, ext. 2040
LANSING, Sept. 18, 2008 - AgriPac, Michigan Farm Bureau's (MFB) political action committee, has endorsed candidates as "Friends of Agriculture" for the Nov. 4 general election.
AgriPac-endorsed "Friends of Agriculture" represent qualified candidates who have demonstrated basic beliefs and/or actions consistent with member-developed policy of MFB, the state's largest general farm organization.
As part of the selection process, AgriPac, a state committee, considers candidates who are first deemed favorable to agriculture by their local county Farm Bureau Candidate Evaluation Committee. A candidate's affiliation with a political party has no bearing on the decision-making.
A list of endorsed candidates earning the "Friend of Agriculture" distinction follows.
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Michigan Farm Bureau AgriPac 2008 General Election Endorsements
SUPREME COURT
District
MICHIGAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
District
Contact: Sarah Black, (800) 292-2680, ext. 2040
LANSING, Sept. 18, 2008 - AgriPac, Michigan Farm Bureau's (MFB) political action committee, has endorsed candidates as "Friends of Agriculture" for the Nov. 4 general election.
AgriPac-endorsed "Friends of Agriculture" represent qualified candidates who have demonstrated basic beliefs and/or actions consistent with member-developed policy of MFB, the state's largest general farm organization.
As part of the selection process, AgriPac, a state committee, considers candidates who are first deemed favorable to agriculture by their local county Farm Bureau Candidate Evaluation Committee. A candidate's affiliation with a political party has no bearing on the decision-making.
A list of endorsed candidates earning the "Friend of Agriculture" distinction follows.
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Michigan Farm Bureau AgriPac 2008 General Election Endorsements
SUPREME COURT
- Clifford Taylor (Incumbent)
- 4th District - Paula Manderfield
- George Scott Romney (Incumbent)
- Lisa Bouchard
- Carl Levin (D-Southfield)
District
- 1 Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba)
- 2 Peter Hoekstra (R-Holland)
- 3 Vern Ehlers (R-Grand Rapids)
- 4 Dave Camp (R-Midland)
- 5 Dale Kildee (D-Flint)
- 6 Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph)
- 7 Tim Walberg (R-Tipton)
- 8 Mike Rogers (R-Brighton)
- 9 Joe Knollenberg (R- Bloomfield Hills)
- 10 Candice Miller (R-Shelby Township)
- 11 Thaddeus McCotter (R-Livonia)
- 15 John Dingell (D-Dearborn)
MICHIGAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
District
- 8 George Cushingberry, Jr. (D-Detroit)
- 10 Gabe Leland (D-Detroit)
- 21 Todd LaJoy (R-Canton)
- 24 Bryan Brandenburg (R-St. Clair Shores)
- 31 Fred Miller (D-Mount Clemens)
- 32 John Accavitti (R-Armada)
- 33 Kim Meltzer (R-Clinton Twp)
- 37 Paul Welday (R-Farmington Hills)
- 38 Hugh Crawford (R-Novi)
- 39 Amy Peterman (R-West Bloomfield)
- 40 Chuck Moss (R-Birmingham)
- 41 Marty Knollenberg (R-Troy)
- 44 Eileen Kowall (R-White Lake)
- 46 James Marleau (R-Lake Orion)
- 47 Cindy Denby (R-Fowlerville)
- 48 Richard Hammel (D-Flushing)
- 49 Lee Gonzales (D-Flint)
- 52 Pam Byrnes (D-Chelsea)
- 54 Alma Wheeler Smith (D-South Lyon)
- 55 Kathy Angerer (D-Dundee)
- 56 Kate Ebli (D-Monroe)
- 57 Dudley Spade (D-Tipton)
- 59 Matt Lori (R-Constantine)
- 60 Robert Jones (D-Kalamazoo)
- 61 Larry DeShazor (R-Portage)
- 62 Gregory Moore (R-Athens)
- 63 James Bolger (R-Marshall)
- 64 Martin Griffin (D-Jackson)
- 65 Mike Simpson (D-Jackson)
- 67 Barb Byrum (D-Onondaga)
- 69 Frank Lambert (R-Haslett)
- 70 Thomas Ginster (R-Greenville)
- 71 Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge)
- 73 Tom Pearce (R-Rockford)
- 74 Dave Agema (R-Grandville)
- 77 Kevin Green (R-Wyoming)
- 78 Sharon Tyler (R-Niles)
- 79 John Proos (R-St. Joseph)
- 80 Tonya Schuitmaker (R-Lawton)
- 81 Phil Pavlov (R-St. Clair)
- 82 Kevin Daley (R-Attica)
- 83 John Espinoza (D-Croswell)
- 84 Terry Brown (D-Pigeon)
- 85 Richard Ball (R-Laingsburg)
- 86 Dave Hildenbrand (R-Lowell)
- 87 Brian Calley (R-Portland)
- 89 Arlan Meekhof (R-West Olive)
- 90 Joseph Haveman (R-Holland)
- 91 Holly Hughes (R-Montague)
- 93 Paul Opsommer (R-DeWitt)
- 94 Kenneth Horn (R-Frankenmuth)
- 96 Jeff Mayes (D-Bay City)
- 97 Tim Moore (R-Farwell)
- 98 Jim Stamas (R-Midland)
- 99 Bill Caul (R-Mt. Pleasant)
- 100 Goeff Hansen (R-Hart)
- 101 Ray Franz (R-Onekama)
- 102 Darwin Booher (R-Evart)
- 103 Joel Sheltrown (D-West Branch)
- 104 Wayne Schmidt (R-Traverse City)
- 105 Kevin Elsenheimer (R-Kewadin)
- 106 Peter Pettalia (R-Presque Isle)
- 107 Gary McDowell (D-Rudyard)
- 108 Mike Falcon (R-Gladstone)
- 110 Michael Lahti (D-Hancock)
Change the oil game and change the world, author says
Robert Zubrin shares plan for 'Energy Victory' at Michigan Bio-Economy Summit
Contact: Bob Boehm, (800) 292-2680, ext. 2023
LANSING, Sept. 18, 2008 - Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) have essentially put a collar on world oil production and never adjusted that collar as demand for fuel has grown, says Robert Zubrin cautioning, "It is the collar that kills the dog, not the dog's growth."
Zubrin, an internationally renowned engineer and author of the book "Energy Victory: Winning the War on Terror by Breaking Free of Oil," shared his thoughts Wednesday as a guest speaker at the Michigan Agri-Business Association's third annual Michigan Bio-Economy Summit in Lansing. His presentation was sponsored by the Michigan Farm Bureau.
According to Zubrin, OPEC performs "gross market manipulation" in keeping oil production at a steady level since 1973 as world demand for fuel has doubled.
"From 1947 until 1972, oil prices were flat because the OPEC countries were controlled by the 'Seven Sisters' of oil companies," he said. "But when the OPEC governments took over their own production, it was immediately constricted."
Back then, OPEC didn't have much of a financial reserve, says Zubrin. But now it has trillions of dollars in reserve - enough to sustain an embargo for years.
"It's a disaster waiting to happen," he said, "but they don't have to play that card and risk military intervention. So they do it with the slow choke."
While OPEC nations have become rich from the world's demand for oil they've done little with that wealth except to finance world-wide terrorism and promote enslavement, according to Zubrin.
"In 1973, 92 percent of Saudi Arabia's gross national product was oil, and it's the same today," he said. "They've created no industrial economy. They're just an oil well with a government attached to it."
Even more alarming, Zubrin said, is the fact that OPEC nations have created a $900 billion "sovereign wealth fund" specifically to take over Fortune 500 companies, and within the next six years, will be able to "buy majority control in all the Fortune 500 companies."
If these trends continue, the fact that each American spends $3,300 annually for oil and oil products will send the United States into economic depression, and will "send poor countries into starvation," said Zubrin.
It's obvious, Zubrin said, that nations which control oil hold too many trump cards.
"In this card game, the four suits are oil, coal, natural gas and biomass," he said. "Now, oil is trump, and we need to change trump."
The way to do that, he said, is to use our nation's tremendous agricultural power and lobby Congress to pass a law that would require all new cars sold in the United States to operate on ethanol or methanol by 2012.
"This mandate is possible," said Zubrin. "The cost difference between flex-fuel and (conventional) cars is only $100. Seat belts cost more to put in."
Zubrin predicts that within three years of the mandate the United States will have 50 million flex-fuel cars on the road and thousands more world-wide, plus flex-fuel pumps appearing rapidly.
"OPEC's fuel supply monopoly will be broken. Global warming will be countered. Pollution will be reduced, and trade barriers will come down," he predicts. "We'll have peace instead of war. Instead of selling our corporations to the Saudis, we could sell tractors to Africa."
With reference to how the Allies won World War II because they controlled the fuel supply, Zubrin said whoever controls fuel controls humanity's future.
"Can we afford to leave this power in the hands of totalitarian cultists who are enemies of freedom?" he asked. "Ask yourself in whose interest is it that we don't have flex-fuel cars. We have our choice of futures," he said. "We can have wealth for those who take it (by taking oil from the ground), or we can have wealth for people who make it (such as farmers). We can have war or peace, economic ruin or prosperity, tyranny or freedom. Let's win."
To learn more about Zubrin's book, go to http://energyvictory.net.
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Robert Zubrin shares plan for 'Energy Victory' at Michigan Bio-Economy Summit
Contact: Bob Boehm, (800) 292-2680, ext. 2023
LANSING, Sept. 18, 2008 - Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) have essentially put a collar on world oil production and never adjusted that collar as demand for fuel has grown, says Robert Zubrin cautioning, "It is the collar that kills the dog, not the dog's growth."
Zubrin, an internationally renowned engineer and author of the book "Energy Victory: Winning the War on Terror by Breaking Free of Oil," shared his thoughts Wednesday as a guest speaker at the Michigan Agri-Business Association's third annual Michigan Bio-Economy Summit in Lansing. His presentation was sponsored by the Michigan Farm Bureau.
According to Zubrin, OPEC performs "gross market manipulation" in keeping oil production at a steady level since 1973 as world demand for fuel has doubled.
"From 1947 until 1972, oil prices were flat because the OPEC countries were controlled by the 'Seven Sisters' of oil companies," he said. "But when the OPEC governments took over their own production, it was immediately constricted."
Back then, OPEC didn't have much of a financial reserve, says Zubrin. But now it has trillions of dollars in reserve - enough to sustain an embargo for years.
"It's a disaster waiting to happen," he said, "but they don't have to play that card and risk military intervention. So they do it with the slow choke."
While OPEC nations have become rich from the world's demand for oil they've done little with that wealth except to finance world-wide terrorism and promote enslavement, according to Zubrin.
"In 1973, 92 percent of Saudi Arabia's gross national product was oil, and it's the same today," he said. "They've created no industrial economy. They're just an oil well with a government attached to it."
Even more alarming, Zubrin said, is the fact that OPEC nations have created a $900 billion "sovereign wealth fund" specifically to take over Fortune 500 companies, and within the next six years, will be able to "buy majority control in all the Fortune 500 companies."
If these trends continue, the fact that each American spends $3,300 annually for oil and oil products will send the United States into economic depression, and will "send poor countries into starvation," said Zubrin.
It's obvious, Zubrin said, that nations which control oil hold too many trump cards.
"In this card game, the four suits are oil, coal, natural gas and biomass," he said. "Now, oil is trump, and we need to change trump."
The way to do that, he said, is to use our nation's tremendous agricultural power and lobby Congress to pass a law that would require all new cars sold in the United States to operate on ethanol or methanol by 2012.
"This mandate is possible," said Zubrin. "The cost difference between flex-fuel and (conventional) cars is only $100. Seat belts cost more to put in."
Zubrin predicts that within three years of the mandate the United States will have 50 million flex-fuel cars on the road and thousands more world-wide, plus flex-fuel pumps appearing rapidly.
"OPEC's fuel supply monopoly will be broken. Global warming will be countered. Pollution will be reduced, and trade barriers will come down," he predicts. "We'll have peace instead of war. Instead of selling our corporations to the Saudis, we could sell tractors to Africa."
With reference to how the Allies won World War II because they controlled the fuel supply, Zubrin said whoever controls fuel controls humanity's future.
"Can we afford to leave this power in the hands of totalitarian cultists who are enemies of freedom?" he asked. "Ask yourself in whose interest is it that we don't have flex-fuel cars. We have our choice of futures," he said. "We can have wealth for those who take it (by taking oil from the ground), or we can have wealth for people who make it (such as farmers). We can have war or peace, economic ruin or prosperity, tyranny or freedom. Let's win."
To learn more about Zubrin's book, go to http://energyvictory.net.
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