May 10, 2010
Duke Energy, one of the largest electric power companies in the United States, supplies and delivers energy to approximately 4 million U.S. customers. The company has approximately 36,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity in the Midwest and the Carolinas, and natural gas distribution services in Ohio and Kentucky. In addition, Duke Energy has more than 4,000 megawatts of electric generation in Latin America, and is a joint-venture partner in a U.S. real estate company. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 500 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available on the Internet at:
Campaign NEWS
NCAg Member wins Primary Election. NC Agribusiness Council member Brent Jackson of Jackson Farming in SampsonCounty won the Republican primary in the bid to replace retiring incumbent Senator Charlie Albertson, also a NC Agribusiness Council member. In a statement on election night Jackson said “We’re ecstatic, overjoyed, and most of all, appreciative of the voters in this district who supported me throughout this campaign and I am thrilled to represent the Republican party this November. I hope to have the opportunity to make eastern North Carolina more agriculturally friendly by easing taxes and regulations on growers in the state. I am very appreciative of the Ag community for their support of my campaign and with its continued support, we will be victorious in the fall.”
Primary Turnout Low; Runoffs to Come: Even though, last week’s primary saw low turnout, it still proved interesting. For the U.S. Senate, Democrats Elaine Marshall and Cal Cunningham will face each other in a runoff to campaign against Republican Richard Burr, who handily won the GOP primary. Republican primaries will see more runoffs between Tim D’Annunzio and Harold Johnson for the U.S. House District 8 seat, Scott Cumbie and Greg Dority for District 12, and Bill Randall and Bernie Reeves for District 13. Five incumbent NC House members lost their re-election bid: Ronnie Sutton (D-Robeson), Earl Jones (D-Guilford), Nick Mackey (D-Mecklenburg), Bruce Goforth (D-Buncumbe), and Pearl Burris-Floyd (R-Gaston). Incumbent candidates winning their primaries and facing no opposition include Republican State Senators Harris Blake (R-Moore), Andrew Brock (R-Davie), and Jim Forrester (R-Gaston). Incumbent State House members who will also face no one in the General Election include Democrats Elmer Floyd (D-Cumberland), Edith Warren (D-Pitt) and Republicans Jeff Barnhart (R-Cabarrus), Harold Brubaker (R-Randolph), and Jerry Dockham (R-Davidson). Phillip Shepard (R-Onslow), John Faircloth (R-Guilford) and Craig Horn (R-Union), all non-incumbents, won their primaries and will run unopposed in the fall. These seats are held by Republicans not running for re-election.
Marshall, Cunningham Agree to TV Debates: Elaine Marshall and Cal Cunningham have agreed to two televised debates, one on June 10 sponsored by WRAL and another on June 15 sponsored by NBC-17 and the NC League of Women Voters. The runoff for the Senate seat currently held by Republican Sen. Richard Burr will be June 22. In addition, Sen. Burr has agreed to debate the winner of the runoff in October, organized by the NC League of Women Voters and WNCN-TV in Raleigh, and has proposed two more debates.
WashingtonNEWS
Meat, Poultry Groups Ask Ways & Means to End Ethanol Subsidies: Citing the need for the corn-based ethanol industry to fairly compete with other commodities, the American Meat Institute, National Turkey Federation, National Chicken Council and National Cattlemen's Beef Association have asked the Ways and Means Committee not to renew a 30-year-old tax credit and a protective tariff for ethanol. Pork, cattle, and poultry producers have lost record amounts due to high corn prices and the groups attest that favoring one segment of the agricultural industry hurts everyone including consumers. The Renewable Fuels Association took issue saying that ethanol is not the major driving force behind corn prices and that the corporate livestock industry wants to buy corn so inexpensively that they ultimately get more income from the government than the marketplace.
Legislative NEWS
Cigarette Tax Stamps Voted Down: A requirement that wholesalers apply tax stamps to cigarette packs as a deterrent to smuggling was voted down by the Revenue Laws Study Committee. Showing that the cigarette tax has been paid, the stamps make it harder for black-market vendors to sell. The committee was concerned that NC would lose revenue because fewer out-of-state residents would buy NC cigarettes and that wholesalers would have to buy equipment to affix the stamps.
NC Climate Change Panel Finishes: Recommending NC state government should develop a plan for adapting to changing weather patterns and climate, the Legislative Commission on Global Climate Change has finished four years of work. The final report includes seven ideas for the Legislature to consider including shoreline maps to monitor changes, asking agencies to reduce carbon-based emissions and creating two permanent global climate panels.
Business NEWS
NC Meat & Poultry Plants Receive Awards: At the American Meat Institute Foundation’s annual conference on Worker Safety, 142 meat and poultry plants were recognized for outstanding safety performance. In NC, Butterball, LLC in Mt. Olive; Smithfield Packing Co. in Clayton Clinton, Kinston, Tar Heel, and Wilson; and Keystone Foods, LLC-Equity Group NC Division in Reidsville all received awards.
USDANEWS
EPA and USDA Team Up to Promote Farm Energy Generation: USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced a new interagency agreement promoting renewable energy generation and slashing greenhouse gas emissions from livestock operations. The agreement expands the work of the AgSTAR program, a joint EPA-USDA effort that helps livestock producers reduce methane emissions from their operations. EPA and USDA's enhanced collaboration will provide up to $3.9 million over the next five years to help farms overcome obstacles preventing them from recovering and using biogas. The collaboration will expand technical assistance efforts, improve technical standards and guidance for the construction and evaluation of biogas recovery systems, and expand outreach to livestock producers and assist them with pre-feasibility studies. Go to
Secretary Vilsack Reappoints Almanza as FSIS Administrator: Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the appointment of Alfred V. Almanza as Administrator of FSIS, overseeing the regulation of meat, poultry and processed egg products. Mr. Almanza has been in a limited term appointment as Administrator of FSIS since July 2007.
USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates: The USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced interest rates for May 2010. The CCC borrowing rate-based charge for May 2010 is 0.500 percent, up from 0.375 percent in April 2010. For 1996 and subsequent crop year commodity and marketing assistance loans, the interest rate for loans disbursed during May 2010 is 1.500 percent, up from 1.375 percent in April 2010. Interest rates for Farm Storage Facility Loans approved for May 2010 are as follows - 3.250 percent with seven-year loan terms, up from 3.125 in April 2010, 3.875 percent with 10-year loan terms, up from 3.625 in April 2010, and 4.125 percent with 12-year loan terms, up from 4.000 percent in April 2010. The maximum discount rate applicable for May 2010 for the Tobacco Transition Payment Program is 5 percent, unchanged from April 2010.
Funding for Biomass Research and Development: The U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Energy (DOE) jointly announced up to $33 million in funding for research and development of technologies and processes to produce biofuels, bioenergy and high-value biobased products. The projects will aim to create a diverse group of economically and environmentally sustainable sources of renewable biomass. Advanced biofuels produced from these projects are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum of 50 percent. The funding opportunity is available online at Pre-applications are due June 7, 2010, and must be submitted electronically.
USDA to Conduct First-Ever On-Farm Energy Production Survey This Spring: USDA will begin conducting the first national On-Farm Energy Production Survey this week. The most recent agriculture census counted more than 20,000 farms and ranches that were producing renewable energy via solar panels, wind turbines and methane digesters. This spring's survey will further explore how this energy is generated and used.USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is mailing the survey forms to farm and ranch operators nationwide who indicated on the 2007 Census of Agriculture that they were generating renewable energy. Recipients are required to respond by May 24 and NASS will publish the survey results in February 2011.
Commodity NEWS
Supreme Court Considers Biotech Crops: U.S. Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments on a lower court’s ruling that blocked the sale of biotech alfalfa seeds developed by Monsanto Co. and sold to farmers. As long as courts can block the sale of biotech seed, the biotech industry and farmers worry that development may be hindered and USDA regulation won’t be reliable enough. Conventional farmers worry that the biotech varieties may contaminate their non-biotech crops. In 2007, the judge that stopped the sale of the seeds argued that USDA hadn’t been thorough enough in considering the biotech crop’s potential impact. USDA is in the process of approving the crop for commercial use after having finished an environmental study on the crop.
Beef, Lamb Buys for Federal Food Programs: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service will buy $161.4 million worth of foods for federal food and nutrition assistance programs. The purchases include up to $40 million of beef products and $2 million of lamb products, among many other commodities.
NCDA NEWS
NC Companies Honored at Specialty Foods Conference: Companies from Jamesville, Rougemont and Elizabethtown were winners in the Product Awards Competition at the spring conference of the N.C. Specialty Foods Association. Mackey’s Ferry of Jamesville won in the Pastry/Cookies/Cakes category for its Molasses Cookies. Fancy’s Candy’s of Rougemont won in the Confections/Candy/Chocolate category for its Sin in a Tin Milk Chocolate and Walnut Toffee. D’vine Foods ofElizabethtown was the winner in the Beverage category for its Muscadine Cider.
Mark Your Calendar
AgForum with Foxx: On May 14, the NC Agribusiness Council will host an AgForum with Congresswoman Virginia Foxx at a Pavilion on the River in Sparta, NC. RSVP required. Seats are limited.
AgForum with Kissell: On May 17, the NC Agribusiness Council will host an AgForum with Congressman Larry Kissell at the Stanly County American Legion Ag Fair in Albemarle, NC. RSVP required. Seats are limited.
AgForum with Shuler: On May 18, the NC Agribusiness Council will host an AgForum with Congressman Heath Shuler at the Western AgCenter in Fletcher, NC. RSVP required. Seats are limited.
AgForum with Butterfield: On June 7, the NC Agribusiness Council will host an AgForum with Congressman G.K. Butterfield at the Martin County EDC in Williamston, NC. RSVP required. Seats are limited.
AgDay at the NC Capitol: On June 23 the NC Agribusiness Council will host a series of events for NCAg members in Raleigh.
The Legislative Study Commission on Water and Wastewater Infrastructure will meet on Tuesday, May 11 at 2 p.m., 415 LegislativeOfficeBuilding.
The North Carolina Food Expo will fill the ExpositionBuilding on the State Fairgrounds during the 2010 Got to Be NC Festival May 21-23. More than 100 companies representing products such as wines, peanuts, sauces, candies, fresh produce and meats are slated to be on hand to both sample and sell their goods. The expo will open at 10 a.m. all three days of the festival, closing at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 6 p.m. Sunday. Go to
Alternative Technology Tour at Barham Farm will be held May 25 from 9am- 12:30pm. 3.0 hours credit. No fee. Registration required. Call Diana M. C. Rashash or Nita Walton at(910) 455-5873.
The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) is hosting, in partnership with USDA, a symposium on the topic of "Sustaining Animal Agriculture: Balancing Bioethical, Economic, and Social Issues." The free symposium is June 8 to 10 in WashingtonD.C. at the Jefferson Auditorium in USDA's SouthAgricultureBuilding. Presenters and attendees will discuss the effects of regulations on food-animal agriculture at all levels, including the economics of production, and analyze the intended — and unintended — consequences of the regulations. Registration is recommended. Go to