A news release earlier this week from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) indicated that, “A new certification program enables agricultural producers to let consumers know they are farming in ways that benefit bees. Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation partnered with Oregon Tilth to develop and launch the Bee Better Certified program.

“‘Bee Better Certified is working with conservation-minded farmers to meet a growing interest from consumers to know how their food choices impact bees,’ said Xerces Executive Director Scott Hoffman Black. ‘Many species of bees have suffered declines over the years, but by creating habitat and reducing pesticide use, Bee Better is generating meaningful change on working farms, helping to preserve crop pollinators and the valuable services they provide to farmers.'”

The USDA item noted that, “After piloting the program with 13 farmers over the past few months, Xerces  and Oregon Tilth are now opening it to farmers nationwide. The program focuses on integrating flower-rich habitat on farms in order to provide food and nesting sites for native bees, honey bees and other pollinators. It also helps farmers reduce or eliminate use of pesticides known to cause harm to bees.

“Oregon Tilth assesses and certifies farms based on the amount and quality of habitat created as well as the incorporation of pest management strategies aimed at protecting crop pollinators.”

This week’s update added that, “The project received a $350,000 Conservation Innovation Grant in 2016 from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) which Xerces matched to develop and test the first-of-its-kind program. The Conservation Innovation Grant program aims to drive public-private innovation to support next-generation conservation efforts.”

The Associated Press reported today that, “The nation’s largest meat producer says it has installed video cameras in key areas of all its poultry processing operations and will seek a new way to slaughter birds.

“Tyson Foods says it views itself as a steward for millions of birds and that it isn’t reacting to the bad publicity that comes when undercover videos show abuses in agriculture. In recent years, animal rights groups have shown some workers with a number of companies treating animals roughly before they are slaughtered.

“Tyson says a third party will review videos remotely, concentrating on areas where workers handle live animals. Tyson has also hired nearly five dozen ‘animal well-being’ specialists to circulate among its growers.”

The AP article noted that, “The company also says it will explore killing birds with carbon dioxide gas rather than through traditional means.”

Associated Press writer Nicholas K. Geranios reported yesterday that, “Ranchers on Monday sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture, seeking to force meat to again be labeled if it’s produced in other countries and imported to the United States.

“The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Spokane, seeks to overturn a March 2016 decision by the Department of Agriculture to revoke regulations requiring imported meat products to be labeled with their country of origin. That change allowed imported meat to be sold as U.S. products, the lawsuit said.”

The AP article indicated that, “Between 2009 and 2016, the USDA required country-of-origin labeling on meat.

“The lawsuit said the change violated the nation’s Meat Inspection Act, which required that slaughtered meat from other countries be clearly marked.

“The Department of Agriculture on Monday declined to comment on a matter that is in litigation.”

Mr. Geranios added that, “The lawsuit asks the court to vacate USDA’s current regulations, which allow corporations that import beef and pork and other products into the United States to label that meat ‘Product of USA.'”

Laura Saunders indicated last week at The Wall Street Journal Online that, “Want proof taxes can actually go down? In the past three years, nine states have eliminated or lowered their estate taxes, mostly by raising exemptions.

“And more reductions are coming. Minnesota lawmakers recently raised the state’s estate-tax exemption to $2.1 million retroactive to January, and the exemption will rise to $2.4 million next year. Maryland will raise its $3 million exemption to $4 million next year. New Jersey’s exemption, which used to rank last at $675,000 a person, rose to $2 million a person this year.

“Next year, New Jersey is scheduled to eliminate its estate tax altogether, joining about a half-dozen others that have ended their estate taxes over the past decade.”

Graphic from The Wall Street Journal (“Why More States Are Killing Estate Taxes.”)

The Journal item noted that, “While most recent changes have been to state estate taxes, some states with inheritance taxes are feeling pressure as well. Six states have these levies, which are payable by the person who inherits assets rather than the estate of the person who died. States can have either one of the taxes, or both.”

A news release today from USDA indicated that, “USDA and partners committed $20 million in 21^st Century Conservation Service Corps partnership agreements to provide 4,000 work opportunities for youth, young adults and veterans up to 35 years old, a move that will help the U.S. Forest Service accomplish mission-critical infrastructure and landscape restoration projects on the ground. The U.S. Forest Service is one of seventeen USDA Agencies.

“The funding represents investments by USDA of $13 million and $7 million from partner organizations. Contributions by the Forest Service and partners are expected to reach $40 million by the end of 2017 and provide 11,000 work opportunities. Some funds are already placed with 21^st Century Conservation Service Corps partnership agreements; other funds will continue to be obligated throughout the summer.”

The update noted that, “The work accomplished by participants will include hundreds of miles of trail maintenance and improvements, watershed protection, removal of vegetation as part of wildfire prevention, improvements to recreation facilities, and other essential work on lands managed by the Forest Service.”

“Involving veterans in these opportunities helps them learn new skills while continuing to serve their nation and local communities. In FY2016, 910 veterans were engaged on Forest Service volunteerism and service projects, of which 170 participated in 21^st Century Conservation Corps projects. In FY2017, the agency expects to hire 186 veterans,” today’s update said.

Bloomberg writers Shruti Singh, Jeff Wilson, and Mario Parker reported yesterday that, “It wasn’t that long ago that U.S. farmers like Brian Marshall had few choices about where and when to sell their crops, which meant taking whatever price was offered at the local grain elevator during harvest season.

“Today, the Missouri grower stores his own corn and soybeans, sells them whenever he wants and arranges deliveries directly to processors or exporters. That could spell trouble for global agricultural companies including Archer-Daniels-Midland Co., Bunge Ltd., Cargill Inc.and Louis Dreyfus Co. that  generate billions of dollars providing those kinds of services to farmers.

“‘People are doing a lot more things in house,’ said Marshall, 40, a third-generation farmer who works with his father on more than 4,000 acres near Kansas City. ‘You cut out a middleman or two.'”

The Bloomberg article noted that, “American growers are taking advantage of technologies that weren’t around two decades ago to squeeze more profit from crops, especially after record harvests left global surpluses and plunging agricultural income. Up-to-the-second price and weather data accessible by smartphone make it easier to sell every bushel, while email and social networks give farmers more information to make decisions. They’ve also expanded storage capacity by 20 percent since 2003, government data show, reducing their reliance upon local elevators.

“At the same time, buyers like ethanol maker Green Plains Inc. are bypassing the big merchants to make direct purchases from farmers. With grain and oilseed crops valued at about $108 billion last year, the stakes are high for companies that have made their living for generations with vast networks of trucks, grain elevators and barges.”

Yesterday’s article added that, “Marshall stopped paying big grain handlers to store, dry and haul crops for his family farm over the last several years, but he’s also starting to ween his business off their marketing services. Last year, he asked a global grain trader to sell 15 percent of his soybean crop before it was planted. It went for around $8.50 a bushel in March 2016. After the harvest in October, Marshall stored some of his soybeans and recently sold them for $10.14.

“While there’s still market risk no matter who holds the crop, Marshall says during the past year he did just as well as or better than the professionals without having to pay them a commission.”