MARKETPLACE NEWS
M14 Kansas Farmer -June 2007
Nebraska taxes pay Kansas for water
Best of the Buzz
By BILL SPIEGEL
N April, Nebraska lawmakers approved a plan that would raise taxes in parts of the state served by the Republican River basin. Much of the tax money would be used to pay Kansas for Nebraska’s over-appropriation of water from the Republican River, according to an Associated Press story. ... ■ An August meeting is scheduled to determine whether Nebraska has used more than its share of water, based on a compact it has with Kansas and Colorado. … ■ Lawmakers plan to raise $16 million from the new taxes. The money would be used to buy water to send to Kansas and to discover methods to control water-sapping vegetation along the banks of the Republican. ... ■ Four Kansas farmers have joined two farmers from Virginia in filing a class action lawsuit against the Australian Wheat Board Ltd. and its American subsidiary, AWB USA Ltd., alleging that AWB engaged in activities that harmed U.S. hard winter wheat growers. … ■ From 1999 to 2003, AWB allegedly paid bribes and kickbacks to the Saddam Hussein regime in exchange for exclusive rights to deliver wheat to Iraq. The lawsuit seeks compensation from AWB for the damages U.S. farmers suffered while AWB “monopolized” the Iraqi market. Losses could total more than $100 million, according to the Washington, D.C., law firm Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld and Toll, which represents the farmers. … ■ The Kansas farmers involved in the lawsuit are Veryl Switzer, Manhattan; Gillan Alexander, Nicodemus; Rod Bradshaw, Jetmore; Howard, Oakley. … and Wilburt watts of power and has room to expand — is in the hands of a Pennsylvania company called Iberdrola Renewable Energies USA Ltd., which must find a buyer for the energy and build the infrastructure. There are plenty of potential buyers, according to The Hays Daily News. … ■ Elsewhere, Renewable Energy Group of Ralston, Iowa, plans to break ground on a 60 million-gallon-per-year biodiesel plant near Emporia, the company announced in April. … ■ The biodiesel plant should be operational by summer 2008 and will employ about 39 people. Emporia is already home to a Bunge Corp. soybean-processing facility, which will be a supplier of soybean oil; the town also has a Tyson Foods beef-processing plant, which may provide animal fats to be used in the biodiesel-making process. … ■ The melamine-tainted animal feed story hits Kansas yet again. Many know that tainted pet feed was manufactured at a plant in Emporia. Now, it appears that at least one hog farm in Kansas may have bought feed that contained melamine and melamine compounds, which pose a threat to animal and human health, according to USDA. The agency has not released where the hog farm in question is located. … ■ Do you want to be a member of Carhartt Inc.’s Weartest Team? If so, the work-wear company is accepting applications to its “weartest panel.” Go to www.carhartt.com/weartest for more details. The panel tests Carhartt jeans, jackets, gloves and more, and then completes surveys and discusses feedback with Carhartt folks. In return, they receive Carhartt products. ■ For more of “The Buzz,” visit www. KansasFarmer.com each Monday.
I
■ The Kansas ethanol industry continues to blossom now that Ford County commissioners have approved the construction of Dial Ford County Bio Renewable Fuels, a 113 million-gallonper-year ethanol plant located just west of Dodge City along Highway 50. Construction should begin in July. … ■ According to the Dodge City Globe, the plant will use more than 500 million gallons of water per year, 40% of which will come from wells on the property. The facility may use “gray” water, or recycled industrial water, from the Excel meat packing plant in Dodge City. … ■ In more news about renewable energy, 23 landowners could benefit from a planned 11,000-acre, 135-turbine “wind farm” south of Hays. The project — which would generate up to 200 mega-
Kansas FSA seeks proposals to help fulfill wildlife restoration initiative
T
HE USDA Farm Service Agency has established a new 500,000acre program as part of the Conservation Reserve Program. It’s designed to improve habitat for high-priority wildlife species nationwide. Kansas FSA — which has received a 30,100-acre allotment — now seeks proposals for the program from private and nonprofit organizations, plus state, federal and local agencies. “The State Areas for Wildlife Enhancement initiative provides an opportunity to develop grassroots conservation projects to address high-priority wildlife needs through habitat restoration,” says Bill Fuller, Kansas FSA state director. “This initiative further extends the positive environmental impacts of the Conservation Reserve Program.” Under the State Areas for Wildlife
Key Points
■ USDA Farm Service Agency has started a new program to restore wildlife habitat. ■ Kansas FSA seeks proposals for the State Areas for Wildlife Enhancement CRP. ■ Proposals are due to Kansas FSA for consideration by Sept. 1. Enhancement program, commonly referred to as SAFE, new CRP acreage may be established to address the habitat needs of endangered, threatened or high-priority fish and other wildlife species. Conservation practices currently offered under CRP can be fine-tuned under SAFE to improve, connect or create higher-quality habitat to promote healthier ecosystems in areas
identified as essential to effective species management. You may submit a SAFE proposal for consideration to your local FSA office. Or, send them directly to the Kansas FSA state office: Rod Winkler, conservation chief; 3600 Anderson Ave.; Manhattan, Kansas 66503. Proposals should be submitted prior to Sept. 1.
Submit proposals soon
Fuller encourages organizations to act quickly as the USDA FSA office in Washington, D.C., has set a Nov. 1 deadline for receipt of all state proposals. “Because these proposals must go through a two-tier review process at the state level prior to review in Washington, we would like to begin receiving proposals as soon as possible, but no later than Sept. 1,” Fuller says.
Eligible landowners in approved SAFE areas may enter into new CRP contracts with USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation, which will offer participants an annual CRP rental rate equivalent to soil rental rates for the county plus an annual maintenance payment. Also, the producer is eligible for costshare assistance of up to 50% of eligible practice installation costs. Producers will be eligible for a one-time payment of $100-per-acre signing incentive payment. A practice incentive payment equal to 40% of the eligible establishment costs of the practice may be offered. For SAFE proposal details and protocol, contact the local FSA county office at the USDA Service Center, or visit the national Web site, www.fsa.usda.gov; click on “Conservation programs.”