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News from the Minnesota Association of Wheat |
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WHITE HOUSE WANTS SENATE CHINA VOTE
CHINA TRADE BILL CALLED SURE THING IN SENATE
EU UNHAPPY WITH U.S. WHEAT GLUTEN DECISION
U.S. WHEAT OFFICIALS TO VISIT CUBA
BURNS WANTS MORE DROUGHT RELIEF
U.S. WINTER WHEAT CROP CONDITIONS REPORTS
NEW DIETARY GUIDELINES CONTINUE TO KEEP GRAINS AT THE BASE For more information, contact:
PARKER, Colo. (May 26, 2000) — The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans
continue to recognize the important role grain foods play in the diet by separating the grain recommendation from the fruit and vegetable guideline. Released on May 27, the new grain guideline recommends consumers "choose a variety of grains daily, especially whole grains." In previous years, the Guidelines lumped grain foods with fruits and vegetables.
"We are pleased the new Dietary Guidelines
emphasize the importance all grain foods play in the diet by establishing a separate grain recommendation," said Judi Adams, M.S., R.D., president of the Wheat Foods Council, an organization dedicated to educating consumers about the healthful benefits of grain foods. "Separating the grain guideline from fruits and vegetables emphasizes the need for consumers to eat the recommended six to 11 daily servings of grains, with at least three coming from whole grains. It also highlights the health and nutrition benefits grain foods provide, that may not be attained from consuming fruits and vegetables."
Grain foods include many nutrients needed for health; and whole grains in particular help reduce the risk of many major diseases. In addition the new guidelines recognize enriched and fortified grain
foods as important sources of folic acid, an essential nutrient in preventing neural tube birth defects and protecting against coronary heart disease and some cancers. "Studies show consumers aren't getting the
recommended daily servings of grain foods, let alone consuming enough whole grains," added Adams. "This new emphasis on grains will help increase awareness about the benefits of all grains — whole, fortified and
enriched — in the diet." For more information on grains and whole grains, visit the Wheat Food Council's Web site at NAWG ON THE GO COALITION BUILDING Of recent fame and success was the Ag Coalition for China Trade. This specific coalition was able to organize and develop a cohesive strategy in which passage of China PNTR in the
U.S. House of Representatives might not have been possible. The following list will provide an overview of the various coalitions that NAWG staff are active members in. Ag-Earth Partnership
TAX REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGN HARVESTERS In order to relieve U.S. farmers from withholding taxes, the Canadian or Mexican harvester must present a
Form-W8ECI (Certificate of Foreign Person's Claim for Exemption from Withholding on Income Effectively Connected with the Conduct of a Trade or Business in the United States). This form verifies that the foreign entity
has established an identity within the U.S. tax system. However, if Form-W8ECI is not presented, U.S. farmers must withhold 30 percent of the total amount and submit these withholdings immediately to the U.S. Federal
Treasury. For additional general information please contact Brad Fay, U.S. Custom Harvesters, Executive Director at 701-250-1036 or
NEW DIETARY GUIDELINES
CONTINUE TO KEEP GRAINS AT THE BASE The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans
continue to recognize the important role grain foods play in the diet by separating the grain recommendation from the fruit and vegetable guideline. Released on May 27, the new grain guideline recommends consumers "choose a variety of grains daily, especially whole grains." In previous years, the Guidelines lumped grain foods with fruits and vegetables.
"We are pleased the new Dietary Guidelines
emphasize the importance all grain foods play in the diet by establishing a separate grain recommendation," said Judi Adams, M.S., R.D., president of the Wheat Foods Council, an organization dedicated to educating consumers about the healthful benefits of grain foods. "Separating the grain guideline from fruits and vegetables emphasizes the need for consumers to eat the recommended six to 11 daily servings of grains, with at least three coming from whole grains. It also highlights the health and nutrition benefits grain foods provide, that may not be attained from consuming fruits and vegetables."
Grain foods include many nutrients needed for health; and whole grains in particular help reduce the risk of many major diseases. In addition the new guidelines recognize enriched and fortified grain foods as
important sources of folic acid, an essential nutrient in preventing neural tube birth defects and protecting against coronary heart disease and some cancers. "Studies show consumers aren't getting the
recommended daily servings of grain foods, let alone consuming enough whole grains," added Adams. "This new emphasis on grains will help increase awareness about the benefits of all grains — whole, fortified and
enriched — in the diet."
THIS WEEK ON CAPITOL HILL HOUSE PREPARES FOR VOTE ON DEATH TAX REPEAL H.R. 8 was introduced by Congressmen Michael McNulty (D-New York), William Jefferson (D-Louisiana) and John Tanner
(D-Tennessee) and would repeal the tax on inherited estates, the so-called "death tax." Repeal of this federal tax is NAWG's highest tax policy priority. The bill would begin a phase-out of the tax
immediately and eliminate it completely in 2010. It would also maintain stepped-up basis on up to $5.6 million of assets. If the bill were to become law, all estates would retain stepped-up basis for $1.3
million of assets and heirs to larger estates could choose which assets retain the step-up in basis. NAWG and other farm and commodity groups have prepared a letter that will be sent early next week encouraging each
member of the House to vote for H.R. 8. Each state association and individual members are encouraged to contact their Members of Congress in support of the bill. SENATORS CALL FOR DROUGHT RELIEF "Foot-dragging by the administration has left Iowa farmers
without a valuable tool they need for emergency haying and grazing," stated Grassley. He continued, "The delay is unacceptable, and our farmers deserve an immediate response." Grassley and Burns join
other Members of Congress in calling for drought relief. Forecasts made by USDA and NOAA scientists a week ago suggest that producers in the Midwest, Montana and the South can expect dry conditions to continue. As the
summer heats up, NAWG and other farm and commodity organizations will work with their allies on the Hill to provide weather related disaster assistance if necessary.
Special Article THE MUTUAL BENEFITS OF SUPPORTING COMPETITIVE RAILS POLICIES According to Paul Tellier CEO and President of the Canadian National railroad (CN) "The Surface Transportation Board (STB) exists to protect
competition from what a railroad might do, not to protect railroads from what competition might do." In spite of the well-documented fact that the STB interprets and practices its mandate in the
converse, the Alliance for Rail Competition (ARC) applauds Tellier's enlightened assessment of the STB's true purpose. Nonetheless, until he and his merger partner, Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Chairman and CEO
Rob Krebs, also support system-wide policy changes that would produce more competition among railroads, it's hard to imagine that this is not simply empty rhetoric that will dissipate once the fate of the proposed
merger is determined. But then again, maybe now is the right time for them to live up to that rhetoric. Let's consider the situation at hand. The opposition being mounted by virtually every other Class I railroad,
paired with the negative views expressed by rail customers and others, will undoubtedly provide the STB with more than enough "evidence" to do what may be best politically – namely to slow down or even stop a merger
proceeding from taking place now. There's little down side in the STB granting a delay in the CN – BNSF merger. If CN and BNSF are as competitive as they claim – Tellier claims that CN and BNSF had the first and
second best performance records of all the major North American railroads – then they ought to be well-prepared to start competing for customers in the limited ways that have been advocated by ARC and other rail
customer representatives. Remember, we're not talking about radical changes here. In addition to addressing some of the most basic flaws in the existing regulatory system, rail customer-supported legislation would
provide competition among railroads in terminal areas and enable rail customers to get a rate over the "bottleneck" segment of a route. What would be so terrible about applying the most basic of competitive policies
to the rail industry? Being able to get a rate for a specific service, or being able to choose between two carriers where their networks intersect is basic fare for virtually every other industry in this country?
Furthermore, conservative estimates show that the increased service levels produced by competition among railroads would result in an increase in net revenues for the industry. If the rail industry chooses the path
laid out by those CEOs opposing the timing of the CN-BNSF merger, then the outcome of our ongoing policy debate will inevitably be more of a revolution requiring major restructuring than the modest evolution rail
customers are seeking to achieve today. On the other hand, Tellier and Krebs have the opportunity to set a new path that would achieve their merger objectives and their customers' objectives to increase competition
among railroads. Doing so would begin to restore some of that customer confidence that all railroad representatives claim to covet so much. Tellier has already been a leader among his peers in offering up
customer-friendly rhetoric. With so much on the line, let's see if Tellier and Krebs are prepared to take the next step and support pro-competitive, system-wide policy changes that will really be of benefit to rail
customers.
TRADE NEWS FROM WETEC U.S. – EU SUMMIT Regarding the potential for a new round the statement reads, "The U.S. and EU reaffirm
their conviction that the early launch of an inclusive new round of WTO trade negotiations would offer a major boost to global economic growth, employment and sustainable development, but must address in a balanced way
the concern of all WTO members." Despite the statement, several outstanding issues still aggravate the U.S.-EU trade relationship. Issues such as the EU banana export policy, the EU ban hormone treated beef, and
the U.S. Foreign Sales Corporations (FSC) program remain unsettled. Both sides have been trying to downplay their differences as they "pledge to build on the constructive work of the last six months to try to
launch a new round during the course of the year." In addition to the WTO statement, the U.S. and EU agreed to the establishment of a "Consultative Forum" that will assess the risks and benefits of
biotechnology. A report from the Forum will be prepared for a scheduled December 2000 U.S.-EU summit. The Forum will include a wide range of occupations and perspectives from outside the government. Those included
will be "people with backgrounds in labor, academia, and business, including scientists, ethicists, environmental interests, farmers and consumers." The Forum is tasked with looking at issues such as food
security for developing countries, food safety, health and the environment.
NEWS FROM USDA/EPA/USTR RMA PUBLISHES PROPOSED
CHANGES TO WHEAT CROP INSURANCE The proposal makes thirty-four changes to standing RMA regulations. Those most directly impacting wheat producers are: 1) Allowing initially planted
durum or club wheat to qualify as a separate unit than other wheat acres; Wheat producers who might be impacted by the proposed regulations are encouraged to contact RMA before the June 19 deadline. POLAND LOOSES WHEAT GLUTEN EXEMPTION The
determination was based on the dramatic increases in Poland's imports to the U.S. over the past year. Poland supplied nearly 7 percent of the wheat gluten that entered the U.S. in 1998 after only accounting for 2.9
percent the previous year. It has increased their imports as a way to decrease surpluses. The President found that if this was allowed to continue, it could have caused substantial injury to the U.S.
industry. Corrections from last weeks Report from Washington In the article titled, "Crop Insurance/Assistance Package Update," it should have stated that the increase in MAP funding was dropped from the final conference report before its passage.
NAWG FUTURE EVENTS
//////////////////// "Report from Washington" Published weekly by |
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