Administration names 2 Mich. ag officials
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Obama administration says it’s named Michigan Racing Commissioner Christine White as state executive director for the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA). White also served as state FSA executive director from 1995-2000.

In another move June 29, the administration named James Turner as the USDA’s Michigan director for rural development. Since 2004, Turner has advised U.S. Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) on renewable and alternative energy matters.

Deere: 800 workers leaving voluntarily

MOLINE, Ill. (AP) — Deere & Co. said June 30 about 800 salaried workers have decided to leave the world’s largest farm machinery maker under a voluntary separation program.

The number of workers taking the offer was about four times as many as the company expected when it announced the program in April and represents about 3 percent of Deere’s overall salaried workforce. The company expects to realize $75 million in savings in the first year, after pretax expenses of about $100 million recorded mostly in the fourth quarter. Previously, the company expected $50 million in savings.

In April, the Moline-based company said it would combine its agricultural and commercial and consumer equipment divisions. The job cuts are intended to help the company reduce costs and meet customer needs more efficiently. Deere said at the time it expected to eliminate about 200 salaried jobs.

Spokesman Ken Golden said last week more employees – many with more than 20 years’ experience – took the offer to leave. The company has 27,500 salaried workers, he said. Golden did not know what the terms of eligibility were.

Deere has benefited from strong sales of farming machinery despite a drop in construction equipment orders amid the housing slump. But the global credit crisis and lower crop prices have made it more difficult for buyers to obtain financing for new equipment, and Deere earlier this year slashed its 2009 earnings outlook and suspended quarterly forecasts.

Co-owners of deer farm plead guilty
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — A 52-year-old Grand Rapids-area man has been sentenced to 180 days in jail and 30 months’ probation after pleading guilty to violating the state’s chronic wasting disease quarantine.

James Schuiteman and his son, Brian, pled guilty in May to violating Michigan’s Animal Industry Act by moving a buck in violation of the quarantine placed on J&B Whitetails, the deer farm they co-own in Kent County’s Algoma Township.

Circuit Judge Paul Sullivan on June 23 sentenced 25-year-old Brian Schuiteman to two years’ probation and ordered him to perform 240 hours of community service.

The deer tested negative for chronic wasting disease, a contagious and fatal disease that attacks the brains of infected deer and elk.

France appeals to EU for farm aid

BRUSSELS (AP) — French Agriculture Minister Bruno Le Maire has appealed to European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso to consider providing urgent aid to dairy farmers hit by falling milk prices.

Le Maire met with Barroso Friday to push for new measures to help farmers. Thousands of farmers from across the European Union (EU) have protested in Brussels recently, demanding the bloc reconsider moves to end quotas that guarantee prices.

Le Maire said EU officials should analyze why milk prices have fallen. He suggested the EU bring back stockpiling dairy products to lower amount reaching the market as a way to raise prices.
Dairy farmers say they need drastic steps now because a 50 percent drop in milk prices over the last year is forcing them to sell below cost.