Vilsack names Coppess as administrator for FSA
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack named Jonathan Coppess as administrator for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) July 9, replacing Doug Caruso, whom Vilsack had appointed on April 22.

According to the July 9 newsletter Sorghum E-Notes, published by the National Sorghum Producers, Caruso said he and Obama administration officials had divergent views on how best to accomplish goals of service to farmers and FSA employees. His statement said the job was "not what I expected" and the differences made him "a bad fit for the position and, given the reality, the most constructive thing I could do was step aside to make way for USDA leaders to appoint someone more in synch with their vision."

Coppess worked for U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Fla.) as his legislative assistant for Agriculture, Energy and Environmental policy. He joined Nelson's staff in February 2006 and practiced law in Chicago for four years before returning to Washington to work on agriculture policy.
Coppess grew up on his family's corn and soybean farm in west-central Ohio. He holds a bachelor's degree from Miami University and a law degree from The George Washington University Law School.

Ohio to receive $9.8 million in federal pandemic flu funding
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio will receive $9.8 million in one-time pandemic preparedness funds for states and communities to use in their continued planning and preparations in the event a more severe form of H1N1 flu develops in the coming months. Ohio’s share is part of a $260 million national program.

In the coming weeks, the ODH and local health departments will determine the projects and activities to be conducted with the funds. Because an H1N1 vaccine is expected to be provided free to states from the federal government this fall, the grant will not be used to buy supplies of vaccine or antiviral medications.
ODH provides information about pandemic flu through www.odh.ohio.gov or by phone at 866-800-1404 during business hours.

Infected SE Indiana elk, deer herd being destroyed

BROOKVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Officials are destroying an 80-animal herd of elk and deer at a southeastern Indiana farm after cases of bovine tuberculosis (TB) were found.

The Indiana Board of Animal Health said the Franklin County farm is believed to be the source of the bovine TB infections recently found in deer or elk on farms in Harrison and Wayne counties. Bovine TB is considered untreatable in cattle and has led to widespread cattle quarantines in some states.

Federal Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service spokeswoman Cindy Ragin said a decision had not yet been made on what will happen at Indiana’s other infected deer and elk farms.
The state plans additional bovine TB testing of cattle in Franklin, Union and Fayette counties.

Bovine TB tests in Nebraska come up clean

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Another round of tests for tuberculosis in Nebraska cattle has come up clean.

The state Department of Agriculture announced July 6 that 3,300 cattle tested negative for the deadly disease between June 22-28. Another 1,700 cattle tested negative earlier. Final results are pending on 1,200 cattle tested from June 29-July 6.

State and federal officials are hoping to stem the spread of the disease after two cattle tested positive in a herd of beef cattle in north-central Nebraska’s Rock County in June. Bim Nelson of the Bassett Livestock Market said that worries over tuberculosis have not affected the cattle market in the region.

Four Tennessee counties get
farm assistance for flooding

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Gov. Phil Bredesen said the USDA has approved his request for federal farm assistance for four central Tennessee counties due to heavy rains and flooding in May.
The counties are Bedford, Hickman, Moore and Perry. Bredesen said in a news release the aid will help farmers in these areas who had losses stemming from rains early in the growing season.
The state also requested aid for Lewis County, but it was not approved by the federal government because of insufficient losses. Farmers there, however, are eligible to apply for USDA Farm Service Agency loan assistance.

Ohio toughens off-road
trespassing law

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Farmer Eddie Lou Meimer is hoping a new Ohio law that toughens penalties for people who drive off-road vehicles on farms without permission will prevent future damage to her crops.

Meimer, who owns a farm just south of Mt. Gilead in north-central Ohio, said she has been victimized by off-roaders who smash her crops, pose a threat to her maple-syrup operation and have knocked over her neighbor’s electric fence.

Meimer grows corn, soybeans and wheat on the 300-acre family farm. She said off-roaders trespass on her farm several times a year and have been doing it for years.

Gov. Ted Strickland signed a bill earlier this month that would double fines to $500 for people who come on private property in an off-road vehicle without permission.

Officials question emissions from GPC in Muscatine
MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — Some state environmental groups are questioning the coal-burning practices of a Muscatine corn processing plant.

An Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) investigation shows that workers at Grain Processing Corp. acknowledged the switch to the low-sulfur variety of coal from a high-sulfur coal when the wind blows toward an emissions monitor.

Iowa Environmental Protection Commission member Susan Heathcote said the switch makes it difficult for the monitor to get an accurate reading. Lee Searles of the Iowa Environmental Council is asking what effect does switching coal have on the plant’s ability to stay under federal nonattainment levels.

Iowa DNR officials say swapping coal is not illegal, nor does it violate the company’s permits. Company officials say the switch is made at times to maintain good air quality.

Iowan killed when tractor rolls on loose gravel
ROCK VALLEY, Iowa (AP) — A rural Rock Valley man was killed when he was pinned under a farm tractor eight miles northwest of Rock Valley.

The Sioux County Sheriff’s office said July 5 that 65-year-old Leo McDyer was using a farm tractor to haul a loader bucket of dirt when it started to slide on loose rocks and gravel. The tractor rolled as it entered a small gully.

Authorities said McDyer was thrown from the tractor and pinned under it. The accident was reported when it was discovered by a friend staying at McDyer’s home.