Food groups file suit to overturn EPA’s E15 decision

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Hoosier Ag Today) — A coalition of farm and food trade associations objecting to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to allow E15 to be sold for cars model year 2007 or later filed a suit in federal court Nov. 9 to overturn the EPA’s decision, saying granting a partial waiver of the Clean Air Act to allow E15 only in cars of models after 2006 isn’t the agency’s authority.

Petitioners – including the American Meat Institute (AMI), National Pork Producers Council and Grocery Manufacturers Assoc., among others – argue the EPA may only grant a waiver for a new fuel additive if it won’t cause or contribute to a failure of any emission control device or system.

“Corn prices have increased since USDA released estimates that corn production for this year was going to be 3.4 percent less than 2009,” said AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle in a statement. “This will put pressure on the meat and poultry supply, which will lead to higher food prices for consumers.”

According to The Wall Street Journal, jointly filing the suit were the American Petroleum Institute and National Council of Chain Restaurants.

Kasich names Ohio’s next agriculture director
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Gov.-elect John Kasich has named a farmer and state representative to be Ohio’s next agriculture director.

State Rep. James Zehringer (R-Fort Recovery) will replace Robert J. Boggs, who has served as head of the Ohio Department of Agriculture under outgoing Gov. Ted Strickland. Kasich announced the appointment Nov. 16 at an event in western Ohio.

The 58-year-old Zehringer is owner and operator of Meiring Poultry and Fish Farm. He was appointed to the Ohio House in February 2007 and was elected without opposition this fall to a district representing Mercer, Preble and parts of Darke counties. Kasich says Zehringer will work not only with farmers, but also with universities on research and development.

Henderson resigns from Indiana Corn & Soybean
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Mark Henderson has resigned as executive director to the Indiana Soybean Alliance, Indiana Corn Marketing Council and Indiana Corn Growers Assoc. to start a private business venture.

The three groups stated that Henderson was instrumental in developing corn and soybean new use applications and processes that will ensure farmer checkoff funds receive maximum return on the farmers’ investments. He also played a critical role, they said, in the development of the new joint agriculture public relations project between the United Soybean Board and National Corn Growers Assoc. known as Common Ground.

“Common Ground will join our nation’s grain farm women with non-farm women to find common ground and understanding about each other’s lifestyles,” the three organizations’ joint statement said.
Jane Ade Stevens, senior director of programming for the organizations, has been named their interim executive director.

Two arrested in Tennessee alleged arson cases

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A Dyer County man has been arrested on a class E felony charge of allegedly setting fire to personal property and land in connection with a roadside fire that occurred Nov. 9.
Justin Allen Sollis, 23, of Trimble, Tenn., was taken into custody by Dyer County Sheriff deputies following an investigation by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Ag Crime Unit (ACU).

According to the ACU, Sollis confessed to setting a fire that burned approximately one acre along Nebo Road in Dyer County.
ACU added the suspect was seen in the area at the time of the fire and was later questioned by an ACU investigator. Sollis is believed to have allegedly set the fire as part of a plan to get hired as a local firefighter.

A court hearing has been set for Dec. 6 in the case. Sollis is being held without bond pending investigation into other fires in the area.
On Nov. 12, an ACU investigator arrested a Marion County, Tenn., man on a charge of allegedly setting fire to personal property and land. Harvey William Nolan Jr., 38, of Whitwell was taken into custody at the Marion County jail.

ACU stated that according to witnesses, Nolan was observed allegedly setting fire to unburned woods owned by RGGS Land & Minerals Ltd. in an area where more than 100 acres burned the day before. The fire was contained by state Division of Forestry firefighters.

Nolan was released on a $2,000 bond. A court hearing has been set for Dec. 29 in Marion County. Wildfires caused by arson are a class C felony punishable by three to 15 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.

Anyone with information about suspected arson activity should call the state Fire Marshal’s Arson Hotline toll-free at 800-762-3017. Rewards up to $1,500 are available for tips leading to a conviction. Callers may remain anonymous.

11 indicted in alleged Ohio marijuana operation
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Eleven men have been indicted on charges accusing them of being part of a marijuana growing operation in rural Ohio, where authorities said they seized thousands of plants.

The men each face a charge of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana, according to the Nov. 17 indictment in U.S. District Court in Dayton. Most were arrested in September at a riverside camp in Muskingum County in eastern Ohio.

Lawyers for some of the men say they were day laborers duped into working on the farm and knew nothing about the drug operation. At the time of the arrests, Attorney General Richard Cordray said the alleged operation was evidence of “cartel-sponsored mega-marijuana farms” taking root in Ohio.

Bredesen announces farm help for 12 more counties
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Gov. Phil Bredesen announced that USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack has designated 12 more counties a natural disaster for agriculture as a result of drought and excessive heat during the growing season. Bredesen requested the designation last month.

Counties designated as primary natural disaster areas include Benton, Bledsoe, Blount, Carroll, Greene, Loudon, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Roane, Warren and Weakley. The designation makes farmers in primary and adjoining counties eligible to apply for low-interest loans and supplemental farm payments through their local USDA Farm Service Agency. Knox and Sumner counties were designated primary natural disaster areas in October.

Farmers in affected counties have reported crop losses generally ranging from 30-50 percent, and higher in some cases, for corn, soybeans, cotton, hay and specialty crops. Livestock producers also reported feeding winter stocks of hay earlier than normal this year.