Obama hails S. Korea trade as victory for U.S. workers

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) — President Obama praised a newly sealed trade deal with South Korea as a landmark agreement that promises to boost the domestic auto industry and support tens of thousands of American jobs.

The pact, which requires Congressional and South Korean parliamentary approval, would be the largest since the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico in 1994. Obama said the South Korean deal would support at least 70,000 American jobs.

Exports of U.S. goods to South Korea could soar to $10 billion under the deal. South Korea would allow the United States to lift a 2.5 percent tariff on Korean cars in five years. Each automaker could export 25,000 cars to South Korea as long as they met U.S. safety standards. A tariff on Korean trucks would be phased out and South Korea would eliminate its tariff on U.S. trucks immediately.

The agreement does not address issues with U.S. beef exports. The U.S. has sought greater access to the beef market in South Korea, which restricts imports of older U.S. meat. Obama said issues related to beef would continue to be worked on.

The agreement would eliminate tariffs on more than 95 percent of industrial and consumer goods within five years. The U.S. International Trade Commission estimated that would increase exports of U.S. goods by at least $10 billion. The deal would also open up South Korea’s vast $560 billion services markets to U.S. companies.

FDA says Iowa egg farm can resume shell egg sales

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it will allow an Iowa egg farm to resume selling its shell eggs to consumers.

Wright County Egg recalled 380 million eggs earlier this year after the farm and another Iowa operation, Hillandale Farms, were linked to more than 1,600 salmonella illnesses. In October, the FDA allowed Hillandale to resume shipping its eggs but sent Wright County Egg a letter saying it could be shut down if the farm didn’t take corrective actions.

FDA commissioner Margaret Hamburg said Nov. 30 that Wright County Egg has implemented corrective measures and the government will allow the company to sell eggs from two laying houses at one of its six farms.

Judge orders removal of sugar beet seed plants

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A federal judge in California has ordered the removal from the ground of plants grown to produce seeds for genetically modified sugar beets, citing the potential for environmental harm.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White has again raised questions about the use of genetically modified (GMO) crops and what will happen if growers aren’t allowed to plant GMO seeds. About 95 percent of the sugar beet crop has been genetically modified to resist the weed killer Roundup. The crop provides roughly half of the nation’s sugar supply.

In his decision, White cited “a significant risk of environmental harm.” The plants in question would produce seeds for crops to be planted in the spring of 2012. Crops that will be planted next spring won’t be affected by the decision.

The defendants in the case filed a request for an emergency stay of White’s ruling. Monsanto is joined by American Crystal Sugar Co., Syngenta Seeds and Betaseed Inc. in seeking the stay.

U.S. EPA finalizes 2011 Renewable Fuel Standards
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the 2011 percentage standards for the four categories of fuel under the agency’s renewable fuel standard program, known as RFS2.

The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) amended the Clean Air Act to greatly increase the total required volume of renewable fuels each year, reaching a level of 36 billion gallons in 2022. The final 2011 overall volume and standards are:
•Cellulosic biofuel – 6.6 million gallons; 0.003 percent
•Biomass-based diesel – 800 million gallons; 0.69 percent
•Advanced biofuel – 1.35 billion gallons; 0.78 percent
•Renewable fuel – 13.95 billion gallons; 8.01 percent

Semi rig runs over Indiana farm supply owner
CROMWELL, Ind. (AP) — Police said an 87-year-old man was killed at his northeastern Indiana farm supply business when he was run over by a semitrailer rig.

The Noble County Sheriff’s Department said Nellis Kunce was helping unload the rig’s trailer at the business near Cromwell Nov. 29 when he was run over by the rear wheels as the truck was being moved. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Rodger Kunce told The Journal Gazette that his father “went out working” and had a spreader full of fertilizer ready for delivery to a customer when he died. The Kunce Bros. company is a fertilizer, trucking and grain elevator business.

Iowa farmers may up security after hog lot vandalism

WEST UNION, Iowa (AP) — Some livestock producers in northeastern Iowa are considering extra security measures in the wake of vandalism at three hog operations last weekend.
Fayette County Sheriff Marty Fisher told the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier that farmers are looking at additional lights and other measures. Vandals broke into hog confinements near Sumner and West Union Nov. 27-28 and caused thousands of dollars in damage. Several hogs were released at two sites.

Fisher said the items taken were small, if anything, and a motive hasn’t been determined.

The Iowa Corn Growers Assoc. (ICGA) said the Chickasaw County Sheriff’s Department reported three other hog confinement facilities were vandalized the weekend of Nov. 20, according to the ICGA. In addition, a turkey operation in Bremer County was recently victimized. In two of the incidents, the ICGA stated a gun was used to disable a transformer and a security light.

The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers and area law enforcement agencies encourage producers to be vigilant in their security and immediately report any suspicious activity or incidents to local authorities.