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Category: Agriculture

  • MIL-OSI USA: CONGRESSMAN BISHOP RECEIVES “FRIEND OF FARM BUREAU” AWARD

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sanford D Bishop Jr (GA-02)

    BRINSON, Ga. – Yesterday, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) received the Friend of the Farm Bureau Award from the Georgia Farm Bureau at a ceremony hosted at Glenn Heard Farms in Brinson.

    “I want to thank the Georgia Farm Bureau for this award and honor. It has been my pleasure to work with the Farm Bureau and I will always be a strong voice in Washington for our farmers and producers,” said Congressman Bishop. “The agriculture industry is crucial to our country, contributing over one trillion dollars to the U.S. economy, and that is over $80 billion in Georgia alone. Whether through the Farm Bill or the annual appropriations process, I will always work towards ensuring that Congress provides the programs and resources needed to make sure Americans continue to have the safest, most affordable, and most abundant food and fiber.”

    “Today we gathered farmers in Georgia’s 2nd congressional district with Congressman Sanford Bishop to present him with his 2024 Friend of Farm Bureau Award,” said Ben Parker, National Affairs Coordinator for the Georgia Farm Bureau. “Through this gesture we are happy to show our support for all the many beneficial acts Bishop has carried through his years of being a true friend and champion for Georgia agriculture.”

    “Congressman Bishop has a been a tremendous friend and supporter of agriculture during his time in Congress. His door is always open to discuss the pressing issues that face agriculture all across our country,” said Tommy Dollar, President of Dollar Farms in Bainbridge, Georgia. “We need disaster assistance for our farmers that were devastated by Hurricane Helene and we need economic relief for those farmers who have been devastated by input costs. We also need a Farm Bill so that the AG community will have certainty in the days ahead. Congressman Bishop will fight to make sure that these issues are addressed, and he is indeed a friend of Agriculture.”

    “Congressman Bishop has been a friend to the Farm Bureau, but more importantly a friend to American Agriculture,” said Andy Bell of Bell Farms in Climax, Georgia. “This award represents his commitment to ensuring that the United States will continue to have the safest food and fiber anywhere in the world while providing all of the necessary resources that our farmers need for the food security of the world.”

    Congressman Bishop is one of the most senior members of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee and, as such, is the top Democrat on the subcommittee that funds the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, the Food & Drug Administration, and related agencies. He is also a member of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee which oversees and crafts the country’s agriculture and nutrition policies and programs.

    An agriculture issues leader, he regularly works across the aisle to craft legislation and support funding for programs that are vital to the well-being of America’s farmers.

    Earlier this month, he led a farm tour of Minor Brothers Farms in Sumter County. He was joined by Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) and Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11), who are the Republican and Democratic leaders of the U.S. House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit.

    In May 2024, Congressman Bishop voted in support of the Farm Bill passed by the U.S. House Agriculture Committee. In September, he sent a letter to House and Senate leaders and to the House Agriculture Committee leadership urging them to set aside differences and commit to pass a Farm Bill before the end of this Congress.

    House Republican leaders have not scheduled the Farm Bill for a vote. Some Republicans and Democrats have raised budgetary concerns about the bill and the U.S. Senate is working on its own version of the Farm Bill. Congressman Bishop remains committed to working towards a bipartisan bill this year that will get the full support of the U.S. Congress and that can be signed into law by President Biden.

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    PHOTO CAPTION: CONGRESSMAN BISHOP RECEIVED THE FRIEND OF THE FARM BUREAU AWARD FROM THE GEORGIA FARM BUREAU IN BRINSON, GA

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: 5 things you can do to end the biodiversity crisis as the world talks about it at COP16

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jim Radford, Associate Professor, Ecology and Environment, La Trobe University

    The world is charging towards tipping points for species extinctions, ecosystem collapse and loss of genetic diversity. Crossing these tipping points will be devastating for nature and human existence alike.

    Avoiding this catastrophe of humanity’s making is the purpose of the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16) in Cali, Colombia. COP16 has been reviewing progress on implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework adopted at COP15 in Montreal, Canada, in 2022. Progress has been incremental at best.

    These pledges, plans and goals, while necessary and commendable, are also far removed and often intangible for everyday citizens. Collective global action is inherently political. It moves at glacial pace when urgent action is needed.

    The issues can seem so colossal and complex that individuals often feel powerless. This may mean they do nothing or, worse, add to the problem. But, in fact, there are five steps individuals can take to help end the biodiversity crisis.

    So why isn’t government action enough?

    COP16 wraps up on November 1, but has so far failed to live up to expectations. The COP16 chair claims it has put biodiversity “on an equal footing” with climate. However, solid commitments have yet to emerge.

    For example, before COP16, governments had pledged only US$250 million (A380 million) of the estimated $200 billion per year required by 2030 for the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund. Pledges of another $163 million this week take the total number of contributors to a mere 12.

    Only 15% of countries (including Australia) met the deadline to submit their plans to meet the goals set at COP15. These include protecting at least 30% of the world’s land and water and restoring 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030.

    And plans do not guarantee action. Indeed, the world has never achieved a single global nature target set by such initiatives.

    Our everyday decisions can’t be divorced from nature

    “Natural capital” is a buzzword in global initiatives, government policies, marketing slogans and sustainability frameworks worldwide. Natural capital refers to all living and non-living natural resources that provide products and services of value to society. In essence, it’s what we commonly call “nature”.

    Understanding and managing natural capital is crucial for conserving biodiversity, addressing climate change and ensuring future generations’ wellbeing by not exceeding our planetary boundaries. It’s why we’ve recently created the Natural Capital Primer. It’s a website that explains how our everyday lives, businesses and economies depend on nature.

    By understanding our connection to nature, we can all reduce our impact on nature. Here are five ways you can make a difference, starting today.

    The Natural Capital Primer explains the concept, aiming to shift attitudes toward nature and promote global conservation.

    1. Cut consumption when you can

    Do you really need to update your mobile phone, your summer wardrobe or your flat-screen TV? What we buy reverberates around the globe.

    Our demand for new products affects resource extraction (leading to habitat loss), carbon emissions (propelling climate change) and pollution (degrading habitat). These impacts are often far from where we make our purchases. From the lithium in our phones to the plastics in our clothes and the metals in our vehicles, our consumption drives demand, which almost inevitably harms biodiversity.

    If you do need to replace something, consider buying second-hand or products made from recycled materials.

    2. Watch what you eat

    Agriculture is the single greatest driver of changes in land use and biodiversity loss. We all need to eat, of course, but where possible buy local and sustainably produced foods.

    Reducing processed foods in your shopping trolley is a good start. Cutting your intake of over-fished, wild-caught seafood, red meat and palm oil-based products will also help. This issue is not straightforward because these products are available as a confusing mix of unsustainable and sustainable options.

    A further complication, made worse by the rise of greenwashing, is that it can be hard to work out exactly what is in certain foods or where they came from. Sustainability certification and apps (GoodFish Australia, for example) can help consumers make better choices.

    3. Choose renewable energy

    The climate and biodiversity crises are inseparable. Neither can be resolved in isolation. For example, nature-based solutions, such as protecting forests as carbon sinks, will help with both the climate crisis and biodiversity.

    With greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change, which threatens many species, a whole range of our choices determine the impacts of our energy use. From your mode of transport to powering your home, choose renewable energy sources.

    Tech giants such as Google and Amazon are turning to nuclear energy to power their generative AI and cloud storage in an effort to reduce their climate impact. However, 100% renewable energy is realistic if consumers demand it from their power companies and governments.

    4. Get your hands dirty

    You can take direct action to protect and increase biodiversity. Volunteer or donate to environmental projects in your neighbourhood. Not only will this make you feel good, but revegetation and habitat restoration do improve local biodiversity.

    Many grass-roots, community-driven projects are making a difference on the ground. They range from urban restoration work, such as the Merri Creek restoration in Melbourne, to forest stewardship projects, such as Tarwin River Forest in Gippsland, Victoria. Get local and get involved!

    5. Adjust expectations and accept responsibility

    People in wealthy countries (such as Australia) have both the biggest environmental footprints and the most capacity to adapt. They must lead change.

    The process starts with increasing awareness of the issues and taking responsibility for change. That includes adjusting our expectations about how and where we live.

    Small changes are magnified when repeated by millions of people. We should never doubt the power of cumulative impact. After all, it’s what got us into this mess in the first place.

    So while governments and corporations haggle, posture and delay over global targets and policies, we can all start right now to make a difference through smarter decisions and sustainable choices.

    Jim Radford receives funding from Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water, the National Environmental Science Program Resilient Landscapes Hub, Transport for NSW, SmartSat CRC, Macdoch Foundation and Australian Wool Innovation. He is a member of Standards Australia Biodiversity Committee and North Central CMA Science Advisory Panel.

    – ref. 5 things you can do to end the biodiversity crisis as the world talks about it at COP16 – https://theconversation.com/5-things-you-can-do-to-end-the-biodiversity-crisis-as-the-world-talks-about-it-at-cop16-242205

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Webster Joins Senators Scott & Rubio, Florida Delegation Urging USDA to Expedite Aid for Florida Agricultural Producers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Daniel Webster (11th District of Florida)

    Washington, D.C. — Florida Congressman Daniel Webster, R-Clermont, along with Congressman Scott Franklin (R-FL), Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and the entire Florida delegation sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack urging the USDA to take immediate action to provide disaster assistance for Florida agricultural producers affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. 
     
    “These back-to-back major hurricanes have decimated Florida agriculture, our state’s second largest industry, which generates more than $182.6 billion in annual revenue and provides more than 2.5 million jobs,” the members wrote. “As Members of Congress, it is our responsibility to work with USDA to best assist the producers who feed our nation.”
     
    The full text of the letter is below. 
     
    Dear Secretary Vilsack:
     
    We write to strongly urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) take immediate action to deliver critical aid to agricultural producers affected by recent hurricanes Helene and Milton. These back-to-back major hurricanes have decimated Florida agriculture, our state’s second largest industry, which generates more than $182.6 billion in annual revenue and provides more than 2.5 million jobs.
     
    Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast just 13 days after Helene and brought high winds, flooding and damage across the entire state. According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences (FDACS), the preliminary estimate of total crop and infrastructure losses ranges from $1.5 to $2.5 billion, and the State of Florida has requested federal agriculture disaster designations for impacted counties in response to both storms.
     
    Milton’s path impacted some of Florida’s most productive agricultural areas for aquaculture, avocados, bell peppers, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbage, cattle, citrus, christmas trees, corn, cotton, cucumbers, dairy, equine, floriculture, grapes, leafy greens, mangos, other animal products, peaches, peanuts, pecans, potatoes, poultry, rice, snap beans, soybeans, strawberries, sugarcane, sweet corn, tangerines, tomatoes, watermelons, and more. Agricultural lands and agribusiness more than 100 miles away from the eye of the storm experienced tornadoes and other devastating effects which compounded losses.
     
    Block Grants:
     
    In 2018, after Hurricane Irma, Congress appropriated relief to Florida agriculture and USDA delivered that aid through a block grant to the state. The State of Florida was successful in getting that aid to those in need quickly and efficiently. During a House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture hearing held on March 9, 2023, USDA Inspector General Phyllis K. Fong was asked about the effectiveness of this block grant and she stated, “[i]n that instance, FSA successfully partnered with Florida to deliver assistance to the citrus farmers.” She went on to say: “I think that is an example, within your own state, where that kind of block grant program can work.” We ask that you support both an appropriation request and authority to deliver the assistance in the form of a block grant to our state.
     
    USDA must work to deliver aid to communities affected by disasters as quickly and efficiently as possible. FSA offices across Florida are still having trouble facilitating disaster assistance programs designed to help after 2022 Hurricanes Ian and Nicole. However, these funds were not in the form of a block grant and as a result, there are hundreds of producers who are still awaiting assistance.
     
    Creating a new disaster program each time funds are appropriated by Congress not only complicates the disaster relief application process, but also delays delivery of critical assistance for the producers who feed our state and nation. Block grants administered by the state expedite disbursement, free up personnel at FSA to efficiently carry out routine programs and provide needed flexibility for states.
     
    As you are aware, the Block Grant Assistance Act (H.R 662 & S.180) was designed to authorize USDA to administer calendar year 2022 disaster relief via block grants. This would give USDA the ability, when reasonable, to issue block grants and expedite payment to producers. This bill is cosponsored by the entire Florida delegation and unanimously passed the House on June 12, 2023. We remain steadfast in our support for standing block grant authority and continue to urge USDA to support this measure giving them additional flexibility in administering disaster programs.
     
    Farm Service Agency:
     
    Unlike most commodity crop programs, Florida specialty crop programs are disaster based and time consuming to deliver. Additionally, permanent FSA staff are needed in the county offices to administer the USDA disaster programs efficiently and effectively. We ask that USDA approve an expedited review of applications and deployment of existing authority for FSA offices to waive requirements that are redundant or unnecessary.
     
    In many other states, straightforward programs like Agriculture Risk Coverage or Price Loss Coverage enable producers to easily enroll and receive payments. These routine programs influence FSA workload metrics and help the agency prioritize personnel and resources. However, the situation differs significantly in Florida with specialty crops. Most of our programs are disaster-based, which are notably more time-consuming to administer and manage. These factors are not accounted for when allocating staff. As a result, our FSA county offices are not adequately staffed and have not finalized Emergency Relief Program (ERP) and Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) payments to producers for 2022.
     
    Disaster Appropriation:
     
    Per USDA data, losses in agriculture across calendar year 2022 totaled $14 billion, yet Congress only appropriated $3.7 billion in relief to our nation’s producers in the December 2022 omnibus. We recognize this led to difficult decisions on how to distribute the disaster assistance. However, the “Progressive Payment Factor” being applied to ERP 2022 payments was an unnecessary and harmful program flaw that has resulted in the producers who suffered the most severe losses receiving pennies on the dollars in assistance. Federal disaster assistance is never meant to make producers whole, but Congress has a duty to prevent a failure like this from occurring again. We look forward to working with USDA to ensure adequate funding for 2023 and 2024 losses.
     
    Improved Crop Insurance Options:
     
    Crop insurance is another tool USDA can use to improve the farm safety net alongside these suggestions for improving delivery of FSA disaster programs. The 2024 Farm Bill that passed the House Committee on Agriculture includes language to improve crop insurance options for specialty crop growers, including the Temperature Endorsement for Multi-Peril Policies (TEMP) Act (H.R.6186 & S.3253).4 Many of Florida’s specialty crop growers do not have insurance on their crops because of the high price of the premiums and low payouts from claims. The Florida Delegation will continue its efforts to work with USDA to prioritize improving crop insurance options for growers as outlined in the 2024 Farm Bill passed by the House Committee on Agriculture earlier this year.
     
    To ensure USDA and Congress are equipped to provide adequate support for producers, please respond to the following questions and provide the following documents and information no later than November 29, 2024.

    1. A statement of agency policy for utilization of block grants within USDA disaster-based programs.
    2. A document detailing calendar year 2024 calendar year losses up to October 29, 2024, and a budgetary request to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to ensure adequate funding of relief programs.
    3. An updated document detailing FSA county office leadership, and how many FTEs are employed at each.
    4. A report on the number of FTEs Florida FSA offices need to efficiently administer a disaster-based program to Florida producers.
    5. A plan for strike team deployment to Florida FSA offices including timeline, number of employees and where these teams will be placed.

    As Members of Congress, it is our responsibility to work with USDA to best assist the producers who feed our nation. We appreciate your attention to this urgent matter.
     
    Sincerely,
     
     

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Rep Angie Craig Announces $330,750 to Increase Domestic Biofuels in Lakeville

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)

    Lakeville, MN – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig announced $330,750 in federal grant funding for the Mega Stop Inc., a truck stop in Lakeville, to help expand their access to homegrown biofuels.

    This funding comes as a Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentives Program grant, which is part of a $239 million investment, made in the Inflation Reduction Act, to increase the availability of domestic biofuels in 18 states and give Americans cleaner, more affordable fuel options. 

    “Bolstering domestic biofuel production supports Minnesota’s family farmers and lowers prices at the pump for working Minnesotans – it’s a win-win for everybody,” said Rep. Craig. “I was proud to work to pass the Inflation Reduction Act and I’ll keep working to invest in the all-of-the-above energy approach we need to lower energy costs and combat climate change.”

    The Inflation Reduction Act, which passed in 2022 with Rep. Craig’s support, made the largest investment ever in homegrown biofuels infrastructure.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Animal Welfare – Animals suffering for entertainment – SAFE calls for ban as rodeo season begins

    Source: SAFE For Animals

    With the 2025/25 rodeo season due to commence this Sunday 3 November, animal rights organisation SAFE is reinforcing its call for a ban.
    SAFE Campaign Manager Emily Hall says rodeo events directly breach New Zealand’s Animal Welfare Act, with animals used at these events subjected to extreme psychological and physical trauma.
    “Our Animal Welfare Act states that any physical handling of animals must be done in a way that minimises the likelihood of unnecessary pain or distress, and rodeo practices clearly violate this legislation.”
    “Horses, bulls, steers, and calves are singled out, provoked with painful instruments and pursued, which translates to sheer terror for these gentle natured herd animals.”
    SAFE says the types of injuries animals experience can include ripped tendons, broken bones, horns torn off, severe bruising, and organ damage.
    “The animals forced to participate are at significant risk of injury, and rodeo has long been condemned by animal welfare experts here in New Zealand and internationally.”
    “We should have seen these barbaric events banned a long time ago,” says Hall.
    SAFE highlights the physical pain and distress rodeo practices inflict on animals not only breaches their legal rights, but also goes against Kiwis expectations of animal welfare, particularly as rodeo is promoted as a family-friendly event.
    “We are deeply concerned at the disconnect between what the rodeo industry considers a sport and the level of harm inflicted upon the animals in their care.” “Rodeo certainly holds no social licence as a community event, and we hope to see a shift in terms of clubs and competitor’s respect for animal welfare.”
    In addition to highlighting the need for a ban, SAFE is calling on the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) to release its revised rodeo Code of Welfare for public consultation.
    “SAFE understands a revised rodeo code was completed almost two years ago but no further steps have been taken by NAWAC or the Minister for Animal Welfare. This unnecessary delay is preventing New Zealanders from having their say, and puts the lives of animals still being subjected to this cruel practice at risk”. says Hall.
    “No animal should have to endure extreme trauma or catastrophic injuries in the name of entertainment, and we are calling for these exceptionally cruel events to be banned in line with the Animal Welfare Act”.
    SAFE is Aotearoa’s leading animal rights organisation.
    We’re creating a future that ensures the rights of animals are respected. Our core work empowers society to make kinder choices for ourselves, animals and our planet.
    • The revised Code of Welfare; Rodeo has been significantly delayed.
    • In July 2022, SAFE and the New Zealand Animal Law Association (NZALA) jointly contested rodeo in the High Court.
    • Rodeo clubs are not obliged to report injuries or deaths sustained during events. Information is therefore only available through OIA requests.
    • On Tuesday 22 October the Aohanga Horse Sports & Rodeo Club received a formal warning from Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) in relation to the club permitting and encouraging the riding of sheep. Sheep riding is banned at rodeo events as outlined in the rodeo Code of Welfare. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The NFB at RIDM 2024. Kim O’Bomsawin’s Ninan Auassat: We, the Children chosen to close the festival. Wilfred Buck by Lisa Jackson screening in competition.

    Source: Government of Canada News

    The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) will be at the 27th Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM) with two feature films, including this year’s closing film, Ninan Auassat: Nous, les enfants (Ninan Auassat: We, the Children, NFB), by Abenaki filmmaker Kim O’Bomsawin. Wilfred Buck (Door Number 3 Productions/NFB), by Anishinaabe filmmaker Lisa Jackson, will also be screening at RIDM, where it will be having its Quebec premiere.

    October 30, 2024 – Montreal – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

    The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) will be at the 27th Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM) with two feature films, including this year’s closing film, Ninan Auassat: Nous, les enfants (Ninan Auassat: We, the Children, NFB), by Abenaki filmmaker Kim O’Bomsawin. Wilfred Buck (Door Number 3 Productions/NFB), by Anishinaabe filmmaker Lisa Jackson, will also be screening at RIDM, where it will be having its Quebec premiere. Both titles are in the Magnus Isacsson Competition. The short film Nalujuk Night (NFB, 2021), by Inuk visual artist Jennie Williams, will be shown as part of the Doc-to-Doc program, where directors whose latest projects are screening at RIDM discuss films they’d like audiences to discover. RIDM will take place from November 20 to December 1, 2024.

    Closing film: Ninan Auassat: We, the Children by Kim O’Bomsawin

    Ninan Auassat: Nous, les enfants (Ninan Auassat: We, the Children) by Kim O’Bomsawin (93 min) – Quebec premiere
    Produced at the NFB by Mélanie Brière, Nathalie Cloutier and Colette Loumède
    Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/ninan_auassat_en

    • The film will screen in competition as it makes its Quebec premiere during the festival’s closing night on November 30 (screening by invitation only) at the Cineplex Odeon Quartier Latin Cinema, with the filmmaker in attendance. This will be followed at 10:30 p.m. by a concert at the Cinémathèque Québécoise featuring the electro-pop/soul sounds of Huron-Wendat singer-songwriter Eadsé, presented by the NFB and RIDM and open to all. A second screening of the film, open to the public, is scheduled for December 1 at 3 p.m. at the Cinémathèque québécoise, followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker.
    • Ninan Auassat celebrates the power and vitality of Indigenous youth. Shot over more than six years, the film brings us the moving stories of three groups of children from three different Indigenous nations—Atikamekw, Eeyou Cree and Innu. Filmed from “a child’s eye-view” and without adult voices and “experts” on young people, the film reveals the dreams of a new generation poised to take flight. The feature film recently received the Tides Award for Best Canadian Documentary at the Vancouver International Film Festival.
    • Kim O’Bomsawin is an award-winning Abenaki documentary filmmaker and sociologist who’s deeply passionate about sharing the stories of Indigenous Peoples. Her recent credits include the feature-length documentary Call Me Human (Je m’appelle Humain), honoured at the Gémeaux Awards in 2020, and her series Telling Our Story, shown in TIFF’s Primetime program in 2023.

    Ninan Auassat: We, the Children will have its theatrical release in Quebec in spring 2025.

    Lisa Jackson’s Wilfred Buck screening in competition

    Wilfred Buck by Lisa Jackson (92 min) – Quebec premiere
    Co-produced by Lisa Jackson and Lauren Grant (Door Number 3 Productions) and Alicia Smith (NFB). Executive producers: Jennifer Baichwal, Nicholas de Pencier and David Christensen (NFB).
    Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/wilfred-buck

    • A Top 5 Audience Favourite at this year’s Hot Docs, the film will have its Quebec premiere and screen in competition on November 22 at 8:30 p.m. at the Cinéma du Musée. A second screening is scheduled for November 24 at 3:30 p.m., also at the Cinéma du Musée. The filmmaker will be present at both screenings to take questions from the audience afterward.
    • He’s from the “fresh-out-of-the-bush, partly civilized, colonized, displaced people,” and he’s here to take us to the stars. Lisa Jackson’s portrait of Cree Elder Wilfred Buck moves between earth and sky, past and present, bringing to life ancient teachings of Indigenous astronomy and cosmology to tell a story that spans generations. Adapted from Buck’s rollicking memoir I Have Lived Four Lives, the film weaves together stories from his life, including his harrowing young years of displacement and addiction.
    • Lisa Jacksonis an Anishinaabe (Aamjiwnaang) filmmaker whose work has garnered two Canadian Screen Awards, been nominated for a Webby and screened at top festivals including Sundance, Tribeca, SXSW, London BFI and Hot Docs. Her 2018 NFB VR experience Biidaaban: First Light was viewed by more than 25,000 people, while her film Indictment won Best Doc at imagineNATIVE. Jackson has been honoured with the 2022 Chicken & Egg Award as well as the 2021 DOC Vanguard Award.

    Wilfred Buck will be available on Crave in December 2024.

    – 30 –

    Stay Connected

    Online Screening Room: NFB.ca
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    Curator’s perspective | Director’s notes

    About the NFB

    Lily Robert
    Director, Communications and Public Affairs, NFB
    C.: 514-296-8261
    l.robert@nfb.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Merkley, Wyden Announce $46 Million to Boost the Klamath Basin

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)

    October 30, 2024

    Federal funding will help restore the Klamath River’s habitat following historic dam removal and further protect endangered C’waam, Koptu, and salmon

    Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is investing a total of $46,191,133 in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to boost ecosystem restoration and enhance water quality and reliability through 24 projects throughout the Klamath Basin—12 of which are taking place in Oregon.

    This latest federal funding wave from the landmark law will largely fuel the Klamath River’s recovery and habitat restoration efforts following the removal of the four lower Klamath Dams in 2024—the largest dam removal effort in U.S. history.

    “A key to restoring the Klamath Basin is major federal investments that will support collaborative ecosystem restoration and water improvement efforts. This funding will continue ongoing efforts I helped energize alongside the Klamath Tribes and other stakeholders to save the C’waam and Koptu, and restore the aquatic habitat and ecosystems of the Klamath River following the historic removal of the four lower Klamath Dams,” said Merkley, who visited Northern California earlier in October to tour a former dam site and celebrate removal alongside Tribes and other key partners. “Since the dams came out, we’ve seen the salmon returning home for the first time in generations. This federal investment champions projects that help ensure the C’waam, Koptu, and salmon all have an ecosystem to thrive in, while also prioritizing efforts that help this unique region’s water go farther for the Tribes, farmers, fish, and vital ecosystems that rely on it.”

    “Restoration of the Klamath Basin requires significant resources just like these to catalyze the work that’s needed locally to build a stronger ecosystem and improve water quality,” Wyden said. “This fresh federal investment in the region and the big gains it will generate for jobs, recreation, and habitat will work to ensure the area’s farmers, Tribes and communities can grow and thrive for generations to come.”

    As Chairman of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, Merkley secured a historic $162 million over five years through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law specifically dedicated to restoring ecosystems and enhancing drought resiliency work in the Klamath Basin. Today’s $46 million funding announcement from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s USFWS marks the third year of investments from this landmark law, as it follows $26 million provided in 2022 and $15 million in 2023. Merkley also convened the “Sucker Summit ” in 2018, which brought people from across the Basin together and helped lay the groundwork for these significant investments to protect the C’waam and the Koptu.

    In February of this year, Merkley and Wyden announced $72 million in new federal funding for critical ecosystem restoration projects and agricultural infrastructure modernization in the Basin, as well as a historic agreement with the Klamath Tribes, Yurok Tribe, Karuk Tribe, and Klamath Water Users Association (KWUA). This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) cemented their commitment to working together to drive long-term solutions to the Basin’s water challenges. That includes collective efforts to restore the region’s ecosystem and improve water supply and reliability for the Klamath Project. 

    The 12 restoration projects in Oregon—some of which are being developed by Klamath MOU group partners, as well as other Tribes and other conservation partners—are as follows:

    • $13,000,000 for the Wetland Restoration on Upper Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Agency Lake Units project. This will complete restoration of the Agency-Barnes wetland units of Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge and provide fish habitat access in Fourmile and Sevenmile creeks. Covering 14,356 acres, the restored wetland will create vital habitat for waterfowl, federally endangered Lost River and shortnose suckers (C’waam and Koptu sucker fish), and other species, making it one of the largest wetland restoration initiatives in America. MOU group partners – Ducks Unlimited and Klamath Tribes
    • $3,500,000 for the Upper Williamson River Restoration Phase 2 project. This will provide fish passage to over 26 miles of the upper Williamson River and reconnect several thousand acres of adjacent wetlands and riparian habitats within the Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge project area. MOU group partners – Ducks Unlimited and Klamath Tribes
    • $3,179,400 for the Climate Change Resiliency Stream Restoration and Post Bootleg Fire Stream Stabilization and Restoration project. This effort includes placing approximately 400 Beaver Dam Analog, Post Assisted Log Structures, and other types of instream structures to help restore several streams in the Sprague River and Williamson River watersheds. MOU partner – Klamath Tribes
    • $3,000,000 for the Lake Ewauna Restoration for the Benefit of People, Fish and Wildlife project. This funding will be used to develop and restore wetlands and shoreline around Lake Ewauna in downtown Klamath Falls for the benefit of native fish and wildlife species and to tell the story of the local Tribes, farmers, and communities in the Klamath Basin. Restorative improvements to habitat in Link River and instream habitat improvements within Lake Ewauna will benefit C’waam and Koptu suckers, native trout, migratory waterfowl, and other species. With the recently removed Klamath dams, salmon and steelhead will also be migrating through Lake Ewauna for the first time in over a century. Partners – The Klamath Watershed Partnership, City of Klamath Falls, and Klamath County Economic Development Agency
    • $2,540,000 million for the Tule Lake Flow Through Infrastructure Improvement project. This encompasses a suite of infrastructure improvements and operational changes to provide natural ecosystem services with respect to water quality in the Klamath Basin. Water used for farmland irrigation would then flow through wetlands before returning to the Klamath River. In addition to water quality benefits for the Klamath River, this project will provide habitat for threatened and endangered fish, support migratory wildlife, recharge groundwater, and provide other ecosystem benefits. MOU group partners – KWUA and Tulelake Irrigation District
    • $2,027,799 for the SONAR and Radio Telemetry and Spawning Surveys for Klamath Salmon project. This will be used to obtain abundance estimates of salmon and steelhead entering the reach previously blocked by the four lower Klamath dams and track salmon migrations to their spawning grounds. These metrics will provide a foundation for assessment of stock status and trends while guiding future restoration efforts in the newly accessible habitats, developing a toolset to support prioritization of future restoration and monitoring in the Klamath River. It will also provide much needed capacity for three of the six tribes on the Klamath River, allowing them to track the return of these culturally significant species. MOU group partners – Karuk Tribe, California Trout, Klamath Tribes, Yurok Tribe, Cal Poly Humboldt, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife
    • $1,253,000 for the Klamath Basin Fisheries Collaborative: Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) Tag Monitoring and Database project. This will be used to continue to build the infrastructure required to provide Klamath Basin fisheries managers with consistent and reliable data on movements of fish using PIT tags. Work funded by this proposal includes continuing to improve on existing fish monitoring efforts by coordinating activities and collaborating on tasks, as well as advancing data exchange by refining the user interface and providing technical support to data providers. Partner – Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
    • $500,000 for the Implementation of Integrated Fisheries Restoration and Monitoring Plan (IFRMP) project. This will fund a USFWS initiative to support Klamath Basin stakeholders in tracking, coordinating, and integrating monitoring and data collection efforts across the Basin.
    • $500,000 for the Klamath Basin Stakeholder Engagement and Facilitation project. This will fund a USFWS initiative to provide greater continuity and work toward local governance for the MOU parties, which are interested in utilizing a neutral facilitator to help identify additional ways to promote collaboration and reduce conflict over natural resources. This effort could include expanding the MOU group to include other interested parties and to develop proposals related to a governance structure for making important decisions on restoration and monitoring in the Klamath Basin. These funds would support the hiring of a facilitator selected by the parties and support up to three to five years of facilitation support.
    • $300,000 for the Post Dam Removal Data Collection on Salmon Migration and Movement project. This funding will be used by project partners to use otolith microchemistry tools to 1) understand how Klamath Dam removal affects the early life history diversity of Chinook salmon, 2) determine the natal origin and migration histories of returning fish, pre- and post-dam removal, 3) determine which tributaries are and are not producing Chinook salmon, and 4) quantify how Chinook production varies between different tributaries before and after dam removal. The information is critical to adaptively managing the Klamath Basin, post dam removal, and has important implications for restoration of key tributaries. Partner – UC Davis
    • $295,000 for the Surface Water Management and Efficiency Enhancement project. This encompasses necessary infrastructure improvements to allow safe, reliable, and integrated management of water within the Klamath Project. MOU group partners – KWUA, Klamath Irrigation District, and Klamath Drainage District
    • $200,000 for the FWS Post Dam Removal Science Symposia project. This will fund an USFWS initiative to sponsor a Klamath science symposium in 2025. Planning for this symposium will start in November 2024. The goal is to bring together stakeholders/experts to discuss the state of the Basin post dam removal, progress on restoration and monitoring, and next-step strategies to continue the momentum on restoration progress in the years ahead.

    For a complete list and full descriptions of all the 24 projects awarded funding in the Klamath Basin, click HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Autumn harvest in full swing in China

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Autumn harvest in full swing in China

    Updated: October 31, 2024 07:41 Xinhua
    A harvester works at a late rice field in Changqing Village, Daoxian County, central China’s Hunan Province, Oct. 30, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A drone photo taken on Oct. 30, 2024 shows farmers airing hawthorns in Zunhua City, north China’s Hebei Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 30, 2024 shows farmers harvesting fresh ginger in Zhongjia Village, Zouping City of east China’s Shandong Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 30, 2024 shows farmers harvesting rehmannia, a kind of herbal medicine, in Yuanshi County, north China’s Hebei Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 30, 2024 shows a harvester working at a rice field in Xinbei District of Changzhou City, east China’s Jiangsu Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New board members appointed to Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority

    Source: New South Wales Ministerial News

    Published: 31 October 2024

    Released by: Minister for Gaming and Racing

    The NSW Government has made appointments to the board of the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA), including a deputy chairperson and two new members.

    Associate Professor Amelia Thorpe and Nicholas Nichles have been appointed following a rigorous public expression of interest selection process. Additionally, existing member Chris Honey has been appointed deputy chairperson.

    ILGA is a statutory decision-maker responsible for a range of liquor, registered club, and gaming machine regulatory functions including determining licensing and disciplinary matters.

    The appointments follow the end of the term of appointment for outgoing deputy chairperson Sarah Dinning, and also fill vacancies that existed on the board.

    Mr Honey, who was appointed a member of ILGA earlier in 2024, has been named deputy chairperson until the end of his current appointment term (11 February 2027). Mr Honey has extensive experience in the advisory and restructuring field, including working extensively in highly regulated sectors.

    Associate Professor Thorpe and Mr Nichles have both been appointed for four years commencing 6 November 2024.

    Associate Prof Thorpe is with the Faculty of Law & Justice at the University of New South Wales and an Acting Commissioner of the NSW Land and Environment Court.

    Mr Nichles was previously a Consul General and Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner for Australian Government agency Austrade, based in the US.

    The new appointments bring the ILGA board membership to seven.

    The new appointments will join chairperson Caroline Lamb, new deputy chairperson Mr Honey and current members Cathie Armour, Jeffrey Loy APM and Dr Suzanne Craig.

    For more information about ILGA, visit: https://www.ilga.nsw.gov.au/

    Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said:

    “I would like to thank Sarah Dinning for her contribution to the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority, including during her service as deputy chairperson.

    “ILGA has an important role to play as the administrative decision-making authority for liquor, registered club and gaming machine licensing decisions in NSW.

    “An exhaustive selection process was undertaken for these new appointments in accordance with legislative requirements and including the engagement of an independent probity advisor.

    “Chris Honey has brought significant expertise to the board since his appointment and Amelia Thorpe and Nicholas Nichles will bring their substantial experience, expertise and leadership to ILGA.”

    ILGA chairperson Caroline Lamb said:

    “Mr Honey joined the ILGA board earlier this year and has proven himself to be an invaluable board member with his energy and considerable skills and experience in the advisory and restructuring field.

    “The ILGA board also welcomes A/Prof Thorpe and Mr Nichles to the board.

    “People appointed to the ILGA board must be of the highest integrity and promote fair, transparent and efficient decision-making.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Onions served at McDonald’s are likely source of E. coli outbreak in US: CDC

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Fresh, slivered onions served on Quarter Pounders and other menu items from McDonald’s are the likely source of E. coli outbreak in the United States, said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday.

    A total of 90 sicken cases caused by E. coli have been reported across 13 U.S. states as of Wednesday, including 15 new cases, according to latest CDC data.

    Among these cases, 27 were hospitalized and one dead.

    The CDC said more illnesses have been reported, but they are from before McDonald’s and Taylor Farms took action to remove onions from food service locations.

    Due to the product actions taken by both companies, the CDC said it believes the risk to the public is very low.

    E. coli are bacteria found in many places, including in the environment, foods, water, and the intestines of people and animals.

    Most E. coli are harmless and are part of a healthy intestinal tract. But some E. coli can make people sick with diarrhea, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, sepsis, and other illnesses, according to the CDC. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Partnerships to revitalise regional Victoria

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    The Albanese Government is supporting local jobs, tourism and cultural opportunities in regional Victoria, investing $21.5 million to community projects through the $400 million regional Precincts and Partnerships Program. 

    We are investing $5 million in the Hamilton Community and Cultural Precinct which seeks to boost the visitor economy by taking advantage of underused central locations.

    Plans for the development of the CDB, New Hamilton Gallery, and Community and Digital Hub will help shape the precinct for Hamilton. 

    We are also investing $800,000 in Cobram for the Thompsons Beach and Kennedy Park Precinct Plan to better connect communities by shaping infrastructure developments on the NSW and Victorian border, and support economic and tourism opportunities.

    The funding will also support the delivery of precinct infrastructure including $7.7 million for the Mansfield Station Precinct Activation Project.

    The Mansfield township has identified the station precinct upgrades as a major priority for the region. The project will include an all-abilities playground, accessible changing facilities and a bicycle pump track.

    We are also investing $8 million for the Cowes Foreshore Precinct to improve visitor experiences by connecting the foreshore with retail, dining and accommodation.

    Thompson Avenue North and The Esplanade will undergo one-way traffic upgrades and improved landscaping and wayfinding.

    The rPPP has already funded $3.8 million for projects across Victoria including in Colac Otway, Bendigo East, and Swan Hill.

    Further applications to the program are currently under assessment. For more information on the program visit: infrastructure.gov.au/regional.

    Quotes attributable to Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

    “We are listening to communities across regional Victoria and funding the projects they’ve identified as priorities.  

    “The new Cowes Foreshore Precinct will rejuvenate the township into a premier tourism destination.

    “The Mansfield community will be able to enjoy improved facilities suitable for all ages and abilities.

    “Our investments are planning and building more liveable and productive precincts across the state through effective local partnerships that provide long-term benefits.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Brookfield’s acquisition of Neoen not opposed, subject to divestments

    Source: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

    The ACCC will not oppose the acquisition of Neoen SA by a consortium led by Brookfield Renewable Holdings SAS (Brookfield BidCo), subject to a court-enforceable undertaking to divest Neoen’s existing Victorian renewable electricity generation and storage assets and its development projects in Victoria.

    Brookfield Renewable has established Brookfield BidCo for the purposes of the proposed acquisition. Brookfield Renewable is a division of Brookfield Corporation (Brookfield), which is a global asset management business.

    Brookfield has a controlling interest in AusNet, that owns and operates Victoria’s monopoly electricity transmission network and parts of the electricity distribution network. AusNet also has two battery energy storage systems and a further two development projects in Victoria.

    Neoen specialises in renewable energy projects. Neoen has 15 operating assets in Australia and a further 48 projects in varying stages of development.  

    The ACCC’s investigation focused on competition in the Victorian markets for the supply of renewable generation, firming capacity and electricity storage services, and Frequency Control Ancillary Services and/or Very Fast Frequency Control Ancillary Services. 

    The ACCC was concerned that Brookfield, through its control of AusNet, would be able to operate the Victorian transmission network to favour its own generation and storage assets and/or hinder rival generators or storage assets.

    The ACCC concluded that the acquisition of Neoen would increase Brookfield’s incentives to engage in such conduct.

    “The ACCC has long-standing competition concerns with cross-ownership of monopoly energy network assets and energy generators, due to the potential for the monopoly provider to discriminate against rivals and favour its own operations,” ACCC Commissioner Dr Philip Williams said.

    “The ACCC considers that, without the divestment, the acquisition would have increased Brookfield’s incentives to delay or increase the cost of connections works on rival projects or operate the AusNet transmission network to benefit Brookfield’s related assets,” Dr Williams said.

    “While there are some regulatory protections to limit obvious and blatant conduct disadvantaging rivals, there is still a clear potential for anti-competitive tactics.”

    “With these significant concerns in mind, the ACCC has accepted a court-enforceable undertaking from Brookfield to divest Neoen’s operating assets and development projects in Victoria,” Dr Williams said.

    “The ACCC considers that this divestment will reduce Brookfield’s incentives to engage in such conduct as a result of the transaction.”

    Brookfield will now be required to divest Neon’s operational assets and six further development projects in Victoria. The operational assets are the Victorian Big Battery, Numurkah Solar Farm, Bulgana Wind Farm and Battery.

    Neoen has six development projects in Victoria that will also be divested. The development projects are Navarre Green Power Hub Stage 1 and 2, Kentbruck Green Power Hub Stage 1 and 2, Kentbruck Storage, Moorabool Battery Energy Storage System (also known as Victorian Big Battery Stage 2), Loy Yang Wind, and Bulgana X.

    More information can be found on the ACCC’s website at Brookfield – Neoen.

    Background

    Brookfield is a Canadian global asset manager with approximately US$900 billion assets under management.

    In Australia, Neoen has 15 operating generation and storage assets capable of generating ~1.8GW of electricity, and 48 projects in varying stages of development capable of generating ~10GW of electricity once operational.

    Brookfield BidCo has been established for the purposes of the proposed acquisition. Brookfield BidCo is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bernabeu Master UK Holdings Limited. Bernabeu Master UK Holdings Limited is ultimately owned by Brookfield Asset Management ULC. Temasek is a member of the consortium.

    Brookfield Infrastructure (through Brookfield Super-Core Infrastructure Partners), with a 45.4% interest, is the largest investor in AusNet. The balance is held by a number of unrelated parties. Brookfield actively manages AusNet. AusNet has two battery energy storage systems and a further two development projects in Victoria.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rubio, Franklin, Colleagues Demand Compensation for Agricultural Land

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio
    Hurricanes Helene and Milton brought high winds, flooding, and damage across Florida. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services estimates the total crop and infrastructure losses range from $1.5 to $2.5 billion.The State of Florida has requested federal agriculture disaster designations from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to compensate impacted counties. 
    U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), U.S. Representative Scott Franklin (R-FL), and colleagues sent a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to ensure Florida producers and farmers are provided critical aid and policy flexibilities as they recover from the storms.
    “These back-to-back major hurricanes have decimated Florida agriculture, our state’s second largest industry, which generates more than $182.6 billion in annual revenue and provides more than 2.5 million jobs.…. As Members of Congress, it is our responsibility to work with USDA to best assist the producers who feed our nation. We appreciate your attention to this urgent matter.”
    Joining Rubio and Franklin were U.S. Representatives Kat Cammack (R-FL), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Neal Dunn (R-FL), Brian Mast (R-FL), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), Laurel Lee (R-FL), Michael Waltz (R-FL), María Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Daniel Webster (R-FL), Aaron Bean (R-FL), Bill Posey (R-FL), John Rutherford (R-FL), Darren Soto (D-FL), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), Cory Mills (R-FL), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Greg Steube (R-FL), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Carlos Giménez (R-FL), Federica Wilson (D-FL), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), and Kathy Castor (D-FL).
    The full text of the letter is below. 
    Dear Secretary Vilsack:
    We write to strongly urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) take immediate action to deliver critical aid to agricultural producers affected by recent hurricanes Helene and Milton. These back-to-back major hurricanes have decimated Florida agriculture, our state’s second largest industry, which generates more than $182.6 billion in annual revenue and provides more than 2.5 million jobs.
    Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast just 13 days after Helene and brought high winds, flooding and damage across the entire state. According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences (FDACS), the preliminary estimate of total crop and infrastructure losses ranges from $1.5 to $2.5 billion, and the State of Florida has requested federal agriculture disaster designations for impacted counties in response to both storms.
    Milton’s path impacted some of Florida’s most productive agricultural areas for aquaculture, avocados, bell peppers, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbage, cattle, citrus, christmas trees, corn, cotton, cucumbers, dairy, equine, floriculture, grapes, leafy greens, mangos, other animal products, peaches, peanuts, pecans, potatoes, poultry, rice, snap beans, soybeans, strawberries, sugarcane, sweet corn, tangerines, tomatoes, watermelons, and more. Agricultural lands and agribusiness more than 100 miles away from the eye of the storm experienced tornadoes and other devastating effects which compounded losses.
    Block Grants:
    In 2018, after Hurricane Irma, Congress appropriated relief to Florida agriculture and USDA delivered that aid through a block grant to the state. The State of Florida was successful in getting that aid to those in need quickly and efficiently. During a House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture hearing held on March 9, 2023, USDA Inspector General Phyllis K. Fong was asked about the effectiveness of this block grant and she stated, “[i]n that instance, FSA successfully partnered with Florida to deliver assistance to the citrus farmers.” She went on to say: “I think that is an example, within your own state, where that kind of block grant program can work.” We ask that you support both an appropriation request and authority to deliver the assistance in the form of a block grant to our state.
    USDA must work to deliver aid to communities affected by disasters as quickly and efficiently as possible. FSA offices across Florida are still having trouble facilitating disaster assistance programs designed to help after 2022 Hurricanes Ian and Nicole. However, these funds were not in the form of a block grant and as a result, there are hundreds of producers who are still awaiting assistance.
    Creating a new disaster program each time funds are appropriated by Congress not only complicates the disaster relief application process, but also delays delivery of critical assistance for the producers who feed our state and nation. Block grants administered by the state expedite disbursement, free up personnel at FSA to efficiently carry out routine programs and provide needed flexibility for states.
    As you are aware, the Block Grant Assistance Act (H.R 662 & S.180) was designed to authorize USDA to administer calendar year 2022 disaster relief via block grants. This would give USDA the ability, when reasonable, to issue block grants and expedite payment to producers. This bill is cosponsored by the entire Florida delegation and unanimously passed the House on June 12, 2023. We remain steadfast in our support for standing block grant authority and continue to urge USDA to support this measure giving them additional flexibility in administering disaster programs.
    Farm Service Agency:
    Unlike most commodity crop programs, Florida specialty crop programs are disaster based and time consuming to deliver. Additionally, permanent FSA staff are needed in the county offices to administer the USDA disaster programs efficiently and effectively. We ask that USDA approve an expedited review of applications and deployment of existing authority for FSA offices to waive requirements that are redundant or unnecessary.
    In many other states, straightforward programs like Agriculture Risk Coverage or Price Loss Coverage enable producers to easily enroll and receive payments. These routine programs influence FSA workload metrics and help the agency prioritize personnel and resources. However, the situation differs significantly in Florida with specialty crops. Most of our programs are disaster-based, which are notably more time-consuming to administer and manage. These factors are not accounted for when allocating staff. As a result, our FSA county offices are not adequately staffed and have not finalized Emergency Relief Program (ERP) and Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) payments to producers for 2022.
    Disaster Appropriation:
    Per USDA data, losses in agriculture across calendar year 2022 totaled $14 billion, yet Congress only appropriated $3.7 billion in relief to our nation’s producers in the December 2022 omnibus. We recognize this led to difficult decisions on how to distribute the disaster assistance. However, the “Progressive Payment Factor” being applied to ERP 2022 payments was an unnecessary and harmful program flaw that has resulted in the producers who suffered the most severe losses receiving pennies on the dollars in assistance. Federal disaster assistance is never meant to make producers whole, but Congress has a duty to prevent a failure like this from occurring again. We look forward to working with USDA to ensure adequate funding for 2023 and 2024 losses.
    Improved Crop Insurance Options:
    Crop insurance is another tool USDA can use to improve the farm safety net alongside these suggestions for improving delivery of FSA disaster programs. The 2024 Farm Bill that passed the House Committee on Agriculture includes language to improve crop insurance options for specialty crop growers, including the Temperature Endorsement for Multi-Peril Policies (TEMP) Act (H.R.6186 & S.3253).4 Many of Florida’s specialty crop growers do not have insurance on their crops because of the high price of the premiums and low payouts from claims. The Florida Delegation will continue its efforts to work with USDA to prioritize improving crop insurance options for growers as outlined in the 2024 Farm Bill passed by the House Committee on Agriculture earlier this year.
    To ensure USDA and Congress are equipped to provide adequate support for producers, please respond to the following questions and provide the following documents and information no later than November 29, 2024.
    A statement of agency policy for utilization of block grants within USDA disaster-based programs.
    A document detailing calendar year 2024 calendar year losses up to October 29, 2024, and a budgetary request to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to ensure adequate funding of relief programs.
    An updated document detailing FSA county office leadership, and how many FTEs are employed at each.
    A report on the number of FTEs Florida FSA offices need to efficiently administer a disaster-based program to Florida producers.
    A plan for strike team deployment to Florida FSA offices including timeline, number of employees and where these teams will be placed.
    As Members of Congress, it is our responsibility to work with USDA to best assist the producers who feed our nation. We appreciate your attention to this urgent matter.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Press Conference – Cowes

    Source: Australia Government Ministerial Statements

    CATHERINE KING: Hi, I’m Catherine King. I’m the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, and one of the great parts of my job is being able to invest in local communities. Today we’re announcing here in Cowes that the Albanese Labor Government is committing $8 million to upgrade the esplanade, to do the work that’s needed to ensure that this is a much more pedestrian-friendly area for the beautiful people that come to Phillip Island each year, who live on the island, and call this home. This investment alongside over $21 million worth of funding that we’re announcing as part of the regional Precincts and Partnerships Program, another project in Hamilton, a project in Mansfield, and a project in Cobram, are really important projects for local communities. What they enable and the reason we’ve been looking to invest alongside council in these projects is to create precincts that come to life. Where the infrastructure may be a bit tired, it’s not working, we’re really trying to make sure we’re bringing people back into the centres and regions, that we’re providing that opportunity for new businesses to flourish, but also really for places to be used because we know how important that is to local communities.

    So, really delighted to be here today to announce the latest round of regional Precincts and Partnerships funding and the $8 million to give to the Cowes community. I might hand over to the CEO – obviously the council is in caretaker at the moment – to say a few words and then I’ll be happy to take some questions.

    GREG BOX: Thank you, Minister. So, we’re really pleased to have you here and really pleased to have the Federal Government provide this funding. Ultimately, it’ll bring the money to 9.6 million from council’s contribution. This is an iconic part of Victoria. It’s an iconic street. And really, that investment is going to bring that right up as, the Minister said, and transform it into the sort of place that we want this to be. We’ve had an enormous amount of investment over the last ten years. The master planning for this was done out in 2015, and that master planning has culminated in nearly $300 million worth of investment around this site and around this place. So it’s incredible work and council’s really proud of it, but we’re actually really excited and looking forward to transforming this space right now.

    CATHERINE KING: Great. Happy to take some questions.

    QUESTION:  So traffic will be going one way in Cowes?

    CATHERINE KING: Yeah. Well I think if you’ve ever come down here at summer- it’s a little while since I’ve been down here on holidays. I used to come down here a lot as a kid. But it’s pretty busy and it’s really very congested and hard to get through. But it also makes it dangerous when you’ve got families with little kids who are trying to get access to the shops, trying to get their kids ice creams, or just come and do your shopping. It does make it really difficult over summer. And of course, anyone who’s been down here knows that it banks up, so that means you’ve just got a decent traffic flow. You really make sure you’re slowing cars down, you’re pedestrianising access. That makes it safer, but it also makes it a much better place for people. People want to come here, they want to actually come and shop, and that’s really good for the retailers as well.

    QUESTION:  Will there be any impacts to car parking?

    CATHERINE KING: Again, that’s really a matter for council. They’re delivering the project. The Federal Government is delivering the funding and partnership, so I’ll hand over to the CEO to make [indistinct].

    GREG BOX: Yeah, we’ll work through the detailed design of it. We’re not really talking about net losses and gains at the moment. There’s a whole lot of detail still to be done on that. But as the Minister said, really, what we’re trying to do is prioritise people in the space. We already experience an enormous amount of people in this space, and letting them be able to interact both with business and community is incredibly important. Providing shade, there’ll be curve extensions. This part of the world will be one of those places that you really do want to walk and sit and contemplate. It’s the only north facing beach in Victoria. It really is an iconic spot and we’re experiencing that today with the sun on us. It’s really a magnificent spot to actually stop and engage in local culture.

    QUESTION:  And so it will be one way up until Chapel Street, is that right?

    GREG BOX: Yes. Just until- just up until chapel. And it’ll be one way coming down this way, and then it’ll go one way both ways around. So again, as the Minister said, that will slow down traffic and will enable people to feel like the space is something that they can inhabit more safely.

    QUESTION:  And Minister, speaking about the other areas across the state receiving funding, were they announced- are you announcing them today or have they already been…

    CATHERINE KING: We’re announcing all of the Victorian regional Precincts and Partnerships Projects today. So, the work in Hamilton, Mansfield and Cobram. And over $21 million across the state of Victoria. What we’re really looking for are- these are place-based funding. It’s to really look at how do you improve the places where regional communities live, how do you get partnerships between council, Federal Government, commercial retailers, not-for-profit organisations to really make those places where people want to come and live.

    QUESTION:  Is there anything that stands out about [indistinct]? One-way traffic or anything.

    CATHERINE KING: So, yeah, really to me, what I’ve been looking for and I’ve got a panel of people who are really involved in urban planning and changing places. And so they do the assessments for me, and that comes to me. But what I’ve been looking for is have we got areas that are underutilised, have older buildings in them that really have been- have had huge uses throughout their life but are not really being used; spaces that are not being activated. So really, that’s what I’ve been looking for. What changes a place and makes a place more liveable for people in our communities. And that’s really what this program is about.

    QUESTION:  And why have these towns been specifically selected?

    CATHERINE KING: Again, because of the excellence of their projects. If you look at the projects here in Cowes, this is about changing places. It’s about changing the way that people who live in this community interact with the built environment and use it more effectively, and that’s really what these projects are about.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 242-2024: Unplanned Outage: Thursday 31 October 2024 – Telephony services (WA regional office)

    Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture

    31 October 2024

    Who does this notice affect?

    Clients attempting to contact the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Western Australia regional office via phone.

    Information

    Detail:

    The department’s Western Australia (WA) regional office is currently experiencing intermittent telephony connectivity issues. As a result, clients may experience unexpected call dropouts or be unable to contact the department’s WA regional office.…

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 243-2024: Services Restored: Thursday 31 October 2024 – Telephony services (WA regional office)

    Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture

    31 October 2024

    Who does this notice affect?

    Clients attempting to contact the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Western Australia regional office via phone.

    Information

    Restored time:

    As of: 16:50 Thursday 31 October 2024 (AEDT).

    Detail:

    The unplanned outage to the telephony services at the department’s Western Australia (WA) regional office has been resolved.

    Clients are now able to contact the department’s WA…

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: CREDIT AGRICOLE SA: Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring accelerates the development of its business in Germany, and announces the signing of an agreement to acquire Merca Leasing

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Montrouge – October 31, 2024

    Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring accelerates the development of its business in Germany, and announces the signing of an agreement to acquire Merca Leasing

    Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring (CAL&F) announces the signing of a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA), subject to obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals, to acquire Merca Leasing, one of the top ten independent Leasing companies in Germany1.

    This operation is in line with CAL&F’s development strategy, which aims to round out its offering in the European market, and particularly in the dynamic German leasing market.

    Founded in 1989, Merca Leasing is based in Kronberg, near Frankfurt, with branches in Hamburg and Berlin. Mainly focused on SMEs, Merca Leasing offering them tailor-made Leasing solutions with a strong expertise in financing industrial equipment, through Direct Sales channel. As a partner of the German manufacturing industry for more than three decades, Merca Leasing manages leasing assets with an acquisition cost of approximately €750m (outstanding receivables).

    CAL&F has been present on the German Factoring market for over 30 years and started its Leasing activities in 2020 via its branch “CAL&F Germany” 2. With the acquisition of Merca Leasing, CAL&F is expanding its presence in Germany, a very dynamic Leasing market, where 3 out of 4 companies include Leasing solutions in their investment plans3 and where Leasing is perceived as an enabler for innovation for SMEs.

    By incorporating the expertise of Merca Leasing, CAL&F is accelerating its European development and broadening its offering, especially on Mobility, IT and Machine-Tools. It is as well an opportunity for CAL&F to strengthen its position in the Direct Sales channel, while gradually expanding into new distribution channels, such as the Vendor Program4.

    The agreement was signed on 30 October, after consultation with the employee representatives’ bodies. The transaction is expected to be completed in early 2025, subject to obtaining the required authorisations from German BaFin and the German Competition Authority.

    **********

    The impact of the transaction on Crédit Agricole S.A.’s CET1 ratio is not significant.

    “Today, with Frédéric MADALLE, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of CAL&F (International Development and Factoring Pole), we are carrying out an important operation for Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring Groupe. It allows us to integrate a stable and profitable activity on the direct channel in Germany and to develop a Vendor offer. The acquisition of Merca Leasing is fully in line with our strategy and the implementation of our MTP 2025 « Transitions to the Future » for two main raisons: it allows us to strengthen our expertise and service offering in Mobility as well as to accelerate our growth in a very fragmented German market and which constitutes one of Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring Group’s development priorities.”

    Hervé VARILLON, Chief Executive Officer of Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring

    “From the very first exchanges with Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring, I felt that we share common values and that the views on Merca Leasing’s strategic positioning and development are aligned for the benefit of our customers. Merca’s ambition for growth will be strengthened and sustained with the backing of the Crédit Agricole Group. Andreas Werner, who is with Merca since 2013 will continue and become part of the Management to ensure continuity for employees, clients, and partners. I will fully support this transition.”

    Ulrich HELMDACH, Founder and CEO of Merca Leasing

    About Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring
    With a presence in 10 countries in Europe, Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring (CAL&F) is a key player in Leasing, Factoring and Energy and Infrastructure Financing, in France and Europe. CAL&F offers specialised financing for corporates, professionals, farmers, and local authorities.
    Key figures (end of 2023): France and international: 257,000 clients – 2,703 employees – €32bn in outstanding financed (of which 28% abroad).
    For further information: www.ca-leasingfactoring.com  

    About Merca Leasing GmbH
    Merca Leasing was founded in 1989 by Kredietbank N.V., Brussels, Belgium, & U. Helmdach and integrated into the KBC Bank & Insurance Group in 1998. In 2012, the KBC Lease (Deutschland) Group was taken over by the management, renamed Merca Leasing again, based in Kronberg / Taunus (near Frankfurt).
    The group offers financing solutions for business-critical movable equipment focusing on production machinery through leasing, hire purchase, sale-and-lease-back, retrofitting funding services and forfaiting solutions (through Merca Vendor).
    Key figures (end of 2023): 37 employees – €240m production – €420m Portfolio (actual outstanding)
    For further information: www.merca-leasing.de  

    (CAL&F) Press contact
    Sophie Leplus     sophie.leplus@ca-lf.com +33 (0)1 43 23 30 87 / +33 (0)6 24 87 16

    1 – Source: BDL / Bundesverband Deutscher Leasing-Unternehmen (Federal Association of German Leasing Companies)
    2 – Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring SA – Niederlassung Deutschland Branch (branch of CAL&F SA).
    3 – Source: BDL / Bundesverband Deutscher Leasing-Unternehmen (Federal Association of German Leasing Companies)
    4 – Supplier sales financing

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Animal welfare – Join 31,000 Kiwis and Pets in Supporting a Ban on Private Fireworks to Protect Animals

    Source: Pawprint Petition

    Over watching Your Household Pet Shiver in Fear? Now is the Time to Act.

    Over 31,000 kiwis and pets have signed the Pawprint Petition: Ban Private Sales of Fireworks on Behalf of the Animals of NZ.

    As Guy Fawkes approaches, pet owners across Aotearoa once again brace for the distress that fireworks bring to their beloved animals. The loud bangs and flashing lights may be a spectacle for some, but for many animals, they are a source of fear and anxiety that can last well beyond the Guy Fawkes period.

    Animates is calling for an end to the private sale and use of fireworks, advocating instead for people to attend controlled public displays to protect pets, farm animals, and wildlife.

    The Pawprint Petition: Ban Private Sales of Fireworks on Behalf of the Animals of NZ is live at https://pawprintpetition.co.nz and is calling on Kiwis to add their voice — and in a unique world first – pets can sign the petition too by adding a pawprint.

    The petition will be presented to the House of Representatives, urging the Government to ban the private sale and use of fireworks in New Zealand.

    “Each year, our stores and Vet clinics are flooded with stories of stressed-out pets and worried owners,” says Neil Cowie, CEO, Animates. “Fireworks are no longer just a Guy Fawkes problem. Stockpiling leads to fireworks being set off throughout the year, compounding the stress and danger for animals.”

    Angela Mace, owner of Woodlands Dog Retreat, sees the impact firsthand, “Every year, we see dogs shivering in fear or cowering in the corner. Fireworks are terrifying for them, and it’s heartbreaking to watch. We’re urging the public to stand up for our animals and push for a ban on backyard fireworks.”

    According to a report in 2019, 74.4% of people noticed their animals displaying fear of fireworks, with common behaviours including hiding (70.8%), shivering (54.3%), and cowering (44.5%).  Despite these alarming figures, 71.9% of owners with frightened pets did not seek help or treatment for their animals. Instead, many kept their pets indoors (46%) or provided comfort (28.2%) to alleviate their distress.**

    Help to create a safer, less stressful environment for animals across New Zealand. Sign the world first Pawprint Petition to ban the private sale and use of fireworks here https://pawprintpetition.co.nz, add your name, and if you have a pet add their pawprint, to help bring about change.

    The world first Pawprint Petition: Ban Private Sale and Use of Fireworks on Behalf of the Animals of NZ is proudly bought to kiwis and their pets by Animates.

    Information sheet here:  Paw Petition: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1UgJwlxSbtZ3PV6w9AAccyNsZohZdBYr4?usp=sharing

    Notes:

    *Survey conducted by AA Insurance, in 2023.

    **An article published in Veterinary Magazine, update (2019) on owner perceptions and management of the adverse behavioural effects of fireworks on companion animals https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00480169.2019.1638845

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New Zealand concludes high quality trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

    Source: New Zealand Government

    New Zealand and the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have concluded negotiations on a trade agreement that will open up significant opportunities for New Zealand exporters in the Gulf region, Minister for Trade and Agriculture Todd McClay announced from Doha today. 

    Today’s announcement follows significant reengagement with the GCC following meetings with GCC Ministers at the WTO Ministerial Meeting in Abu Dhabi in February of this year and delivers on an 18 year-long ambition for New Zealand to agree this high-quality trade deal in the Middle East. 

    “This is the highest quality deal the GCC has done to date and its first with a major agricultural exporter,” Mr McClay said. 

    “It delivers duty free access for 99 per cent of New Zealand’s exports over 10 years and when combined with our recently concluded NZ-UAE CEPA, 51 per cent of our exports to the region will be tariff-free from day one. 

    New Zealand and GCC trade is worth over $3 billion annually, with New Zealand exporting $2.6 billion in the year to June 2024. This includes $1.8 billion of dairy, $260 million of red meat, $72 million of horticulture and $70 million of travel and tourism services.  

    The agreement includes provisions that will make doing business easier with preferential access for our primary sector exporters, streamlined customs processes, reduced trade barriers, and commitments to level the playing field for Kiwi services businesses entering the market.

    The agreement also includes chapters and provisions on intellectual property, transparency and trade and sustainable development including labour standards, climate, and women’s economic empowerment committing to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). New Zealand has also secured our Treaty of Waitangi exception to allow us to meet treaty obligations. 

    “This agreement complements the NZ-UAE CEPA that was announced in September, and together they represent an important milestone in the Government’s efforts to grow our international connections and double exports by value in 10 years,”  Mr McClay says.

    “Successfully concluding a trade agreement with the GCC has been a long-standing ambition for successive governments for almost two decades. Growing New Zealand’s trade relationships is part of our plan to grow the economy, lift incomes for kiwis, and create jobs.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Inconsistency between EU legislation and policies in the area of livestock health protection – E-002239/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    23.10.2024

    Question for written answer  E-002239/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Jadwiga Wiśniewska (ECR)

    I have noticed with concern that the health of farm animals is deteriorating. In Poland, for example, successive outbreaks of African swine fever are causing huge losses for our farmers, sometimes forcing them to close down their farms entirely.

    Meanwhile, our livestock farmers and agricultural producers are bound by more than 400 different pieces of veterinary legislation, which are not always precisely worded, are often inconsistent and are thus interpreted differently in different Member States.

    In view of the above:

    • 1.Animal isolation is crucial in preventing and limiting the spread of zoonoses – will our farmers be receiving alternative tools to reduce health risks on their farms, and what will those alternative tools be?
    • 2.Does the Commission envisage any additional ad hoc and long-term financial support for biosecurity measures from funds outside the common agricultural policy?

    Submitted: 23.10.2024

    Last updated: 31 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Adesina and Banga lead the charge to end hunger in Africa at 2024 Borlaug Dialogue

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    DES MOINES, United States of America, October 31, 2024/APO Group/ —

    In a powerful opening to the 2024 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue, the president of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and his counterpart at the World Bank Ajay Banga, stressed the need for more global action against hunger, a goal slipping further away due to the combined effects of conflict, economic challenges and climate change.

    The two leaders were guest speakers at the opening plenary on Tuesday 29 October, entitled “Achieving a Hunger-Free World,” at which they reiterated their institutions’ commitments to ending food insecurity in Africa, highlighting innovative partnerships and financial solutions.

    “There is nothing more important than feeding the world. Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) play an important role in that,” Adesina declared. He stressed the crucial role of international financial institutions in helping achieve this task. 

    Interviewed by Roger Thurow, senior fellow for global agriculture at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Adesina and Banga discussed the transformative actions from MDBs in meeting Africa’s annual $1.3 trillion development needs.

    Giving examples of innovative instruments to stretch balance sheets, Adesina said International Monetary Fund (IMF) Special Drawing Rights or SDRs, if channeled through MDBs, could enable them to become leveraging machines, multiplying resources up to eight times.

    “And that’s how you recycle capital to do all the things you need. Think of that,” he said.

    Banga praised Adesina’s leadership and expressed confidence in joint initiatives like “Mission 300,” an ambitious project to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030.

    “When you want to solve a problem, you work in partnership,” Adesina stated, lauding Banga’s collaborative spirit.

    Both leaders highlighted the urgency of engaging Africa’s youth in agriculture. The African Development Bank’s “Enable Youth” program and the World Bank’s focus on youth employment initiatives, reflect a shared commitment to harnessing Africa’s demographic dividend for agricultural transformation and economic prosperity.

    “If we don’t put finance behind young people’s ideas, that’s the biggest risk,” Adesina warned.

    The 2024 Borlaug Dialogue, hosted by the World Food Prize Foundation, gathers experts worldwide to inspire innovative solutions to global hunger. With this year’s theme, “Seeds of Opportunity, Bridging Generations and Cultivating Diplomacy,” the event champions collaboration, legacy, and hope in the fight for food security.

    Adesina also underlined the importance of partnerships such as the G20’s Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty of which the African Development Bank and the World Bank are partnering. The campaign will see SDRs channeled through MDBs to fight hunger. He cited Mission 300, a joint initiative by the World Bank and the African Development Bank to connect 300 million people in Africa to electricity by 2030, as another example of MDB cooperation.

    Banga stated his confidence in Adesina’s leadership for initiatives like M300: “We have six years to get it done,” he said.

    Scale and ecosystems to address climate change and improve farmers’ livelihoods

    Addressing the topic of climate change and farmers’ livelihoods Banga noted that in Africa, only 4% of global climate financing goes to agriculture.  

    He stressed the need for scalable solutions to support Africa’s small farmers. “The focus must be on scale and ecosystems,” he said, pointing to the World Bank’s efforts to enhance farmers’ access to energy, internet, and credit guarantees, creating a comprehensive support network.

    The World Bank is putting the demographic dividend of Africa’s youth population to the fore by making job creation a specific outcome of all its development work, along six specific pillars, Banga said.

    Earlier, Mashal Husain, Chief Operating Officer for the World Food Prize Foundation said the theme for this year’s Borlaug dialogue: “Seeds of Opportunity, Bridging generations and cultivating diplomacy,” pointed to a world of potential to achieve the goal of ending hunger worldwide.

    “That seed represents hope, innovation and courage to dream. This week at the Borlaug Dialogue we are not just talking about the seeds of opportunity. We are planting them,” Husain said.

    Adesina’s engagements at the Borlaug Dialogue include the Africa Agriculture Dialogue, engagements with the presidents of Sierra Leone and Tanzania and addressing Global Youth Institute Students and Youth Program Alumni on Wednesday 30 October. He will also moderate a high-Level panel Discussion on Thursday 31st October entitled: Bold Measures to Feed Africa.

    To learn more about the Norman E Borlaug Dialogue, click here (https://apo-opa.co/3YmL8yW). Follow the conversation on X (https://apo-opa.co/3Us9KFi).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: AFCD and Shenzhen Customs sign co-operation arrangements to strengthen quarantine and clearance for horse racing (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    AFCD and Shenzhen Customs sign co-operation arrangements to strengthen quarantine and clearance for horse racing (with photos)
    AFCD and Shenzhen Customs sign co-operation arrangements to strengthen quarantine and clearance for horse racing (with photos)
    ******************************************************************************************

         To further strengthen co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong in quarantine and customs clearance arrangements of horses, forage feed and biological products, the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Mr Mickey Lai, today (October 31) signed the Co-operation Arrangement on Strengthening Quarantine Clearance for Horse Racing with the Director General in Shenzhen Customs District, Mr Zheng Jugang. The Acting Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Food), Ms Ivy Law, also attended the signing ceremony.     Horses currently can travel between Hong Kong and the Equine Disease Free Zone in Conghua in Guangzhou through the Shenzhen Bay Port. The Co-operation Arrangement established the Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai Port as a backup port for cross-border horse transport, further enhancing horse transport arrangements between the two places.      Mr Lai said, “The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department expresses gratitude to Shenzhen Customs for supporting the establishment of the Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai Port as a backup port for cross-border horse transport. This will further improve cross-border horse transport and ensure that horses can travel between Guangdong and Hong Kong safely and conveniently.”     Under the Co-operation Arrangement, both parties will regularly inform each other through a liaison mechanism of the quarantine and regulatory status of horses, forage feed, biological products, vehicles, etc; use a one-stop inspection platform to carry out port inspections; and jointly organise academic exchanges, technical exchanges, work seminars, and business training, with a view to promoting the development of the equine industry in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

     
    Ends/Thursday, October 31, 2024Issued at HKT 19:38

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Allister savages Government assault on farming families

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement, following the Budget, by TUV MP Jim Allister:-

    “The Labour Government proved, what I suspected, it has no feel or empathy with farmers. Else, it would not have dealt such a brutal blow to the future of family farming through its inheritance tax extinction policy.

    “Farmers are asset rich, because of their land, but, often, cash poor, with it being a struggle to meet the constant monthly bills from fluctuating income. The fact they own 50 or 100 acres isn’t something they can draw on for day-to-day needs. Yet, retaining that 50 or 100 acres for farming into the future is key to the generational survival of the farm.

    “Hence, the reason and logic for the historic agricultural exemption from inheritance tax.

    “Now, alas, this Government is set to raid farming assets by a whacking on inheritance tax upon the death of the current farmer. With limited cash reserves, most family farms, when that point comes, will have no alternative but to sell off land and thereby diminish the viability and productivity of the farm. Food production and security will suffer knock-on effects.

    “The threshold of £1m is of little help at today’s land prices. Acreage as low as 50 or 60 will frequently be caught for inheritance tax.

    “The farmers in North Antrim, as elsewhere, have devoted their lives to building up their farms with the driving motivation to see the land handed on to the next generation. Now this kick in the teeth from uncaring government has rightly left many angry and betrayed.

    “I will, of course, vote against this madness and join vigorously in the campaign to rescue the situation.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘Noah’s arks’ for fruit trees: How conservation orchards preserve and boost biodiversity

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Amandine Cornille, Research associate professor, Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS)

    There are wild apple orchards across France, including on the Saclay plateau south of Paris. Fourni par l’auteur

    The COP16 biodiversity conference opened on October 21, 2024. The UN conference is an opportunity to highlight that biodiversity is crucial for ensuring a sustainable food system. However, it is directly threatened by climate change and its side effects, such as the emergence of parasites. These disruptions, which reduce crop productivity and increase harvest uncertainty, threaten global food security.

    Finding solutions to save the viability of our crops is a priority. In this area, the wild relatives and varieties of currently cultivated plants offer a source of genetic diversity for coping with global changes. Indeed, for thousands of years, they have faced major environmental changes. Some wild species have thus contributed to the adaptation of cultivated plants to high altitudes and various climatic conditions.

    If we intend to rely on wild relatives to ensure crop diversification, we must characterize their diversity and ability to respond to climate change. Conservation and development programmes for diversity in agrosystems have already been initiated for annual species, such as cereals. Perennial species, like fruit trees, however, remain too neglected, even as human activities threaten their wild relatives. It is high time to come to their rescue!

    The limitations of large seed banks for protecting fruit trees

    Vavilov Institute, Saint Petersburg.
    Dag Terje Filip Endresen, CC BY-NC-ND

    Faced with the collapse of biodiversity, nearly 2,000 seed banks have been created worldwide. The oldest, a pioneer in conserving the genetic diversity of plants, was established over 100 years ago in Saint Petersburg, Russia, at the Vavilov Institute, named after the scientist who initiated these collections. Another well-known example is the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, set up in Norway in 2008. These “bunkers” are essential for preserving the genetic diversity of as many cultivated plant species and their wild relatives as possible. However, they are somewhat challenging to utilise in emergencies for certain plant species.

    While new seeds can be obtained within a year for annual cereals, fruit trees can take years to reach sexual maturity and produce flowers and pollen, which presents a major challenge. Crossbreeding wild relatives with cultivated species, necessary to introduce favourable traits such as parasite resistance or climate adaptation, is lengthy. Leveraging the genetic heritage of fruit trees to address immediate challenges requires access to genetic material from mature trees, whose traits are already known and proven under specific environmental conditions. Therefore, genetic resource “bunkers,” while crucial for preserving diversity, are insufficient for fruit trees.

    Our access to the genetic diversity of cultivated fruit trees and their wild relatives is currently limited, making it difficult to address the rapid changes occurring globally.

    Conservation orchards: the “Noah’s arks” for fruit trees

    Fruit trees have played a central role in human history through their economic and cultural value. The genetic exchanges between wild and cultivated fruit trees form the basis for the diversity of shape and taste in our fruits. The wild relatives of these cultivated fruit trees also have a significant role to play, as they have demonstrated resilience to parasites and climate change.

    Conservation orchards, or living collections, for fruit trees serve as a means to preserve genetic diversity while making it available in case of emergencies to preempt threats associated with global changes. Unlike seed banks, these collections provide immediate access to the necessary materials (pollen and flowers) for crossbreeding in varietal improvement programmes, as well as for reforestation and the conservation of wild relatives in forests.

    These conservation orchards also serve as open-air laboratories to study the response of fruit trees to climate conditions and parasite attacks, as well as the evolutionary and ecological processes that give rise to biodiversity. These spaces of genetic diversity, where different genotypes are planted over several years across a large area, also help limit the emergence of parasites by controlling their populations, thereby maintaining the delicate balance of biodiversity and ensuring dynamic agroecosystems. Finally, they act as venues for outreach and scientific mediation to raise awareness about fruit biodiversity in agroecosystems and ecosystems.

    The “poor cousins” in conservation efforts

    In France, living collections of cultivated fruit trees, housed by both research institutes and associations such as the “Croqueurs de Pommes” (munchers of apples) represent a valuable genetic heritage. In 2020, 168,400 hectares of orchards were recorded; however, wild fruit tree orchards are less documented and much rarer. This is regrettable, considering that these wild relatives are directly threatened by habitat fragmentation and gene flow from cultivated fruit trees in orchards, even though they are invaluable allies in addressing climate change.

    However, there are some notable examples, such as the conservation orchards of wild olive trees at the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE) centre in Montpellier, the wild plum orchard in Lorraine, the wild apricot orchards at the INRAE centre in Bordeaux-Aquitaine, and various wild apple orchards across France including on the Saclay plateau [https://x.com/PommierVerger]. These orchards, established with the help of research institutes and local public initiatives, provide a unique opportunity to study the impact of parasite attacks and climate change on cultivated fruit trees and their wild relatives. Many more are being established across Europe, so it’s definitely something to keep an eye on!

    Screening local fruit trees to help them adapt to global changes

    Public involvement via citizen science is another way to gather information for the conservation of genetic diversity of fruit trees. Individuals can directly collect data from fruit trees near them – whether in their gardens, public parks or nearby fields – to advance research. These valuable contributions help ensure the monitoring of changes in flowering times related to climate change.

    This aligns with initiatives launched through Pl@ntNet, an application that allows users to identify plant species using a simple photo, and Tela Botanica, which connects beginners with expert botanists to assist in launching collaborative projects.

    By investing in the creation and maintenance of new orchards, strengthening collaboration among research institutes, associations and conservation organisations, and mobilising the public, one can play a role in preserving fruit biodiversity while enhancing fruit trees’ resilience to increasing environmental pressures.

    Acknowledgments: Evelyne Leterme, Henri Fourey, Mathieu Brisson, Amandine Hansart, Alexandra Detrille, Mouhammad Noormohamed, the association Les Croqueurs de Pommes, and all project collaborators and participants as well as the general public.

    Amandine Cornille (associate professor at New York University Abu Dhabi) has received funding from NYUAD, CNRS (ATIP-Avenir CNRS-Inserm), the European LEADER/FEDER program, the BNP Paribas “Climate and Biodiversity Initiative” Foundation, Institut Diversité Ecologie et Evolution du Vivant (IDEEV), Université Paris Saclay, CNRS, AgroParistech, INRAE, Center for interdisciplinary studies on biodiversity, agroecology, society and climate (C-BASC), CLand Convergence Institute and ANR.

    Karine Alix has received funding from AgroParisTech, CNRS, INRAE, ANR and IDEEV.

    – ref. ‘Noah’s arks’ for fruit trees: How conservation orchards preserve and boost biodiversity – https://theconversation.com/noahs-arks-for-fruit-trees-how-conservation-orchards-preserve-and-boost-biodiversity-242421

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Crop Report for the Period October 15 to October 21, 2024

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on October 30, 2024

    Producers in Saskatchewan are done harvest as 100 per cent of crops are in the bin. 

    Many areas of the province received a lot of moisture in May and June, which led some to believe it could be a late harvest. However, hot and dry conditions in the latter half of the growing season resulted in crops rapidly maturing and harvest beginning earlier than expected.

    Harvest first began in the southwest and southeast regions in early August. By the end of the month, harvest was in full swing throughout the province. Rainfall caused harvest delays in some areas, while other areas didn’t receive any rain, which has sparked concerns of moisture shortages going into the winter. The early start to harvest allowed producers to get the crop off in good time and other field work to be done prior to freeze-up. Producers continue to hope for more rain this fall and a lot of snow over winter to improve moisture conditions for next spring.

    Most crops got off to a good start this year due to the abundance of spring moisture. Cool conditions slowed early crop development, but producers were optimistic about their crops’ yield potential. Hot and dry conditions in July and August caused crops to rapidly develop and took a toll on yield potential. Overall, yields in Saskatchewan were above the 10-year average for most crops, but regional yields vary based on rainfall received during critical parts of the growing season. The only crops that yielded lower than the 10-year average were durum, oats, canola and mustard. 

    Fall cereal crops yielded above 10-year averages as winter wheat averaged 46 bushels per acre and fall rye averaged 52 bushels per acre province-wide. Average spring-seeded cereal crop yields were 46 bushels per acre for hard red spring wheat, 52 bushels per acre for other spring wheat varieties, 33 bushels per acre for durum, 63 bushels per acre for barley, 79 bushels per acre for oats and 1,340 pounds per acre for canary seed. Flax was the only oilseed crop to yield higher than the 10-year average with an average of 23 bushels per acre across the province. Mustard crops yielded 837 bushels per acre and canola yields averaged 33 bushels per acre across Saskatchewan. Finally, average yields for all legume crops were above the 10-year average. Average field pea yields were 36 bushels per acre, 30 bushels per acre for soybean crops, 1,306 pounds per acre for lentils and 1,319 pounds per acre for chickpea crops.

    Most high-acreage crops in Saskatchewan graded in the top two categories, indicating good overall crop quality. Canola graded at 89 per cent 1 CAN and nine per cent 2 CAN. Sixty per cent of Saskatchewan’s hard red spring wheat graded in the 1 CW category while another 31 per cent graded in the 2 CW category. Lentil and field pea grades are very similar as 43 per cent of field peas and 40 per cent of lentils fall in the 1 CAN grade. Additionally, 50 per cent of lentil and field pea crops are rated as 2 CAN. There are quality variations between different regions as environmental conditions play a major role in crop quality.

    All producers were busy combining this fall and some were also seeding fall cereal crops. Despite relatively strong winter wheat and fall rye yields this year, seeded acres for each of these crops fell by approximately three per cent this fall.

    This year’s average silage yield for the province is 6.37 tons per acre, which is lower than the seven tons per acre reported last year. The east-central and southern regions experienced above-average yields while average yields in west-central and northern regions were below the provincial average. Livestock producers are happy to see hay yields higher this year than they were last year. On dryland acres, alfalfa averaged 1.78 tons per acre, brome hay averaged 1.79 tons per acre and green feed averaged 2.25 tons per acre. Under irrigation, yields for alfalfa were 3.36 tons per acre, 3.25 tons per acre for brome hay and 3.57 tons per acre for greenfeed. Most producers in the province reported good to excellent hay quality in their first cut. Some producers got a second hay cut and they reported good to excellent quality. Hay prices vary throughout Saskatchewan, but the average price of alfalfa is 134.16 dollars per ton, 120.70 dollars per ton for brome and 126.25 dollars per ton for greenfeed. Straw and standing hay are cheaper as average prices are 51.05 dollars per ton and 57 dollars per ton, respectively.

    Current topsoil moisture conditions are better than they were heading into last winter. Provincial cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 49 per cent adequate, 44 per cent short and seven per cent very short. For provincial hayland, topsoil moisture is 42 per cent adequate, 45 per cent short and 13 per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture around the province is 37 per cent adequate, 45 per cent short and 18 per cent very short. Additionally, 35 per cent of Saskatchewan pastures are in good condition prior to the winter, 34 per cent are fair, 24 per cent are in poor condition and seven per cent are in very poor condition. Producers throughout the province are still hoping to get more rain this fall and lots of snow over the winter to improve soil moisture and pasture conditions for next year.

    Many producers are still working hard to get post-harvest field work done prior to freeze-up. Producers are harrowing, applying fall fertilizer and drying grain. Producers with livestock are currently moving cattle home for the winter and hauling bales. Once the snow flies, producers will enjoy a break from field work and continue planning next year’s operation.

    A complete, printable version of the Crop Report is available online: download Crop Report.

    Follow the 2024 Crop Report on Twitter at @SKAgriculture.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Nine in a row for Aberdeen

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    Aberdeen City Council’s catering team is celebrating after it was awarded its Food for Life Served Here Bronze certification for the ninth time by adding more local and climate-friendly peas to the school menu.

    The Council, which first received the award for its primary school meals in 2015, and for secondary schools in 2017, now serves more than 13,500 nutritious, sustainable and locally-sourced Food for Life meals across 61 sites every day.

    This achievement reflects the hard work and dedication of the council’s school catering team, as well as the commitment to scratch cooking and local sourcing. These values are on display through the Give Peas a Chance! pilot project, a collaboration between Soil Association Scotland and Aberdeen City Council to get locally-grown organic dried split peas into school meals.

    Councillor Martin Greig, the Convener of the Education and Children’s Services Committee, Aberdeen City Council, said: “Good quality food is an important way to nourish and support young people’s health and wellbeing. School meals should be nutritious and contain as much fresh, local and sustainable food as possible. It is testament to the ongoing commitment and hard work of our catering and procurement teams that the Council has received the Food for Life Served Here Bronze award for the ninth year. It is a great achievement and congratulations to everyone involved.

    “Being part of the Give Peas a Chance pilot programme has enabled us to bring more local, organic produce into the menu. This is great for our young people, the local economy and the environment. It has also given catering staff an opportunity to develop new recipes and menus.”

    The 12-month Give Peas a Chance pilot project is opening up a new route to market for this local, organic, nutritious and climate friendly plant protein, allowing pupils to access healthy and sustainable food. It is a partnership between Soil Association Scotland, Aberdeen City Council catering and procurement teams, pea producer Phil Swire of Balmakewan Farm, the Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) and the Royal Northern Countryside Initiative (RNCI).

    Sarah Gowanlock, Partnerships Manager, Food for Life Scotland, said: “Aberdeen City Council’s ninth year of the Food for Life Served Here award is a huge achievement. It shows that staff are dedicated to providing pupils with a meal that’s healthy, freshly prepared and sustainably produced. We’re proud to be working in partnership with the council to deliver even more good food to Aberdeen City pupils through the Give Peas a Chance! pilot project, which is a fantastic example of how public procurement can have a positive impact on our food systems. Congratulations to all involved.”

    With an updated menu launched after the October break, pupils can now enjoy pea-based recipes that are part of the council’s new school meals menu, including lemon and pea risotto, sweet potato and pea curry, split pea meatballs with bolognaise sauce, and even a pea-based muffin and cookie.

    The council’s school meals service is certified by the widely respected and independently assessed scheme led by Soil Association Scotland and funded by Scottish Government. The Food for Life Scotland programme provides a framework through which local authorities can ensure they are serving food that’s good for health, the environment and the economy. This is done by following a set of standards to achieve the Food for Life Served Here award at Bronze, Silver or Gold level.

    The Bronze award recognises that a minimum of 75 percent of dishes are freshly prepared from unprocessed ingredients. Meals are also free from undesirable trans fats, sweeteners, additives and all genetically modified ingredients. Catering teams also use free range eggs, higher welfare meat and ingredients from sustainable and ethical sources.

    Photo caption: Councillor Martin Greig receives the Food for Life Served Here Bronze Award certificate from Food for Life Scotland’s Partnerships Manager Sarah Gowanlock, at a celebration with the Council’s schools catering team at Culter School. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Continues Push to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON – As Alabamians prepare to change their clocks this weekend, Senator Tuberville is continuing to advocate for the passage of the bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act to make Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanent and end the outdated practice of adjusting our clocks twice a year. 

    “Alabamians have made it clear that springing forward and falling back should be a thing of the past,” said Senator Tuberville. “Centuries ago, a time change might have made sense, but it doesn’t today. An additional hour of sunshine in the evenings during cold winter months would be welcome news for folks on their way to work and kids on their way home from school. It just makes sense to pass the Sunshine Protection Act, and I will keep fighting to get it across the goal line.”

    Senator Tuberville has helped introduce the Sunshine Protection Act in both Congresses since taking office at the urging of countless Alabamians who are tired of changing their clocks twice a year.  The U.S. Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act on March 15, 2022, by unanimous consent, but then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi did not bring it up for a vote in the House of Representatives before the 117th Congress ended, requiring it to be reintroduced again in the 118th Congress.

    The Alabama Legislature passed a bill to permanently implement DST year-round in 2021, but legislation must first be passed at the federal level in order for the state law to take effect.

    WATCH:

    Tuberville: Let’s Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent

    Tuberville Urges Congress to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent

    Tuberville: Daylight Saving Time Bill Passes Senate 

    Tuberville Pushes to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent 

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: 2024 road construction season wraps up, improving safety across PEI

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    News release

    Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, October 30, 2024 — Repairs and upgrades to roads and bridges in Prince Edward Island were made possible after a combined investment of over $7 million from the federal and provincial governments through the Canada Community-Building Fund and the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.

    Today’s announcement highlights upgrades to roads and bridges that improve safety across the province and support housing development. These projects, including upgrades to intersections, roads and bridges, new traffic lights and storm sewers, will be completed by the end of 2024.

    The Canada Community-Building Fund is a permanent source of funding that reaches communities across Canada, supports local infrastructure priorities and helps to build complete, inclusive and sustainable communities with affordable and accessible housing. From roads and bridges, to public transit and water treatment systems, reliable and modern infrastructure provides communities with opportunities to grow and develop today so that communities are  resilient and strong.

    The Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program helps communities provide more efficient and reliable energy sources, improve roads and community infrastructure, and improve internet connectivity.

    Today’s announcement builds on the $14.2 million announced in February 2024 for other road improvements aimed at increasing safety across the Island. 

    Quotes

    “These repairs and upgrades to roads and bridges across the Island are essential to keeping them safe for the folks who depend on them. We will continue to work with all orders of government and local partners to strengthen our infrastructure and build stronger and more resilient communities.”

    The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

    “Investments in transportation infrastructure and a balanced plan for road work has made this a very productive highway construction season across the province. In collaboration with our construction contractors, Islanders and PEI’s economy benefits from safer and improved roads.” 

    The Honourable Ernie Hudson, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Prince Edward Island

    Quick facts

    • The Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF) is a permanent, indexed source of funding provided up front, twice a year, to provinces and territories, who, in turn, flow this funding to local governments and other entities to support local infrastructure priorities. 

    • In 2024-25, the CCBF is delivering over $2.4 billion to more than 3,600 communities across the country. 

    • Canada and Prince Edward Island are committed to working together and with communities to address Canada’s housing supply challenges. As such, annual reporting will demonstrate how the CCBF is supporting housing outcomes in Prince Edward Island.

    • The CCBF has 19 project eligibility categories, including capacity building, water and wastewater, highways and roads, and public transit.

    • The federal government is investing $1,397,696 through the Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program and the Government of Prince Edward Island is investing $1,397,696.

    • This stream supports projects that increase access to more efficient and reliable energy sources, improve community infrastructure, and improve internet connectivity for rural and northern communities.

    • Including today’s announcement, 23 infrastructure projects under the Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure stream have been announced in Prince Edward Island, with a total federal contribution of more than $78.8 million and a total provincial/territorial contribution of more than $49 million.

    • The funding announced today builds on the federal government’s work through the Atlantic Growth Strategy to create well-paying jobs and strengthen local economies.

    Related products

    Associated links

    Contacts

    For more information (media only), please contact:

    Sofia Ouslis
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
    Sofia.ouslis@infc.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
    613-960-9251
    Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
    Email: media-medias@infc.gc.ca
    Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
    Web: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada

    Stacey Miller
    Department of Transportation and Infrastructure
    Prince Edward Island
    902-218-2103
    samiller@gov.pe.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: N.M. Delegation Welcomes Over $4 Million From the Infrastructure Law to Enhance Safety, Reduce Delays at Railway Crossings, and Grow Local Economies in Clovis and San Juan County

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
    ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) welcomed a combined $4,570,920 for two projects in New Mexico from the U.S. Department of Transportation to strengthen the nation’s supply chain, reduce costs, and grow New Mexico’s economy.  
    $4,000,000 will help San Juan County and the Navajo Nation complete the planning for a proposed freight rail line connecting Farmington and Gallup.  
    $570,920 will help the City of Clovis enhance safety and reduce traffic delays at two railway crossings. 
    “Thanks to our Infrastructure Law, we’re delivering the funds needed to kick-start planning for a freight rail line from Farmington to Gallup and improve railway crossings in Clovis. Combined, these investments will strengthen our nation’s supply chain, grow local economies, lower transportation costs, create high-quality jobs New Mexicans can build their families around, and improve safety for our communities,” said Heinrich. “I’m pleased to welcome these federal investments, and I remain committed to securing more investments to connect rural communities to the abundant opportunities ahead.” 
    “Across our state, New Mexicans rely daily on our railways for travel and to keep our economy running,” said Luján. “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this $4.5+ million in federal funding will deliver much-needed railway safety enhancements in Clovis and help construct a new rail line within the Navajo Nation to expand regional rail service in Northwestern New Mexico. I’m proud to welcome these two grants that will both boost railway service and drive economic development for Clovis, the Navajo Nation, and their surrounding communities. I will continue to fight to bring federal dollars home to New Mexico to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of passenger and freight rail.” 
    “Every time I go to the Four Corners, local leaders emphasize the importance of connecting the region with rail. The Four Corners area is a major economic center of our state, and the funding we’re announcing today is the beginning of our work to make sure our rail infrastructure is ready to meet that potential across San Juan and McKinley Counties,” said Leger Fernández. “I am happy that this funding also includes improvements to safety and efficiency of freight in Clovis. With the support of the CRISI program, we can begin the critical work needed to build stronger connections and drive growth in rural New Mexico.” 
    “I am thrilled about the recent allocation of two significant federal grants from the Federal Railroad Administration’s CRISI program, which will greatly enhance rail safety and connectivity in New Mexico,” said Stansbury. “These two grants reflect our commitment to investing in infrastructure prioritizing safety and economic growth. I am grateful for the support from the Federal Railroad Administration and look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition as we work together to build a safer New Mexico!” 
    “Federal investments like this bring vital safety and economic benefits to communities across New Mexico. With this funding, we’re improving railway safety, cutting down delays, and connecting New Mexicans to opportunities that drive economic growth and quality jobs,” said Vasquez. “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are building a stronger, safer transportation network. I’m proud to welcome this funding to bring more jobs and opportunities to our rural communities.” 
    “The award of grant funding takes a prospective freight rail line study further than any study in the past and is further proof of the importance of collaboration between tribal, local, state, and federal partners to open doors to economic opportunities. We are appreciative of assistance from New Mexico’s federal delegation and excited for future economic growth opportunities in San Juan County and the Four Corners region,” said John T. Beckstead, San Juan County Commission Chairman. 
    “The Federal CRISI Grant brings San Juan County and the City of Farmington one step closer to having competitive transportation and economic development. This is an important step in growing our regional economy,” said Tim Gibbs, Four Corner Economic Development CEO. 
    The grants are awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, which provides funding for projects that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of intercity passenger and freight rail. The CRISI Program received significant, additional investments from the Infrastructure Law – legislation passed by Democrats in the N.M. Congressional Delegation.  
    The N.M. Delegation sent a letter of support to the U.S. Department of Transportation supporting the grant for San Juan County that is being announced today. This grant will prepare the Four Corners Rail Project for final design proposals and planning. 
    In May 2020, Heinrich and Luján wrote a letter of support for San Juan County’s application for a Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant,  which applicants of the CRISI Program are required to be approved for.  
    Members of the N.M. Delegation sent a letter of support to the U.S. Department of Transportation urging the support of the grant for the City of Clovis that is being announced today. This grant will enhance safety and reduce traffic delays at two railway crossings including modifications to the Norris Street railroad crossing and construction of a new grade-separated crossing at MLK Jr. Boulevard.  
    Below is a breakdown of the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration funding:  
    Project Name 
    Recipient 
    Award Amount 
    Project Description 
    Clovis, N.M. Corridor Improvement Project 
    City of Clovis 
    $ 570,920 
    The proposed project was selected for Project Development and includes activities for one grade crossing separation and improvements to a second at-grade crossing along the BNSF Railway line in Clovis, New Mexico. The project aligns with the selection criteria by enhancing safety and improving system and service performance as the project will reduce blocked crossings. The City of Clovis and BNSF Railway will contribute the 53 percent non-Federal match. This project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for projects in Rural Areas. 
    Four Corners Freight Rail Project 
    San Juan County 
    $ 4,000,000 
    The proposed project was selected for Project Development and includes activities to develop a new rail line to connect the Farmington, New Mexico Area to the BNSF Railway corridor near Gallup across San Juan County and McKinley County, New Mexico. The proposed project is a partnership between San Juan County, the Navajo Nation, and the New Mexico Department of Transportation, and most of the project is located within the Navajo Nation. The project aligns with the selection criteria by enhancing resilience and improving system and service performance as the project will provide a viable freight transportation modal alternative to highway trucking, opportunities to simplify the supply chain, and enable new, rail-dependent economic development opportunities thereby imparting benefits to the Navajo Nation and surrounding communities. San Juan County will contribute the 20 percent non-Federal match. This project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for projects in Rural Areas. 
     For more information from San Juan County on the proposed Four Corners Rail Project, please click here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kustoff Helps Introduce Bipartisan Farmer Assistance and Revenue Mitigation Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative David Kustoff (TN-08)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman David Kustoff (R-TN) joined Congressman Trent Kelly (R-MS) to introduce the bipartisan Farmer Assistance and Revenue Mitigation Act of 2024 (FARM Act) in the House of Representatives. This legislation will provide emergency assistance to farmers of eligible commodities for which the expected revenue in crop year 2024 is below the projected per-acre cost of production.

    As Congress continues to debate an updated Farm Bill, this legislation will provide immediate relief by helping farmers pay down debt relative to the 2024 crop and help obtain financing for the 2025 crop year.

    “Our farmers produce the food, fuel, and fiber used around the world,” said Congressman Kustoff. “Recently, our farmers have been forced to grapple with many circumstances out of their control, such as natural disasters, high inflation, and drought. That is why I am pleased to join Congressman Kelly to introduce this vital legislation that will provide our farmers with the assistance they need to keep up production. Farmers are the backbone of our economy, and I am working to ensure they have the resources they need from Washington.”

    This legislation has been supported by the American Farm Bureau Federation, Tennessee Farm Bureau, Mississippi Farm Bureau, American Soybean Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Barley Growers Association, National Cotton Council, National Sorghum Producers, National Sunflower Association, U.S. Canola Association, U.S. Peanut Federation, USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council, USA Rice, and the Western Peanut Growers Association. 
     

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    MIL OSI USA News –