Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
DPNM holding annual trade show
Dairy Producers of New Mexico Annual Convention/ Trade Show is Friday and Saturday in Ruidoso.
Dairy Producers of New Mexico is a grassroots agriculture association for New Mexico and West Texas dairy producers.
The Trade Show is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at the Ruidoso Convention Center, with a silent auction from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and a Reception at Hawthorn Suites (next to the Convention Center) from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
For information and/or registration forms, call 1-800-217-COWS (2697), 622-1646, or visit http://www.nmdairy.org.
House won’t speed country labeling
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House refused Wednesday to speed up implementation of country of origin labeling for meats originating and processed in the United States, including beef, pork and lamb. Mandatory labeling, originally intended to go into effect in 2004, was delayed last year to 2006.
The FY2006 Agriculture Appropriations bill prohibits funds from being spent to implement mandatory country of origin labeling, essentially delaying the current requirement for an additional year, until Oct. 1, 2007. An amendment offered by Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., sought to delete the language in the bill. The amendment failed on a vote of 240-187.
U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., who voted for the amendment, said country of origin labeling is a win-win for consumers and farmers and ranchers.
USDA provides for disaster recovery
WASHINGTON — Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced $104.5 million in Emergency Watershed Protection Program funding is available for locally-sponsored watershed protection projects resulting from floods and other natural disasters such as tornadoes, fires, drought and hurricanes in 15 states.
New Mexico will receive $2,400,000 in emergency funds.
Through EWP, USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service provides technical and financial assistance to protect life and property threatened by excessive erosion and flooding caused by the sudden impairment of a watershed from a natural disaster.
Additional information on EWP is on the Web at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/ewp.
Agriculture Digest is compiled by CNJ staff writer Leslie Radford. She may be contacted at 763-6991, or by e-mail:
