03/18/05 New record; Big sign-ups

The price of oil has hit a new record, coming in yesterday at over $57 dollars a barrel. That is leading analysts to say $60 dollars a barrel for crude will be a matter of when, not if, very soon. O.P.E.C., which pledged to increase input yesterday, added in its monthly report that economic growth in the U.S., Japan, and China, would push oil demand higher in the second half of the year, and supply may not be able to keep up with demand. Some big U.S.D.A. assistance programs started sign up this week, and one sign-up period was announced. Sign up is under way for both the Crop Disaster Assistance and Livestock Assistance Programs. Under the Crop Disaster Program, producers who suffered losses in 2003 and 2004 and certain weather related losses in 2005 & specifically greater than thirty five per cent production loss or more than twenty per cent quality loss & are eligible for sign up. Also of note, payment rates for C.D.P. have increased for both insured and non insured commodity prices. As for the Livestock Assistance Program, producers suffering grazing losses due to drought, severe weather, and limited availability with safety net and risk management tools from 2003 and 2004 are eligible. Meanwhile, March 28 has been announced as the opening day of the sign up period for the 2005 Conservation Security Program. Eligible growers in 220 participating watersheds across the country are encouraged to sign up before May 27th. The new U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture could be a man whose name was thrown around for the top job prior to Mike Johanns' appointment and confirmation. President Bush announced he will nominate Charles Conner, former Special Assistant to the President for Agriculture, Trade and Food Assistance at the National Economic Council. The former U.S. Senator from Indiana served twelve years on the Senate Ag Committee. Speaking of appointments, there is now a nominee for U.S. Trade Representative. The President nominated Ohio Congressman Rob Portman to succeed Robert Zoellick. Zoellick left the U.S.T.R. post to become Deputy Secretary of State. The Northwest nursery industry has had its share of challenges over the past year with concerns over Sudden Oak Death syndrome. Now add another potential challenge & how to transport nursery and greenhouse plants and products. A nationwide truck shortage has resulted in shipping delays. In Oregon, where nursery products are that state's top agriculture commodity, growers are considering the formation of transportation cooperatives as a way to get around the delays. But if such a co-op is created, it would not be up and running until this summer at the earliest.