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SUPPLY SCAN NE WS FR OM A CR OSS T HE F OO D SU PP LY CH AI N USDA Announces Funding for Advanced Biofuels Projects U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that up to $181 million in funding would be available for companies to develop commercial-scale biorefineries, or retrofit existing facilities with appropriate technology to develop advanced biofuels. The announcement came as part of the USDA's Biorefinery Assistance Program created through the 2008 Farm Bill and administered by USDA Rural Development, which provides loan guarantees to viable commercialscale facilities to develop new and emerging technologies for advanced biofuels. "This financing will expand the number of commercial biorefineries in operation in the U.S. that are producing advanced biofuels from non-food sources," Vilsack said. "USDA's Biorefinery Assistance Program is yet another way USDA is helping to carry out the Obama Administration's 'all-of-the-above' energy strategy to develop every possible source of American-made energy. But the benefits go beyond reducing our dependence on foreign oil. These biorefineries are also creating lasting job opportunities in rural America and are boosting the rural economy as well." Eligible entities include Indian tribes, state or local governments, corporations, farmer co-ops, agricultural producer associations, higher education institutions, rural electric co-ops, public power entities, or consortiums of any of these entities. © iStock/Thinkstock industry on sustainable crop production and farm operation with the publication of its first ever Sustainability Annual Report, which features statistics and stories about sustainable farmers in Minnesota. "MSR&PC; believes it is important for farmers to take the lead in helping the food industry and consumers understand that farmers are committed to sustainability," notes Paul Simonsen, a farmer who chairs the industry group. "Our sustainable performance includes sound environmental objectives, social responsibility, promoting economic growth, and continuous improvement in the technology and cultural practices we use. It is crucial for soybean farmers to keep an open dialog with decisionmakers in the food industry and influencers in the regulatory arena about what sustainable farming really is." The Sustainability Annual Report addresses the areas of conservation, economics, family, and technology, and explains why sustainability is important when considering the future of farming and providing food and fuel for the next generations. The report is available online at www.mnsoybean.org. FSIS Issues New Guidance on Humane Handling of Livestock I n October, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) introduced new guidance to improve the humane treatment of livestock presented for slaughter. The FSIS's Compliance Guide for a Systematic Approach to the Humane Handling of Livestock supports the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, and sets forth practices to assist facilities in minimizing excitement, discomfort and accidental injury in livestock. "We have taken significant measures over the last few years to strengthen our ability to enforce humane handling laws at livestock slaughter facilities nationwide," stated FSIS Administrator Al Almanza. "The guidance is one example of our commitment to the humane treatment of animals. We continue to implement improvements so that we have the best system possible." This new guidance was developed to address the humane handling incidents cited in the spring 2013 Office of Inspector General report. The FSIS also reports that half of all livestock-slaughter facilities have already adopted the systematic approach to humane handling this year, meeting the agency's strategic objective three years earlier then forecasted. In addition to the new guidance, the FSIS will continue to offer a training program that is a practical, situation-based humane handling approach for inspectors and veterinarians who verify and enforce humane handling requirements at livestock slaughter establishments. FSIS starting formalizing procedures in 2010, offering a variety of realistic animal-handling scenarios that employees may encounter, from truck unloading, to stunning, to post-stunning. Go double-stacked at NFIindustries.com/Intermodal or speak to our experts at (877) 596-2950 10 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 • FOOD LOGISTICS www.foodlogistics.com