Former Agriculture Secretaries Announce Support for USMCA
(Washington, D.C., September 19, 2019) – Today, all former U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture since President Reagan’s Administration announced support for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). In a letter to Congressional leaders, former Secretaries John Block (Reagan), Mike Espy (Clinton), Dan Glickman (Clinton), Ann Veneman (W. Bush), Mike Johanns (W. Bush), Ed Shafer (W. Bush), and Tom Vilsack (Obama) underscored the importance of passing USMCA saying, “We need a strong and reliable trade deal with our top two customers for U.S. agriculture products. USMCA will provide certainty in the North American market for the U.S. farm sector and rural economy. We strongly support ratification of USMCA.” Following the announcement, Secretary Perdue issued this statement:
“President Trump has fulfilled a promise, which many said couldn’t be done, to renegotiate NAFTA and improve the standing of the entire American economy, including the agriculture sector,” said Secretary Perdue. “Support for USMCA crosses all political parties, specifically when it comes to the agriculture community, and I am proud to stand side by side with former agriculture secretaries who agree USMCA is good news for American farmers. I commend President Trump and Ambassador Lighthizer, for their perseverance, leadership, and hard work to get USMCA across the finish line.”
Former Secretaries Vilsack, Glickman, and Block joined Secretary Perdue at USDA today for a press conference to reiterate their support for USMCA. You may watch the press conference by visiting the USDA Facebook page.
To see the letter from Secretaries John Block (Reagan), Mike Espy (Clinton), Dan Glickman (Clinton), Ann Veneman (W. Bush), Mike Johanns (W. Bush), Ed Shafer (W. Bush), and Tom Vilsack (Obama) to Congressional leadership, view the USDA Former Secretaries USMCA Letter.
Background:
USMCA will advance United States agricultural interests in two of the most important markets for American farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses. This high-standard agreement builds upon our existing markets to expand United States food and agricultural exports and support food processing and rural jobs.
Canada and Mexico are our first and second largest export markets for United States food and agricultural products, totaling more than $39.7 billion food and agricultural exports in 2018. These exports support more than 325,000 American jobs.
All food and agricultural products that have zero tariffs under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) will remain at zero tariffs. Since the original NAFTA did not eliminate all tariffs on agricultural trade between the United States and Canada, the USMCA will create new market access opportunities for United States exports to Canada of dairy, poultry, and eggs, and in exchange the United States will provide new access to Canada for some dairy, peanut, and a limited amount of sugar and sugar-containing products.
Key Provision: Increasing Dairy Market Access
Key Provision: Biotechnology
Key Provision: Geographical Indications
Key Provision: Sanitary/Phytosanitary Measures
Key Provision: Poultry and Eggs
Key Provision: Wheat
Key Provision: Wine and Spirits
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3 Tips To Clean Up Your Social Media So That You Wouldn’t End Up Like Justin Trudeau
September 19, 2019
Delete, erase, and hide.
Unless you live under a rock, you’ve probably heard about recent major PR controversy Canada’s prime minister’s Justin Trudeau has found himself into.
Time Magazine has obtained a yearbook from 2001 where Canada’s prime minister is proudly posing with a ‘blackface’ and a turban at the West Point Grey Academy. Something that is, to put it mildly, as inappropriate now as it was back in 2001.
As Canada’s charming PM is dealing with this PR disaster, it is a good time for everybody to do some internet hygiene so that these types of images or posts wouldn’t ruin your career or status.
#1 - When deleting, start from your oldest posts
So the first one is obvious. Scroll down your year's worth of posts and delete everything that might be considered inappropriate. You might have been young and stupid, as prince Harry when he wore that swastika, but it’s not an excuse when these things surface. Consider this: 50% of employers say that they will not hire someone who posted something inappropriate on social media. And we all know that they do check your profiles before hiring.
Pro tip: Start from the oldest, not the newest posts. Chances are, more controversy is lying there.
#2 - Consider making all your posts ‘Friends only’
The age of self means that more and more posts are becoming public. These Instagram selfies of you having a good time with lads, girls night out and that hangover face after night in Vegas. Do you really want every single person in the world to be able to see it? Just talking about common sense here: make your posts ‘Friends only’, so that you and your mates are able to follow your social life.
Pro tip: You don’t have to do this manually. Most popular social media sites like Facebook and Instagram let you control the privacy of all your posts with few simple clicks.
#3 - Consider a personal website instead of social media
When you Google yourself, chances are your social media comes on top of search results. Even a name change (which is against Facebook’s T&C’s btw) will not solve this. Consider launching your personal website that would represent you for potential employers & clients. There are personal blogs for those who love to write. People who paint, photograph or design, have their personal websites as portfolios. Some are even looking for a job with an online CV. In fact, data from hosting provider Hostinger shows the rise in the number of personal websites. So why not go with an ever-increasing flow?
Pro tip: if your surname.com is already taken, consider different domain extensions like your surname.xyz or .online.
In the days of social media, everything you post is or can become a liability in the future. Consider your social hygiene to be as important as brushing your teeth in the morning, and then we are sure you will not end up like Justin Trudeau.
With World Teachers’ Day around the corner and teaching among the lowest-paid professions that require a bachelor’s degree, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2019’s Best & Worst States for Teachers as well as accompanying videos.
In order to help educators find the best opportunities and teaching environments in the U.S., WalletHub analyzed the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 23 key metrics, ranging from teachers’ income growth potential to pupil-teacher ratio to teacher safety.
Teacher-Friendliness of Utah (1=Best; 25=Avg.)
For the full report, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-and-worst-states-for-teachers/7159
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RIDE THROUGH GOLDEN ASPENS
ANGEL FIRE BIKE PARK EXTENDS SEASON
Ah yes, autumn. Our favorite time of year for a crisp, morning ride through golden glades, kicking up leaves! But seriously, it is gorgeous this time of year here at Angel Fire Resort.
And good news for you, the Bike Park is extending the season through November 3rd! (weather permitting)
**NEW TRAIL OPENING**
Smoke Signals is the newest trail from Angel Fire Bike Park. Come get your adrenaline pumping before the season ends!
EVENTS:
Gravity Games OCTOBER 12: Angel Fire Bike Park’s Annual Gravity Games celebrates mountain biking with fun competitions, great prizes, and tons of gravity! Bring the whole family to enjoy a bike-filled day of fun!
Fire 5 Final Race of the Season OCTOBER 13 & 14: Angel Fire Bike Park’s Fire 5 is the premier downhill race series in the Rocky Mountains presented by Schwalbe. This series consists of three unique downhill races held at Angel Fire Bike Park throughout the bike season. Amateurs and pros alike are invited to join us for one or all three races.
More Information on all the above can be found at www.angelfireresort.com
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The Community Foundation of Utah is now accepting applications for the Salt Lake City Youth Athletic Grant until Thursday, October 10th. This grant supports competitive, nonprofit sports organizations to provide scholarships to athletes that live within Salt Lake City Council Districts.
Awards up to $15,000 are available - click here to view the grant qualifications and to find out how to apply!
There is a growing need for community space that both provides local, healthy produce for residents. See how CFU has partnered with Wasatch Community Gardens to keep things fresh in Salt Lake by planting seeds for a better community.
Hi Jim,
Please feel free to use the below article as is. For an interview or comments from Dr. Jamie Reynolds on this and related topics please reach out and I will be happy to coordinate.
Ashley
How Athletes Wearing Braces
Can Protect A Winning Smile
Another school year brings participation in sports, and for student-athletes wearing braces, a winning smile depends on winning oral habits.
Those habits begin with mouthguards that provide proper protection of the braces, teeth, and jaw, dentists and orthodontists say. Mouthguards, which help cushion a blow to the face, are mandatory in some sports — such as highly physical endeavors like football and hockey — and an athlete is 60 times more likely to sustain damage to the teeth when not wearing a protective mouthguard, according to the National Youth Sports Foundation For Safety.
“Getting braces is a big deal and a big investment,” says Dr. Jamie Reynolds (www.AskDrReynolds.com), an orthodontist, national and international lecturer, and author of World Class Smiles Made in Detroit.
“It should change how we take care of our teeth for a significant amount of time. And while wearing braces doesn’t have to change a young person’s athletic activity level, it does demand extra attention toward protecting their teeth and their parents’ investment.
“There is contact in most sports, high-speed collisions, and the unpredictable bounce of the ball,” Reynolds says. “Without proper protection of braces during sports activities, someone can suffer broken appliance pieces and set the process back. They can suffer chipped or broken teeth, concussions, and cuts to the tongue and lips. But they’re mostly preventable.”
Reynolds details different types of mouthguards and other oral habits he thinks young athletes with braces should embrace.
Choose the right mouthguard. The American Dental Association reports you can lower the chances of damage to braces almost twofold by wearing the right mouthguard. Reynolds says any kind of mouthguard is better than none for an athlete wearing braces. “Depending on the activity, different mouthguard options may be required to protect your mouth and the appliances being used for your treatment,” he says. “Over-the-counter mouthguards like boil-and-bite, popular for football, are moldable to individual teeth but don’t fit easily over brackets and wires. Customized mouthguards, often made from high-grade silicone, are smaller and more comfortable than off-the-shelf models. People with braces should choose special mouthguards designed just for orthodontic patients, which allow teeth to move at the same time while offering trauma and concussion protection.”
Properly clean mouthguards. Cleaning mouthguards after use is essential, Dr. Reynolds says. “Bacteria and fungi can gradually colonize in used mouthguards,” he says. “The simplest way to disinfect is with hydrogen peroxide. Fill a glass with it, let the mouthguard soak a few minutes, then remove and rinse with water. You can also use a non-abrasive toothpaste and a soft bristle toothbrush on the mouthguard, or antibacterial soap.”
Sideline the sugary sports drinks. Young athletes, Reynolds says, can lessen their cavity chances by eschewing sugary sports drinks that are popularized in television advertisements. “Rehydrate with water,” Reynolds says. “There’s a lot of sugar in some of those drinks.”
Practice dental habits like you do sports. Coaches preach to their players that practice makes perfect, and Reynolds says the same approach should be taken toward daily oral habits. “An unhealthy tooth is more likely to be damaged if a sports injury occurs,” he says. “Keep your smile strong by brushing after every meal for two to three minutes and flossing at least once a day.”
“Sports are great and healthy for youngsters,” Reynolds says. “Braces shouldn’t impede their enjoyment of sports, but parents should make sure the mouthguard is a constant part of their equipment.”
About Dr. Jamie Reynolds
Dr. Jamie Reynolds (www.AskDrReynolds.com) is recognized on an annual basis as one of the top orthodontists in metro Detroit. His book, World Class Smiles Made in Detroit, puts an emphasis on the many benefits of having a great smile. Reynolds – who is a national and international lecturer on high-tech digital orthodontics and practice management – attended the University of Michigan for both his undergrad education and dental studies, and did his orthodontic residency at the University of Detroit-Mercy.
The Social Investors Forum's grant to Spice Kitchen Incubator allowed them to move into their first kitchen, obtain needed equipment, and hire key staff members. This investment was a game-changer for refugee families like the Sharmas. Read the full story here.
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Press Release
USDA Invests in Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements in 25 States
Investments will Benefit 168,000 People in Rural Communities
WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2019 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary of Rural Development Donald “DJ” LaVoy today announced that USDA is investing $144 million to improve rural water infrastructure in 25 states (PDF, 163 KB).
“Modern and reliable water and wastewater infrastructure systems are foundational to economic growth and quality of life in rural communities,” LaVoy said. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA is committed to investing in this critical infrastructure, because when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
USDA is investing in 45 projects through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program. Eligible applicants include rural cities and towns, and water districts. They can use the funds for drinking water, stormwater drainage and waste disposal systems in rural communities with 10,000 or fewer residents.
Below are examples of projects announced today:
USDA is announcing investments today in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia.
USDA had $2.9 billion available for Water and Environmental Program loans and grants at the beginning of fiscal year 2019. USDA will make additional funding announcements in coming weeks.
View the interactive RD Apply tool or contact one of USDA Rural Development’s state or field offices for application or eligibility information.
In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a key recommendation of the task force.
To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
Is Your ‘Inner Critic’ Undermining Your Career? 5 Ways To Boost Your Confidence
The workplace, like the playing field in sports, is packed with competition — often against oneself. It demands being at your best, reaching and exceeding goals, working hard to master all aspects of a position, and proving you’re capable of taking on more.
Someone might have all the requisite skills to succeed, but they also might become their own biggest obstacle when self-criticism gets in the way, corporate observers say. Confidence becomes a problem when difficult experiences at work, such as making mistakes or being passed over for an opportunity, cause us to question ourselves and create negative thoughts.
To produce positive thoughts and smooth the path toward success, one needs to create a mindset based on processes that are purposeful, says Grant Parr (www.gameperformance.com), a mental sports performance coach and author of The Next One Up Mindset: How To Prepare For The Unknown.
“The mind can get lonely and focus on negative things,” says Parr. “We risk giving our attention to thoughts that can eat away at us, destroy our confidence, and take us out of our rhythm.
“We begin to listen to a cartoon version of the devil who sits on one shoulder and whispers in our ear. So we need to develop ways to listen to that other voice within us, that angel on the opposite shoulder, to quiet the inner critic.”
Parr suggests a five-step process to develop a more positive mindset and boost your confidence in the workplace:
Focus on winning in the present. Dwelling on past mistakes or worrying about what comes next can create self-doubt. Staying present is key and requires resiliency, which leans on past training and the skills that led to achievements. Parr likens a resilient worker with athletes such as a placekicker, who shakes off a missed field goal and comes back to make the game-winner. “The workplace setting doesn’t wait for you to get over things,” Parr says. “And rather than fearing making more mistakes, you must ask yourself, ‘What’s important now?’ To be the best you can be in the current moment, you have to focus all of your energy on the present and embrace it.”
Breathe to relax and refocus. “Refocusing always starts with your breath,” Parr says. “It casts out distractions and allows you to be yourself. Focusing on your breathing reminds you that this is something you can control, and in turn you can control your thoughts. Ultimately, you’re training your subconscious mind how to use breath to settle you.”
Meditate. “Meditation builds off your controlled, sustained breathing,” Parr says, “and it becomes a practice to develop clarity and create a calm space in the mind. Meditation brings control and harnesses much of the untapped power of the mind. It aligns your mind, body, and spirit.”
Visualize. To reach peak performance, Parr says, people must be able to see themselves performing well. “The more precisely you can see yourself in action, the more you are able to adjust and control that image, change its details, and guide its outcome,” Parr says. “Visualization also entails tapping into an emotion, feeling the confidence of the moment that you see yourself making happen.”
Engage in self-talk. “Learn to become your own best motivator,” Parr says. “You can do this through the power of positive language directed at the self. We want to develop a language that creates purposeful optimism. Find specific language that can give voice to your feelings and enhance your internal drive.”
“Training the mind to generate confidence, qualm fear and spark joy empowers someone to be better than their negative side thought they could be,” Parr says.
About Grant Parr
Grant Parr (www.gameperformance.com) is a mental sports performance coach and the author of The Next One Up Mindset: How To Prepare For The Unknown. Parr owns and runs GAMEFACE PERFORMANCE, a consulting firm that enhances mental skills for athletes and coaches. A recruiter and sales leader in the corporate world for 17 years, he now works with a wide variety of athletes including Olympians, professionals, collegians and high school athletes. His podcast, 90% Mental, provides a window into a broad range of athletes’ and coaches’ mental games and shares their insights around mental performance.
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Dear Editor:
Please consider this helpful perspective on the youth voices on climate chaos from Dr. Mel Gurtov. For PeaceVoice, thank you,
Tom Hastings
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Listen to the Children
by Mel Gurtov
635 words
The Republicans are on the sidelines on the climate crisis. Government scientists are muzzled. Leading Democrats—though not all—are cautious. CEOs of some of America’s biggest corporations are pledging action while others, like investment firms, fossil fuel companies, and Charles Koch’s lobbyists, are downright hostile. And Donald Trump, the world’s leading climate change denier, will not even attend a UN climate summit on September 23 even though he will be in the UN building the same day.
But the American public is coming around to the view that the climate crisis is real, urgent, and therefore a national priority. The turnout of millions of people on September 20, highlighted by student-led strikes in most of the world’s major cities, is evidence of a new consciousness about the threat climate change poses to everyone, everywhere.
Young people are ahead of the curve. They understand the science, the politics, and the future implications of climate change. They worry about their prospects, but just as much about the planet’s prospects. And they don’t trust the politicians to do their job. Their demand for decisive action is tempered by concern, as a recent House committee hearing showed, about whether there really are any intelligent adults in the room. “I don’t want you to listen to me,” Greta Thunberg told Congress members. “I want you to listen to the scientists,” referencing in particular the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report that gives us about twelve years in which to halt and begin reversing global warming. How many members of Congress have read it?
Jamie Margolin, founder of Zero Hour and one of the panelists at the House hearing, puts her fight against climate change, which she began as a high school student, in a larger political context. She calls it “decolonization”:
Why do I do this? I am striking for a decolonized future. A decolonized world is one in which the wealthiest nations and industries do not continue to exploit communities in the global south, and instead support them in dealing with the effects of the climate crisis, like droughts, hurricanes and floods. A decolonized world is one where those most affected by the climate crisis — poor and indigenous communities and those in the global south — are heard and have a seat at the table where decisions are made. I am fighting for a decolonized future, because a decolonized world is the only one that will be able to turn the tide on the climate crisis.
In short, stopping and reversing climate change is part of the larger struggle against corporate greed, governmental neglect, and social injustice.
Back in 2015, 21 Oregon students launched a lawsuit, Juliana v. United States, against the Obama administration based on the unprecedented claim to a right to a clean environment, specifically addressing climate change. Among the students’ demands is that the government stop issuing leases for coal, oil, and gas extraction. In November 2018 the Supreme Court rejected several attempts by the Trump administration to quash the suit. The government’s argument is that climate change is properly dealt with by government agencies, and that (imagine!) it would have to undertake wholesale policy changes. As a solicitor-general put it, the plaintiffs “seek nothing less than a complete transformation of the American energy system — including the abandonment of fossil fuels — ordered by a single district court at the behest of ‘twenty-one children and youth.’” Well, we certainly don’t want a few kids getting in the way of business as usual.
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Portland, OR began hearing the case last June. Whether or not the case will come to trial remains uncertain. But here again, the children have spoken, and they are persistent. Listen to them: They know how to speak truth to power, and they’re on the right track.
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Mel Gurtov, syndicated by PeaceVoice, is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Portland State University.
