NASDA News March 12, 2007

Senate Panel Discusses Agriculture Concentration
Published: March 12, 2007

A Senate Judiciary Subcommittee held a hearing last week to review federal antitrust enforcement activities and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) raised issues related to agricultural competition and agri-business consolidation. Witnesses from the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission testified at the hearing.
 
Grassley's written statement expressed concern about too much concentration in the agricultural industry, particularly reduced market opportunities, possible anti-competitive and predatory business practices, vertical integration and fewer competitors. For example, he noted that in the pork industry, expanded packer ownership of hogs, exclusive contracting and captive supply are adversely impacting the ability of small independent producers and family farmers to compete in the marketplace. 

Grassley's statement said the committee should consider whether the Justice Department's Antitrust Division should issue guidelines specific to agriculture, as it has done for other industries. In addition, he plans to craft legislation to deal with the unique antitrust concerns facing agriculture. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)

NASDA Highlights Farm Bill Recommendations Support For Modifying Federal Biotechnology Programs
Published: March 12, 2007

The presence of biotechnology products in the marketplace, coupled with the disparate status of regulatory approvals in world markets, and the changing patterns of consumer acceptance, has introduced great complexity to the U.S. bulk commodity handling system, presenting the trade with a major management challenge. No longer can farmers plant seed and assume the harvested product will be accepted universally by all buyers or under traditional terms and conditions. 

The impact on the industry illustrates the urgent need to develop an internationally accepted certified marketing system based on sound-science and effective in meeting consumer preferences which can assure that biotechnology-enhanced products will reach appropriate markets. As new varieties become available it will become more important to have instituted, prior to commercialization, a proven channeling/segregation/certification program guaranteeing that domestic and international marketing standards for agricultural products are met. Such a system will be necessary to provide customers with the products they desire while supporting the development, production, and promotion of crops that are acceptable to domestic and foreign customers; however, the system should not be misused to create unfair trade barriers. Guidelines may be needed to assure safety and quality; however, they may also result in missed opportunities for social benefits from future agricultural products. Market standards must be set at levels that are attainable and feasible for seed production, commercial production, storage, transportation, and processing. Farmers must have information and tools available; e.g., planting and handling protocols, that allow them to develop on-farm practices to meet specific marketing standards.

While the major oversight of agriculture biotech crops/products rests with the federal government, states have been drawn into the fray. The highly visible miscues; e.g., StarLink, ProdiGene, Bt 10, Cheniere LL601 rice and Clearfield CL131 rice, continue to draw attention to the federal regulatory process. Most states do not have concurrent regulatory approval processes for biotech crops; however, all states have partnership programs dealing with plant pests, pesticides and food safety. Since Washington, D.C., seems--or is--a long way from farm fields, states' officials are frequently asked to comment on the mishaps. If states are to avoid duplicative regulatory programs, the federal process must find more and important ways to involve the states. One method is to create a federal office to assure communications, cooperation and coordination of information among and between federal and state agencies.

Recommended Actions: 
1. NASDA recommends establishing an office of intergovernmental coordination within the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy or similar oversight/coordinating agency responsible for transferring appropriate information and improving communications between federal agencies, responsible for regulation of products of agricultural biotechnology, and state agencies that share concurrent responsibilities for the regulation of conventional or organic products at the state level, e. g., products regulated under state seed, plant pest, pesticide or food authorities. Confidential information that is protected under federal law and is transferred through this office to a state agency shall be held confidential by the states. 
2. In addition, this office will function as an ombudsman for state agriculture regulatory agencies seeking information, clarification or assistance regarding federal action(s) or lack of action(s) on issues of concern to state agriculture regulatory agencies and be responsible for communications and coordination. 
3. Funding for positions to assure adequate communications and coordination are needed, along with additional funding and positions at the three primary lead federal agencies (USDA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)) to assure proper inspection and enforcement. States should be provided the opportunity to augment the federal inspection and investigation activities through memoranda of agreement. (Contact: Bob Ehart)

House Passes Legislation For Water Recycling Projects
Published: March 12, 2007

The House passed legislation on March 8 that provides grants for alternative water source projects for drinking and agricultural use. "The Healthy Communities Water Supply Act" (H.R. 700) authorizes $125 million under the Clean Water Act for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grants to fund projects that increase usable water supply by encouraging innovation in water reclamation, reuse and conservation. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)

Legislation Introduced To Exempt Farm Waste From Superfund
Published: March 12, 2007

A bipartisan group of lawmakers are pushing legislation in the House and Senate to clarify a hazardous waste law that unintentionally impacts farmers and ranchers. "The Agricultural Protection and Prosperity Act of 2007" was introduced by Sens. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) and Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) in the Senate, and by House Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) and Rep. Ralph Hall (D-Texas) in the House.
 
The legislation would clarify that livestock manure, which many agricultural producers use in their traditional farming practices, is not classified as a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant under CERCLA (The Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act), otherwise known as the "Superfund law." There have been several lawsuits across the country recently that have sought to regulate agricultural waste under Superfund. If normal animal manure is found to be a hazardous substance under Superfund law, then virtually every farm operation in the country could be potentially exposed to liabilities and penalties under the Superfund law, an outcome Congress never intended. NASDA and a coalition of agriculture organizations strongly support the legislation and will continue efforts to pass the bills during this session. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)

Milk Producers Federation Endorses Dairy Policy Farm Bill Package
Published: March 12, 2007

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) Board of Directors endorsed last week a comprehensive dairy policy package for the 2007 farm bill. The proposal calls for significant improvements in current federal farm programs, while also featuring some new elements. "After a year of discussion and deliberation, I am pleased that our members have come together to support dairy farms of all sizes in all regions of the country, building on the policies that work now, while considering new paths as well," said Jerry Kozak, NMPF president and CEO.
 
The proposal calls for changes in the present milk price support program in order to make it more predictable and effective. For the first time, NMPF also is endorsing a milk producer security program that would provide payments directly to dairy farmers. The plan also includes new or expanded programs to address energy, environment, conservation, animal health, nutrition, trade, risk management, and other important issues. The proposal's change in the milk price support program would shift it from a program that supports the price of milk, to one that explicitly supports the price of specific dairy products that USDA would purchase at established prices. Such a change would provide a firmer safety net under farm-level prices, while making the program easier to administer, Kozak said.
 
The proposed milk producer security program is designed to provide income protection and consistency to producers, who have been whipsawed recently by rising volatility in farm production costs--from more expensive fuels, to record-high animal feedstock prices. 

 In addition, the proposed initiatives encourage increased use of on-farm methane digesters and other technologies that can produce renewable energy and improve soil, air and water quality. NMPF also supports increased funding for USDA's Market Excess Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Developments (FMD) program, the reauthorization of the Dairy Export Incentive Program (DEEP), and the final implementation of the dairy promotion checkoff to imported dairy products--a provision passed by Congress in the 2002 farm bill that was never put in place. The full text of the news release can be located at http: //www.nmpf.org/. (Contact: Jennifer Yezak)

Secretary Kawamura Welcomes Appointment Of George Gomes As Undersecretary
Published: March 12, 2007

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced the appointment of George Gomes as undersecretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). 

For Gomes, it is a return to CDFA. He served as chief deputy director for the department from 1983 to 1987 and as assistant director and program administrator for the Division of Fairs and Expositions from 1975 to 1983. Since 1987, Gomes has been administrator of the California Farm Bureau Federation. 

"It is a great pleasure to be able to welcome George Gomes back to our agency," said CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura. "He brings a tremendous amount of experience and has been a pillar of support for agriculture for many decades." 

Gomes said, "I am honored to receive this opportunity and enthused about working with Governor Schwarzenegger and Secretary Kawamura to serve our agricultural community." (Contact: Steve Lyle, 916/654-0462)

UDAF Releases Behavior Change Guidebook For Water Educators/Watershed Groups
Published: March 12, 2007

A new guidebook recently released by the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) will help watershed managers and other water education professionals improve the state's natural resources by urging citizens to adopt more natural resource-friendly practices. 

"Getting Your Feet Wet with Social Marketing: A Social Marketing Guide for Watershed Programs," is designed to teach individuals or groups how to successfully promote behavior changes in their local area to targeted groups of people. Though this guide specifically addresses soil and water conservation and water quality efforts, it is based on principles that can be used in any aspect of society. 

"Making people aware of a problem and the solutions that are available is only part of the battle," said Jack Wilbur, UDAF public information specialist and principal author of the guide. "If you want to change people's behavior, you have to make it worth their while. You have to make the new behavior seem more attractive than not changing." 

Social marketing is the use of marketing principles to influence human behavior in order to improve health or benefit society. Social marketing programs combine public education, interpersonal communication, media relations, marketing and advertising techniques to create a comprehensive outreach campaign. 

While social marketing has been around as a discipline for 35 years, it has not been widely used locally in conservation and natural resource protection projects until recently. 

Watershed social marketers promote practices that conserve water and protect or improve water quality. In urban and suburban areas such practices include picking up after your pet and properly disposing of the waste, sweeping grass clippings and fertilizers back onto the lawn rather than into the gutter and properly disposing of used motor oils. On the farm, social marketing campaigns may promote proper use of agricultural chemicals, fencing animals away from the creek or limiting their access, or planting willows and other plants on raw stream banks. 

Those that can benefit from this publication include water quality educators and managers, park and public land managers, wildlife managers, and groups who work directly with agricultural producers or residential citizens to protect and conserve natural resources. 

The 143-page publication is available as a free electronic (pdf format) download from UDAF's website at http://ag.utah.gov/. (Contact: Larry Lewis, 801/538-7104)

Nematology Program Manager, Idaho Department of Agriculture
Published: March 12, 2007

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industries, has an opening for Nematology Program Manager (Agriculture Program Manager) in Twin Falls, Idaho. This position will organize, plan, staff, and direct a state nematology program and laboratory, and will design programs for collecting, analyzing, identifying, and classifying nematodes using scientific methodology. Reimbursement for moving expenses is available within state guidelines. For more information about this position and to apply, please go to http://www.dhr.idaho.gov/stateJobs/jobannouncement.aspx?announcement_no=00180086784. If you have questions regarding this opening, contact Mike Cooper, Agriculture Bureau Chief, at mcooper@agri.idaho.gov.