NASDA News June 1, 2007

NASDA Urges Congress to Take Immediate Action on Immigration Reform
Published: June 01, 2007

The continued prosperity of America's farmers and ranchers depends on immigration reform, say the nation's state agriculture leaders.
        
NASDA has concluded that Congress must enact immigration reform legislation that provides workable and fair legal channels for farmworkers to enter the country, work, and return home when the season is over.
        
At the same time, there is a clear and compelling need for the experienced farmworkers already in the country who lack legal status to be given a chance to earn legal status over time, subject to strict conditions.
        
"The agricultural industries I represent in Washington State are in desperate need for Congress to act on immigration reform," said Valoria Loveland, Washington state director of agriculture and NASDA president. "I hear from my colleagues from coast to coast that our Washington tree fruit growers are not alone. Uncertainty about immigration reform and Congress' failure to act is only making labor recruitment for our farmers and ranchers more difficult."
        
NASDA is urging passage of S.1348, the comprehensive immigration reform bill negotiated among key senators of both parties and the Bush administration. It views that bill as the best opportunity to pass key elements of the bipartisan and time-tested "Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits, and Security Act of 2007," or AgJOBS.
        
"Agricultural employers are facing a rapidly worsening labor shortage. During the critical harvest periods of our highly perishable fruit and vegetable crops, growers across the country will have difficulty finding enough people available to work. Shortages exist despite their best efforts to recruit employees and our best efforts to assist them," Loveland said. (Contact: Jennifer Yezak)

NASDA Welcomes Summer Intern
Published: June 01, 2007

This week NASDA welcomes a new intern, Martin Siwek from Houston, Texas. Martin is a senior at Texas A&M University, and is earning his bachelor's degree in spatial science, which is the study of Geographic Information Systems, interpretation of aerial photographs, and remote sensing technologies. He is planning on attending graduate school for a master's in landscape architecture and/or working in the D.C. area upon graduation. Siwek comes to NASDA through Texas A&M's Agricultural & Natural Resource Policy internship program (ANRP), which has been proudly sending Aggie interns to Washington, D.C., for 16 years. He is here for the summer to learn about agriculture and natural resource state and federal policy. (Contact: Martin Siwek)

Bronson Announces First-of-its-kind Food Safety Program for Florida Tomato Growers
Published: June 01, 2007

In the first program of its kind anywhere in the country, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson has announced that his department will institute food safety regulations governing all aspects of tomato production in Florida. Bronson is praising Governor Charlie Crist for his support and signature last night of the general agriculture bill which includes this vital new program.
        
In response to growing concerns over tainted pet food and contaminated animal feed from China, as well as recent foodborne illnesses associated with California spinach and peanut butter from Georgia, Bronson and the Florida Tomato Exchange devised a plan to assure consumer confidence in what is one of Florida's largest crops and convinced the Florida Legislature to enact the change into law during the recently concluded legislative session.
        
"Florida is the nation's largest producer of fresh tomatoes, and our department and industry are committed to doing all that we can to make sure that our crop is the safest that it possibly can be," Bronson said.
        
Added Reggie Brown, of the Florida Tomato Exchange, an organization representing farmers who produce about 90 percent of the state's tomato crop: "We're talking about a comprehensive statewide program requiring mandatory standards to assure that we produce the safest tomatoes in the world as a means of assuring public confidence."
        
Bronson said that he believes that the new tomato regulatory program will serve as a model both in Florida and throughout the nation, and that the program will trigger other commodity groups to seek such oversight of the crops that they produce.
        
Many Florida farmers, packing houses and other processors currently rely on what are known as Best Management Practices (BMPs) or Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) to grow and process the crops that they grow or handle. But the programs are voluntary, and the change enacted by the Legislature involving tomato production will make such practices mandatory.
        
While Bronson's department will be required to adopt specific rules spelling out the requirements that must be followed, the rules are expected to include testing of water used to irrigate the crops, the installation of portable toilets and hand-washing stations on farms and in packing houses, and routine inspections of such facilities.
        
"Consumers, retailers and food establishments are understandably concerned over the safety of the food they eat or purchase, and this new program will put Florida in the forefront of what our citizens want and deserve," Bronson said. "I applaud Florida's tomato growers for stepping forward and requesting this regulation of their industry." (Contact: Liz Compton, 850/488-3022)

New Plant Industry Website Gives Businesses Access to Account Information and Reports
Published: June 01, 2007

Plant industry professionals are now just a click away from managing their business accounts and tracking test results thanks to a new producer dedicated website called PA Plants. PA Plants can be accessed at http://www.paplants.state.pa.us.  
        
"We're bringing today's technology to Pennsylvania's plant industry," said Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff. "PA Plants will provide producers with convenient tools to help manage their businesses and better regulate the state's plant products." 

PA Plants allows feed, fertilizer, lime, seed, pesticide and plant merchants to review their account information and check the status and test results of samples collected at their facilities. Certified pesticide applicators may also review their certification credit status and search for the location of training meetings and exam sites.
        
In the coming year, PA Plants will integrate new components ranging from apiary and nutrient management licenses to feed and lime tonnage reporting. Information on pesticide product registration and pesticide disposal will also be available.
        
The department's Bureau of Plant Industry provides services to maintain and protect Pennsylvania agriculture through consumer protection and product regulation. This includes detection, identification and control of destructive plant pests, both native and exotic. The bureau also administers laws and regulations relating to the distribution and sale of seed, feed, fertilizer, pesticides and liming materials.
        
For more information on the Bureau of Plant Industry and its programs, visit http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us and click on 'Bureaus.' (Contact: Kristi L. Rooker, 717/787-5085)

House Panel Considers Interstate Meat Sales
Published: June 15, 2007

The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry considered and approved their 2007 farm bill proposals on May 24. It was the second subcommittee to approve their farm bill recommendations this week (see separate story).
        
During the session, Rep. Steve Kagen (D-Wisc.) offered an amendment to allow interstate sales of state-inspected meat and poultry. The Kagen amendment was discussed, but further action was postponed until the full Agriculture Committee considers the farm bill in mid-June. The Kagen amendment contains exactly the same language as the Pomeroy-Blunt bill (H.R. 2315) and the Hatch bill (S. 1150).
        
Several lawmakers expressed support for interstate meat sales--and all of their remarks were positive. Subcommittee Chairman Leonard Boswell (D-Iowa), Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), and Ranking Member Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) each said they wanted to see interstate meat shipment accomplished in the 2007 farm bill. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) also expressed support. All of the lawmakers said they believe it is "time to move forward" on interstate meat sales legislation because debate has "gone on for too long."
        
In addition, USDA Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner attended the session and lawmakers asked him several questions about USDA's position on interstate meat sales legislation. Conner replied that USDA has not officially taken a position. He noted that USDA recently completed a new review of state inspection programs--his other remarks about state inspection programs were generally positive. Peterson asked USDA to provide the committee with specific legislative language for the farm bill that would accomplish interstate meat sales.
        
In other subcommittee action, lawmakers approved a Boswell amendment on voluntary arbitration for livestock and poultry producers, and a Kagen amendment on federal support for veal producers. The subcommittee postponed action on several dairy amendments until the full committee consideration. The panel's 2007 farm bill proposal and a section-by-section summary and the amendments are posted on the House Agriculture's website at http://agriculture.house.gov/inside/2007FarmBill.html. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)

House Panel Approves 2007 Farm Bill Proposals
Published: June 01, 2007

The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy and Research approved proposals for the 2007 farm bill titles under their jurisdiction on May 22. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) announced May 17 that the panel's subcommittees would begin marking up sections of the farm bill legislation and the full committee plans to complete work before the Fourth of July congressional recess (see May 22 news story).
        
The Conservation Subcommittee considered discussion drafts on four titles: conservation, research, energy, and credit. About 30 amendments were offered to the conservation title alone, but most were withdrawn for further action until the full Agriculture Committee markups the bill in mid-June. Subcommittee Chairman Tim Holden (D-Pa.) and ranking member Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) noted from the start that they were challenged by a tight budget, and told members that any amendments offered which shifted program funds or required budget offsets would be delayed until the full committee markup. Copies of the discussion drafts for the four titles and the amendments approved by the subcommittee are available on the House Agriculture Committee website at http://agriculture.house.gov/inside/2007FarmBill.html.
        
The subcommittee's conservation title extends land reserve programs, simplifies and improves the Conservation Security Program, and substantially increases funding for the Environmental Quality Incentives (EQIP) and the Farmland Protection Programs. It also includes several provisions to encourage cooperation between USDA and producers or other entities to deliver conservation programs. During the markup session, Rep. Zach Space (D-Ohio) offered, then withdrew, an amendment which would transfer administrative duties from USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Holden (D-Pa.) encouraged him to hold the amendment because the committee plans to consider a reorganization of USDA next year. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)

Disaster Assistance Approved for Farmers and Ranchers
Published: June 01, 2007

Last week, President George Bush signed legislation containing $3 billion in emergency agricultural disaster assistance. After years of agriculture groups urging Congress and the president to support disaster assistance, family farmers and ranchers devastated by weather-related losses will receive much needed assistance. Securing disaster relief has been a priority for NASDA and many agricultural organizations for the past several years. Producers in virtually every state have been affected by significant weather related and disaster losses in 2005, 2006, or 2007. In 2005 alone, about 80 percent of U.S. counties were declared disaster or contiguous disaster counties due to devastating hurricanes, fires, floods, excessive moisture and severe drought.
        
The $3 billion in disaster assistance was included in the FY07 emergency supplemental appropriations bill and provides assistance to producers who suffered crop and livestock losses from weather-related disasters during either 2005, 2006 or 2007. Congress approved the assistance with a bipartisan majority on May 24. The supplemental bill also extends the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program for one month, through September 2007. This extension ensures that MILC will be included in the budget baseline for the 2007 farm bill. (Contact: Jennifer Yezak)