NASDA News August 10, 2007

Franci Havemeister Appointed as Alaska Agriculture Director
Published: August 10, 2007

Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Commissioner Tom Irwin announced the appointment of Franci Havemeister as the director of the Division of Agriculture. "I am impressed with her vision for the agriculture industry, the desire to get the entire agriculture community working together and the opportunity to develop great working relations between the administration, Board of Agriculture (BAC), agriculture community and DNR," said Irwin.

       Havemeister has been an active part of the farming community in Alaska. "I am looking forward to contributing to the promotion and long term success of agriculture in the State of Alaska," said Havemeister. She further declared "I know we have challenges but to me they are opportunities."

       Havemeister will be responsible for managing the Division of Agriculture, working with the BAC, and setting policy for agriculture in Alaska. The division manages various aspects of the agricultural industry, including inspection programs that ensure quality products, controlling the entry of potentially harmful plants and products into Alaska, product marketing, and land sales.

       The Board of Agriculture and Conservation administers the Agriculture Revolving Loan Fund (ARLF) through the division of Agriculture. The fund provides loans to assist the agricultural community in expanding production of Alaska grown products. The BAC also manages ARLF assets, such as the Mat-Maid Creamery and the Mt. McKinley Meat and Sausage facility.

       The division's Northern Latitude Plant Materials Center provides testing, production and development of plant materials. These materials are used in revegetation, reclamation, forage and seed production.

       Havemeister assumes her new position on August 2, 2007. The Division of Agriculture's offices are located in Palmer and Fairbanks.

House Approves Agriculture Funding Bill After Bitter Debate
Published: August 10, 2007

The House of Representatives passed a $90 billion FY08 agriculture appropriations bill (H.R. 3161) late August 2 after a contentious debate that led Republican lawmakers to walk out of the chamber in protest. The FY08 spending bill provides funding for USDA operations and programs, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The agriculture funding bill stalled several times early last week as republican lawmakers offered a number of amendments to reduce program spending. The high drama began late evening August 2 over a vote on provisions to prohibit illegal immigrants from receiving federal agricultural funds for housing or employment. Republicans disputed the final vote and there seemed to be confusion on both sides about how the vote was tallied before GOP members walked out of the chamber in protest. By August 3, lawmakers finally passed the bill after creating a special panel to investigate the voting procedure.

The agriculture spending bill provides $18.8 billion in discretionary spending for FY08, compared to $17.8 billion provided in FY07. The Bush administration's budget had also requested $17.8 billion in discretionary spending. The legislation provides a total of $930 million, $38 million over FY07, for the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS). Conservation programs are funded at $979 million, which is $127 million over FY07 and $154 million above the President's budget request. Animal and plant health programs would receive a total of $874 million, which is $28 million over the FY07 funding, but $70 million below the president's budget request. The bill provides total funding of $1.2 billion for renewable energy programs, including bio-energy and renewable energy research and development, and loans and grants for rural areas. This amount is $955 million above the funds provided in FY07 and $810 million above the president's budget request.

The agriculture funding bill also addresses several important policy issues. The legislation does not provide new funding for the animal identification program because lawmakers said USDA cannot justify money already appropriated. A statement from the House Agriculture Committee said "drastic action is required as this program is far too important to be allowed to continue to flounder. The agency is directed to develop a detailed plan with measurable goals."

In addition, the spending bill sets a time line for USDA to implement country of origin labeling and prohibits USDA from implementing rules that allow poultry products from China to be imported into the U.S. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)

Lawmaker Releases Bill To Improve Safety of Imported Food
Published: August 10, 2007

       Rep. John D. Dingell (D-Mich.), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released draft legislation on August 3 that would strengthen the country's system for ensuring the safety of imported food and drugs. The committee is conducting a broad investigation into the safety of the nation's food and drug supply, particularly the ability of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct inspections and perform laboratory analysis.

       Dingell said that recent reports of tainted imports, including pet food, seafood, and cough syrup, have highlighted the need for legislative action. "We are importing twice as much food as we were a decade ago, yet the FDA examines less than one percent of it," he said. Dingell's legislative proposal would create a user fee on imported food and drug shipments. Funds generated by the fee would be used to hire additional personnel at both the U.S. border and FDA labs to increase inspections. Funds would also be used to test import samples and research new testing techniques.

       The legislation would also prevent the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) from closing or consolidating any of the current thirteen FDA field laboratories and grant the agency new authorities to: (1) issue mandatory recalls; (2) require country of origin labeling; (3) limit the number of ports of entry for food items; (4) halt imports of certain products until a foreign facility can demonstrate that significant steps have been taken to rectify an identified problem; and (5) increase civil monetary penalties for manufacturers or importers that violate the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)

Congress Adjourns And Faces Hectic Fall Agenda
Published: August 10, 2007

       The House and Senate adjourned in the early hours of August 5 for a month-long summer recess. Both chambers will return to work on September 4 after Labor Day.

       Lawmakers will be facing a daunting agenda when they reconvene and one of the top legislative priorities will be to complete action on the twelve annual appropriations bills. The House has approved all of their FY08 spending bills, but the Senate has passed only one, and none have gone to a joint conference committee for final action. The White House has issued veto threats against many of the bills including the House FY08 agriculture spending bill.

       The Senate is expected to begin work on the 2007 farm bill in early September. The Democratic leadership in both chambers are expected to push a number of domestic priorities, and there will likely be debate and votes dealing with terrorism and the Iraqi war.  (Contact: Charlie Ingram)

FDA Announces Program To Enhance State Food Safety Programs
Published: August 10, 2007

       The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 31 announced a national program to bring about the adoption of more uniform and equivalent regulatory programs by state agencies. The multi-year, voluntary initiative is designed to establish a uniform basis for measuring and improving the performance of state programs in manufactured foods, and to help reduce foodborne illness hazards.

       The Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards were developed over the past five years in a cooperative effort by state and federal partners. The standards define best practices for "critical" elements such as inspection, staff training, quality assurance, food defense, enforcement, laboratory resources, and others. Each standard has a corresponding self-assessment worksheet. The standards will be pilot-tested in New York, Oregon, and Missouri before September 30, 2007.  (Contact: Charlie Ingram)

USDA Issues Proposed Rule For Livestock Mandatory Reporting
Published: August 10, 2007

This week, USDA issued the proposed regulation to reestablish the Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) program. On April 2, 2001, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) implemented the reporting program as required by the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act of 1999 (1999 Act). The statutory authority for the program lapsed on Sept. 30, 2005.

       In October 2006, Congress enacted legislation to reauthorize the 1999 Act through Sept. 30, 2010 (Reauthorization Act), and to amend the swine reporting requirements of the 1999 Act. The Reauthorization Act separates the reporting requirements for sows and boars from barrows and gilts, among other changes. This rulemaking is necessary to reestablish the regulatory authority for the program's continued operation and incorporate the swine reporting changes as well as enhance the program's overall effectiveness and efficiency based on AMS' experience in the administration of the program over the past six years. Comments are due by Sept. 7, 2007.  Copies of the proposed rule and additional information can be found at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsmarketnews.  (Contact: Jennifer Yezak)

USDA Announces Agricultural Marketing Project Grants to 21 States
Published: August 10, 2007

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns awarded more than $1.3 million in 26 matching grants to 21 states supporting agricultural market research and demonstration projects. These grants, provided under the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP), explore new and innovative approaches to marketing U.S. food and agricultural products and help improve the efficiency and performance of the marketing system. The Agricultural Marketing Service administers FSMIP.

       "These 26 projects reflect the new realities of today's increasingly competitive global marketplace," said Johanns. "They are focused on developing innovative, more efficient and market-oriented ways to benefit our agricultural sector and support our nation's growing economy in the 21st century."

       The projects focus on developing agricultural marketing strategies for an array of areas such as eco-type seeds for landscaping; a certified baitfish program; a prototype bison meat marketing and promotion campaign; a pilot statewide food traceability system; field testing United States-grown dry bean seed varieties in Mexico; improving accuracy and usefulness of U.S. market goat grades; assessing local grower capability to supply regional demand for HACCP certified bagged salad greens; assessing and anticipating nursery products for shifting consumer preferences; and exploring opportunities for sales, distribution and safe handling guidelines of locally grown and processed products in schools; just to name a few.

       USDA awarded the following grants:

       *  Alabama - $14,995 to the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, in cooperation with several universities and county extension, to identify opportunities for Deep South wildflower seed growers to access a new market supplying native eco-type seed to state departments of transportation for use in landscape projects along public roads and highways.

       *  Alaska - $59,845 to the Alaska Division of Agriculture, to explore niche regional, national and international markets for Alaska peonies and other cut flowers and develop a marketing strategy to take advantage of an annual seasonal deficit in world supply.

       *  Arizona - $49,275 to the Arizona Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with Arizona State University, to conduct a national survey to identify attributes of an effective, private-sector funded state branding program.

       *  Arkansas - $30,000 to the Arkansas State Plant Board, in cooperation with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and the Arkansas Bait and Ornamental Fish Growers Association, to introduce the new Arkansas Certified Baitfish program.

       *  Colorado - $58,000 to the Colorado Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the National Bison Association and Colorado State University, to develop an effective prototype marketing and promotion campaign for bison meat that can be replicated in other similar demographically favorable markets.

       *  Florida - $72,000 to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, in cooperation with the University of Florida, the Southeastern Fisheries Association, and the Florida Aquaculture Association, to survey consumers age 55 and older to identify their attitudes about and preferences for seafood and aquaculture products, and to develop a marketing campaign based on the findings.

       *  Hawaii - $50,000 to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with industry partners, to conduct a pilot project for a statewide food traceability system.

       *  Idaho - $54,500 to the Idaho Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Idaho Bean Commission, to field test United States-grown dry bean seed varieties in Mexico, and to conduct educational seminars for Mexican growers and cooperatives to review the results and explain how to import the seed from the United States.

       *  Kentucky - $33,375 to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with Kentucky State University and Western Kentucky University, to improve the accuracy and usefulness of U.S. market goat grades to provide graders and buyers with a more accurate tool for evaluating live goats.

       *  Maryland - $50,000 to the University of Maryland School of Nursing, in cooperation with the Maryland Department of Agriculture, several nonprofit organizations and others, to facilitate increased use of locally produced foods in Maryland hospitals.

       *  Massachusetts - $33,825 to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, in cooperation with the University of Massachusetts and nonprofit organization partners, to determine the regional demand for HACCP certified bagged salad greens and to assess the capability of local growers to supply this market.

       *  Massachusetts - $61,600 to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscaping Association, to develop a marketing strategy that will enable nursery operators to address shifts in demand due to changing consumer preferences, and environmental regulations regarding water use and invasive plants.

       *  Michigan - $47,410 to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with the Southeast Michigan RC&D and a nonprofit partner, to support the growth of the region's urban wood industry that supplies locally produced "green" building materials from waste wood such as those from trees damaged by the emerald ash borer.

       *  Mississippi - $55,875 to the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, in cooperation with Mississippi State University, to conduct consumer and chef focus groups in three target cities to gather data on their acceptance and willingness to pay for U.S. farm raised freshwater prawn that will serve in developing future marketing efforts.

       *  New Jersey - $85,000 to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with Rutgers University, to prepare produce growers to meet emerging food safety trends and access commercial markets through training on the state's food safety certification program.

       *  New Mexico - $58,550 to the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with New Mexico State University, the New Mexico Chile Commission and industry partners, to develop a comprehensive regional marketing program for red chilies.

       *  New Mexico - $46,545 to New Mexico State University to assess the national market for New Mexico-grown natural dye plants and natural dye plant products.

       *  North Carolina - $61,400 to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, in cooperation with North Carolina State University and the North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association, to determine key factors that influence current and anticipated consumer purchases of nursery products and landscape services to help the state's nursery sector update its marketing strategies and better plan future product and service offerings.

       *  Ohio - $49,225 to the Ohio Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with Ohio State University and industry partners, to explore opportunities for sales of locally grown and processed products in school vending machines, and to conduct a pilot project in a university setting.

       *  Ohio - $56,715 to the Ohio Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with Ohio State University, the Ohio Farm Bureau and others, to evaluate the current marketing strategies and practices of Ohio food producers, and to determine if and how a web-based marketing system can improve the effectiveness of their marketing efforts.

       *  Oklahoma - $56,365 to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, in cooperation with Oklahoma State University, Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the Oklahoma State Department of Education, to develop food distribution models for small, medium and large producers, and to create safe handling guidelines to foster use of locally grown and produced food products in school systems throughout the state.

       *  Oregon - $43,000 to the Oregon Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with Oregon State University Food Innovation Center and the Oregon School Nutrition Association, to explore opportunities for Oregon producers to supply ingredients or produce processed products for sale to public schools and to conduct a pilot project involving several products tailored to meet the needs and requirements of participating schools.

       *  Washington - $55,000 to the Washington State Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Washington Red Raspberry Commission and Washington State University, to use health-based research in support of a program to expand use of red raspberries in the production of new and existing processed products.

       *  Washington - $65,000 to the Washington State Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Cranberry Marketing Committee, to conduct national surveys of consumers and health professionals to gain insight into their knowledge, preferences and demand for cranberries and cranberry products, and to use the results to improve the industry's marketing strategies and educational programs.

       *  Washington - $63,500 to the Washington Dry Pea and Lentil Commission to educate food product research and development professionals about the technical aspects and uses of various forms of dry peas, lentils and chickpeas to enhance the nutritional value of existing products and create new products using these ingredients.

       *  Wyoming - $23,000 to the Wyoming Business Council to foster development of the specialty food sector in Wyoming and to train producers and processors on food safety principles.  (Contact: Jennifer Yezak)

Industrial Commission Okays Organic Promotion Funds
Published: August 10, 2007

       The North Dakota Industrial Commission has approved a $30,000 grant for development of a website, and educational and promotional materials and activities for North Dakota's organic food industry. 

Commissioner Hugoson Appoints Boerboom as Deputy, Kinney as Assistant Commissioner
Published: August 10, 2007

       Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) Commissioner Gene Hugoson has announced the appointment of Jim Boerboom as deputy commissioner and the hiring of Robin Kinney as assistant commissioner. Boerboom's appointment is effective immediately, and Kinney will join the MDA by early September.

       Boerboom currently serves as an assistant commissioner with the MDA, with responsibility for overseeing the department's Agricultural Development and Financial Assistance, Laboratory Services, Plant Protection, and Agricultural Statistics divisions. He also has directed the state's Rural Finance Authority, a lending group supervised by the MDA. He started his service as director of the Agricultural Finance Division in 1995, and was promoted to assistant commissioner in 1999.