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NASDA Delegation To Visit China
Published: September 17, 2007
NASDA President-elect and North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson will lead a delegation to China to promote NASDA's trade show events November 1 to 12--the U.S. Food Export Showcase at the Global Food & Style Exposition (a partnership between NASDA, the Organic Trade Association, and the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade) and the American Food Fair at the NRA (National Restaurant Association) Show.
Other delegation members will include: Caren Wilcox, CEO of the Organic Trade Association (OTA); Ann Daw, CEO of the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade; Mary Pat Heftman, Senior Vice President of Conventions, for the National Restaurant Association, and DeWitt Ashby, Director, trade shows, for NASDA.
The group will visit Beijing, Shenyang, Shanghai, Nanjing, Chengdu, and Guangzhou and make educational and event promotion presentations to groups of importers, retailers, and HRI (hotel-restaurant-institutional) professionals in each city. (Contact: DeWitt Ashby or Megan McDonald)
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NASDA Committees Plan Active Agendas
Published: September 17, 2007
During NASDA's Annual Meeting in Seattle, Washington, the 2007 farm bill, specialty crops, trade, bioenergy, and immigration reform will be the highlighted issues during the meetings of the Marketing and International Trade Committee, the Rural Development and Financial Security Committee, and the Specialty Crops Task Force.
The Marketing and International Trade Committee, chaired by Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson, will hear reports from the Foreign Agricultural Service and discuss the latest developments regarding the 2007 farm bill, World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round and trade remedy laws. In addition, the committee will hear about the activities of the Tri-National Agricultural Accord.
The Rural Development and Financial Security Committee, chaired by North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson, will have updates and discussions on the farm bill, bioenergy legislation and program updates as well as immigration reform and its impact on agriculture. Those speaking to the committee include Read Smith, co-chair, 25x'25 Steering Committee and Mike Gempler, Washington Growers League. In addition, the committee will take action on revising and updating NASDA's policies under the committee's jurisdiction.
California Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura will chair the Specialty Crops Task Force meeting and members will hear reports from Matthew McInerney of the Western Growers Association and Mark Powers of the Northwest Horticultural Council. The task force agenda also includes an update from USDA on the Specialty Crops Block Grant program.
NASDA's Natural Resources and Pesticide Management Committee plans to review a variety of policy issues. The panel, chaired by Utah Agriculture Commissioner Leonard Blackham, will hear a report on western wildfires and the work of a multi-state governor's task force. Jon Scholl, agricultural counselor to the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will hold an interactive dialogue with NASDA members on environmental issues and challenges facing farmers and ranchers.
NASDA's Food Regulation and Nutrition Committee, chaired by Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks, will discuss food imports from China. Richard Barnes, director of federal and state relations for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), will describe the agency's efforts on several food safety issues. The panel will also discuss legislation to allow interstate meat sales, which is one of NASDA's top priorities for the 2007 farm bill.
The Animal and Plant Industries Committee will be meeting on Sunday, Sept 23, afternoon lead by co-chairs West Virginia Agriculture Commissioner Gus Douglass and Nebraska Agriculture Director Greg Ibach. The focus of the meeting will be on emergency planning and response efforts, particularly communications efforts. USDA Undersecretary for Marketing & Regulatory Programs Bruce Knight will tee off discussions regarding lessons learned from during several after-action reports assessing several emergency incidents from this summer. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) Deputy Administrators, John Clifford and Ric Dunkle, will also provide background and possible solutions resulting from efforts within Veterinary Services and Plant Protection and Quarantine. Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson will provide a state assessment as well. The committee will further focus on communication issues regarding a NASDA-APHIS project to improve collaborative efforts before, during, and after emergency events. An initial phase of the project will be described and members will be given an opportunity to discuss options to advance the state/federal partnerships. Subsequent to the meeting, states will participate in a survey to gather more specifics. The members will also discuss an emergency contact project being undertaken by NASDA staff. Several important policy items and action items will also be considered.
The major undertaking of the Biotechnology Task Force will be to consider a rewrite of the current NASDA Biotechnology policy. The task force is chaired by Kansas Agriculture Secretary Adrian Polansky. In addition, members will discuss options for possible involvement in the rewrite of APHIS' policy on biotechnology as well. APHIS and the Biotechnology Industry Organization will have representatives discussing various stewardship/quality management programs. The state of Oregon recently concluded a project on "Biopharming" in the state, and the task force will hear insights from that endeavor. Meeting documents can be located at http://www.nasda.org/nasda2007/. (Contact: Rick Kirchhoff, Charlie Ingram, Jennifer Yezak, and/or Bob Ehart)
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Koivisto Named Michigan Agriculture Director
Published: September 17, 2007
The Michigan Commission of Agriculture named Donald W. Koivisto as the new director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) during a special session held last month.
"Don is not only a strong advocate for Michigan agriculture, but [he] has a wealth of knowledge and experience to further expand the state's second largest industry," said James Byrum, commission chair. "He will be able to hit the ground running in terms of growing Michigan agriculture, especially in the areas of renewable fuels and food processing, which are critical to the continued diversification of the state's economy."
"Michigan agriculture is a rapidly growing sector of the state economy, and I'm looking forward to facilitating new opportunities as the state's agriculture director," said Koivisto. "As an advocate for agriculture, I plan to protect the industry base while increasing Michigan's presence in other sectors, such as specialty crops and exports into the global marketplace."
Koivisto was born and raised in the western Upper Peninsula, graduated from Central Michigan University in 1971, and currently lives on a centennial farm in Ellsworth that grows corn, soybeans and hay. He was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 1980 where he served three terms and was chair of the House Agriculture Committee from 1984 to 1986. Additionally, he served 12 years in the state Senate after being elected in 1990 and was on the agriculture appropriations subcommittee. He is married with four children.
The Michigan Commission of Agriculture is a bipartisan body appointed by the governor to provide oversight and policy direction for MDA programs, appoint the director of agriculture, and approve the rules and regulations the department promulgates. (Contact: Rick Kirchhoff)
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Administration and Public Policy Officials to Address NASDA Meeting
Published: September 17, 2007
NASDA members will have the opportunity to meet and hear from a variety of senior administration officials and public policy experts during their upcoming annual meeting being held September 21 to 26 in Seattle, Washington.
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns will address the morning plenary session on Tuesday, September 25. Other featured speakers will give NASDA members a unique insight into a variety of agricultural issues. Thomas Winkowski, assistant commissioner for Customs and Border Protection, will discuss partnerships for safeguarding U.S. borders. Ray Miller, director of business development for the DuPont Company, will give his perspectives on the future of bio-based materials. Dale Enerson, National Farmers Union, will describe efforts for marketing carbon credits as a new crop for farmers and ranchers. (Contact: Rick Kirchhoff)
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NASDA Testifies on Environmental Issues Facing Agriculture
Published: September 17, 2007
NASDA testified at a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on September 6 which examined concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and environmental issues facing agriculture. Utah Agriculture Commissioner Leonard Blackham testified on behalf of NASDA. He also chairs NASDA's Natural Resource and Pesticide Management Committee.
Blackham's testimony outlined the role state departments of agriculture play in environmental protection and issues related to animal feeding operations. He noted that state-led initiatives and farm bill conservation programs have provided numerous opportunities for environmental quality protection. Blackham emphasized that the key to protecting the environment and U.S. livestock economies is to "provide states with the flexibility and resources to meet legal and programmatic responsibilities." He said that programs for managing animal nutrients are most appropriately implemented at the state and local level.
Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) expressed her concerns about "significant environmental and public health issues that stem from CAFOs." She said "these industrialized animal production facilities impact water and air quality, emitting more waste than large industrial operations." Boxer also stated her strong opposition to legislation that would exempt CAFOs and other agricultural operations from regulation under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly known as Superfund. NASDA and other agricultural organizations are supporting the legislation and strongly believe that Superfund laws were never intended to regulate manure and farm operations. Several farm state senators, including ranking member James Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Kit Bond (R-Mo.), expressed concern that subjecting farms to Superfund would create litigation gridlock and unnecessarily expose virtually every farm operation in the country to liabilities and penalties.
Other witnesses who testified at the hearing included the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Association of Conservation Districts, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A copy of NASDA's testimony is posted on NASDA's website. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)
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Senator Unveils Agriculture Tax Plan to Compliment Farm Bill
Published: September 17, 2007
Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, unveiled a plan on September 11 to provide billions of dollars in tax relief and disaster assistance to farmers and ranchers. Baucus' agriculture tax package was proposed to be included in the 2007 farm bill and would provide incentives for conservation, alternative energy production, and create a permanent disaster relief fund.
The tax package will free up between $8 billion to $10 billion in revenue that can be used in the farm bill. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) said in a statement that he welcomed the proposal and that Baucus "understands our difficult budget situation and the critical need for the resources that will allow us to craft a successful new farm bill."
The Baucus proposal would establish a permanent disaster relief trust fund to provide financial assistance to farmers and ranchers affected by natural disasters. The package will also include a variety of tax incentives for wind, and as well as other alternative energy production to encourage farmers to grow crops used for ethanol, biodiesel, and cellulosic biofuels. Another provision would provide a conservation tax credit: While producers now receive cash payments for land conservation efforts, Baucus' plan would provide producers with the option of receiving a tax credit in lieu of the cash. Finally, the proposal will create a new category of tax credit bonds for projects such as rural electric and telemedicine, rural broadband and other economic development projects.
Final details of the agriculture tax package have not been released and Baucus plans to consider the legislation in the Finance Committee in the coming weeks. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)
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Speculation Continues on Senate Farm Bill Schedule
Published: September 17, 2007
There is much speculation in Congress and among agricultural organizations about the timetable for Senate action on the 2007 farm bill. Current farm bill law will expire September 30 and many farm state lawmakers believe an extension on the 2002 legislation may be necessary.
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) has said that a markup on the farm bill has been scheduled for the week of September 17 with the expectation that full Senate action would follow soon afterward. Harkin has not yet released his farm bill proposals. However, "discussion" drafts of various titles, including the conservation and energy proposals, have been circulated to committee members and agricultural organizations for comment. On September 6, several news organizations reported on a draft proposal for the commodity title, although the document was not officially released by the committee. The proposal would continue direct payments at current level and base countercyclical payments on revenue. It also calls for a supplemental crop insurance program to replace ad hoc disaster assistance.
Many congressional observers believe the Senate's farm bill timetable depends on when the budget and finance panels determine how much funding will be provided. Meanwhile, the legislation and schedule remain a moving target. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)
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NASDA Welcomes Lee
Published: September 17, 2007
New fall intern Alexandra Lee joined the NASDA team August 27, 2007. Recently graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural leadership and development, Lee comes to NASDA through Texas A&M's Agricultural & Natural Resource Policy (ANRP) internship program. Originally from Houston, Texas, Alexandra is interested in environmental and water policy, school nutrition, and agricultural implications regarding the 2007 farm bill. While in Washington, Alexandra's goals are to learn about state and federal procedures and how agricultural policy affects all aspects of the U.S. food supply.
This fall the Texas A&M ANRP program, led by Cady Auckerman, celebrates 16 years of placing Aggie interns in Washington, D.C. Alexandra's term at NASDA extends to December 7, 2007. (Contact: Jennifer Yezak, Alexandra Lee)
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Panel On Import Safety Plans Public Meeting
Published: September 17, 2007
An Interagency Working Group on Import Safety has announced a public meeting to explore actions that public and private stakeholders can take to promote the safety of products imported into the United States. The panel was created by President Bush asked the interagency panel to conduct a comprehensive review of current import safety practices and determine where improvements can be made.
The Working Group is chaired by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and includes officials from USDA and other federal agencies. The Working Group plans to release a Strategic Framework to promote import safety to the president by September 17. An action plan will be released by mid-November 2007 that will address feedback received from the public and recommend specific actions the federal government and all stakeholders can take to enhance import safety on all levels.
The public meeting will be held at USDA on Monday, October 1. Details about the public meeting and comment period, the Strategic Framework and other import safety information are available at http://www.importsafety.gov. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)
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Virus May Cause Colony Collapse in Honeybees
Published: September 17, 2007
Scientists have identified a virus as one of the likely causes of honeybee colony collapses. The study, published in Science, suggests that the Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) may trigger a mysterious condition currently called colony collapse disorder (CCD). Using the recently mapped honeybee genome, scientists collaborating on the study were able to identify genetic material from viruses and other pathogens in bees collected over the past three years from healthy and deteriorating colonies across the country. They found evidence of the virus in 25 of 30 affected colonies and one of 21 unaffected hives. Researchers have replicated the virus and USDA researchers plan to inject it into healthy bees to see whether it causes similar conditions found in those suffering from CCD.
Beekeepers, scientists, and public officials have been searching for the cause of the disorder, which surfaced in 2004 and was formally recognized last year. Unlike other diseases that strike beehives, the collapse disorder leaves a colony without most of its worker bees despite the presence of plentiful food, a queen, and other adult bees. It has devastated an industry that produces honey and pollinates lucrative fruit, nut, and vegetable crops such as almonds, oranges, and apples. The scientists who authored the paper emphasized that they have only begun to solve the puzzle and have yet to determine what causes a colony's abrupt decline. There is some belief that other factors, which may weaken the immune system contribute to a susceptibility of the hive to the disorder, making them more vulnerable to the virus, so other agents that may stress the hives are also being investigated. Researchers have not been able to prove that the virus is the cause of the mysterious disease that has wreaked havoc on the bee industry. If the virus is the causal agent, another lead that researchers are investigating is that it may have been introduced by bees from Australia that were first permitted to be imported in 2004, about the same time as CCD was first recognized in the U.S. Diana L. Cox-Foster, a Penn State entomologist, is the lead author of the study. (Contact: Bob Ehart)
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FMD Outbreak Investigation in the UK Completed
Published: September 17, 2007
The virus strain, type O1BFS, that caused the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Surrey in August 2007 has been shown beyond reasonable doubt to have originated from the nearby Pirbright site where a commercial vaccine production plant and a research and diagnostic laboratory are co-located. Investigations indicate that release of the virus was most likely due to escape of live virus from the drainage system that connects the vaccine production plant to the sodium hydroxide treatment tanks on another part of the Pirbright site. Movement of the virus off site was most likely from movement of mites created from soil, water or other material contaminated by effluent, and deposited on the road from which the track to first infected premises leads.
Using the European Food Safety Authority definitions of risk, the probability that live virus is present in the external environment on the Pirbright site or elsewhere, and could be transmitted to susceptible stock, is very low; i.e., this outcome is very rare but cannot be excluded. This risk is further mitigated by biosecurity measures in place on site and the remaining surveillance work.
Debby Reynolds, chief veterinary officer, Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DERFA), announced that she was satisfied that foot-and-mouth disease had now been eradicated from Surrey. The 10km Surveillance Zone, together with the remaining restrictions outside the Surveillance Zone, was lifted at noon on Saturday, September 8, 2007. For more information, go to http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/fmd/investigations/index.htm. (Contact: Bob Ehart)
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FDA Still Considering Feed Ban
Published: September 17, 2007
FDA officials proposed new measures in October 2005 to tighten its controls on the 1997 ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban by removing "high-risk cattle materials" from all animal feed. The rule was proposed to reduce the threat that bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) might infect U.S. cattle. The USA has had three cases of BSE; the major impact of these findings has been a ban on U.S. beef exports to many countries since Dec. 2003, especially in those lucrative markets of Japan and South Korea. It's now been almost 2 years since FDA announced the proposed tighter feed ban, but Farm.com reports that FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine has indicated the agency continues to work on the regulation.
Japan has raised the issue of the status of the rule in negotiations about raising the age limit on beef processed for Japan. U.S. negotiators continue demanding that Japan and other trading partners accept the approved "negligible risk" designation that the U.S. received on its controls of BSE from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). If--or when--Japan accepts that status it would require Japan to get rid of its requirement that all U.S. beef shipped to the country come from cattle 21 months of age or younger. Still, Japanese officials want to know why the U.S. hasn't implemented the FDA plan to tighten the ruminant feed ban.
On the flip side, however, some industry representatives, concerned about the added expenses to dispose of some carcasses and the specified risk materials, are concerned with the proposal, as published, and the prospects that it may be implemented without due consideration of the cost compared to perceived benefits. This issue remains complicated by the low number of cases identified in the U. S.
NASDA policy supports the development of a feed ban based on the best available science, while recognizing there is no such thing as a no-cost policy. If the U.S. needs to take additional actions to assure eradication in a reasonable time frame, NASDA recognizes that affected sectors of the industry (e.g., renderers, some ranchers, perhaps others) may need assistance to assure compliance is reached as reasonably as possible. NASDA embraces the need for research as a method to advance current knowledge and understanding and seeks a policy which is based on risk analysis, is able to assure the consuming public that the beef supply is safe because of the actions taken by U. S. pubic agencies and is fair to U.S. beef producers. (Contact: Bob Ehart)
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APHIS Personnel Announcements
Published: September 17, 2007
Bruce Knight, undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs at USDA, announced the appointment of Cindy J. Smith as administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. "With 28 years in the Agency, Cindy Smith has learned APHIS from the ground-up, and her diverse experience is an asset to APHIS and USDA," Knight said.
As administrator, Smith will further APHIS' mission of protecting American agriculture and ensuring the health and care of animals and plants. Smith replaces Dr. Ron DeHaven, who retired on August 3, after 28 years with APHIS. DeHaven served as administrator since 2004.
Smith began her career with APHIS in 1979 and has advanced through the ranks, holding clerical, technical, administrative, supervisory and executive leadership positions in the Agency. Throughout her years, Smith has gained diverse experience in a broad range of APHIS programs, including plant protection and quarantine, wildlife services (WS), biotechnology regulatory services (BRS) and the former biotechnology, biologics and environmental protection unit.
Smith has been serving as acting administrator since August 3, and as APHIS' associate administrator since April. Before that, beginning in 2002, she served as deputy administrator for BRS and played a major role in shaping the agency's biotechnology regulatory structure, establishing more rigorous requirements for field tests of genetically engineered crops and initiating efforts to review and strengthen the agency's overarching biotechnology regulations. From 2001 to 2002, Smith was the associate deputy administrator for WS, which provides federal leadership and expertise in resolving conflicts caused by wildlife.
Two other high-level appointments in APHIS have also been made recently:
* Rebecca Bech has been promoted to be the deputy administrator of Biotechnology Regulatory Services. Prior to becoming deputy administrator for BRS in June 2007, Bech served as BRS' associate deputy administrator for emerging and international programs. In this position, she provided guidance in policy and program implementation for plant and animal biotechnology regulations. She was acting deputy administrator for BRS from April 2007 through June 2007. Throughout her time at APHIS, Bech has gained diverse experience by supporting several different programs. Bech joined APHIS in 1986 as a Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) officer. While with PPQ, she served as a plant pathology identifier and provided new officer training. In addition, Bech was director for PPQ's Scientific Services. Bech has also worked in Policy and Program Development, Recruitment and Development, and Marketing and Regulatory Programs Business Services, where she acted as the USDA Liaison for Invasive Species.
* Bethany Jones has been promoted to be the deputy administrator of Legislative and Public Affairs (LPA). In 2003, Jones was selected as associate deputy administrator for LPA and assumed responsibility for the day-to-day management of the unit's four staffs: Intergovernmental Affairs, Executive Communications, Public Affairs, and Freedom of Information. Jones began her career with APHIS in 1990, after graduating from Randolph Macon Woman's College. She accepted a position as a writer/editor with LPA's Executive Communications program and has been with LPA ever since. While working for Executive Communications, Jones answered congressional and industry letters, wrote speeches, and crafted briefing papers for the Secretary of Agriculture and the White House.
Jones then moved to LPA's Public Affairs office where she served in various positions including editor of the agency's newsletter, outreach campaign coordinator, and international trade public affairs specialist. In 1997, Jones became a supervisory public affairs specialist, and then deputy director of public affairs in 1998. Just two years later, she was named director of public affairs with responsibility for managing the agency's media, outreach, publications, web, and audio visual functions. (Contact: Bob Ehart)
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U.S. Agricultural Exports Expected to Reach Record Levels
Published: September 17, 2007
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced at the end of August a record $79 billion forecast in FY07 agricultural exports. For fiscal year 2008, USDA forecasts exports to reach $83.5 billion with growth and new sales across all major agricultural product groups. The forecasts eclipse the old record of $68.6 billion set last year.
"These export numbers, once again, demonstrate that U.S. agricultural products are in high demand around the world," said Johanns. "They also reflect tight world markets for grains and oilseeds." Building on momentum from 2007, export gains in 2008 will be broad based with record sales for bulk grains, oilseeds, cotton, and high-value horticultural and livestock products.
According to USDA's first forecast for fiscal year 2008, an expected record U.S. corn crop, strong foreign demand and reduced competition will boost U.S. corn exports $600 million. China's demand for soybeans and cotton remains strong. Developments in the bio-diesel market will raise Europe's demand for soybeans as well. Horticultural exports are anticipated to rise by $800 million, supported by strong foreign demand and a competitive dollar. Beef exports are expected to increase $400 million due to larger volume.
"Trade agreements are having a huge impact," said Johanns. "If Congress ratifies the recently signed free trade agreements with Colombia, Korea, Panama and Peru, our producers will have increased access in some extremely important markets."
Imports for fiscal year 2008 are forecast at $75 billion, up $4.5 billion from the 2007 estimate, making for an $8.5 billion trade surplus in 2008. The largest import gains are forecast for fresh and processed fruits, coffee beans and other tropical products, bulk grains, and wines and beer.
USDA's Economic Research Service, Foreign Agricultural Service and the World Agricultural Outlook Board release agricultural trade forecasts quarterly. The summary and full report of USDA's Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Exports may be accessed at http://www.ers.usda.gov or http://www.fas.usda.gov.
In other trade news, WTO negotiators are meeting in Geneva during the next three weeks to review a draft negotiating text from the chairman of the agriculture trade group, New Zealand's WTO ambassador Crawford Falconer. The text outlines areas where the ambassad believes members are close to agreement and in cases where more work needs to be done to reach a deal. (Contact: Jennifer Yezak)
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Hooker: "No Match" Process- No Good For Farmers
Published: September 17, 2007
--Writes President Bush to Expresses Dissatisfaction for New Immigration Regulations
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker last week wrote to President George W. Bush to express his concern with the newly established immigration regulations, stressing that the "no match" process will be bad for New York farmers by placing an undue enforcement burden on family businesses.
As of August 15, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is requiring all farmers and other employers to take additional steps to protect themselves from liability when notified that the Social Security Administration (SSA) is unable to match an employee's name and social security number to its records. The new guidelines require employers to resolve the discrepancies within 90 days of SSA notification.
"While I understand the importance of addressing this issue in light of the failure to reform the nation's immigration system, I am deeply concerned that the methods outlined will do little to establish what is truly needed a reasonable framework within which employers can work to ensure the viability of their businesses and secure a reliable workforce," the Commissioner said in his letter to President Bush.
The commissioner is particularly concerned with the increased responsibility placed on employers to ensure the legitimacy of their workforce by adhering to a strict verification protocol. Should the employer fail to follow the guidelines, they may be deemed to have had constructive knowledge that the employee is unauthorized to work in the United States. Further, the penalty for this offense was increased by approximately 25 percent.
To help defend farmers who are trying to comply with the new regulation, the commissioner asked if there would be built-in legal protections for employers obtaining clarifying information from workers with inaccurate information. He also inquired into innovations in identity theft technology, how to verify seasonal employees who already left and how to reconcile contradictions between DHS's new 90-day termination policy and SSA policy that prohibits the use of such letters as grounds for employee termination. Unless these and other issues are clarified, this policy is likely to be arbitrarily interpreted and inconsistently enforced.
"The farmers of New York State, and the country, deserve a stable workforce through an improved temporary agricultural labor program and solutions for a year-round workforce. Our country was literally built by immigrants, and our agricultural industry remains a viable component of our economy because of their continued contribution on our farms. Therefore, I respectfully request that the federal government not place an expensive, undue enforcement burden on these family businesses."
Congress has thus far been unable to agree on a comprehensive immigration reform package, causing DHS to assert this "interim-fix" is necessary in lieu of such an initiative, despite the significant burden it could place on employers.
New York State is home to more than 35,000 farms that produce dairy products, apples, grapes, honey, wines and other fruits and vegetables which contribute nearly $4 billion annually to the state's economy. Many farmers have long and personal relationships with the migrant workers that return each year to harvest New York's diverse agricultural bounty. Farmers respect these highly-qualified workers, who leave their homeland and families to help ensure our safe, abundant and local food supply.
A recent study commissioned by the Farm Credit Associations of New York conservatively estimates that if the migrant workforce is lost, New York State could lose approximately 900 farms, $195 million in production value and over 200,000 acres of land in agricultural production over the next two years. (Contact: Jessica A. Chittenden, (518) 457-3136)
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Going The Extra Mile For N.C. Farmers and Livestock Producers
Published: September 17, 2007
As an agronomist with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in the far western counties of the state, Bill Yarborough has been a "go-to" man for advice on soil and nutrient management for nearly 30 years. In the past couple of years, however, the Haywood County resident has shown leadership in another area--disaster relief. In 2005, Yarborough coordinated efforts to document agricultural damage from the 2004 fall hurricanes. This year, his focus is the drought-induced hay shortage.
"The current drought is the worst I've seen, and it could have a devastating and irreversible impact on our farms," Yarborough said. "Unless we act quickly, livestock producers will go out of business, land will be sold, and the new crop will be condos. Preserving farmland is important, and that's what is driving me to get out and do something about this situation."
The drought has triggered the NCDA&CS Emergency Programs Division to implement its incident command system, with Yarborough in charge of operations. The Easter freeze, followed by a growing period of extremely low rainfall, left cattle producers in western counties without sufficient pasture crops or hay to feed their animals. In eastern counties, many grain farmers will not have a crop to harvest. Although the situation seems dire, Yarborough believes there is a way to lessen the impact.
"Every single county in North Carolina is in the same boat," Yarborough said, "but it's not hopeless. We can help each other. Down east, farmers have corn and soybeans that aren't growing. If they get approval to salvage their insured crops, they can bale those crops for feed. The department of ag is putting sellers in touch with buyers and lining up transportation options. The more we work together, the easier the situation will be for everyone."
Since beginning work on this assignment in mid-August, Yarborough has spearheaded five educational demonstrations at various locations throughout the state. These sessions have addressed baling alternative feed such as corn stalks or stover and soybean hay, testing for nutritional quality, dealing with pesticide and pest quarantine issues, and ways to facilitate communication within the agricultural community.
NCDA&CS has established a website (http://www.ncagr.com/HayAlert) and a hotline (1-866-506-6222, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., M-F) so people who have hay and people who need hay can find out how to contact each other.
Last week, Yarborough received a frantic call from a dairyman who was desperate to find out how he could get in touch with someone who had hay. "I have to have feed, and your program is the only game in town," the man said.
Although Yarborough has been a tireless crusader in trying to help farmers, he credits the cooperation of many agencies for the ability to get alternative feeds moving across the state.
"The reason we've had success so far is that so many agencies have come together so quickly," Yarborough said. "Everyone recognizes the immediate need that exists and the small window of opportunity we have to harvest some of these damaged crops for different purposes. Because of the teamwork, we have been able to mobilize potential resources more quickly than I would have ever imagined. "
Yarborough serves growers in Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Swain and Yancey counties. He can be reached by phone at (828) 456-3943 or by e-mail. (Contact: Catherine Stokes, (919) 733-2655)
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