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Rural Development Meeting Held In Canada
Published: October 17, 2007
New Mexico Agriculture Secretary Dr. Miley Gonzalez led a NASDA delegation to a meeting of the Tri-lateral Working Group on Rural Development, October 10 to 12, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The working group is part of the Tri-National Agricultural Accord which provides an opportunity and mechanism for Canadian provinces and U.S. and Mexican states to exchange information, views and recommendations on various aspects of the agriculture and food industries in their respective jurisdictions.
Alberta Agriculture Provincial Minister George Groeneveld hosted the meeting. Other NASDA participants included Oklahoma Agriculture Secretary Terry Peach, chair of NASDA's Rural Development and Financial Security Committee; Montana Agriculture Deputy Director Joel Clairmont; California Agriculture Trade Director Robert Tse; and California Agriculture Executive Director Helen Lopez. Michoacan Agriculture Secretary Carlos Naranjo led the Mexico delegation with participants from a total of six Mexican states.
Delegates toured a world-class innovative research and technology transfer center that focuses on food safety and valued added processing. Presentations were also made on the development of renewable energy products, a mobile slaughtering unit project, financial assistance services and programs for Alberta producers and agri-food businesses. Mexico presented information on programs that improve access to credit by rural producers and training materials and inputs for the production of vegetables, fruits, and herbs.
The working group will continue to advance progress on the strategic directions for 2007 and will work in implementing and exchanging information in 2008 to address workforce issues; bioenergy development and programs; and promotion of nutrition programs to consumers and producers. A summary of outcomes is posted on the Accord website at http://www.nasda.org/accord/. (Contact: Jennifer Yezak)
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White House Releases New Strategy For Homeland Security
Published: October 17, 2007
President Bush on October 10 issued an updated National Strategy for Homeland Security, which will serve to guide, organize, and unify the nation's homeland security efforts. The document updates the administration's first National Strategy for Homeland Security, which was issued in July 2002.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) emphasized the framework document is a national strategy, not a federal strategy, and articulates the administration's approach to secure the homeland over the next several years. According to the White House, the updated strategy reflects the increased understanding of the threats confronting the United States and incorporates lessons learned from exercises and real-world catastrophes. The document is available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/homeland/nshs/NSHS.pdf. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)
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Pesticide Registration Bill Signed Into Law
Published: October 17, 2007
President Bush has signed legislation into law to reauthorize the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (S. 1983). The legislation had broad support from a coalition of agricultural organizations, industry, biotech companies, environmental groups, and others.
S. 1983 provides stable funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through licensing fees. In return for these fees, industry gets a more efficient pesticides registration process to review new products and bring them to market. In addition, it provides funding for worker protection, grant money for farm certification programs, and funding to complete various registration activities, such as tolerance reassessment and re-registration. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)
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Meat Industry Launches New Consumer Outreach Initiative
Published: October 17, 2007
The American Meat Institute (AMI) has announced a new consumer outreach initiative called "Meat Matters," a series of brochures that can be downloaded and printed from a new, centralized website. The Meat Matters series of brochures is designed to be easily printed for use by consumers, retailers, and foodservice operators.
The seven brochures in the new "Meat Matters" series include topics on case ready meats; product dating; safe handling of meat and poultry products; nutrition; livestock cloning; animal welfare; and a guide to enhanced meats. AMI plans to add to the series over the next year with brochures addressing other timely and emerging topics. The "Meat Matters" series is available, and downloadable, at http://www.meatmattersinfo.org. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)
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Archive on U.S. Agricultural Conservation Launched Honoring the Work of Norm Berg
Published: October 17, 2007
American Farmland Trust (AFT) has announced the availability of the Norm Berg Special Collection, an online archive of speeches and writings by and about Norm Berg that can be found at http://www.farmlandinfo.org.
Berg is a living link to the beginnings of agricultural conservation in the United States. He worked for the first chief of the USDA's Soil Conservation Service (SCS), Hugh Hammond Bennett, considered the "father of soil conservation," and then steadily rose through the ranks serving as chief from 1979 until 1982. Berg advocated for a broader understanding of agricultural conservation, recognizing, before most, that development posed a serious threat to the nation's agricultural resources.
Today, at nearly 90 years old, Berg remains a committed conservationist. He serves as senior advisor for AFT and as the Washington, D.C., representative for the Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS).
The Norm Berg Collection assembles documents written by or about Berg, and key laws and reports that represent milestones in agricultural conservation. At the collection's core are nearly 200 speeches and articles written by Berg from the mid-1960s to the late 1970s, when he was in leadership positions at the SCS. These papers demonstrate Berg's commitment to farm and ranch land protection and his role in steering the agency and its partners toward a broader understanding of agricultural conservation. In addition, the collection includes examples of congressional testimony delivered by Berg, federal laws, biographical sketches, a list of awards and honors and, last, tributes prepared by esteemed colleagues and friends.
The collection--dedicated to Berg's family--was assembled by AFT with help from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, formerly SCS) and is housed on AFT's Farmland Information Center (FIC) website, http://www.farmlandinfo.org. Ralph Grossi, AFT president and longtime colleague of Berg's said, "We hope this collection will make Berg's wisdom available to current and future farmland protection advocates and serve as a fitting tribute to his greatly respected leadership in the conservation field."
Jennifer Dempsey, who manages the collection, evaluates and accepts additional materials such as publications, photographs, and manuscripts that the public may wish to contribute to the Norm Berg Collection. Dempsey can be reached at the Farmland Information Center at 800-370-4879 x13 or via e-mail at jdempsey@farmland.org.
The project was made possible with support from the NRCS, SWCS, Anne Arundel Soil Conservation District and Norm Berg's friends and colleagues. (Contact: Rick Kirchhoff)
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AFT Accepting Nominations For 2008 Steward Of The Land Award
Published: October 17, 2007
Nominations are now being accepted for American Farmland Trust's (AFT) 2008 Steward of the Land Award. The annual $10,000 prize honors farmers or ranchers who best exemplify the AFT's mission of halting the loss of productive farmland and promoting farming practices that sustain a healthy environment.
Established in 1997, AFT's Steward of the Land Award recognizes the American farmer or farm family who best demonstrates leadership in protecting farmland and caring for the environment. The award honors the memory of Peggy McGrath Rockefeller, an avid farmer and conservationist who helped found AFT.
Steward of the Land Award-American Farmland Trust
1200 18th Street, N.W., Suite 800
Washington, D.C. 20036
You may also call 202/378-1255 for an application or with questions. Nomination materials will be accepted until close of business Monday, December 3, 2007.
Sandy and Rossie Fisher, beef producers from Manakin-Sabot, Va., were recognized as the 2007 Stewards of the Land for their lifelong commitment to farmland protection and environmental stewardship. The Fisher's operate Brookview Farm where they raise grass-fed beef and organic eggs that they sell at their on-farm store and to local chefs and grocers. Their farm's composting operation turns municipal yard waste into organic compost for use on their farm and for other customers. (Contact: Rick Kirchhoff)
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USDA News: 3 Articles
Published: October 18, 2007
~~USDA Seeks Comments on Proposed National Leafy Greens Handling Regulations~~
USDA is seeking comments on a proposed federal marketing program to regulate the handling of leafy green vegetables throughout the country. The public--growers, handlers, buyers, sellers and consumers of leafy greens--is invited to submit comments and information that would help USDA evaluate the need and support for a nationwide program. Options being considered: a marketing agreement that requires handlers to comply with the agreement's regulations after voluntarily entering the program and a marketing order that would be implemented following a grower referendum, requiring mandatory compliance for all handlers. If the response to this request is favorable, USDA will proceed with the development of the marketing program in cooperation with the industry and a notice of public hearing will be published in the Federal Register. Public comment and rulemaking will precede implementation of the proposed marketing agreement. Comments must be received by Dec. 3, 2007. The proposal can be located at http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/.
~~USDA Establishes Grass (Forage) Fed Marketing Claim Standard~~
USDA issued a voluntary standard for grass (forage) fed marketing claims this week. The grass fed standard states that grass and/or forage shall be the feed source consumed for the lifetime of the ruminant animal, with the exception of milk consumed prior to weaning. The diet shall be derived solely from forage and animals cannot be fed grain or grain by-products and must have continuous access to pasture during the growing season. Increasingly, livestock and meat producers are using production or processing claims to distinguish their products in the marketplace. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service, through its voluntary certification and audit programs, verifies the accuracy of these claims. The proposed standard will establish the minimum requirements for those producers who choose to operate a USDA-verified program involving a grass (forage) fed claim. Copies of the proposal are available at http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/stand/grassclaim.htm.
~~Farm Service Agency (FSA) Announces Sign Up for 2005-2007 Disaster Assistance~~
FSA Administrator Teresa Lasseter announced that eligible farmers who suffered quantity losses to their crops in recent years can enroll in the Crop Disaster Program 2005-2007 (CDP) at local FSA service centers starting this week. FSA will announce and conduct sign-up for quality losses under CDP as soon as possible. Subject to final rules for the program, CDP provides benefits to farmers who suffered losses to the 2005-2007 crops from natural disasters and related conditions so long as the actual crop lost was planted or prevented from being planted before Feb. 28, 2007. Producers who incurred qualifying losses in 2005, 2006, or 2007 must choose only one year to receive benefits. Producers may apply for benefits for losses to multiple crops as long as the losses occurred in the same crop year. Only producers who obtained crop insurance coverage or coverage under the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) for the year of loss will be eligible. Producers must have suffered quantity losses in excess of 35 percent to be eligible and the payment rate is set at 42 percent of the established price. For more information about CDP and other disaster programs implemented by FSA, visit http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov. (Contact: Jennifer Yezak)
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ODAFF Farm to School Initiative Awarded 2007 Champions of Children's Health Award
Published: October 17, 2007
Oklahoma's Farm to School Initiative won the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma's "Champions of Children's Health Award" for 2007. The program is a partnership between the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry (ODAFF) and the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture with dual goals of benefiting local farmers and educating young people about good nutrition.
"The Farm to School program began in 2003 and today it reaches over 400 schools in 35 school districts," said Oklahoma Agriculture Secretary Terry Peach. "Our current focus is on fruits and vegetables but we plan to include other commodities such as meats and poultry in the future."
He said students at participating districts were excited about having the opportunity to eat locally grown foods in their school lunch programs.
"Our program offers fresh products that are much better tasting than many of the other items normally provided and this really helps our Farm to School program teach them about nutrition and healthy eating habits," Peach said. "I believe this is the best tool we have to help fight childhood obesity by altering our children's eating habits."
The success of the program, along with extensive outreach and support of children's health advocates, led to legislation in 2006 establishing a statewide Farm to School program and allowed the ODAFF to add a full-time coordinator for the project.
"It was such an honor and surprise for us when we learned about winning this prestigious award," Peach said. "We were one of 20 nominations and the competition included some of the finest health and social services organizations in the state. It was a very humbling experience." (Contact: Jack Carson, 405/522-4575)
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Governor Spitzer Unveils "City By City" Economic Development Plan
Published: October 17, 2007
Governor Eliot Spitzer this week continued outlining his vision for regionally tailored economic development efforts. At a meeting of business and community leaders at Midtown Plaza, the Governor named four projects that would receive funding as part of his long-term strategy for economic expansion in Rochester and the Finger Lakes region.
The governor's "City-by-City" plans, the first of which he unveiled last week in Buffalo, are a component of the administration's larger Upstate agenda announced earlier this year, which focuses on reducing the costs of business, adapting to an Innovation Economy, and strengthening infrastructure. The "City-by-City" plans identify priority projects in and around Upstate cities that capitalize on each region's unique assets and are selected based on their potential to spur additional private investment and greater economic development.
"We often talk about the Upstate economy as if it was some monolithic region, but the opposite is true," said Spitzer. "A one size fits all' approach hasn't worked. The projects we're announcing today were selected to build on the strengths of Rochester and the Finger Lakes region. These projects lay the foundation for revitalizing the downtown area and spurring private sector growth in the greater region's important agribusiness sector."
The four projects Spitzer announced for Rochester and the surrounding areas include the demolition of Midtown Plaza and the construction of a world headquarters for PAETEC, and three projects that advance the region's unique strength in agriculture: the Finger Lakes Viticulture and Organic Market Center, the Cornell Agriculture and Food Tech Park and the Agricultural Manufacturing Industrial Park adjacent to the OATKA Milk Products Facility in Genesee County.
Spitzer announced the following specific commitments:
Midtown Plaza--Midtown Plaza will be remediated and demolished, and the site will be redeveloped as mixed use urban space that will include a new corporate headquarters for PAETEC Communications. One of the largest telecommunication companies in the United States, PAETEC Communications plans to build a new 500,000 square foot, Class A facility on a portion of the Midtown property. The proposed PAETEC facility is anticipated to house 1,000 employees (including the 600 existing employees) and will be the new location for the company's corporate headquarters, data and other operations. Under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding, the City will acquire the site from the current owners. Subject to legislative approval, the state will be responsible for the remediation and demolition costs needed to make the site "shovel-ready" for PAETEC (estimated to be $50 million). The parties to the agreement will work together in the coming months to develop an overall site and use plan for the project and a community participation plan prior to finalizing the formal development agreement.
The Genesee OATKA Ag Manufacturing Park (Batavia/Genesee County)--A $3 million state investment will support the development of a 200+ acre food processing and agricultural manufacturing industrial park, adjacent to the OATKA Milk Products Facility in Batavia in Genesee County. This total $9 million project is expected to generate up to one million square feet of food processing, research and development, and warehouse/distribution space, which has the potential to support more than 1,000 new jobs with good wages in the region. The Genesee County Economic Development Corporation currently has several prospects for the proposed park, which is expected to be completed by late 2008.
Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park Project (Ontario County)--The Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park is a self-supporting entity designed to foster the creation of innovative technologies and economic growth in the food and agriculture sectors. The state's $1 million investment will support the expansion of the park to accommodate additional research and development facilities, by meeting an immediate need to loop water service throughout the park and construct a second Flex Tech Building on the property (a total $3.17 million project). The project is expected to be completed in late 2008.
Finger Lakes Viticulture and Organic Market Center (Yates County)--Yates County is located in the heart of the viticulture industry in the Finger Lakes and also has the largest collection of organic farms in the Northeast. The state's $750,000 investment will provide critical seed capital for development of a new organic produce center that will support local organic farmers by allowing them to reach new markets. Additionally, the Yates County IDA will evaluate the opportunity for development of a joint grape crushing incubator facility to be utilized by various wineries in the region. The region's farms and wineries currently generate more than $30 million annually in local revenue and employ more than 2000 people.
"While each of our core communities is different, they do have one thing in common--they have all been held back by too many competing priorities," continued Spitzer. "Each region has a deep well of potential that has remained untapped because of key projects that have stalled and been mired in gridlock. Our City by City' plan will break this gridlock because we have established priorities and will provide the leadership, collaborative approach, funding, and the will to get them done."
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker said: "Agriculture is a significant contributor to the Upstate economy and therefore I am thrilled that the governor is taking his "City-by-City" plan to Rochester, a major agricultural region of New York state. The governor's decision to prioritize these projects will greatly strengthen the Finger Lakes area as a whole. With some of the highest economic multipliers of any industry, these projects will not only help advance the individual businesses, but will generate more revenue and more jobs, helping to ensure a more sustainable future for all the communities in the area." (Contact: Christine Anderson, 212/681-4640)
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VDACS Selects Charles Green As Marketing Division Director
Published: October 17, 2007
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) has selected Charles Green as the new Director of the Division of Marketing. He began his new duties October 2, 2007. Green previously served as Project Manager with VDACS' Agribusiness Development Services.
The division's goal is to assist Virginia's wide array of growers and agribusinesses in moving more and more of their products into markets both here and around the world. In his new position, Green will direct a division that includes International Marketing, Commodity Services, Sales and Marketing, Direct Marketing and Livestock Marketing.
"Charles' unique blend of professional, educational, and personal experiences and attributes made him the correct choice to be the new marketing director. He is the right person to achieve Governor Kaine's goal of increasing and promoting the Department's marketing efforts on behalf of the Commonwealth's growers and producers," said Virginia Agriculture Commissioner Todd P. Haymore. "I am pleased to announce his selection and I know that Virginia's agriculture industry and the citizens of the Commonwealth will benefit from his service."
Prior to his work at VDACS, Charles Green served as an International Marketing Specialist and as Director of International Marketing for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. He also worked as a Corporate Transportation Manager for Coastal Lumber Company in Weldon, North Carolina.
Green earned a bachelor of science degree in marketing and management: forest products from Virginia Tech as well as a masters in business administration from Campbell University. (Contact: Marion Horsley, 804/225-3820)
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