NASDA News December 11, 2007

THE SENATE BEGINS WORK ON FARM BILL
Published: December 11, 2007

       The Senate finally began debate on the 2007 farm bill on December 7 after congressional leaders reached an agreement to limit amendments. Lawmakers hope to finish work on the legislation the week of December 10 before Congress adjourns for the year.

       Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced an agreement late December 6 which would allow each political party to offer twenty amendments with no restriction on whether the amendments are germane or not. The first votes are scheduled for December 11.

       Senate leaders had not released a list of amendments at press time, but the initial debate revealed some of the issues that will come up for votes. On December 7, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) formally introduced a payment limit amendment sponsored by Sens. Bryon Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). The Dorgan-Grassley proposal would set an annual income limit of $250,000 on which producers can receive direct payments. Afterward, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced her payment limitation amendment. The Klobuchar amendment would limit participation in commodity programs to full-time farmers with incomes less than $750,000 per year.

       Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) introduced an alternative farm bill amendment sponsored by Sens. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) and Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.). Their proposal would gradually phase out direct payments by 2014. The Lugar-Lautenberg proposal is similar to the amendment offered and rejected in the House by Reps. Ron Kind (D-Wisc.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.). Chambliss also introduced an amendment proposed by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) to reduce federal crop insurance funding and use the money for other farm bill programs. He introduced another amendment sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) that would strike the agriculture disaster assistance fund proposed by Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Budget Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.). 

CONGRESS STRUGGLES TOWARD ADJOURNMENT WITH HEAVY AGENDA
Published: December 11, 2007

       The House and Senate are rushing to complete a heavy agenda before adjourning for this year's legislative session. Lawmakers are trying to finish their work by December 14 and are struggling to pass the FY08 appropriations bills, the farm bill, a comprehensive energy bill, and a tax measure.
       Both chambers will consider a massive omnibus spending bill that will combine eleven of the twelve annual appropriations bills for FY08. Details of the omnibus spending bill remains uncertain as budget negotiations between Congress and the White House continue. President Bush wants Congress to reduce overall federal spending for domestic programs by $22 billion. However, congressional appropriators recently decided to cut only $11 billion. There is also disagreement over the amount of funding for the Iraq war and supplemental emergency spending for a variety of programs, such as agriculture disaster assistance. The final outcome remains in doubt especially since the president has threatened to veto the spending measure.
       Another legislative priority is a comprehensive energy bill (H.R. 6). The House passed the energy legislation on December 6 after months of gridlock. The bill would require automakers to increase vehicle fuel economy standards for the first time in decades to 35 miles per gallon by 2020. It also requires refiners to increase the current volume of renewable fuels by five-times to 36 billion gallons by 2022. The House-passed energy bill faces major obstacles in the Senate and lawmakers are working to revamp and pass the legislation before adjourning.  (Contact: Charlie Ingram)

NASDA NOMINATES MEMBERS FOR EPA AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE
Published: December 11, 2007

       NASDA has recommended four candidates to serve on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) new Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Advisory Committee. The agency recently announced the establishment of the committee which will provide advice to the EPA administrator on environmental policy issues affecting agriculture.
       NASDA's nominees are Delaware Agriculture Secretary Michael Scuse; Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey; South Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers; and Utah Agriculture Commissioner Leonard Blackham. All of NASDA's nominees have extensive experience in the environmental field dealing with agriculture; hold leadership positions in the NASDA organization; are actively involved in farming or ranching; and have worked on issues where consensus building is necessary. NASDA is encouraging EPA to allow all four candidates to participate in the advisory committee because they represent the regional and geographic diversity of the country's food and agriculture production system.
       EPA plans to announce members for the advisory committee in January 2008 and hold the first meeting in March 2008. Additional information about the committee and nomination process are published in the November 15 Federal Register. (Contact: Charlie Ingram or Rick Kirchhoff)

SENATORS HOLD FOOD SAFETY HEARING AND OFFER LEGISLATION
Published: December 11, 2007

       The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a hearing on December 4 to review the nation's food safety system. The hearing coincided with a number of new food safety initiatives, reports, and legislation.
       During the hearing, Chairman Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) highlighted a scathing report from the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Science Advisory Board which said the agency does not have the resources and capability to fulfill its food safety mission. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt testified that the current system is not adequate to meet future needs, and that a substantial increase in the agency's budget is needed to implement their recently announced food safety plan (see November 14 NASDA News story). Kennedy and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) later released a letter signed by twenty-three lawmakers urging the administration to support additional food safety funding.
       In addition, Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) introduced legislation on December 5 which addresses several areas to protect the food and agriculture supply. The EAT SAFE Act would authorize more than $25 million for FDA and USDA to hire additional personnel for import inspection, testing, and food defense monitoring. 

NASDA ENUMERATOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE
Published: December 11, 2007

       Several NASDA enumerators were recognized for their outstanding accomplishments with the NASDA Enumerator of the Year Awards on December 7, 2007, at USDA in Washington, D.C.  NASDA employs approximately 3,500 enumerators throughout the country who conduct farm-level surveys for NASS under a cooperative agreement between the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and NASDA, the largest cooperative agreement in USDA.  The grassroots data collection and public relations work performed by NASDA enumerators is key to NASS's ability to perform its mission of serving the nation's agriculture through the dissemination of timely, accurate, and useful information.  Each year, NASS honors a total of six NASDA employees, four enumerators and two supervisory enumerators.  Recognition is given for outstanding efforts in enumerator training and mentoring; data collection; dependability; efficiency; respondent relations; and, for supervisory enumerators only, a category for supervision. 
       Each NASDA award recipient is recognized at the NASS's annual Awards for Excellence ceremony and they also receive a monetary award for their outstanding efforts.
       Office Supervisory Enumerator:  Dan Howe (Wyoming) for outstanding initiative and performance as a new NASDA office supervisory enumerator for the Wyoming Data Collection Center.
       Field Supervisory Enumerator:  Mary Marple (West Virginia) for exceptional diligence as a West Virginia NASDA Field Supervisory Enumerator, fostering cooperation between field offices and assuring consistent, excellent training of NASDA enumerators for collecting data critical to the NASS mission.
       Office Enumerator:  Dan Sterling (Iowa) for outstanding effort and diligence as a NASDA Office enumerator for the Iowa Field Office, with high response rates, low costs, excellent respondent relations, and commitment to training others.
       Stella Rodriguez (New Mexico) for outstanding performance, with exemplary knowledge and skills, and dedication to positive respondent relations as a NASDA office enumerator in the New Mexico Field Office.  
       Field Enumerator:  Betty Sue Coleman (Mississippi) for outstanding dedication and performance, and excellent respondent relations on all surveys as a NASDA field enumerator for the Mississippi Field Office.
       Lilla Mobley (Georgia) for outstanding performance, unprecedented dependability, and dedication to excellence as a NASDA field enumerator for the Georgia Field Office.  (Contact: Steve Cox or Rick Kirchhoff)
 

NASDA STAFF MEMBER HONORED BY USDA
Published: December 11, 2007

       Betsy Maixner, NASDA's manager of information services, has been honored as a "Cooperator of the Year" by USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). 
       Deputy Administrator for Field Operations, Marshall Dantzler, presented the award in ceremonies last week at USDA headquarters.  Dantzler cited Betsy's accomplishments in providing outstanding support for the Census of Agriculture by coordinating the audiotaping of public service announcements, leading the development of a series of interactive training videos for NASDA enumerators, and initiating the production and distribution of the NASDA Enumerator Newsletter.
       NASS Administrator Ron Bosecker said, "Betsy's efforts have provided training materials used to train approximately 3,500 NASDA enumerators at a fraction of the cost of many commercial training programs, for the benefit of the field offices."  (Contact: Rick Kirchhoff)

PRUSACKI TO HEAD NASS STATISTICS DIVISION
Published: December 11, 2007

       Joseph J. Prusacki has been named director of the Statistics Division of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), NASS Administrator Ron Bosecker announced this week. Prusacki succeeds Steve Wiyatt, who retires Jan. 3 after 34 years of service to NASS.
       As Statistics Division director, Prusacki will be responsible for the forecasts and estimates published in nearly 500 national statistical reports each year covering all facets of U.S. agriculture. He also replaces Wiyatt as executive director of the Agricultural Statistics Board.
       Prusacki most recently served as director of the NASS Iowa Field Office. He began his career with the agency in 1984 and worked in both the Tennessee and Indiana Field Offices before moving to the NASS Washington headquarters in 1992. He worked in a variety of statistician positions in Washington before being promoted into management ranks in 1997. Since then, his positions have included serving as head of the Environmental and Economics Section in the Statistical Methods Branch, as well as program manager for the 2002 Census of Agriculture. In 2004, he was named chief of the Crops Branch within the Statistics Division.
       "Steve Wiyatt provided tremendous leadership to NASS throughout his career and his shoes will be tough to fill," Bosecker said. "But I am delighted that Joe Prusacki is stepping up to the challenge as Statistics Division director. His prior experience will serve him well in his new position."
       Prusacki was raised on a small crop and hog farm in Perry County, Ill. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in agribusiness-economics from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, as well as an M.S. in applied statistics from Purdue University. He is a 2004 graduate of USDA's Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program.  (Contact: Steve Cox or Rick Kirchhoff)

AERIAL APPLICATOR DRIFT MITIGATION PROGRAM DEVELOPED BY AND FOR THE INDUSTRY
Published: December 11, 2007

       As part of a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Pesticide Programs, the NASDA Research Foundation (NASDARF) is pleased to announce its sponsorship of a pesticide drift mitigation and education project for aerial applicators.  Over the next two years, the NASDARF will fund the drift mitigation module as part of the professional education program being developed by the National Agricultural Aviation Association Research and Education Foundation (NAAREF) as part of their Professional Aerial Applicators Support System (PAASS).  Sponsorship of this program is part of the ongoing commitment of the NASDARF to promote workplace safety through education.
       The PAASS program is designed to be interactive and improve critical decision-making skills sensitive to environmental factors.  Within the industry, the PAASS program is considered the single relevant recurring training source for the modern agricultural aviation pilot and is often required by companies providing insurance to agricultural aviators.  The NAAA initiated the program in 1996 as an industry-based collaborative educational effort focusing outreach to pilots and operators of aerial applicator businesses.  With the primary goal of reducing the number of pesticide drift incidents from the aerial application of fertilizers and pesticides by fostering professionally sound decision-making, the PAASS program drift mitigation module is provided free of production charges to more than 1,700 applicators each year during industry regional and state conferences. 
       The PAASS program is developed by and for the industry.  With more than 1,300 members in 46 states, the NAAA relies heavily on its membership as well as academia to generate, refine, and present the PAASS program.  Members presenting the drift mitigation program attend a train-the-presenter session to assure that the material is provided in a manner consistent with promoting audience involvement.  The PAASS organizers acknowledge that the educational value of the program lies is in the clear, concise, and accurate presentation of the material, and the active participation of those attending the training.  Statistics show that aerial application accidents and drift incidents have notably declined since the PAASS program first hit the stage over a decade ago.  The NASDARF looks forward to working with NAAREF on this important national stewardship project and continuing this safety trend in the aerial application industry.  (Contact: Dick Herrett)

STATE & TRIBE CERTIFICATION DATABASE SUCCESSFUL IN ONGOING PROGRAM ASSESSMENT
Published: December 11, 2007

       Through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Pesticide Programs (EPA/OPP), the NASDA Research Foundation (NASDARF) is working collaboratively with Washington State University (WSU) to further develop and refine the online pesticide applicator certification plan warehousing and reporting system.  In their capacity as the Certification Plan and Reporting Database (CPARD) developers, WSU responsibilities include providing technical expertise, assuring daily system management and operations, educating users about system use, and promoting open state and tribal access to the information.  The CPARD system provides states and tribes with an opportunity to securely store and easily manage their federally-approved pesticide applicator certification plans, and facilitates program management and information sharing. 
       By using the CPARD system, states and tribes can also fulfill mandatory federal reporting obligations online.  With increasing stresses on state and tribal pesticide programs and their budgets, the development of such a useful and mutually beneficial harmonizing resource represents significant time and cost-savings for all those involved.  The CPARD system signals the advent of a new generation of data management infrastructure being cooperatively developed to provide certification program managers with a quantitative means for measuring their program performance, as well as a data mining resource to learn from other certification programs.    
       The CPARD system came online in 2005, and states and tribes used the database for 2005 and 2006 reporting.  From 2005 to 2007 numerous improvements and technical adjustments were made with system refinements continuing into 2008.  Realizing the significant cost and administrative benefits, all states and several tribes with EPA-approved certification plans are currently utilizing the CPARD system.  The system has become an excellent tool in the ongoing stakeholder assessment of the national pesticide applicator certification program.  The CPARD information can be harvested and synthesized to create individual state or tribal program profiles, as well as a clear picture of the national certification program landscape.  These program profiles assist the NASDARF, EPA/OPP, and other program stakeholders with identifying current and potential areas of concern and developing appropriate training, education, and outreach programs targeted at mitigating any problem.  
       The NASDARF is now working with EPA/OPP and WSU to expand the CPARD system to include water quality information.  The water quality databank will also provide users an opportunity to identify any water quality issues as they relate to pesticides, and develop appropriate responses in the form of pesticide applicator education.  The NASDARF looks forward to all certifying entities continuing their use of the system in the coming years.  (Contact: Dick Herrett)

USDA INVITES STATES TO APPLY FOR MARKET IMPROVEMENT FUNDS
Published: December 11, 2007

       USDA is inviting state departments of agriculture and other appropriate state agencies to submit proposals for matching grant funds under the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP). These funds may be requested for a wide range of research projects that help to market, transport and distribute U.S. food and agricultural products domestically and internationally. Federal funds awarded must be matched by non-federal funds or in-kind resources. USDA is particularly interested in proposals that involve collaboration among the states, academia, producers and other stakeholders, and in proposals that have state, regional or national significance.
       USDA anticipates that about $1.3 million will be available for FSMIP grants in fiscal year 2008, with funds allocated on the basis of one round of competition. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service administers the program. Program guidelines, application forms and other related information are posted at http://www.ams.usda.gov/tmd/fsmip.htm. Applicants have the option of submitting applications through the federal grants website: http://www.grants.gov. The deadline for submitting applications is February 11, 2008.
       NASDA supports the FSMIP program and increased funding for the program.  (Contact: Jennifer Yezak)

BRONSON EXPRESSES CONCERNS ABOUT CANKER COMPENSATION LAWSUIT
Published: December 11, 2007

       Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson said this week that he is concerned about the ramifications of a citrus canker compensation lawsuit on Florida's economy and food supply.
       A Palm Beach County circuit judge has ruled the department is liable for paying homeowners for citrus trees removed as part of the citrus canker eradication effort.  The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services had maintained the trees were a public nuisance because they were exposed to the serious bacterial disease and would likely become infected based on scientific research on the spread of the disease. Trees that were already diagnosed as infected are not included in the lawsuit. 
       Bronson says the ruling may have a chilling effect on state agencies trying to do their job of stopping pest or disease outbreaks that would wreak havoc on the state's economy and food supply.
       "What state agency won't think twice about carrying out its constitutionally mandated responsibility of protecting the food supply, public and economy when faced with the possibility of multi million dollar lawsuits?" Bronson said. 
       Bronson defended the program saying state and local officials sometimes have to take serious actions for the greater good of all the citizens.  He added that many measures were put in place to respond to citizen concerns about the eradication effort.  
       "We were responding to the scientific research that indicated trees within 1900 feet of an infected tree would likely become infected and the only way to eradicate the disease was to remove the infected and exposed trees. Much testing and research was done before the 1900 foot cutting zone was put into effect."
       Citrus canker causes severe blemishing of the citrus fruit, leaves and stems, causes premature fruit and leaf drop resulting in lower yields and without an eradication program underway, citrus growers would have faced severe limitations on exporting their product to other states and countries.  In fact, that has become the reality.  Since the program was abandoned in 2006 when the USDA determined that the unprecedented 2004 and 2005 hurricanes had spread the disease beyond the ability to eradicate, regulators have placed restrictions on citrus exports to many areas.
       Bronson expressed disappointment that the lead USDA scientist of the canker study would not agree to testify at the trial in Palm Beach.  Because he was not available to testify, the facts of the study which proved the 1900 foot cutting zone was necessary were not introduced at the trial, a situation Bronson believes led to the ruling.
       Bronson indicated that too much is at stake and the department will appeal the ruling.  (Contact:  Terence McElroy, 850/488-3022)

FARMERS URGED TO REVIEW NEW DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY CHEMICAL GUIDELINES
Published: December 11, 2007

       Farmers and agribusinesses should review chemical guidelines and determine whether they will be affected by a new U.S. Department of Homeland Security regulation, Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff said this week.
       In an effort to increase the security of high-risk chemical facilities, the Department of Homeland Security recently released a list of chemicals that, if possessed by a facility in a specified quantity, would require them to complete a Chemical Security Anti-Terrorism Top-Screen assessment.  Those required to go through this initial screening must do so before Jan. 21.
       Failure to comply with the regulations could result in civil penalties of up to $25,000 per day or the shut down of the facility.  "Pennsylvania farmers and agribusinesses storing fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals might be affected by these new regulations, so it is important that they quickly determine if they meet the new federal requirements," said Wolff.  "I urge all producers and businesses to review the requirements and contact the U.S. Department of Homeland Security if they have any questions.
       "The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is seeking further information regarding the new federal chemical regulations, but wanted to inform farmers that they may be affected." 
       Information is available on the department's website at http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us under "What's New."
       Chemicals of interest and quantities that are most likely to affect agriculture include, but are not limited to:
       *  Chlorine--2,500 pounds (bulk, not bagged or in some other transportation package)
       *  Chlorine--500 pounds (bagged, on a trailer, or in some other transportation package)
       *  Anhydrous ammonia--10,000 pounds (4 typical pull behind tanks, completely loaded)
       *  Ammonium nitrate--2,000 pounds (bagged, on a trailer, or in some other transportation package)
       *  Potassium nitrate--400 pounds (bagged, on a trailer, or in some other transportation package)
       *  Sodium nitrate--400 pounds (bagged, on a trailer, or in some other transportation package)
       For more information on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards, or to view the chemicals of interest list, visit http://www.dhs.gov/chemicalsecurity.  For questions when completing the top screen, call the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards help desk at 866/323-2957.  (Contact:  Kristi L. Rooker, 717/787-5085)