NASDA COMMITTEES DISCUSS KEY TOPICS AT MIDYEAR MEETING
News Date February 18, 2008
NASDA's policy committees discussed key topics on trade, immigration, specialty crops, and other issues during their midyear conference held in Washington, D.C., from February 7 through 11. The state agriculture leaders also continued to advance NASDA's 2007 farm bill recommendations in meetings with congressional and administration officials (see separate story).
The Marketing and International Trade Committee, chaired by Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson, heard a report from USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) about NAFTA implementation including latest trade numbers and specific information on Canada and Mexico. The Consultative Committee on Agriculture (CCA) for Mexico met in January 2008 and issues of concern include trade in livestock, dry beans, corn, potatoes and apples. USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) answered questions concerning trade with Mexico and offered assistance to work with NASDA on Accord issues.
Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson, co-chair, U.S./Canada Working Group, and California Secretary A.G. Kawamura, co-chair, U.S./Mexico Working Group, provided updates to the committee regarding preparation for the 2008 Accord meeting in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. It will be held August 13 to 15, 2008, and meeting registration will start in mid-March. New Mexico Agriculture Secretary Miley Gonzalez informed members about the activities of the trilateral working group on rural development and its October 2007 meeting in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Additional meeting dates were also announced--please check the Accord website, http://www.nasda.org/accord/, for details.
California Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura chaired NASDA's Specialty Crops Task Force meeting on February 7. Members heard from USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) about the Specialty Crops Block Grant Program. The next deadline for grant applications is April 11, 2008. Twenty-one states have projects approved for FY07. Furthermore, $8.39 million is available in FY08 and a notice of fund availability will published in the Federal Register in coming weeks. Representatives from the Western Growers Association and WineAmerica gave reports on the specialty crop provisions in the 2007 farm bill.
NASDA's Rural Development and Financial Security Committee, chaired by Oklahoma Agriculture Commissioner Terry Peach, heard legislative reports on bioenergy, immigration reform and transportation. Matt Hartwig of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) provided an update on the ethanol industry and its impact on agriculture. Members also heard updates on AgJOBS legislation and the proposed changes to the H2A workers program recently announced by the Bush administration. Committee members also discussed transportation legislation that would provide certain exemptions to drivers of intrastate commercial motor vehicles engaged in agricultural purposes.
All of NASDA's midyear meeting documents, including committee reports, policy amendments and action items, are available on the NASDA website, http://www.nasda.org. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)