NASDA News February 25, 2008

STATE AGRICULTURE OFFICIALS PUSH RAILROAD REFORMS
Published: February 25, 2008

       NASDA is urging lawmakers in the House and Senate to quickly pass legislation that will ensure agriculture has access to safe, reliable, and competitive railroad service in the ever increasingly competitive global marketplace. State agriculture leaders approved a resolution supporting railroad reform, which was offered by Montana Agriculture Director Ron de Yong, during NASDA's recent midyear meeting. 
       NASDA's statement and letters support the Railroad Competition and Improvement Act, introduced as H.R. 2125 in the House and S. 953 in the Senate, and the Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act, introduced as H.R. 1650 in the House and S 772 in the Senate. 
       H.R. 2125 and S. 953 ensure that rail customers have access to competitive rail service and that rail customers without access to competition are protected from unreasonable railroad rates and practices and have access to reliable rail service. The legislation also includes provisions such as final offer arbitration, which are especially important to the agriculture industry. 
       H.R. 1650 and S. 772 would expand provisions of federal antitrust laws and eliminate exemptions that are contrary to the public interest with respect to railroads. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has placed S. 772 on the Senate calendar for possible early action. 
       NASDA noted that rail transportation remains a critical component to the agriculture industry as it moves commodities to domestic and international markets from producers in rural America. The legislation is supported by the Alliance for Rail Competition, which includes the Agricultural Ocean Transportation Industry, the American Chemistry Council, American Public Power Association, Consumers United for Rail Equity, the Edison Electric Institute, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Barley Growers Association, National Petroleum Refiners Association, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Paper and Forest Industry Transportation Committee, and the United Transportation Union. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)

NASDA URGES ACTION ON AGRICULTURAL TRANSPORTATION
Published: February 25, 2008

       State agriculture leaders are calling on Congress to support legislation that will allow farmers and ranchers to move products and equipment to sustain their normal farm and ranch enterprises on highways.
       In a letter to the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, NASDA expressed support for legislation that would update the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations to permit farmers crossing state boundaries to avail themselves of the 26,001 weight limit when both states recognize this limit. The letter was endorsed by NASDA's membership during the group's recent midyear conference in Washington, D.C. It was presented by Oklahoma Agriculture Secretary Terry Peach, who chairs NASDA's Rural Development and Financial Security Committee. 
       Under existing federal regulations, a farmer using his own vehicle to transport his own crops or livestock can get caught up in the same regulations that apply to individuals operating commercial motor vehicles for year-round hire. H.R. 3098 has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Dan Boren (D-Okla.), Mary Fallin (R-Okla.) and Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) to address this problem. Specifically, the legislation clarifies the situation regarding agricultural vehicles by changing the current definition of a commercial motor vehicle from 10,001 pounds to 26,001 pounds. 
       NASDA's letter notes that H.R. 3098 will provide much-needed uniformity between state and federal laws. It would allow farmers and ranchers to continue to conduct their agricultural business on highways, especially those who may travel only short distances but whose best markets are just across a state boundary line. It also provides growers the opportunity to capture the best price for their products. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)

BLACKHAM NAMED TO EPA AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Published: February 25, 2008

       Continuing efforts to strengthen relations with the agriculture community, EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson on February 20 announced the appointment of thirty citizens to serve on a newly-formed Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Advisory Committee. Utah Agriculture Commissioner Leonard Blackham was appointed to the panel. 
       The committee is an important part of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) efforts to strengthen relations with the agriculture community. It will advise the administrator on environmental policy issues impacting farms, ranches, and rural communities. The first meeting of the committee will take place March 13 to March 14, 2008, in Washington, D.C. Initially, EPA will ask the committee to focus on the following three issues: (1) how EPA's policies and regulations on climate change and renewable energy will affect the agriculture community; (2) an environmental strategy for managing waste from livestock operations which considers regulatory and voluntary approaches, and provides tools for producers to attain superior environmental performance; and (3) development of a constructive approach to advancing sustainable agriculture, protecting the environment, and addressing communication between environmental and agricultural interests. 
       Blackham is chairman of NASDA's Natural Resources and Pesticide Management Committee. He was selected for the advisory committee by EPA from a pool of more than 200 nominations. Other advisory committee members represent large and small farmers, ranchers, and rural communities; rural suppliers, marketers, and processors; academics and researchers who study environmental issues impacting agriculture; and, environmental and conservation groups. The committee is being developed as part of a comprehensive National Agriculture Strategy adopted by the EPA administrator in May 2006. The strategy seeks to engage agriculture in cooperative, collaborative, and innovative ways, in addition to the traditional regulatory programs the agency administers. (Contact: Carissa Wilhelm or Charlie Ingram)

FARM BILL NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE
Published: February 25, 2008

       House and Senate agricultural leaders are continuing to hold intense negotiations on the 2007 farm bill and hope to reach an agreement on a funding framework the week of February 25. Lawmakers are working hard to reach a compromise and pass final legislation before the current farm bill expires on March 15. 
       Both House and Senate Agriculture Committee chairmen have offered proposals for farm bill spending levels. Congressional sources say that lawmakers are considering a bill that would provide about $9 billion over the baseline costs of almost $600 billion over a ten-year period from 2008 to 2017. House members had proposed $6 billion in additional spending while Senate lawmakers had proposed a $12 billion spending level. One of the major unresolved issues is whether the extra funding will be considered as tax increases. USDA and the Bush administration have repeatedly issued veto threats if any tax increases are used to pay for farm bill programs. 
       Although the Senate appointed farm bill conferees weeks ago, the House conferees are not expected to be appointed until negotiators are closer to a spending deal. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)

CONGRESS RETURNS TO WORK WITH AGRICULTURE ISSUES ON AGENDA
Published: February 25, 2008

      The House and Senate return to work February 25 after a week-long congressional recess. Lawmakers are facing a busy agenda and several important agricultural issues are scheduled for debate. 
       The House will consider a renewable energy tax package (H.R. 5351) this week which includes a new production tax credit for cellulosic ethanol. The Senate will debate another economic stimulus package that is focused on the housing and mortgage industry. In addition to the ongoing 2007 farm bill negotiations (see separate story), a number of hearings are scheduled on issues related to agriculture. In the House, the Appropriations Committee will hold a hearing on USDA oversight and the Energy and Commerce Committee will review the private sector's accountability for contaminated foods. The panel will also discuss the role of state and local government efforts on climate change, including a cap-and-trade system for controlling greenhouse gas emissions. The Senate Appropriations Committee has scheduled a hearing on the recent beef recall with USDA officials providing testimony. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)

MDA SESQUICENTENNIAL HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN THE STATE
Published: February 25, 2008

       The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is looking for 150-year-old farms to feature during the state's sesquicentennial celebration this year. On May 11, 2008, Minnesota will reach its 150th anniversary as the 32nd state in the United States of America. As part of the celebration, the MDA Sesquicentennial Committee would like to interview landowners who have had farms in their families for 150 years or more.

       Minnesota farming has an interesting and unique history--growing from subsistence-level farming in the early 1800s to a commercial leader nationally in wheat production, grain shipping, and flour milling by the end of that century. The 1900s brought dairy, livestock and poultry development and a higher standard of living for rural Minnesotans. Today, Minnesota's agriculture industry is a global leader in renewable fuels' development, livestock and grain commodity production and a major exporter of agricultural products. 

       The history of farming is an important aspect of Minnesota's growth as a state. By publicly telling the story of a parcel of land that has been kept in the same family for 150 years through trial and tribulation, the state hopes to honor those who never gave up their love of the land and their ethic for hard work.

       The celebration of 150 years of Minnesota's statehood also includes a website which has been developed to educate the pubic about the importance of agriculture to Minnesota and MDA's role in it, http://www.mda.state.mn.us/about/history.htm. The website features the "History of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture," links to the Sesquicentennial exhibit at the Minnesota Historical Society, the 150-year time line - Minnesota Historical Society, "Engineers Calculate Ag's 15 Biggest Achievements" (Vogt, Willie, Farm Progress/Marketplace Extra, August 2007), the 2007/2008 AgMag (see page 7 in the first & second issue of the Ag in the Classroom AgMag, along with a link to the Historical Context Study of Minnesota Farms 1820-1960 (MNDOT). (Contact: Michael Schommer, 651/201-6629)

STATE APPOINTS RETIRED RACE HORSE TASK FORCE MEMBERS --Task Force to Explore Options for Horses No Longer Able to Race
Published: February 25, 2008

       New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker and New York State Racing and Wagering Board Chairman Daniel Hogan have announced the members of the New York State Task Force on Retired Race Horses, which was reestablished by law last year. Members of the task force will investigate the feasibility of creating a larger market and alternative employment opportunities for retired race horses, as well as the costs and benefits of installing artificial turf at race courses.

       "Horses have always played an integral part of the agricultural industry, and especially here in New York where we have such a rich tradition of horse racing," Hooker said. "Since only 15 percent of all race horses are ever successful, the prospects for the remaining 85 percent are uncertain. As these athletes exit their racing career, I want to ensure a desirable place for them back in the agricultural industry where we can utilize their abilities and improve the lives of New Yorkers."

       Hogan said, "New York State has more than 40,000 horses bred for racing that have enriched our lives both on the track and back at the stable. These are animals that have served the sport and our economy for years and we have a responsibility to look for second careers for these animals. This task force will explore the transition of these horses from the track to other disciplines."

       The 13-member Task Force will be co-chaired by New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker and New York State Racing and Wagering Board Chairman Daniel Hogan. Members of the task force must be owners or breeders of racehorses, have expertise in training horses for uses other than racing, are familiar with horses for recreational or therapeutic uses, or possess business experience related to the equine industry. The New York State Task Force on Retired Race Horses will meet this Friday, February 29, at the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets' office in Albany to review the use of retired race horses in alternative fields such as recreational riding, competitive sports other than racing, therapeutic riding and in rehabilitation efforts at correctional and other government facilities. They will also discuss the feasibility of retraining these horses, work to develop alternative sources of employment for retired race horses, and look into the economics surrounding the installation of artificial turf on race courses to help minimize injuries to both jockeys and horses.

       New York's equine industry includes more than 168,000 horses and was valued at $1.7 billion in 2000. A quarter of all the horses in New York are race horses; 30,500 thoroughbreds and 11,500 standard breds. Race horses in New York are valued at $1.14 billion. While horses generally live for 20 or more years, they typically only race up until there are four or five years old. (Contact: Jessica A. Chittenden, 518/457-3136)