NASDA News - September 9, 2009

HARKIN TRADES AG FOR HEALTH PANEL GAVEL, LINCOLN TO HEAD AG COMMITTEE
Published: September 09, 2009

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced today that he will leave his position as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry in order to fill the vacancy created by the passing of Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) atop the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) will replace Harkin as head of the Agriculture Committee. 

Following the announcement, Lincoln said, “As Chairman, I will work with my colleagues to build upon the Committee’s strong record and devote my full energy to producing forward-looking, balanced priorities on behalf of all families and communities.  I will continue to fight for the hardworking farm families and rural communities who provide the safest, most abundant and affordable supply of food and fiber in the world.”

Harkin takes the HELP gavel as the healthcare debate in Congress heats up.  Observers had been waiting on whether Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), who had seniority over Harkin on HELP, would give up his chairmanship of the Senate Banking Committee to take over the health committee.  Dodd made clear his intention to stay at banking earlier today. (Contact: Nathan Bowen)

NASDA URGES SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION TO RESOLVE MEXICO TRUCKING ISSUE
Published: September 09, 2009

NASDA sent a letter this week to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood requesting immediate action on the Mexican trucking dispute. Following Congressional action to suspend funding for the pilot cross-border trucking program in the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act, Mexico retaliated by issuing 10 to 45 percent tariffs on U.S. products. 

Mexico is our nation’s second largest agricultural trading partner, with one-seventh of all U.S. agricultural exports destined for that critical market. The retaliatory tariffs cover U.S. exports valued at over $1 billion in 2008, including major products such as fruit juice, grapes, pears, potato products, Christmas trees, almonds, onions, canola, soup and pet foods.  When the tariffs were imposed an immediate decline in these exports was noticed.

“The termination of the cross-border trucking pilot program has been extremely harmful to our farmers, who already face tighter lending practices, higher input costs and lower commodity prices during these difficult economic times,”  NASDA president, Ron Sparks, stated in the letter.  “These farmers can ill-afford the decreased international demand for their products that these tariffs have created.” 

Congress is currently considering the 2010 appropriations legislation for the Department of Transportation, with a vote in the Senate expected within the next two weeks.  The House passed their bill in July.  At this time, the FY10 appropriations bill does not contain the language from the FY09 appropriations bill that terminated funding for the Mexican trucking pilot program.

NASDA supports the implementation of the trucking provisions contained in NAFTA and the elimination of transportation systems barriers.  (By: Preston Asay, Policy Contact: Amy Mann)

Letter sent to Secretary LaHood

EPA ADMINISTRATOR PRODS CONGRESS ON CLIMATE CHANGE
Published: September 09, 2009

Late last week Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson stated her intention for EPA to regulate greenhouse gases under federal clean air laws should congress fail to pass climate change legislation.  In an interview on NPR last week, Jackson added that it was “an open legal question” as to whether EPA can create a cap and trade system via the Clean Air Act. 

Meanwhile, climate legislation in the Senate that was expected to be introduced by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and John Kerry (D-MA) as early as this week will likely be delayed.  After clearing the House earlier this year, efforts to pass climate change legislation in the Senate have taken a backseat to the healthcare debate and have been delayed by differing perspectives provisions in the House-passed climate legislation.  The bill’s introduction in the Senate is not expected until at least the end of September. 

While the Supreme Court recently ruled that the EPA does have power to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, it is unclear whether the agency has the power to allow polluters to buy and sell rights to emit greenhouse gases under a cap-and-trade system.  Jackson cited this uncertainty in prodding Congress to pass cap-and-trade legislation.  (By: Ethan Mathews, Policy Contact: Nathan Bowen or David Hickey)

APHIS RELEASES ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ON CITRUS GREENING CONTROLS
Published: September 09, 2009

Citrus greening greatly reduces production, destroys the economic value of the fruit, and can kill trees. Once a tree is infected with citrus greening, there is no cure for the disease. Citrus greening was first detected in the United States in Miami-Dade County, FL, in 2005, and is only known to be present in the United States in the States of Florida and Georgia, two parishes in Louisiana, and two counties in South Carolina.  The disease is spread by the Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP). ACP is currently present in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, and Texas.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has prepared an environmental assessment relative to a proposed control program for citrus greening disease and the Asian citrus psyllid. The environmental assessment documents APHIS’s review and analysis of the potential environmental impacts associated with the implementation of this program. The notice is published in the September 9, 2009 Federal Register. Comments will be accepted until November 9, 2009.  (Contact: Bob Ehart)

EPA ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Published: September 09, 2009

The Environmental Protection Agency is now accepting nominations to the Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC).  LGAC was created in 1993 to offer EPA outside advice on environmental issues affecting state and local governments.  Appointees serve two year terms and are eligible for a maximum of two terms.  Vacant spots will be filled by January of 2010.  More information about the committee and the application process is available in the September 8, 2009 federal register.  (By: Ethan Mathews, Policy Contact: Nathan Bowen)

OK: EMERGENCY RULE APPROVED TO HELP CORN GROWERS AFFECTED BY AFLATOXIN
Published: September 09, 2009

Governor Henry today signed an emergency rule September 2 to allow Oklahoma corn dealers to blend corn affected with specific levels of aflatoxin to be used to feed beef cattle in feedlots.

The rule adheres to specific guidelines established by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and will not allow interstate movement of the blended material.  State Secretary of Agriculture, Terry Peach, said the Oklahoma rule is essentially identical to the aflatoxin guidelines used during previous outbreaks in other states and by Texas since 1991.

Under the new rule no blended corn can be used for human consumption or interstate trade.  Unblended corn with less than 20 parts per billion (ppb) can be used or traded without restriction. The blended corn must be accompanied by a label indicating it is a blended product.  The label must also state the level of aflatoxin in the product, the date of analysis, the intended use and must bear a warning label.

Aflatoxin analysis can be made by any qualified commercial laboratory. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry conducts the analysis for a charge of $35 per sample. Aflatoxin is a toxic chemical produced when the mold Aspergillus flavus grows on corn and other crops including peanuts and cottonseed. The chemical is a carcinogen and can be toxic to certain livestock. (Contact: Jack Carson at Jack.Carson@oda.state.ok.us)

VA: FIRST HORSE IN 2009 TESTS POSITIVE FOR WEST NILE VIRUS
Published: September 09, 2009

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) September 3 announced 2009’s first positive case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in a horse. The 16-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse mare was from Pittsylvania County.  Onset of symptoms was August 17 and necropsy at VDACS’ Regional Animal Health Laboratory in Lynchburg took place on August 21.  The mare had not been vaccinated for WNV.

Dr. Joe Garvin, head of VDACS’ Office of Laboratory Services, urges horse owners to check with their veterinarians about vaccinating their animals for WNV.  “This is our first case of West Nile Virus in a Virginia horse this year,” Garvin said, “plus we have had eight equine cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), as well as cases in a goat, emu and alpaca.  Both WNV and EEE are mosquito-borne diseases, and we generally start seeing our first cases in August and September.  Since both diseases are preventable by vaccination, it makes sense for horse owners to go ahead and vaccinate now even though it’s late in the year.  Mosquito season in Virginia can run through November.”

The following Web sites provide more information on WNV and how to protect humans and horses: VDACS, APHIS, and VDH.  (Contact: Elaine J. Lidholm at 804-786-7686)

CO: ANNUAL PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST HONORS AGRICULTURE
Published: September 09, 2009

From cattle grazing in a mountain meadow to wheat blowing in the wind on the eastern plains, Colorado agriculture is evident across the state. The 12th annual “Colorado…it’s AgriCultural” photography contest is seeking entries as a way to celebrate Colorado agriculture.

“It is always so exciting to see the diversity of Colorado agriculture depicted in contest entries,” said Commissioner of Agriculture John Stulp. “This annual photo contest honors the importance of Colorado’s agriculture industry to the state economy, and I encourage photographers of all ages to enter.”

Visit www.coloradoagriculture.com/aginsights for complete contest rules and an entry form. The contest is sponsored by the Colorado Department of Agriculture, the AgInsights Committee and Northeastern Junior College.  (Contact: Wendy White at Wendy.White@ag.state.co.us )