NASDA News- January 12, 2010

NASDA MIDYEAR LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE AROUND THE CORNER
Published: January 12, 2010

The Commissioners, Secretaries, and Directors of the state departments of agriculture will meet in Washington February 4 through 8 for NASDA’s annual midyear legislative conference.  The meeting will allow state agriculture leaders the opportunity to meet with national policy makers and engage in important dialogue on a wide range of public policy issues.  For more information, including an agenda and registration information, visit www.nasda.org.  (Contact: Gillian Woodward)

ADMINISTRATION OPPOSES AGRICULTURE APPEAL TO SUPREME COURT
Published: January 12, 2010

In a brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court last week, the Obama Administration opposed the petitions by agriculture stakeholders for the high court to consider a 2009 decision by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals regarding permitting for pesticide applications.  The decision, if left intact, will require pesticide applicators to obtain permits under the Clean Water Act for pesticide applications in, over, or near water.  In articulating the administration’s position, the Solicitor General argued that the case did not warrant review by the Court. 

NASDA joined with the American Mosquito Control Association in filing a friend of the court brief with the Supreme Court in December urging the justices to hear the case.  The brief argued that the decision ignored federal laws governing pesticide use, specifically the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), while also burdening farmers and state regulators. 

NASDA members are co-regulators with EPA and are the state lead agencies with primacy over pesticide issues.  If it stands, the decision will require states to issue permits to cover pesticide applications that are already regulated and legal under the FIFRA and state pesticide laws, laws that also enforce against the misuse of pesticide applications. 

The cases before the Supreme Court are identified as CropLife America v. Baykeeper and American Farm Bureau Federation v. Baykeeper.  In the Sixth Circuit, the case was identified as National Cotton Council v. EPA.   (Contact: Nathan Bowen) 

NASDA MEMBER APPOINTED TO NEW DAIRY ADVISORY PANEL
Published: January 12, 2010

Last week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the members of the federal Dairy Industry Advisory Committee.  NASDA Member Rod Nilsestuen of Wisconsin was appointed to represent state governments.  On the committee, Secretary Nilsestuen joins producers and producer organizations, processors and processor organizations, handlers, consumers, academia, retailers, and state agencies involved in organic and non-organic dairy at the local, regional, national, and international levels.  According to USDA, the Committee will review the issues of farm milk price volatility and dairy farmer profitability and provide suggestions and ideas to the Secretary on how USDA can best address these issues to meet the dairy industry’s needs. NASDA President Ed Kee was recently appointed to USDA’s Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee.

For more information regarding the advisory panel and for a full list of the committee members, please visit the USDA website.  (Contact: David Hickey)

APPLICANTS FOR BROADBAND STIMULUS GRANTS HAVE NEW ONLINE TOOL
Published: January 12, 2010

To help facilitate partnerships for the application process for broadband grant programs, which are funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the Stimulus), the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) rolled out a new online tool, BroadbandMatch. 

According to USDA, this new tool was established to assist interested applicants in discovering partners “to combine expertise and create stronger proposals.”  Interested companies, nonprofits, state or local governments and expert individuals in the NTIA’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) or RUS’s Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) should visit http://match.broadbandusa.gov.  Rules for the final round of funding for the BTOP and BIP programs are expected in the near future.  (Contact: David Hickey)

USDA ANNOUNCES MEETINGS ON DRAFT EIS FOR GENETICALLY ENGINEERED ALFALFA
Published: January 12, 2010

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced the dates and locations for a series of public meetings where interested parties can comment on the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for alfalfa genetically engineered for tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate.  This genetically engineered alfalfa is commonly referred to as Roundup Ready® (RR) alfalfa. This notice is published in the Jan. 12 Federal Register.

APHIS will consider comments made at meetings in Las Vegas, Nevada (January 19); Kearnery, Nebraska (February 3); Lincoln, Nebraska (February 4); and Riverdale, Maryland (February 9). 

On Dec. 14, 2009, APHIS announced that it had prepared a draft EIS in connection with making a determination on the status of the Monsanto Company and Forage Genetics International alfalfa lines designated as events J101 and J163 as regulated articles.  APHIS considered two alternatives in the draft EIS:  to grant non-regulated status to the two RR alfalfa lines, or to maintain the lines’ status as regulated articles.  APHIS analyzed these alternatives with regard to their potential environmental impacts, socioeconomic impacts, as well as human health and safety impacts.

In 2005, APHIS deregulated the two lines of RR alfalfa.  The agency prepared this draft EIS to comply with a February 2007 judgment and order by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.  The court did not overturn APHIS’ 2005 conclusions regarding the safety of the RR alfalfa for food and feed purposes, but rather concluded that APHIS had not adequately documented potential, or lack of potential, environmental impacts.

In addition to the public meetings, APHIS will consider all comments related to the draft EIS that are received on or before Feb. 16, 2010.  The draft EIS is available on the APHIS Web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov. The public may comment either at the public meetings or in writing through eRulemaking or by postal mail.  (Contact: Bob Ehart)

Corn and soybean production in US sets record
Published: January 12, 2010

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its Crop Production 2009 survey today which revealed that US farmers produced more corn and soybeans in 2009 than in any previous year. 

Corn production is 13.2 billion bushels, 1 percent above the previous record of 13 billion bushels set in 2007, and 9 percent higher than 2008. Corn yields reached an all-time high in 2009 at 165.2 bushels per acre, eclipsing the previous record of 160.3 bushels per acre set in 2004. Planted area, at 86.5 million acres, is the second highest since 1949, behind 2007’s 93.5 million acres.

The 2009 soybean crop broke records for planted and harvested area as well as for yield and production. Soybean production totaled 3.36 billion bushels, up 13 percent from 2008 and up 5 percent from the previous record set in 2006. The average yield per acre is 44 bushels, up .9 bushels from the previous record set in 2005. Farmers nationwide planted a total of 77.5 million soybean acres and harvested 76.4 million acres in 2009, both up 2 percent from the previous record set last year.

More information on the survey is available at www.nass.usda.gov.   (Contact: Farm Policy Staff)

WSU, NASDA PESTICIDE TRAINING DVD WINS AWARD
Published: January 12, 2010

The Washington State University Murrow Video/MultiMedia Unit won a Gold Ava Award for the video entitled “PBN – Your Decontamination Station.”  This video was produced in cooperation with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Research Foundation (NASDA-RF) and US Environmental Protection Agency Office of Pesticide Programs.  The DVD is geared towards pesticide applicators and pesticide application educators. The video covers multiple topics aimed at educating applicators about the concerns with pesticide exposure and the needs and methods for decontamination of applicators themselves and the equipment they use.  Both English and Spanish discs are packaged together. It was produced in both in English and Spanish. DVD005 is available through WSU Bulletins.

The Ava Awards recognize outstanding work by creative professionals involved in the concept, writing, direction, shooting, and editing of audio-visual materials and programs and is administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP). The Director for this DVD project was Professor Carol Ramsay who is taking over as Project Director for the new 5-year Cooperative Agreement between NASDA-RF and EPA.  (Contact: Dick Herrett or Carol Ramsay)

AFBF PRESIDENT STALLMAN DELIVERS STRONG MESSAGE TO MEMBERS, CRITICS
Published: January 12, 2010

This week in Seattle, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Bob Stallman addressed his organization’s 91st annual meeting with a strong call to his members regarding climate change, federal spending, and for the overall defense of American farmers and producers.  During his speech, Stallman argued against the “misguided” climate change legislation in Congress, especially with the potential loss of farmland.  “To throttle back our ability to produce food – at a time when the UN projects billions of more mouths to feed – is a moral failure,” Stallman stated. 

Along with climate change, Stallman also discussed the concept of sustainable agriculture, the runaway federal deficit, and the threats to American agriculture from activists and excessive regulation.  In describing the mindset farmers and producers must take for the future, Stallman quotes General George Patton, “He said that in times of war, “Make your plans to fit the circumstances.”  To those who expect to just roll over America’s farm and ranch families, my only message is this: The circumstances have changed.”

Here are a few key points from Stallman’s prepared remarks:

American Farmers: “Agriculture is a business.  You have chosen this life, this lifestyle, this livelihood based on your devotion to the land, your values, and a unique call to stewardship.  Those are key factors overlooked by critics who question our values and our abiding dedication to agriculture.  Unless you experience it, there is no way to comprehend that we literally live our jobs.  We can’t phone it in.  We don’t punch out.  And there is no comp days.  Just strongly about agriculture, we share the same type of deep passion for our nation.  Through thick and thin, we are all Americans.”

Sustainability: “We hear much about “sustainability,” which in my book is the most overused and ill-defined word in the policy arena today.  The first sustainability for agriculture has to be economic sustainability.”

Climate Change Legislation:  “…the climate change legislation before Congress will sharply cut the number of acres devoted to food production.  At the very time we need to increase our food production, climate change legislation threatens to slash our ability to do so.  The exact level of land that will shift to trees will depend on the price of carbon – a number nobody knows at this point – but USDA suggests we could easily be talking about 59 million acres.  That’s like setting aside every acre of land used for crop and food production in California, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Tennessee…The United States would be less able to provide the world a viable hunger safety net.  Food prices here at home would shoot up.  The result?  Less food security and our climate would not improve, not even by one degree.”

Federal Spending: “…over the last ten years, if the rest of our federal government experienced the same reduction in budget and spending as we have seen in our agricultural programs, we would have a balanced budget!”

Animal Welfare: “…the Ohio Farm Bureau embraced this attitude by taking the fight to the enemies of modern animal agriculture.  Ohio’s Ballot Issue 2 was a big win and one we must duplicate far and wide…Are we going to let animal rights activists destroy our ability to produce the meat the Americans want to eat? I say: No, we are not!”  (Contact: David Hickey)

People
Published: January 12, 2010

Karen Ross has been appointed the new Chief of Staff at USDA.  Ross replaces John Norris who was recently confirmed to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.  Most recently, Ross was President of the California Association of Winegrape Growers since 1996.  Her prior experience includes ten years as an advocate for agricultural and rural electric cooperatives at the state and national level, as well as work in the United States Senate and on Senate and Presidential campaigns.  (Contact: Bob Ehart)

Mike Michener was recently named as Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s Special Representative at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, based in Rome, Italy.  In this capacity Mr. Michener will be working to serve USDA’s international goals well as continue to advocate for the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).  As of January 1, 2010, General Sales Manager John Brewer became Acting Administrator for FAS.  (Contact: Amy Mann)

Former USDA White House Liaison John Berge has been named Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations.   (Contact: Farm Policy Staff)

VA: VIRGINIA FOOD AND BEVERAGE EXPO RETURNS MARCH 24, 2010
Published: January 12, 2010

The Virginia Food and Beverage Expo is back. After a two-year hiatus, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) will present the Virginia Food and Beverage Expo – Tradition of Taste 2010 on March 24 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in downtown Richmond, Virginia. Open only to food industry professionals, this popular culinary show will showcase the wide variety of food and beverage products from all parts of Virginia. The show is not open to the public and there is no cost to attend. 

More than 100 exhibitors will continue Virginia’s longstanding tradition of taste with favorites such as Virginia hams and peanuts as well as innovative products and creative fare including snacks, soups, sauces, wine, meats, candies, desserts, drinks, condiments, cheeses and more. Buyers for the food and beverage trades recognize the Expo as an efficient and essential survey of the new and noteworthy in Virginia cuisine. The Expo gives them a convenient one-stop opportunity to discover, sample and purchase Virginia processed products from classic to cutting edge.

The Virginia Food and Beverage Expo will take place on March 24, 2010, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, 403 North 5th Street, Exhibit Hall C, Richmond, Virginia.  To register or receive additional information about the Expo, go online to www.vaexpo.com, contact Lisa Lloyd at the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at 804.786.4278 or e-mail lisa.lloyd@vdacs.virginia.gov.

NY: COMMISSIONER HOOKER GIVES STATE OF AGRICULTURE ADDRESS
Published: January 12, 2010

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker gave the 11th annual State of New York Agriculture address at the 178th Annual Forum of the New York State Agricultural Society last night in Liverpool.  In his third address to the Forum as Commissioner, he asked the group what they want agriculture to look like in 2020 and bluntly told the crowd that no can sit on the sidelines.  He said, “Our responsibility at this critical time is too important to ignore.”

The Commissioner opened the annual address by acknowledging the fact that 2009 was one of the most difficult years in New York, but especially for those in agriculture.  “Our farmers have been hit with a perfect storm of high operating costs, low prices for their products and decreased demand, both nationally and overseas.  The state of agriculture, like the state of our state, is tough indeed.  But the state of our character and the state of our resolve is even tougher.”

With nearly 300 people in the audience, the Commissioner took the opportunity to recap Governor Paterson’s message on the State of the State given the day before and explain steps Governor Paterson has taken to help address the crisis, including an immediate $500 million cut to state spending.  “Governor Paterson, once again, has taken decisive action to put our fiscal house in order.  While his decisions are not popular with special interest groups, they are necessary, and they are honest.” 

“Yes, it is a difficult time,” the Commissioner added.  “The worst consequence of our current economic condition is that, through no fault of their own, so many of our best farmers have seen their life’s work and equity slip through their fingers.  Behind all the numbers are real people who have built their lives, their businesses and their families upon their love of the land and a faith in the future. That’s why fiscal discipline is essential to our state’s recovery.”

“No one gets to sit on the sidelines,” he said in relation to the challenges we face as an industry and the opportunities that are presented.  The Commissioner commented on the current dairy situation, expressing appreciation for the federal assistance provided, but recognizing that it does not solve the structural problems of federal dairy policies.  He also expressed his concern in ensuring that the right person is sought for the new dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell, one who will be committed not only to the land grant mission, but the future of agriculture in New York State.

“Ten years from now, I want us to look back and see we did not let petty differences stand in the way of steady progress – that we looked past our own differences and rebuilt the Upstate economy – put productive farmland back into production and farms and agricultural businesses back in the black.”

Referring to the ‘miracle on the Hudson’, the Commissioner concluded that the last decade has been a rough ride for agriculture.  “But in the last year, we realized not only can we rise above floodwaters, it turns out we can land safely on ice-cold waters.”

PA: GOVERNOR’S FOOD SAFETY COUNCIL HOLDS FIRST MEETING OF 2010
Published: January 12, 2010

Agriculture Secretary Russell C. Redding and Health Secretary Everette James co-chaired a meeting of the Governor’s Food Safety Council on Tuesday, Jan. 5, and led a discussion of the potential impact of proposed federal legislation on Pennsylvania’s robust agriculture and food production sectors and public health protection.

Established by Governor Rendell in 2009, the Food Safety Council advises the Governor on the development and implementation of food safety and defense protocols and practices in the state.

“Ensuring that Pennsylvanians have access to a safe food supply from the farm to the fork is a critical part of the Department of Agriculture’s mission,” said Redding. “By bringing together partners that represent the entire food chain, we can strengthen our ability to protect consumers and support the state’s food industry.”

“Pennsylvania’s vision in bringing together the departments of Health and Agriculture with major stakeholders to address food safety in a systemic manner is unique among other states,” noted James. “Coordinating our food safety efforts is one of the best ways to assure our 12.5 million citizens that the food produced and served in the commonwealth is as safe and healthy as possible.”

The council was briefed on proposed federal legislation, including changes the legislation would drive within the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the potential impact on Pennsylvania farms, agribusinesses and food firms. Discussions on the legislation and its impact at the state level will be used to create the framework for a state response to national food safety proposals and mandates.

One of the major objectives of the council is to provide the Governor with advice and insight on local, state and federal policy. This is a rare opportunity to put forward a unified voice for food safety measures, ensuring that Pennsylvania’s diverse agriculture, food production and food processing sectors are represented at the highest levels of government while policy is being made. This communication and coordination at the state level is key to protecting our citizens and millions more who consume Pennsylvania products.

For more information about food safety in Pennsylvania, or to view restaurant inspection reports, visit www.agriculture.state.pa.us; search “Food Safety.”

KY: KENTUCKY COMPANIES FORM STATEWIDE NETWORK
Published: January 12, 2010

Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer has announced that three long-time Kentucky businesses have formed a statewide distribution network for Kentucky Proud products that could have a significant economic impact for Kentucky farmers.

Critchfield Meats of Lexington, Brown Foodservice of Louisa and Southern Foods of Bowling Green have formed the network. The three family-owned distributorships have a combined 160 years of experience. Valu-Market of Louisville launched a line of Kentucky Proud beef obtained through the network last week as part of the grand re-opening of its Outer Loop store.

“This network addresses a long-standing challenge in the growth of Kentucky Proud,” Commissioner Farmer said. “I’m grateful to these three Kentucky-based distributors for making it possible for Kentucky producers to find markets for their meat and dairy products.”

The network is distributing beef raised by Kentucky producers such as the Greathouse family of Midway and other cattle purchased through Kentucky’s Certified Pre-Conditioned for Health (CPH-45) program, in which source-verified cattle are raised under a strict health regimen. The cattle are finished on a nutritional diet developed by Alltech of Nicholasville and processed by PM Beef of Windom, Minn.

“These [distributorships] are families that are deeply rooted in the state of Kentucky and proud to be Kentuckians. So this was a natural for us,” said Larry McMillan, CEO of Critchfield Meats.

Plans are for the network to expand into many other Kentucky Proud products.

A $125,000 grant from the Kentucky Proud program will be used for promotional items such as point-of-purchase signage, truck wraps and advertising.

Kentucky Department of Agriculture marketing specialists have worked with the distributors, the producers, the processors and Alltech for more than six months to put the network together.

MN: NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE PLANNED FOR FEBRUARY 18TH IN MANKATO
Published: January 12, 2010

Minnesota farmers will learn to manage nutrients with the latest research and tools for improving on-farm efficiency at the Nutrient Management Conference, February 18, at the Verizon Wireless Center in Mankato. The conference is sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the Minnesota Agricultural Water Resources Coalition.

“Given today’s fast paced agriculture, Minnesota farmers need solid and up-to-date information about nutrient management that will protect the environment while maximizing farm profitability” MDA Commissioner Gene Hugoson said.  “This program will focus on cutting edge nutrient management technologies.”

A Mosaic Company representative will kick-off the meeting with a discussion of nutrient-use efficiency and global agriculture.  The International Plant Nutrition Institute will explain agriculture’s connection with the Gulf of Mexico’s hypoxic zone.  The morning session will wrap up with a panel discussion of innovative and progressive management ideas from local farmers and crop consultants. 

Participants will also hear from University of Minnesota researchers on nitrogen and phosphorous guidelines and new technologies for drainage management.  University of Wisconsin researchers will share information on nutrient management studies at Wisconsin Discovery Farms.  Kansas State University representatives will present new tools for nitrogen management, and Purdue University researchers will present new manure management techniques.

In addition to MDA, sponsors include the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, Agrium, and the Conservation Technology Information Center in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  Cooperators include MDA, the Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council, Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, Minnesota Ag Water Resources Coalition, Minnesota Crop Production Retailers, Minnesota Certified Crop Advisers, Minnesota Independent Crop Consultants, University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, soil and water conservation districts, and local watershed organizations.

The conference will be held Thursday, February 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Participants can pre-register by calling 651-201-6141.  A $10 registration fee includes lunch and refreshments. For additional information go to http://www.upstreamheroes.org/nutmgmtconf.php.