POLICY COMMITTEES PLAN ACTIVE AGENDAS
News Date February 02, 2010
NASDA’s policy committees and task forces are planning to address key topics on food safety, renewable energy, environmental regulations, specialty crops, rural development, and other issues when state agriculture leaders hold their midyear meeting this week.
The Food Regulation and Nutrition Committee, chaired by North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, will have an opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest with Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan on February 6. Joe Reardon, FDA’s Acting Director of Federal State Relations will discuss the potential for an expanding partnership between FDA and the states. The committee plans to discuss a number of issues including food safety, interstate meat shipment, and nutrition programs.
NASDA’s Natural Resources, Pesticide Management & Environment Committee will address regulatory and legislative issues dealing with NPDES permits for pesticide applications, water quality, and EPA’s actions related to atrazine in its meeting on Saturday, February 6 at 3:00pm. The committee will also host a panel discussion entitled “Looking Ahead, Working Together: Agriculture, Conservation & the Environment” which will feature panelists from EPA, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, American Farm Bureau, National Association of Conservation Districts, and the American Farmland Trust. Tim Creger, President of the Association of American Pesticide Control Officials (AAPCO) will discuss a number of pesticide-related issues including NPDES permits, soil fumigants, spray-drift. Utah Agriculture Commissioner Leonard Blackham is Chairman of the committee and Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey serves as Vice Chairman.
The Animal and Plant Industries Committee meeting will be chaired by Mississippi Commissioner, Dr. Lester Spell. It meets on February 7, with much of the agenda focusing on APHIS issues. Ed Avalos, Undersecretary, MRP, and Cindy Smith, APHIS Administrator, will be on hand to provide key priorities and issues of interest. Many of the Deputy Administrators of APHIS will be on hand to highlight priority programs of mutual interest. Mr. Frank Lowenstein of the Nature Conservancy will discuss efforts relating to non-native forest pests and diseases and partnerships between NGOs, state and federal entities to reduce the impacts on the environment. Also in the agenda will be a discussion on DHS port inspection led by Mr. Kevin Harriger, CBP, DHS. The committee will also have a discussion on the influence of disease on land management of the bighorn sheep industry led by Margaret Soulen Hinson, Vice President of the American Sheep Industry Association.
The Marketing and International Trade Committee, chaired by Commissioner Hugh Weathers of South Carolina, will meet on February 7. USDA’s Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, John Ferrell, will discuss the Department’s approach to addressing anti-trust/anti-competition concerns. Following Mr. Ferrell will be Secretary Roger Albee of Vermont who will discuss options for balancing supply and demand in the dairy industry. Deputy Administrator Robert Riemenschneider of FAS/USDA will give an FAS update on trade agreements and negotiations. Closing the speaker session will be Executive Director Christine Bushway and Director of Policy and External Relations Laura Batcha to discuss some common issues with the Organic Trade Association.
The Rural Development and Financial Security Committee, led by Montana Agriculture Director Ron de Yong, will convene on February 7. Director de Yong is excited to have an excellent panel titled, “Keeping American Agriculture Strong: The Future of the Farm Safety Net.” The panel, which will consist of USDA-RMA Administrator William Murphy, USDA-FSA Administrator Jonathan Coppess, Former USDA RMA Administrator Ken Ackerman, and Chandler Goule of the National Farmers Union, will certainly bring about a vibrant discussion on the farm safety net, crop insurance and disaster assistance - what works, what doesn’t, and how we could we make it better. After the panel, Craig Regelbrugge, Co-chairman of the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform, will provide an update for committee members on the status of immigration reform in Congress and recent regulatory actions taken by the Administration. As one of Washington’s foremost experts on immigration, Mr. Regelbrugge will undoubtedly provide for a well-needed dialogue on the critical farm labor issue. The agenda for the meeting also focuses on several other pertinent issues to NASDA Members, which will likely include the estate tax and captive rail reform, amongst other issues facing rural America.
The Food and Agriculture Security Task Force will meet on February 5 and will address financial assistance for agriculture defense programs, Dr. Doug Meckes and Dr. Sebastian Heath of DHS will discuss several key programs aimed at assisting and supporting states emergency preparedness efforts. Dr. Tony Carver, also of DHS and a previous State Veterinarian (SC), will provide an update on his role within infrastructure protection.
The Tri-National Agricultural Accord will meet via conference calls on February 4 and 5 for a mid-year briefing. NASDA members along with their Canadian and Mexican counterparts will get an update on the issues that were discussed at the annual meeting in Gimli, Manitoba last August. Thursday’s agenda includes an update on the tri-lateral working groups for harmonization and rural development during the first hour. In addition, the US delegation will propose moving the annual meeting to a biennial schedule in response to the economic constraints all three countries are currently facing. Afterward, the US/Mexico Bi-lateral Working Group will meet to hear an update of their 2009-2010 Work Plan. The US/Canada Bi-lateral Working Group will meet at noon on February 5 for an update on their work plan. This will be an excellent opportunity for NASDA members who are unfamiliar with the Tri-National Agricultural Accord to learn more it.
On February 5, the Energy Task Force will be convening to address critical energy-related issues currently facing agriculture. The task force is pleased to welcome Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, to discuss the current state of the domestic biofuels industry, the ongoing regulatory efforts of the EPA, and a new initiative known as “COOL for fuel,” a push for country of origin labeling for fuel. Following Mr. Buis, Ernie Shea, project coordinator for 25x’25, will speak on a multitude of issues, including climate change legislation and renewable fuels regulations, along with a host of energy concerns on the farm. The Task Force is led by Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson.
The Specialty Crops Task Force, chaired by California Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura, will meet on February 6. Ms. Trista Etzig, project manager for USDA’s Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS) Fruit and Vegetable program will provide an update on the Specialty Crops Block Grant Program. Keith Jones, Staff Director for the House Agriculture Committee Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture will provide the Task Force members with a legislative perspective, including future farm bill considerations.
The Biotechnology Task Force will meet February 6 to hear an update from Michael Gregoire, Deputy Administrator of APHIS, on current issues at Biotechnology Regulatory Services.
The Tobacco Task Force will convene during lunch on February 6 with a legislative update from Chairman Steve Troxler. (Contact: Farm Policy Staff)