NASDA News - August 10, 2010

LINCOLN, CHAMBLISS INTRODUCE LEGISLATIVE ‘FIX’ FOR NPDES PERMITS FOR PESTICIDES
Published: August 10, 2010

Sens. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Chairman and Ranking Member respectively, of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee have introduced legislation (S. 3735) that would amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)to clarify that additional permits  are not required for pesticide applications made in accordance with FIFRA.

This legislation would clarify that permits under the Clean Water Act (CWA), for example, are not required for pesticide applications that comply with FIFRA.  EPA is currently developing permits under the CWA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) for pesticide applications in, over or near water to comply with a January 2009 decision by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.  (Contact: Nathan Bowen)

SENATE REALLOCATES SNAP FUNDS TO PAY FOR CHILD NUTRITION, STATE AID
Published: August 10, 2010

Lawmakers siphoned $14.1 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to pay for the child nutrition and state fiscal aid bills that passed the Senate last week.  The SNAP program was considered a prime target from which to borrow because of an infusion of funding it had received from the economic recovery act passed last year.   In paying for the two bills, Senators moved up the sunset date for a benefit increase that was included in the recovery act last year from spring 2015 to November 2013.  Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) claimed that had she not redirected the funds from SNAP for the reauthorization, the funds would have been reallocated elsewhere. 

The move to use the SNAP funds to cover increased child nutrition spending came after Lincon’s earlier attempt to divert funds from the popular Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) ran in to stiff opposition from environmental groups, agricultural groups, and a number of Republicans in Congress. (Contact: Brad McKinney)

APPEALS COURT OVERTURNS EPA’S CARBOFURAN DECISION
Published: August 10, 2010

The U.S. Court of Appeals has ordered the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to restore import tolerances for carbofuran for rice, bananas, coffee and sugar cane.  EPA had recognized in a written opinion that that "exposure to carbofuran in imported foods alone is safe." The court has ruled that EPA's decision to revoke the import tolerances for these foods was "arbitrary and capricious."

A number of agriculture groups, including NASDA have supported the continued use of carbofuran where there are no alternatives.  (Contact: Nathan Bowen)

ND: EPA OFFICIALS TO GET FIRSTHAND LOOK AT PRAIRIE DOG PROBLEM
Published: August 10, 2010

Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring hopes an upcoming visit by federal officials will give them a better understanding about the problems faced by livestock producers in controlling prairie dogs… more.

TN: TENNESSEE INVESTS IN SOIL CONSERVATION, WATER QUALITY PROJECTS
Published: August 10, 2010

Governor Phil Bredesen and Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens today announced more than $3 million in cost share grants to 95 county soil conservation districts to help improve farmland and water quality… more.

VA: STATE PROVIDES EXEMPTIONS FOR HAY & FEED HAULERS DUE TO CRITICAL DROUGHT
Published: August 10, 2010

Due to the severe drought that is affecting most of the Commonwealth this summer, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) is working through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) to provide statewide relief from shortages of hay and animal feed products… more.

OR: HONG KONG GETS A TASTE OF PACIFIC NORTHWEST AGRICULTURE
Published: August 10, 2010

Fresh blueberries, Dungeness crab, and a variety of wines from Oregon and Washington enjoyed three weeks in the spotlight this summer as part of a targeted in-store promotion at one of Hong Kong’s largest retail grocery chains… more.

NM: POPULAR TOURIST ATTRACTION IN LAS CRUCES TAKING SHAPE
Published: August 10, 2010

The New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) is teaming up with the creators of the Mesilla Valley Maze, located in Las Cruces, New Mexico to help promote local agricultural tourism and tourism in New Mexico as a whole… more.