NASDA News April 19, 2007

Governor Appoints Rise Nevada Director
Published: April 19, 2007

 Following an extensive selection process, Governor Jim Gibbons has announced the appointment of Donna Rise as director of the Nevada Department of Agriculture. "This appointment will provide strong direction to the Department of Agriculture and the State Board of Agriculture. Donna's proven leadership will benefit Nevada's agricultural community and related industries, ensuring that their unique needs and interests are understood and met. I look forward to working with her to guarantee that Nevada's ranchers and farmers continue to have a voice in the policies and regulations that affect their industry," said Gibbons. For the past 15 years, Donna Rise has served in a number of different capacities within the Montana Department of Agriculture. She began with the department in 1992 and served as an agriculture specialist. She later went on to serve as a groundwater specialist, groundwater specialist III, programs manager, and, most recently, the commodity services bureau chief. She earned a bachelor's of science degree in horticulture from Montana State University, Bozeman. 

"I am honored to have been selected as the new director for the Nevada Department of Agriculture. I am looking forward to working as a team with the department, the Nevada Board of Agriculture, and the agricultural industries to protect and enhance agriculture in the state of Nevada. As director, I am committed to excellence in communication, service, and support in all agricultural programs and service areas. We will be a forward-looking agency and will be active in evolving and changing with the agricultural industries to continually meet their needs, while at the same time, seeking out new opportunities that will protect, grow, and market Nevada agriculture. I also strongly believe in programs that not only meet agricultural industry needs, but that also provide consumer safety, public protection, and environmental stewardship," said Rise. 

Throughout her 15 years with the Montana Department of Agriculture, Rise's career includes several industry-related accomplishments including authoring the Montana Generic Management Plan, coauthoring the Montana General Agricultural Chemical Groundwater Management Plan, drafting the administrative rules for the state's first Agricultural Chemical Groundwater Management Plan, establishing quality control/quality assurance policies and standard operating procedures for the groundwater program, establishing an employee recognition and appreciation program, the development of enforcement case development procedures for apiary and nursery programs and standardizing case development procedures for all regulatory programs. (Contact: Rick Kirchhoff)

State Agriculture Officals Urge Action On Interestate Meat Sales Legislation -Group Launches National Grassroots Campaign to Support Passage
Published: April 19, 2007

 NASDA is urging Congress to take prompt action on bipartisan legislation introduced April 19 that would allow interstate sales of state-inspected meat and poultry products. Two bills have been introduced in the Senate by Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Herb Kohl (D-Wisc.), with Sens. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Max Baucus (D-Mont.), and Kent Conrad (D-N.D.). State agriculture officials applauded the senators for their efforts to provide open markets and expand economic opportunities for rural small businesses. 

 S. 1149 and S. 1150 take different approaches to address an important market competition issue and allow state-inspected meat and poultry to be sold in the national marketplace. Both bills will resolve a basic inequity which has existed since 1967. Meat and poultry products (beef, poultry, pork, lamb, and goat) inspected under state inspection programs may only be sold within the borders of the state in which it is inspected which makes no sense whatsoever. NASDA is leading the national grassroots campaign to support passage of interstate meat sales legislation. 

Rick Kirchhoff, NASDA executive vice president and CEO, pointed out that under current law, meat and poultry products from 34 foreign countries can be freely shipped and sold anywhere in the United States, but domestic small businesses and processors cannot. "This is unfair and wrong. Why are small businesses in the U.S. denied the same market opportunities that are given to companies in foreign countries? Our locally-produced, state-inspected meat and poultry are some of the best specialty products in the country," Kirchhoff said. "Are meat products from foreign countries such as Croatia and Nicaragua better than our products?" 

Three USDA advisory committees have recommended that the outdated ban on interstate sales be removed because it would create jobs and stimulate rural economic development. More than 40 national, state, and local agricultural organizations have urged Congress to level the economic playing field for small meat processors, and to allow them national market access. 

 Kirchhoff said that "allowing interstate meat sales is just plain common sense--no other food commodities inspected by state authorities are prohibited from being shipped across state lines." Other state-inspected food products (milk, dairy products, fruit, vegetables, fish and, shellfish) are freely marketed across the country. "Why aren't the same market options available for meat and poultry?" 

 State agricultural officials also noted that the restriction on interstate meat sales does not apply to "non-amenable" products--such as venison, pheasant, quail, rabbit, and a host of others. These products are normally regulated by state inspection programs, yet can be shipped in interstate commerce without restriction. Kirchhoff noted "it does not make sense to allow these products to be shipped across state borders while beef, poultry, pork, lamb, and goat products cannot be shipped interstate. Where is the logic in this?" 

Interstate meat sales legislation would expand marketing opportunities for farmers and ranchers which they never had before. "We hope Congress will act this year because this legislation will not only benefit producers, processors and small businesses, but it also gives consumers more choices at the supermarket. It's the right thing to do," said Kirchhoff. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)

NASDA Submits Farm Bill Testimony On Market Competition
Published: April 19, 2007

NASDA has submitted written statements for two congressional hearings this week on competition in the livestock market. Both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees scheduled hearings on April 17 and 18 on the 2007 farm bill and market competition issues. 

NASDA's testimony called on lawmakers to address market access and allow state-inspected meat and poultry to be sold in the national marketplace. Market access is critical for small producers and processors in many rural communities, especially areas which straddle state boundaries. NASDA pointed out that maintaining the ban on interstate meat sales hurts small meat processors and denies them many economic opportunities. NASDA's statement noted that 34 foreign countries are eligible to freely ship and sell their meat and poultry products anywhere in the U.S. while domestic small businesses cannot. 

The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry held the first hearing on April 17 and heard testimony from numerous farm and livestock organizations. During the session, the National Farmers Union and American Farm Bureau Federation expressed support for allowing interstate meat sales to increase competition and economic, marketing, and trade opportunities for producers. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)

USDA Seeks Applications From State Departments of Agriculture For Specialty Crop Block Grant Funds
Published: April 19, 2007

USDA is inviting state departments of agriculture to submit applications for grant funds under the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will award block grants to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. The Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 authorizes USDA to make grants to states for each of the fiscal years 2005 through 2009 to be used by state departments of agriculture solely to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and nursery crops (including floriculture). 

Of the approximately $6,895,000 available for grants--less USDA administrative costs--each state submitting an application reviewed and approved by AMS will receive $100,000. In addition, each state will receive an amount that represents the proportion of the value of specialty crop production using the latest available complete data set in all states whose applications are accepted. NASDA has requested full funding of $44.5 million for the block grant program in fiscal year 2008. 

Instructions to apply for fiscal year 2007 grant funds are available in the April 11, 2007, Federal Register, or on the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program website at http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/. AMS must receive applications no later than April 11, 2008. Applications for fiscal year 2006 are due by October 11, 2007. For more information, call Trista Etzig at 202/690-4942, or e-mail: trista.etzig@usda.gov. (Contact: Jennifer Yezak)

Accord Meeting Convenes This Week
Published: April 19, 2007

 The 17th Annual Tri-National Agricultural Accord Meeting in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, began this week on April 18. NASDA's delegation is led by Delaware Agriculture Secretary Michael Scuse, NASDA secretary-treasurer. New Mexico Agriculture Secretary Miley Gonzalez will co-chair the U.S./Mexico Working Group, and Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson will co-chair the U.S./Canada Working Group. NASDA will be represented by a total of 16 states. During the Accord, discussions will be held under the framework of the three tri-lateral working groups. These groups focus on rural development, harmonization of sanitary and phytosanitary standards, and trade remedy policies. 

The Accord, first established in 1986, was designed to provide a forum for information exchange among the U.S. state directors, secretaries, and commissioners of agriculture and the ten Canadian provincial ministers of agriculture. Mexico's state secretaries of agriculture and rural development joined the Tri-National Agricultural Accord in 1993. The Accord seeks ways to avoid costly and divisive legal trade actions; to resolve minor trade disputes among the three countries; and to address common cross-border agri-food issues. It is intended to provide an opportunity and mechanism for Canadian provinces and U.S. and Mexican states to exchange information, views and suggestions on various aspects of the agriculture and food industries in their respective jurisdictions. 

The Accord works through a structure of bilateral working groups to study problems as they arise, and to work with federal officials to make sure that they are receiving adequate attention and information when conducting negotiations. (Contacts: Richard Kirchhoff and Jennifer Yezak)

UDAF'S Hopkin to Receive Water Quality Award
Published: April 19, 2007

George Hopkin, conservation and resource manager for the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF), is the recipient of the prestigious 2007 Calvin K. Sudweeks Water Quality Award for his work in helping reduce agriculture runoff in Utah. 

"During the past 15 years, Hopkin has provided the leadership to maintain the excellent collaborative working relationships between the Division of Water Quality (DWQ) and the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food," said Walt Baker, director of DWQ. "George and his staff have managed the day-to-day operation of the Agriculture component of the state's Non-point Management Program that has led to improved water quality." 

Every year the Utah Water Quality Board recognizes an individual who has shown outstanding leadership in the water quality field. The award is named for a former state water quality director who was instrumental in leading Utah through dramatic changes in water quality, including the move to treat wastewater. 

 Under Hopkin's leadership he has administered and managed nearly $16 million Clean Water Act grants, with a majority of the money supporting projects to address non-point source pollution. He also administers a state loan program that improves agriculture production and water quality, and provides support to the local Soil Conservation Districts in conducting and sponsoring 319 watershed and demonstration projects to address pollution from agriculture. 

"I am honored to be recognized for this achievement," Hopkin said. "Our partnership with Water Quality is essential to helping support agriculture activities while reducing the amount of pollution in watersheds." 

The award will be presented at the Water Environment Association of Utah's annual meeting in St. George on April 18. (Contact: Larry Lewis, 801/538-7104)

Nilsestuen Appoints Jim Arts New DATCP Deputy Secretary
Published: April 19, 2007

Wisconsin Secretary Agriculture Rod Nilsestuen has announced the appointment of Jim Arts as deputy secretary of the department. The position was recently vacated when Governor Jim Doyle appointed Judy Ziewacz to serve as the first director of the newly created Office of Energy Independence. 
        
"Jim brings a wealth of experience, exceptional accomplishments and a deep and abiding commitment to the people of rural Wisconsin," said Nilsestuen. "He has worked extensively at both state and local levels; knows how to run programs effectively and always commands the respect of those with whom he works. His integrity is beyond question and his capacity for work and good judgment are well known. But equally important, Jim really listens to people. Maybe that's why he is such an exceptional problem-solver. 
 
"His knowledge of Wisconsin agriculture and rural people, understanding of legislative and administrative process, together with his experience in cooperatives, rural development, conservation and local government make him an ideal fit for DATCP's diverse programs and statewide constituencies." 

Arts was reared on a third-generation family dairy farm near Lady Smith in Rusk County. He is an Air Force veteran and graduate of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and UW-Madison Law School. He and his wife, Helene Nelson, now reside in Madison. 

Arts' predecessor, Judy Ziewacz, served as deputy secretary of DATCP for four years. "As everyone who has worked with Judy Ziewacz knows, she has been absolutely instrumental in helping fashion and implement the strong, pro-active agricultural and rural agenda of the Doyle Administration," said Nilsestuen. 

"Judy was also DATCP's point person for conceptualizing and recommending bio industry programs and policies to the Governor. So although everyone at DATCP was sorry to see Judy leave, it was not at all surprising that Governor Doyle selected her to direct his new Office of Energy Independence," said Nilsestuen. (Contact: Robin Engel, 608/224-5002)