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A publication of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture GUIDANCE ON STATE BLOCK GRANTS EXPECTED SOON VENEMAN OUTLINES SCHEDULE FOR FARM PAYMENTS EPA STUDY ESTIMATES COSTS OF TMDL PROGRAM COLIN POWELL ON IMMIGRATION ISSUES State News--CITRUS LONGHORNED BEETLES FOUND IN TUKWILA State News--COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCES 'BUY KENTUCKY' SURVEY
Past Issues
August 10, 2001 August 3, 2001 July 30, 2001July 20, 2001 What's New on the NASDA Website
Draft Biotechnology Policy (Members Only) Letter Concerning Block Grants CAFO letter & Updated CAFO Survey NASDA 2001 agenda and sponsorship information Florida Environmental Laws Guide available
NASDA's 2002 Farm Policy Briefing Book
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GUIDANCE ON STATE BLOCK GRANTS EXPECTED SOON USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) is expected to issue a "guidance letter" early next week to provide state officials with more information regarding the new state grants for specialty crops. The state grant program was part of the $5.5 billion emergency farm assistance package (H.R. 2213) recently approved by Congress and signed into law by President Bush this week. The legislation provides a total of $159 million for specialty crop production assistance and for the first time will be distributed through state grants. Each state would receive a $500,000 base grant, with $1 million going to Puerto Rico, to "support activities that promote agriculture." The remaining $133 million in funding will be allocated to states based on the value of specialty crop production in the state. This allocation list is printed in the House Agriculture Committee's report on the legislation (H.Rept. 107-111) and is posted on NASDA's website. The legislation does not specify how this money should be spent and only says that "a state shall agree to give priority to the support of specialty crops in the use of the grant funds." Specialty crops are defined in the legislation as "any agricultural crop, except wheat, feed grains, oilseeds, cotton, rice, peanuts, and tobacco." The legislative language also cites some general examples of how grant funds might be used including value-added research, promotion, and inspection. The legislation further requires the money to be obligated and distributed by September 30, 2001. The legislation has generated questions because it does not specify which state agency would receive and distribute the grant funds. However, House Agriculture Committee staff who wrote the legislative language has told NASDA that the "intent" was for the funds to be distributed to the state departments of agriculture. Committee staff said the language was written broadly on purpose to give states flexibility on how to spend the money. NASDA sent a letter to the congressional leadership and USDA commending the state grant approach for specialty crops. "We believe it is correct and appropriate to give the state departments of agriculture the lead responsibility to distribute this assistance. Our agencies have worked directly with these producers for years; we know what the problems are and we have worked with them to develop and implement programs to tackle these problems." NASDA's letter also pledged to provide Congress and USDA with a report in the coming months to outline the state grant activities and to "demonstrate how state flexibility, coupled with accountability, can give taxpayers the greatest value for their tax dollar." A copy of the letter is also posted on NASDA's website. NASDA has also contacted USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) to discuss and offer suggestions on what guidance information would be most helpful to states. FSA officials have indicated that a "guidance letter" would be sent to the governors to request transfer routing numbers for the funds. The letter is expected to be officially delivered early next week; but, at press time, FSA officials could not confirm what other "guidance" or information might accompany the letter. Several individual state departments of agriculture have informed NASDA that they have already been in contact with, or written letters, to their governor to discuss how the grant funds would be received and used. Others are planning to hold meetings with producers to determine how funds and resources can be targeted best. NASDA will provide members with additional information as it becomes available. (Contact: Charlie Ingram) VENEMAN OUTLINES SCHEDULE FOR FARM PAYMENTS USDA Secretary Ann M. Veneman this week outlined a tentative schedule and guidelines for distributing the market loss payments that are contained in the $5.5 emergency farm assistant package (H.R. 2213) signed by the president on August 13. The state grant program for specialty crop assistance is also part of this legislation (see separate story). Generally, the legislation will provide assistance to about 1.4 million producers. This week, USDA began distribution of the $4.6 billion in supplemental market loss assistance payments to producers receiving a 2001 Agricultural Market Transition Act (AMTA) payment. Distribution also began for $423 million in supplemental payments to 2000-crop oilseed producers. On September 7, USDA will distribute $84.7 million to cottonseed producers and first-handlers of the 2000 crop of cottonseed, and $16.9 million for payments to wool and mohair producers that received a payment for the 2000 marketing year. On September 10, payments totaling $54 million will be made to producers of quota or additional peanuts who received a payment for the 2000 crop year. Finally, on September 18, USDA will distribute $129 million for eligible tobacco producers as defined in section 204(b) of the Agricultural Risk Protection Act of 2000. These payments will be automatically paid to eligible farmers who will not have to file any forms or visit any offices. Under law, all expenditures are required to be made no later than September 30, 2001. Maximum payment limitations for the 2001 crop year loan deficiency payments and marketing loan gains have been increased from $75,000 to $150,000. (Contact: Charlie Ingram) EPA STUDY ESTIMATES COSTS OF TMDL PROGRAM The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released a draft study on the costs of the agency's proposed Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program. EPA is also seeking comments on the cost study. The study projects that implementation costs of the TMDL program could be between $900 million and $4.3 billion annually, although EPA notes that the higher figure represents an "unlikely, worst-case scenario." The cost study estimates the costs to states for additional data gathering to support the TMDL program at $17 million per year. Once states have collected good data, they will need to spend up to $69 million annually over the next 15 years to develop plans to clean up some 20,000 impaired waters currently on state lists. EPA estimates state costs to develop a cleanup plan for each of these 20,000 waters are projected to average about $52,000 per plan. The agency points out that in the current year, up to $210 million is available to states for TMDL and related clean water work including monitoring. EPA proposed comprehensive changes to the TMDL program in July 2000. NASDA and a coalition of agricultural groups have expressed numerous concerns and opposition to the proposed rule. Last March, Kansas Agriculture Secretary Jamie Clover Adams testified at a Senate hearing that EPA's rulemaking would: (1) greatly exceed the agency's authority under the Clean Water Act (CWA) to regulate agricultural activities, and (2) jeopardize successful voluntary, incentive-based, nonpoint source management programs. The cost study and a separate National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report on the TMDL program were required under the EPA appropriations bill last year. NASDA and the farm coalition were instrumental in getting this legislation approved. The NAS report was released on June 19 and recommends numerous changes to the TMDL program. One key finding of the NAS report was that many states lack sufficient data to develop TMDLs for all of their impaired waters. Last month, EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman announced that the agency would seek to delay the proposed rule for 18 months in order to make additional changes. A copy of the report and additional information is available at http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl. (Contact: Charlie Ingram) COLIN POWELL ON IMMIGRATION ISSUES Secretary of State Colin Powell met with Mexican Secretary Jorge Castaneda, Mexican Interior Minister Santiago Creel, and U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft this week on a number of issues, including immigration issues. Powell and Ashcroft are working in response to an earlier charge by President Bush and President Fox to reach an agreement on Mexican immigration into the United States. Powell, speaking to reporters, stated, "It was a very good meeting and we began to flesh out some ideas." He continued, "We want to make sure that migration to the United States from Mexico is safe, legal, orderly, and dignified ... We want to make sure that immigration system, at the same time, does not disadvantage American workers." A guestworker program is one of a number of immigration reforms U.S. and Mexican officials have been discussing since President Bush and President Vicente Fox agreed to last February. Powell noted that the working relationship between the two countries is a shared responsibility and should benefit both countries. The group will discuss a temporary guest worker program in the coming months, but Powell noted, "We are in no hurry ... we have to do this right." The group focused on a guestworker program under consideration which would allow certain illegal immigrants to earn U.S. citizenship. The plan would formalize the status of illegal Mexican immigrants already residing in the United States. The current chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Representative James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), and George Gekas (R-Pa.), chair of the committee's subcommittee on Immigration and Claims, have noted that they do not anticipate movement in their committee on any currently introduced immigration legislation. The members stated that they are not inclined to act on immigration reform without the reformation of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. (Contact: Patrick Atagi) WEST NILE VIRUS Due to the increasing number of cases and potential health threats, combined with increased media attention, the Agricultural Research Service's National Agricultural Library (USDA), has created a website as a "first-stop" for those seeking information on the virus. The site is at http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/wnvirus/wnfacts.htm The NAL website links to comprehensive information sites on West Nile Virus maintained by credible sources, including the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey invasive species program. The sources provide information about disease transmission, susceptibility and prevention for humans and livestock, along with detailed descriptions of federal, state, and local government disease surveillance and control activities. The new web site was built by NAL's Animal Welfare Information Center, which regularly updates the links to stay current with developments about the virus. It also enables those who find dead birds to locate contacts in each state who can tell them where to take the birds for examination. The National Agricultural Library is the principal resource in the United States for information about food, agriculture, and natural resources. The library's Animal Welfare Information Center provides information for improved animal care and use in research, teaching, and testing. The Agricultural Research Service is the USDA's chief scientific agency. Further Information: Jean Larson, ARS National Agricultural Library, Animal Welfare Information Center, phone 301/504-5215, jlarson@nal.usda.gov. (Contact: Patrick Atagi) INTERNATIONAL TRADE NEWS ~~WTO Lamb Case Dispute Continues~~A dispute originating in 1999 over lamb imports from Australia and New Zealand, and the fallout from the subsequent safeguard measures ordered by former President Clinton, continued into its final phase this week. Australia and New Zealand have agreed to extend the arbitration process on compliance by the United States with the WTO ruling. The United States has agreed to abide by the ruling, however, at issue is the date when compliance will begin. The original safeguard consisted of a three-year tariff quota, with imports of lamb from the two countries subject to a nine percent tariff in the first year, and six percent and three percent tariffs in the second and third years. The WTO considered and ruled for Australia and New Zealand on their complaint to the WTO dispute panel on the U.S. safeguard action. ~~TPA Internet Site~~The Commerce Department has created a new Internet site for information on Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), which the president is seeking to secure this year. The new website can be found at http://www.tpa.gov The site is a joint effort between the White House and agencies involved in trade policies. Trade Promotion Authority (previously known as Fast Track), if passed, would allow the president the freedom to negotiate trade agreements, with Congress only allowed to vote in approval or disapproval of the agreement. The authority would prevent Congress from altering the agreement through amendments. ~~Argentina Financial Crisis Concerns~~South American countries are increasingly becoming concerned over the recent Argentina financial turmoil which could soon spread to its neighboring trading partners. Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay have halted trade negotiations with Argentina over concerns that the country may default on an enormous debt before putting its accounts in order. The implication is that the trading countries, also known as Mercosur, will fail to make a counteroffer in an ongoing free trade agreement with the European Union further exacerbating Argentina's situation. The European Union has asked Brazil to unilaterally develop an agreement, and the present it to the other members of the Mercosur group for approval. The counteroffer by Mercosur must be presented to the European Union by October 31. (Contact: Patrick Atagi) USDA NEWS ~~Soybean Promotion Board Appointments~~The USDA announced this week 25 appointments and two alternate appointments to the United Soybean Board. All appointees will serve 3-year terms beginning December 2001, except the Maryland alternate who will serve a 1-year term. Appointed members representing soybean producers by state are: Jerry J. Ford, Arkansas; Douglas P. Corey, Delaware; Ronald L. Mapes and Richard L. Borgsmiller, Illinois; Janice G. Peterson and Jerry (Joe) Meyer, Indiana; Jack W. Hartman, Iowa; Eric A. Niemann and Kathleen B.P. Strunk, Kansas; Donald L. Zaunbrecher, Louisiana; Jerry R. Hubbard, Michigan; Donald P. Nickel and James R. Sallstrom, Minnesota; Terry L. Dulaney, Mississippi; David L. Durham, Missouri; Charles L. Myers, Nebraska; James C. Rountree, North Carolina; Kent M. Gronlie, North Dakota; Amy J. Davis, Ohio; Jay R. Franklin, Oklahoma; Michael H. McCranie, South Dakota; Kenneth M. Moore, Tennessee; Victoria H. Coughlin and Criss W. Davis, Wisconsin; and Dennis F. Phelps, Eastern Region. USDA also announced two appointments for alternates to the board. The Soybean Promotion, Research, and Information Order provides for an alternate member for each state or region with only one member on the board. Alternates serve terms that coincide with the term of the member from the state or region that they represent.Alternate members by state are Mark A. Eck, Maryland and Ronald J. Limon, Oklahoma. ~~Increase Fees for Grading of Eggs, Poultry and Rabbits~A proposal to raise the basic hourly rate for resident service, or work of a grader with a regular tour of duty at a plant, from the current $29.96 to $31.52 is being discussed by USDA. The proposal would also raise the basic hourly rate for fee service, or work on an intermittent, as-needed basis, from the current $51.32 to $54.40 for regular hours and from $59.12 to $62.76 for weekend and holiday work. Additionally, for plants using resident service, the administrative fee for USDA supervision and for other overhead expenses will increase from 4.4 cents to 4.6 cents per case of shell eggs and from .035 cents to .036 cents per pound of poultry handled. For poultry and eggs, the minimum administrative fee will rise from $225 to $250 per monthly billing period, and the maximum fee will rise from $2,625 to $2,650. The minimum administrative fee for grading rabbits will remain unchanged at $260 per monthly billing period. These grading services are made available upon request and paid for by the users. Current fees have been in effect since Oct. 1, 2000. ~~New Device to Scan Entire Beef Carcass for E.coli~~Dangerous bacteria such as E. coli O157:H7 are being spotlighted because Agricultural Research Service researchers in partnership with eMerge Interactive, Inc., of Sebastian, Florida, have further developed and tested commercial designs of a fecal detection system capable of scanning an entire beef carcass. The device can help the meatpacking industry supply safe food products to U.S. and foreign consumers. In a recent trial of an eMerge prototype at the Food and Agricultural Products Research and Technology Center at Oklahoma State University, the detection system revealed trace levels of contamination that were invisible to the human eye, prior to and after trimming. The prototype was also successful in evaluating fecal decontamination on carcasses subjected to levels of high- temperature steam from steam vacuums or steam cabinets. This is a common practice used for microbial intervention in the beef slaughter industry. Research and development engineers at eMerge have developed this technology into new prototypes that scan an entire side of beef for fecal contamination. This improves the technology's practicality for the beef packing industry. (Contact: Patrick Atagi) STATE NEWS Correction: The August 3 NASDA News story, "Nevada Department of Agriculture Implementing New Medical Marijuana Program," should have read, "The citizens of Nevada [not Nebraska] voted to approve the use of medical marijuana for alleviating pain and other symptoms associated with debilitating medical conditions." CITRUS LONGHORNED BEETLES FOUND IN TUKWILA Entomologists from the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) are searching for evidence of the highly destructive citrus longhorned beetle, and they're asking for your help. This is a shiny black beetle, capable of flight, measuring one to one and a half inches long, with irregular white patches on its back, and long distinguishable antennae that are banded with black and white. (Photos are on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/pestaler/achinfm.gif.) If you see one of these beetles, scoop it into a jar or other container and then call 800/443-6684. The search for this beetle began immediately after the owner of a nursery in Tukwila brought what appeared to be an Asian longhorned beetle to the USDA's Seattle plant inspection office. Asian longhorned beetles have caused thousands of trees to be destroyed in Chicago and New York. The entomologists caught two more beetles in a group of maple trees at the nursery on Thursday. They also found eight exit holes on the trees, indicating that up to five beetles are on the loose. Because many beetles resemble the Asian longhorned beetle, the beetles caught in Tukwila were sent to the Smithsonian for positive identification. They were positively identified as citrus longhorned beetles on Friday. It is the first time the citrus longhorned beetle has been found in Washington State. The citrus longhorned beetle is closely related to the Asian longhorned beetle. It is just as destructive. Forests and landscapes could be severely damaged if the beetle is allowed to establish itself in this country. The maple trees were imported from Korea. The entire shipment of 369 trees has been destroyed. The trees were in the eighth month of a two-year-long disease quarantine to ensure they were healthy before they could be sold to retail outlets or the public. State and federal entomologists will be inspecting trees in the immediate area for egg sites, or damage to leaves and bark that would indicate adult beetles have been feeding. The state and federal departments of agriculture are also discussing methods that can be used to prevent the beetles from becoming established in this state. "Fortunately, we're ready," said Brad White, managing entomologist at WSDA. "We've been gearing up for this fight for more than two years. One entomologist got firsthand knowledge of Asian longhorned beetle control measures in Chicago." Citrus longhorned beetles are considered serious orchard pests in Asia. They represent an even larger threat to trees in this country where they have no natural enemies. Females may lay as many as 200 eggs individually, not in egg masses, beneath the bark on the lower portion of the trunk or exposed roots of trees. The eggs hatch into larvae, large worm-like grubs that feed on wood within the tree. Larvae grow more than two inches long and one-half inch wide and then emerge as adult beetles. Despite its name, citrus longhorned beetles attack a wide range of living hardwood trees and a few conifers. They are fond of maple, alder and poplar trees. They kill trees, gradually, by boring large holes throughout the heartwood of the tree during the insect's larval stage. Since the New York and Chicago Asian longhorned beetle infestations were linked to wooden pallets and other wood packing materials, USDA requires those materials to be treated before entering the U.S. Several species of longhorned beetles have been found in nursery stock from Asia. Asian longhorned beetle is one of the potentially harmful insects monitored by the state Department of Agriculture, which has primary responsibility for protecting people, agriculture and the environment from exotic and invasive pests. To date, only two adult Asian longhorned beetles have been found in Washington. One was found in 1997 on pallets at a business near Marysville. The other was discovered in 1998 at a utility in Bellingham. In each case, only one live beetle was found. Follow-up surveys found no additional beetles, so there is little chance that they could have established populations here. (Contact: Linda Waring, 360/902-1815) COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCES 'BUY KENTUCKY' SURVEY Consumers will help the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) design a new marketing program through their input in an ongoing survey, Agriculture Commissioner Billy Ray Smith announced this week. The results of the survey will form the basis of "Buy Kentucky," a marketing program intended to get more Kentucky-made food products to consumers and to make Kentucky farms more profitable. "Through several outlets, the department is polling Kentucky's food buyers to determine where they shop and what they buy," said Commissioner Smith at the annual Kentucky Commodity Group Appreciation Breakfast, held at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center. "This survey is asking consumers what influences their buying decisions, whether they show a preference to Kentucky-grown products, and if not, why not. We want to know what the consumer wants and thinks." "Buy Kentucky" will be a long-term program with several goals, Commissioner Smith said, including: * designing a unified logo for Kentucky products; * promoting consumer awareness of Kentucky agricultural products; * providing quality Kentucky products for consumers; * encouraging the development of value-added products; * preserving green space in Kentucky by keeping farms profitable; * providing incentives to consumers to buy Kentucky-grown products. Surveys will be available during the Kentucky State Fair in the KDA's marketing areas, located in the West Hall and in the South Wing. In addition, the survey is available on the KDA Web site at www.kyagr.com. Deadline to return the survey to KDA is Sept. 21. "Through this survey, the department will determine the best and most feasible way to promote consumer awareness of Kentucky agricultural products," Commissioner Smith said. "We also want to strengthen distribution channels for our quality farm products." Toward that end, part of the "Buy Kentucky" effort will be the design of a unified logo for all agricultural products in the state. Currently, several logos are used to identify Kentucky-grown products under KDA's "Where Quality Grows" program. Among the logos now in use is the familiar fruit/vegetable logo as well as those for grapes/wine, Christmas trees, nurseries and greenhouses, and aquaculture. The consumer survey will help the KDA determine the identity of the logo as well as the direction of the "Buy Kentucky" program. "We are starting from the ground up in a grass roots effort with this program," Commissioner Smith said. "We believe this survey will tell our department how best to serve the farmers of Kentucky as well as the state's food buyers." For more information on the survey, log onto the KDA website at http://www.kyagr.com/. (Contact: Doug Thomas, 502/564-4696) |
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