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A publication of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture AG SUBCOMMITTEE HOLDS HEARING ON SPECIALTY CROP INDUSTRY SCHWARZENEGGER APPOINTS A.G. KAWAMURA AS CALIF. FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SECRETARY FARMER ELECTED KENTUCKY AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER SENATE PASSES FISCAL YEAR 2004 AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATIONS BILL LAWMAKERS REACH DEAL ON ETHANOL IN ENERGY BILL USDA ISSUES PROPOSED RULE TO ALLOW LIVE ANIMAL IMPORTS FROM CANADA ENVIRONMENT AND PESTICIDE BRIEFS State News--CONNELL PROMOTED TO STATE VETERINARIAN POST State News--FIRST FARMSTEADS "ENVIRONMENTALLY ASSURED" BY MICHIGAN State News--JOB ANNOUNCEMENT--STATE VETERINARIAN Past Issues
What's New on the NASDA Website
NASDA's Specialty Crop website Letter Supporting Agricultural Jobs, Opportunity, Benefits, and Security (AgJOBS) Act of 2003 Letter on Guidance for Pesticide Permits Comments on the "One Face at the Border" Initative Committee Reports and Policy Amendments from NASDA 2003 The Agricultural Jobs, Opportunity, Benefits, and Security (AgJOBS) Act of 2003 Committee Agendas, Policy Amendments, Etc., for NASDA 2003 (Members' Only)
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Congressman Robin Hayes (R-N.C.), chairman of the House Livestock and Horticulture Agriculture Subcommittee, held a hearing this week to review domestic policies affecting the specialty crop industry. NASDA President and Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson submitted written comments on behalf of NASDA. The Committee heard testimony from representatives of the fruit and vegetable sector. "The hearing covers the gamut of domestic policies that affect the U.S. produce industry from conservation, research, and market access to marketing orders and risk management tools," said Hayes. "The Livestock and Horticulture Subcommittee held this hearing in order to hear from witnesses on a variety of critical issues including implementation of programs in the 2002 farm bill, the Homeland Security Act of 2002, and the 2001 economic assistance package which included specialty crop state block grants." NASDA continues to support the permanent authorization of the specialty crops block grant program and its funding. In his statement Hugoson said, "As directors, secretaries and commissioners, we are on the front lines in delivering many of the services critical to the success of specialty crop growers. We have seen overwhelming demand for assistance in marketing, pest and disease projects, food safety, applied research, and nutrition outreach. We saw more than $1.5 billion in project requests for a grant program of $159 million." He pointed out that a major reason the block grant was a success was the designation of state departments of agriculture as the delivery mechanism for the grant funds. It allowed each state to tailor the aid to fit its unique circumstances. Hugoson's comments can be found on NASDA's website along with examples of projects funded by the block grant program. Several of the witnesses at the hearing provided positive comments about the specialty crops block grant program during their testimony. Squire Smith, president of Florida Citrus Mutual, told the subcommittee that one program that has been beneficial to the U.S. fruit and vegetable industry, and the Florida citrus industry particularly, is the use of specialty crop block grants. "We would strongly encourage the Congress to continue funding these types of programs in the future," Smith said. The Western Growers Association, represented by Matthew McInerney, executive vice president, informed the subcommittee that the specialty crops block grant program "has proven to be very successful in providing states with funding needed for investment in research and strategies aimed at increasing consumption of fruits, vegetables and other specialty crops and allowing growers to become more competitive in global markets." Other groups providing supportive comments for the block grant program were the Produce Marketing Association, the Texas Produce Association, and the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association. Testimony from the hearing can be found on the House Agriculture Committee website at http://agriculture.house.gov/hearings/testimony.htm. Several subcommittee members expressed concern that some of the block grant funds were used to supplant state funding. It was noted by a witness that in H.R.3242, the "Specialty Crop Competitiveness Act of 2003," the grant funds provided under the bill shall supplement state funds in support of specialty crops and shall not replace state funds. Under the bill each state would receive a minimum of $2 million each year for five years. In addition, a grant allocation would be made in an amount that represents the proportion of the value of specialty crop production in the state in relation to the national value of specialty crop production for the previous calendar year. The bill authorizes $470 million of funds annually for five years for block grants. H.R. 3242 was introduced by Representatives Doug Ose (R) and Cal Dooley (D) of California. The bill currently has 43 cosponsors and efforts are still underway to increase the number of cosponsors. (Contact: Jennifer Yezak Molen) SCHWARZENEGGER APPOINTS A.G. KAWAMURA AS CALIF. FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SECRETARY Calif. Governor-Elect Arnold Schwarzenegger announced this week he will appoint A.G. Kawamura as food and agriculture secretary. "A.G. Kawamura is widely respected for his experience as a third-generation grower and shipper. His depth of knowledge of California's agricultural industry will be vital to restoring the California dream," said Schwarzenegger. Prior to serving as the secretary of food and agriculture, Kawamura was appointed as chair of the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service's Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Fruits and Vegetables. He is also the past chairman of Western Growers Association, has served as president of the Orange County Farm Bureau, and is a past member of the California Strawberry Commission. The 47-year-old Kawamura is also a founding partner of Orange County Produce, LLC, where he manages the company's 600 acres of growing and harvesting operations within the shrinking urban boundaries of southern California. His family farming operation consists of several noncontiguous parcels of land in Orange County, San Bernardino and San Diego. He began his agricultural career as a beekeeper, a roadside stand operator and then entered the family business as a produce salesman for Western Marketing Company in 1978. Kawamura graduated from University of California-Berkeley in 1978 with a bachelor of arts degree in comparative literature, English, and Spanish. He is also a graduate of the California Agricultural Leadership Program and participated in the Citizen's Network for Foreign Affairs agricultural outreach program to the Ukraine in 1997. "I'm honored to be appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger and to be a part of his team. Agriculture in California faces many challenges, but I know Schwarzenegger is someone who will listen to the rancher, growers and shippers of California to help relieve the overtaxation and overregulation that we face as farmers," said Kawamura. (Contact: Rick Kirchhoff) FARMER ELECTED KENTUCKY AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER Richie Farmer won the agriculture commissioner race in Kentucky this week. He took more than 79 percent of the vote in the primary, outpolling everyone on the Republican ticket. On Nov. 4, he won more than 55 percent of the vote. Current Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Billy Ray Smith could not run for reelection because of term limits. A 1992 graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Richie earned a bachelor of science degree with a double major in agricultural economics and agribusiness management while playing basketball. Since then, he has given his time to such charitable organizations as the Boys and Girls Clubs, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Children's Miracle Network, American Cancer Society, and Kicks for Kids. Currently, Farmer works as an investment advisor in Clay County where he and his wife, Rebecca, are raising their three sons, Trey, Thomas, and Tate. (Contact: Rick Kirchhoff) SPELL REELECTED Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Lester Spell, D.V.M., won reelection to his third term this week. Spell was first elected in 1995 and was reelected for a second term in 1999. Lester Spell is a sixth-generation Mississippian whose family has farmed and been in business in the state since the early 1800s. In 1979, Commissioner Spell married his wife Sandra, who passed away on September 13, 2003. They lived together for twenty-four years in Richland. He and his two children, Jason and Katie, currently live in Richland, Mississippi. Spell earned a doctorate of veterinary medicine in 1968 from Auburn University. He then served two years as captain in the Army, supervising the inspection of perishable food shipped to Vietnam from the West Coast. In 1970, he returned to Mississippi, beginning his veterinary practice and farming. In addition to raising blueberries and pumpkins, he oversaw the family's timber and wildlife management programs. In 1975, Spell became the first mayor of Richland, his hometown--a position he held until 1996 when he took office as commissioner of agriculture. Spell was elected as Mississippi Veterinarian of the Year in 1996. This award was given by the Mississippi Veterinary Medical Association. Spell currently serves as chairman of the Mississippi Fair Commission, Central Farmers' Market Board and Mississippi Board of Animal Health. He serves on the boards of numerous agricultural and economic development organizations. (Contact: Rick Kirchhoff) SENATE PASSES FISCAL YEAR 2004 AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATIONS BILL On November 7, the Senate passed the fiscal year 2004 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The $79.7 billion bill now goes to a conference committee where the differences between the House and Senate versions will be reconciled. The spending bill was approved on a 93 to 1 vote. Of the total new budget authority recommended, $17 billion is discretionary appropriations. Highlights of the bill include: * An estimated $3.3 billion for farm loans, $663,585 less than the fiscal year 2003 level. * Funding for the Food Safety and Inspection Service is $783.8 million, a $28.9 million increase from the fiscal year 2003 level. * Agricultural research and extension programs are decreased $174 million from the fiscal year 2003 funding levels, this includes an Agricultural Research Service total of $1.1 billion and another $1.1 billion for the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. * The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is funded at $707 million. * Conservation operations of the Natural Resources Conservation Service is funded at $826.6 million. * Rural Development Programs include a rural housing loan authorization level of $4.4 billion, rural rental assistance at $721.3 million and funding for the Rural Community Advancement Program (RCAP), which includes funds for water and waste disposal loans and grants, solid waste management grants, community facility loans, and grants, and rural business enterprise grants f $767.5 million an increase of $289.6 million. * Domestic food programs were appropriated $11.4 billion for child nutrition programs and $29.9 billion for the Food Stamp program. * $125 million for the Market Access Program (MAP) and $34.5 million for the Foreign Market Development (FMD) Program as authorized by the 2002 farm bill. * The Senate supports the mandatory funding level of $1 billion for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. During the debate on the agricultural appropriations bill, the Senate considered a Sense of the Senate Resolution on country of origin labeling (COOL). The resolution supports the continued implementation of the COOL rule requiring covered agricultural products and meats to have labels disclosing their country of origin. A motion to table the resolution was defeated 36 to 58. Subsequently, the Senate approved the resolution by voice vote. Senators Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) and Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) offered the amendment. The House version includes a provision stopping implementation of the labeling law for red meats for one year. (Contact: Jennifer Yezak Molen) LAWMAKERS REACH DEAL ON ETHANOL IN ENERGY BILL House and Senate negotiators on a major energy bill (H.R. 6) announced a compromise deal late November 5 on an ethanol tax dispute that had threatened to kill the legislation. Several other issues still need to be resolved before a final bill can be approved. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who has been leading farm-state lawmakers on ethanol issues, brokered the energy tax deal. The agreement establishes a new volumetric ethanol excise tax credit (VEETC) which would help refiners and blenders who will be required to increase the amount of ethanol in the nation's gasoline supply. In short, it puts the tax incentives for ethanol on equal footing with other energy tax incentives, such as oil and gas, wind, and biomass tax credits. The agreement also includes a new tax credit for biodiesel. The comprehensive energy bill includes a renewable fuels standard which has been strongly supported by NASDA and the agriculture community. The legislation requires an increasing amount of renewables to be used in the nation's motor fuel supply. By 2012, five billion gallons of renewable fuel would have been used on an annual basis. It also requires a percentage of the generation capacity of utilities to be from renewable sources, including wind energy and biomass, by 2015. Congressional observers are optimistic that the breakthrough on the ethanol provisions will allow a final bill could be passed by Thanksgiving. (Contact: Charlie Ingram) USDA ISSUES PROPOSED RULE TO ALLOW LIVE ANIMAL IMPORTS FROM CANADA Late last week, USDA issued a proposed rule to amend its bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) regulations to establish a new category of regions that recognizes those that present a minimal risk of introducing BSE into the United States via the importation of certain low-risk live ruminants and ruminant products. USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is seeking public comment on the proposal to allow the importation of certain live ruminants and ruminant products and byproducts from minimal risk regions under specified conditions. This proposed rule would place Canada on a list of countries considered a minimal risk for BSE, thus making Canada eligible to export certain live ruminant and ruminant products. "This proposal reflects a thorough review of the scientific evidence, which shows the risk to public health to be extremely low," Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman said on the day the proposed rule was announced. The proposed minimal risk region would include regions in which an animal has been diagnosed with BSE but in which specific preventive measures have been in place for an appropriate period of time that reduce the risk of BSE being introduced to the United States. Based on a comprehensive risk analysis and review, USDA believes that the surveillance, prevention, and control measures implemented by Canada are sufficient to be included in the minimal risk category. Under this proposal, ruminant and ruminant products eligible for entry into the United States from a BSE minimal risk region would include, among several: 1) bovine animals less than 30 months of age for immediate slaughter; 2) bovine animals for feeding to be moved to a designated feedlot and then to slaughter at less than 30 months of age; 3) sheep and goats less than 12 months of age for immediate slaughter; 4) sheep and goats for feeding to be moved to a designated feedlot and then to slaughter at less than 12 months of age; and 5) cervids for immediate slaughter. A full listing of the eligible products and the risk mitigation measures required to be eligible for entry into the United States can be found at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/. The proposed rule is consistent with the approach taken by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the standard setting organization for animal health for 164 member nations. In recent correspondence, the director general of the OIE acknowledged that there has been an "increase in unjustified restrictions in international trade, particularly as it relates to cattle and cattle products." The letter was in response to a request from Veneman, Canada's Agriculture Minister Lyle Vanclief and Mexico's Agriculture Secretary Javier Usabiaga to the OIE to provide more practical guidance regarding the resumption of trade with countries that have reported cases of BSE. USDA also released the findings of a second assessment conducted by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis (HCRA) that confirms the findings of the initial study released in 2001. The study found that even if infected animals or ruminant feed material entered the U.S. animal agriculture system from Canada, the risk of it spreading extensively within the U.S. herd was low, that any possible spread would now have been reversed by controls put in place in the late 1990s and that eventually, the disease would be eliminated from the United States. A complete copy of the second Harvard Report can be obtained at http://www.usda.gov/. The proposed rule to permit entry of low-risk live animals from certain minimal risk regions is available for review on the APHIS website and the comment deadline is Jan. 5, 2004. (Contact: Jennifer Yezak Molen) ENVIRONMENT AND PESTICIDE BRIEFS ~~Senate Approves Healthy Forests Initiative~~On October 30, the Senate approved the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (H.R. 1904) by a vote of 80 to 14. The legislation coordinates federal, local, and judicial actions to ensure forest protection and speeds up forest thinning projects to prevent catastrophic wildfires. The measure now goes to a House-Senate conference committee for final negotiations. Under the legislation, communities and watersheds would have priority in hazardous fuels reduction projects. It also requires public participation in proposed project meetings and streamlines the environmental analysis process. ~~Global Warming Legislation Defeated~~The Senate last week defeated a bill (S. 139) designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a vote of 43 to 55. The measure was proposed by Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.). It would require a reduction in carbon dioxide emission levels to 2000 levels by the year 2010 by capping the overall greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity generation, transportation, industrial, and commercial economic sectors, and creating a market for individual companies to trade pollution credits. Opponents argued the legislation would not increase environmental protections but would cause huge job losses and increase energy prices. ~~EPA Releases Review of Atrazine~~The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a scientific review of the herbicide atrazine, but has not recommended any additional risk mitigation measures. In January 2003, EPA issued an "Interim Re-registration Eligibility Decision" (IRED) for the widely-used pesticide which prescribed specific risk mitigation measures to address potential human health concerns. This latest review discusses ecological monitoring and risk mitigation within sensitive watersheds and recent scientific work about the potential association between atrazine exposure and the incidence of prostate and other cancers. Currently, the manufacturers of atrazine are required to monitor residue levels in 40 indicator watersheds that may be vulnerable to contamination where atrazine is regularly used. If monitoring indicates an exceedance of a level of concern in a watershed, the company will work to remediate the watershed consistent with the Clean Water Act's total maximum daily load (TMDL) program and appropriate requirements under the federal pesticide law. If this remediation is not sufficient, EPA may take further action to mitigate risks from atrazine and will consider as appropriate, benefits of atrazine use in the particular watershed. This approach was jointly developed by EPA, atrazine manufacturers, the USDA, and grower groups to provide an early alert system in watersheds where atrazine may be a concern. EPA plans to convene another independent Scientific Advisory Panel to review new studies and data concerning atrazine. (Contact: Charlie Ingram) FOOD SAFETY BRIEFS ~~FDA Issues Assessment on Animal Cloning and Food Safety~~The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week released a draft executive summary of a risk assessment regarding the safety of food products derived from animal clones. The risk assessment also evaluates the risks to animals involved in the cloning process. The draft risk assessment builds on the findings of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and indicates that food products derived from animal clones and their offspring are likely to be as safe to eat as food from their non-clone counterparts, based on all the evidence available. These scientific findings also showed that healthy adult clones are virtually indistinguishable from their conventional counterparts. Most of the data available address cattle, pig, and goat clones. The animal cloning risk assessment is part of an ongoing process FDA has undertaken to assess the safety of food products derived from cloned animals. FDA has not made any final policy decisions on cloned animals. FDA's position with respect to releasing animal clones or their progeny into the food supply has not changed--these products should not be released into the food supply and the agency continues to request that producers withhold these products from the market. ~~Senator Pushes Menu Education and Labeling Initiative~~Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) plans to introduce legislation that would require nutritional information to be displayed on menu boards and on printed menus at chain restaurants and vending machines. Harkin said the bill would help consumers make informed choices and may encourage chain restaurants to cook healthier versions of the food they already offer. He said the initiative was an urgent step toward addressing the obesity epidemic in this country and encouraging healthier lifestyles. ~~Rule Issued To Prevent Transmission of Monkeypox From Animals~~The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued an interim final rule to establish new restrictions and modify existing restrictions on the import, capture, transport, sale, barter, exchange, distribution, and release of North American prairie dogs, African rodents, and certain other animals in the United States. There was an outbreak of monkeypox linked to exotic animals earlier this year. In June 2003, CDC implemented an immediate embargo on the importation of all rodents from Africa. As a public health measure, FDA and CDC prohibited the transportation in interstate commerce or sale or offering for sale or any other type of commercial or public distribution, including release into the environment, of prairie dogs and certain rodents from Africa. The interim rule will continue to restrict the importation of these animals and domestic interstate and intrastate movement. (Contact: Charlie Ingram) USDA NEWS ~~USDA Launches Web Site Featuring State Marketing Profiles~~USDA has announced the launch of a new Internet website that provides marketing profiles for all 50 states. The site includes in-depth statistical information on farms, including size, market value, cropland, livestock inventories and commodities. There also are demographic and food consumption statistics for the major metropolitan areas in each state. The site was developed by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and provides location and contact information for farmers markets, descriptions of AMS marketing projects and grants, and information on how to find organic certifying agents and organic contacts in each state department of agriculture. There is also a brief marketing summary of each state. The site is aimed at market developers, state departments of agriculture, academics and other data collectors, as well as consumers interested in marketing activities in their state. The site can be accessed at http://www.ams.usda.gov/statesummaries. ~~Disaster Areas Designated in Five States~~This week, USDA designated counties in California, Iowa, Minnesota, Nevada, and Wyoming as primary agricultural disaster areas. The decision allows farmers and ranchers to apply for USDA assistance. In California, a number of counties were designated as primary disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by excessive rain and wheat stripe rust. Disaster declarations were designated in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wyoming due to losses caused by drought. The entire state of Nevada was designated as a primary disaster area due to losses caused by drought and insect infestation. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the declaration to apply for the loans to help cover part of their actual losses. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) will consider each loan application on its own merits, taking into account the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of programs available, in addition to the emergency loan program, to help eligible farmers recover from adversity. ~~USDA Allocates $2 Million Under Export Program for Specialty Crops~~This week, USDA announced funding allocations totaling $2 million to 16 organizations under the fiscal 2003 Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops program to help open, retain and expand markets for U.S. specialty crops. Administered by USDA' Foreign Agricultural Service, funds were allocated for amounts not greater than $250,000 per project to address phytosanitary or related technical barriers to U.S. exports of specialty crops. The program was created by the 2002 farm bill and is authorized each fiscal year through 2007. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is one of the recipients with an allocation of $75,000. A complete list of recipients, along with program information, is available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/export.html. (Contact: Charlie Ingram or Jennifer Yezak Molen) STATE NEWS CONNELL PROMOTED TO STATE VETERINARIAN POST The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Director Valoria Loveland has announced the promotion of Dr. Kathy Connell to the position of state veterinarian. Connell has been the acting state veterinarian since July. Prior to that, she served as assistant state veterinarian for more than eight years. She succeeds Dr. Robert Mead, who retired in June. "We are fortunate to have a person of Dr. Connell's caliber to serve as state veterinarian," said Loveland. "Dr. Connell is experienced in working the complexities of a nationally significant animal health program, and is an advocate for staff, the agricultural industry and the public. She is committed to the highest standards of professional competence, ethical standards and integrity." Connell received her degree in veterinary medicine from Washington State University in 1991 and has worked as a veterinarian for 12 years. Her work experience includes more than three years at the Lacey Animal Clinic in Lacey, where she practiced medicine, surgery and dentistry on small and exotic animals. She has served as president of various professional organizations including the Washington State Veterinary Medical Association in 2001. "I am honored to have been chosen," remarked Connell. "I am fortunate to have a great staff and the strong support of industry and the agricultural community. I will do the best I can to meet or exceed the high standards set by previous state veterinarians." Connell's work at WSDA includes prevention, detection, control and eradication of serious and infectious animal diseases. She has been instrumental in developing emergency response plans that will be used to minimize damage if a serious foreign animal disease is introduced into Washington. Connell was born in Denver, the oldest of six children. The family lived in Illinois, Texas, and Nebraska. Connell moved to Washington in 1977. She lives in Olympia with her husband, Matthew Porter. The State Veterinarian's Office protects, promotes and enhances animal health and welfare by working within the state, nationally and internationally, to minimize exposure of people and their animals to harmful animal diseases. For more information about the Animal Health Program, visit the website at http://agr.wa.gov/FoodAnimal/AnimalHealth/default.htm. (Contact: Linda Waring, 360/902-1815) FIRST FARMSTEADS "ENVIRONMENTALLY ASSURED" BY MICHIGAN An Alpena County farm and a Kalamazoo County farm are the first in the state to recently undergo and complete a new process to become "environmentally assured" by the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA), announced MDA Director Dan Wyant this week. Wyant explained that MDA inspectors made the verification designation under the state's newly added "Farmstead System" component of the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP), an innovative initiative that helps prevent or minimize agriculture-related pollution. Receiving the noteworthy verification were: Holcomb Creek Dairy in Spruce, owned and operated by Michael and Pamela Timm; and Richardson Farms in Vicksburg, owned and operated by Rob and Regina Richardson. "These family farmers are to be commended for their commitment to preserving and protecting Michigan's natural resources and achieving this significant accomplishment in being the state's first MAEAP `Farmstead System' verified farms," Wyant said. "As they have demonstrated, MAEAP is designed to be one of the most effective and feasible ways for producers to position their farms long term for safeguarding both the environment and their economic viability." To become verified, farmers must complete three proactive, comprehensive steps: attending an educational seminar, conducting a thorough on-farm risk assessment, and developing and implementing an action plan that addresses potential environmental risks. From there, MDA conducts an on-farm inspection, which must verify compliance with applicable state and federal environmental regulations as well as adherence to the action plan. If these requirements are met, the producer receives a certificate of environmental assurance. To remain a MAEAP-verified farm, inspections must be conducted at least every three years. MAEAP separates farm operations into three distinct segments or systems - Livestock, Farmstead and Cropping - each of which examines a different portion of the operation. Farmers can then concentrate on one or all three systems, depending on what type of operation they have. In April of last year, the state verified its first farms under the Livestock System. Now the Timm and Richardson farms are the first to receive verification in the Farmstead System. At the core of the Farmstead System is Farm-A-Syst, a program to assess how effectively farmstead structures, management practices and site conditions protect water from potential contamination. Some examples of actions that farmers may take include: proper storage, handling, mixing and loading of pesticides, fertilizers, and fuel; testing drinking water annually; and developing emergency response plans. MAEAP was developed and is being implemented by a broad and diverse group of state and federal agencies, university experts, and agricultural and conservation groups. Since it was officially launched in the winter of 2000/2001, more than 2,250 farmers and local resource professionals have attended educational sessions and 20 farms have been verified, with hundreds more in the process. For more information, visit the MAEAP web site at www.maeap.org or contact MDA's Jan Wilford at 517/241-4730. (Contact: Sara Linsmeier-Wurfel, 517/241-4282) JOB ANNOUNCEMENT--STATE VETERINARIAN The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is recruiting for the position of state veterinarian/director of animal industry. The position requires at least five years of senior level management experience in regulatory animal health programs. A degree from an accredited school of veterinary medicine is required. Candidate should also be familiar with animal diagnostic laboratory systems. Anticipated hiring range is $95,000 plus. Generous state of Florida benefit package, including fully paid family health insurance, a fully paid life insurance policy for incumbent and over one month of vacation time each year. Submit a State of Florida Employment Application, resume, and letters of reference. In addition, please submit a statement outlining your experience and leadership skills that also describes your vision for the Division of Animal Industry. Materials should be submitted to Elaine Cooper, Chief of Personnel Management, 407 South Calhoun Street, Suite 306, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0800, 850/487-2785 Application deadline is close of business on December 5, 2003. The application may be accessed at http://fcn.state.fl.us/dms/hrm/forms/app12-98.pdf. For further information about the department and the Division of Animal Industry, visit www.doacs.state.fl.us. | |