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A publication of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
PETERSON ENDS NASDA PRESIDENCY
AG PANEL ACTS TO PROTECT FARM DATA
NASDA RELEASES STATE FINANCIAL SURVEY
EPA SEEKS COMMENT ON HYPOXIA REPORT
SENATE ENVIRONMENT LEADER DIES
TRADE PACKAGE MOVES SLOWLY THROUGH SENATE
State News--HORSES CONFIRMED TO HAVE WEST NILE-LIKE VIRUS
State News--NEW STINGING LITTLE FIRE ANT FOUND ON THE BIG ISLAND AND KAUAI
State News--PLUM POX VIRUS DETECTED ON ADAMS COUNTY FRUIT FARM
What's New on the NASDA Website
findings of the survey of state funding of nonpoint source pollution programs
Updated membership directory (Members' Only section)
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ANLIKER ACCEPTS NEW POSITION Jeff Anliker, natural resource consultant for NASDA, through a cooperative agreement with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has accepted a position with NRCS in Massachusetts. He was instrumental in the development and implementation of various programs including the resource management planning (RMPs) program; the state-by-state environmental laws affecting agriculture guides; state nonpoint source and state clean water program surveys; and many other projects concerning natural resource issues. He has worked with NASDA for the last four years and has been a valuable technical resource to the NASDA staff and membership. Anliker has worked for NRCS for over thirty years and is a certified professional in erosion and sediment control. Before coming to Washington, D.C., Anliker worked for NRCS in the southern New England area for fourteen years. He and his family are excited about returning to New England. Effective November 1st, he can be contacted at the Natural Resources Conservation Service, 451 West Street, Amherst, Mass. 01002. His new phone number will be: 413-253-4356, fax: 413-253-4375, VoiceComm: 9047-4356, and email: jeff.anliker@ma.usda.gov. (Contact Rick Kirchhoff) PETERSON ENDS NASDA PRESIDENCY --One Year Term Emphasized Fair Trade, Producer Profitability, and Food Quality Utah Commissioner of Agriculture and Food Cary G. Peterson's reign as president of NASDA ended September 29, 1999, during NASDA's annual meeting, NASDA 99, in St. George, Utah. "It was an important year for agriculture and its leaders." Commissioner Peterson said. "From the challenges presented by natural disaster to the earth-shaking threats posed by worldwide economics, 1999 was a year that required state commissioners, secretaries, and directors to accelerate our involvement," Peterson added. At NASDA 99, states' agriculture leaders prepared to meet the challenges of the new century. New marketing strategies for familiar products were discussed. NASDA members were told that producers must assess the needs of the consumer, then tailor their products accordingly. They were also told that products ranging from wheat to beef must be packaged and marketed to meet the changing needs of the consumer. Commissioner Peterson was NASDA's 83rd president. He served the traditional one year term before surrendering the office to Fred L. Dailey of the Ohio Department of Agriculture. NASDA 2000 will be held in Columbus, Ohio, September 22-27, 2000. "I wish to thank the many people both at NASDA headquarters in Washington, D.C., and at the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food for helping make 1999 a special year," Peterson said. "Together, I believe, we helped make agriculture a little stronger and a little more secure for this generation and those that follow," he concluded. (Contact: Rick Kirchhoff) AG PANEL ACTS TO PROTECT FARM DATA The House Agriculture Committee has approved an amendment that will ensure the privacy and confidentiality of data and information developed through USDA resource conservation programs. The amendment, sponsored by Ranking Minority Member Charlie Stenholm (D-Texas), was attached to a watershed bill (H.R. 728) that would provide funding to rehabilitate flood control dams. NASDA supported the amendment and sent a letter to the committee urging its approval. The proposal is intended to address concerns about sharing data from the agricultural census with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Last spring, EPA contractors sought access to information in cooperator files about animal feeding operations. USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) refused the request and moved to strengthen its policy on disclosure of "farm level" data. NASDA passed a resolution at the annual meeting expressing support in the confidentiality measures taken by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to safeguard individual producer-reported data. Rep. Stenholm said his amendment would restore the trust established between USDA and farmers and ranchers and guarantee that information provided on a voluntary basis remains protected. The amendment was approved by a 37 to 1 vote. Rep. Helen Chenoweth (R-Idaho) cast the dissenting vote after expressing concern that farmer financial information could be shared with other government agencies at the sole discretion of the Agriculture Secretary. The letter is available on NASDA's website under the "What's New" section. (Contact: Charlie Ingram) NASDA RELEASES STATE FINANCIAL SURVEY NASDA in cooperation with the Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators (ASIWPCA) and the National Association of State Conservation Agencies (NASCA) recently released the results of a survey of state financial programs to address nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. Based on the survey, over $370 million dollars were allocated in the responding 41 states for NPS cost-share programs in fiscal year 1999. The survey was conducted to better understand the extent of NPS activities underway in states and their funding commitments which have not been well documented in the past. The information collected will be used to make a case for increased national NPS program funding with federal agencies and Congress to support the efforts of states. The survey results can be found on the NASDA website at http://www.nasda-hq.org/ under the "What's New" section. (Contact Charlie Ingram) EPA SEEKS COMMENT ON HYPOXIA REPORT The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comments on a federal interagency report that assesses the causes and consequences of hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico. The report makes recommendations for nutrient and fertilizer reductions in the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Basin. Last year, Congress established a federal task force, the "Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia," which is being led by EPA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The task force is required to develop a plan for controlling hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico by March 30, 2000. As part of this effort, the task force and its Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) issued six science reports and recommendations this summer. The current EPA report is a compilation of these six individual proposals. This integrated document discusses the ecological and economic consequences of hypoxia and evaluates the costs, benefits, and effects of reducing nutrient loads, especially nitrogen, to surface waters, ground water, and the Gulf of Mexico. NASDA and a coalition of agricultural organizations filed combined comments on the six individual reports last August. The coalition stated that rather than mandating artificial crop nutrient use reductions, what is needed are additional resources targeted to impaired watersheds. The group also stressed that the report ignored many critical issues affecting the Gulf of Mexico including increased efficiency of fertilizer use by farmers and the impact of flow changes in the Mississippi River. The coalition has also urged a greater role for USDA in the development of the task force recommendations. Comments on the integrated report are due by December 20, 1999. NASDA and the Agricultural Water Working Group (AWWG) are preparing comments. Copies of the EPA document and additional information is available on NASDA's website under the "Members' Only" section. (Contact: Charlie Ingram) SENATE ENVIRONMENT LEADER DIES Sen. John Chafee (R-R.I.), chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, died suddenly of a heart attack on October 24. The untimely death of Senator Chafee will accelerate a change in Senate leadership on environmental issues. Senator Chafee was considered a moderate, "green" member of the Republican caucus and generally received good ratings from environmental groups such as the League of Conservation Voters. He was instrumental in the last reauthorization of the Clean Water Act in 1987 and in the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments. There is much speculation about who will succeed Chafee as chairman of the committee. Sen. John Warner (R-Va.) is next in line to assume the position; but, he already chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee. Next in seniority is Sen. Bob Smith of New Hampshire, who recently switched his party affiliation to independent. He is said to be interested in the chairmanship and is contemplating a return to the GOP. Many congressional observers believe the probable new chairman will be Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), who has a conservative record on environmental policy. The Senate Republican Caucus is expected to decide who will take over the chairmanship next week. (Contact: Charlie Ingram) DAIRY COMPACT EXTENDED USDA announced earlier this week that a new national pricing policy that would supersede the Northeast Dairy Compact would not be put into effect at least until early next year. USDA Under Secretary Gus Schumacher confirmed the report on Wednesday at a press conference held by USDA on the recently released agriculture appropriations bill. A federal judge in Vermont has put the policy on hold while considering a lawsuit seeking to overturn it. A similar suit is also awaiting action in the Washington, D.C., court. The House voted in September for an alternative plan that is closer to the existing system. The Senate has debated the issue as part of the recently passed agriculture appropriation's bill but has yet to take action. (Contact: Patrick Atagi) TRADE PACKAGE MOVES SLOWLY THROUGH SENATE Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott filed a motion October 27 to invoke cloture on a trade bill that would give Caribbean Basin Initiative and sub-Saharan African countries expanded trade benefits. The bill would also renew expired programs for Generalized System of Preferences duty free benefits and trade adjustment assistance for workers and firms hurt by imports. Lott moved to invoke cloture to continue debate on the bill as Democrats threatened to filibuster the bill over Lott's procedural move to close the bill to amendments. The Senate will vote on Friday, October 30, to decide whether to continue debate of the bill. Sixty votes are required to invoke cloture. Democrats sparked controversy over the bill by their desire to attach a myriad of controversial amendments to the bill, ranging from fast track trade negotiating authority for the president to a minimum wage increase by Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.). (Contact: Patrick Atagi) FOOD SAFETY BRIEFS ~~Small Plants Prepare for HACCP~~USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) reported this week that most of the nation's very small meat and poultry plants will be ready to comply with the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system. Meat and poultry plants with fewer than ten employees or less than $2.5 million in production must meet HACCP requirements by January 25, 2000. The new, performance-based HACCP system requires plants to analyze their production systems, identify hazards, and establish points where risks can be reduced or eliminated. Raw products must meet strict limits for the prevalence of Salmonella. Large plants came under HACCP in January 1998--small plants implemented the system in January 1999. ~~FSIS Updates Sanitation Rules~~FSIS has issued a final rule updating and streamlining sanitation requirements for meat and poultry industries. According to the agency, a review was conducted to identify regulations that were outdated or inconsistent with HACCP and Sanitation Operating Procedure (SOP) regulations. The new rule is designed to eliminate redundant, difficult to understand regulations, while giving plants flexibility to improve food safety systems. Under the new rule, for example, plants will no longer need a preapproval process for cleaning compounds. Instead, they only need to show documentation on the effectiveness of the compound. ~~FDA Issues Guidance on Sprout Safety~~The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week issued two guidance documents to enhance the safety of sprouts. According to the FDA, sprouts have been implicated in at least 1,300 cases of foodborne illness. The guidance advises sprout producers and seed suppliers of steps they need to take to reduce microbial hazards common to sprouts. The second document provides information about testing spent irrigation water. The guidelines are being implementing immediately. ~~New Health Claim Approved for Soy Protein~~The FDA has authorized the use of health claims about the role of soy protein in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease on labeling of foods containing soy protein. The new health claim is based on FDA evidence that including soy protein in a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may also help reduce the risk of heart disease. Use of the claim in food labeling is authorized immediately. (Contact: Charlie Ingram) INTERNATIONAL TRADE NEWS ~~EU Examines Permanent BST Ban~~The European Union (EU) took a highly controversial step this week by proposing to make permanent a temporary ban on the genetically modified hormone Bovine Somatotrophine or BST. BST is used legally in the U.S. as a way to enhance milk production among dairy cows in this country. The EU has no scientific proof that BST hormone causes a human health risk it based the decision on animal health and welfare considerations. The Council of Agriculture Ministers must approve the commission's proposed permanent ban on BST. The decision by the EU will not have an affect on American exports at this time, but raises concern for the World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial. The EU is proposing that animal welfare issues be part of the comprehensive round which would have a sizable and costly impact to U.S. producers if accepted by the WTO. ~~Talks Continue on China Accession to WTO~~The EU and China met in Geneva, Switzerland, to continue talks on China's bid to become part of the WTO. The discussions were part of a move to renew talks that had ended earlier this year when the US accidentally bombed the Chinese embassy in Belgrade. It is highly unlikely that China will join the WTO prior to the beginning of the ministerial on November 30. China must also negotiate with Canada and the US before becoming a member of the WTO. Special Trade Negotiator Peter Scher stated during a White House briefing on October 28 that U.S./China WTO negotiations have not moved forward; but, that it is a priority of the president. ~~U.S. Stops WTO Panel on Lamb Dispute The U.S. blocked an attempt by Australia and New Zealand to establish a WTO dispute panel this week. If created, the panel would have ruled on U.S. tariff rate quotas applied to lamb imorts from the two countries. Countries facing a dispute panel have the right to refuse the establishment of a dispute panel. However, if a subsequent demand is made, which is expected, then it will automatically be accepted. On July 7, President Clinton imposed tariff rate quotas and higher duties on lamb for a three-year period because of a surge in imports from the two countries. ~~Canadian Wheat Board Responds to U.S. Criticism~~The Canadian Wheat Board vehemently denied continued U.S. allegations of it subsidizing Canadian wheat exports to the U.S. this week. Canada also denied dumping grain into the U.S. while American grain is prevented from entering into Canada. Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lyle Vanclief patently denied the claims. Vanclief pointed to Canadian wheat exports over the past four years to dispel claims that Canadian wheat was flooding the U.S. market. Over that time period, Vanclief claims that exports to the U.S. averaged 10 percent of Canada's total foreign wheat sales. Vanclief also noted that the Canadian Wheat Board had been investigated no less than eight times in the United States over the past ten years. The president of the Canadian Wheat Board, Greg Arason, stated that he believes state trading enterprises (STEs) will continue to be acknowledged and accepted by the WTO in the next round. At a hearing of the House Agriculture Committee last week, U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky said that the U.S. would seek to strengthen disciplines of STEs at the ministerial. USDA NEWS ~~Moratorium Extended on Hog Facility Loans~~USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Keith Kelly this week announced that the agency will continue a moratorium on loans for building new or expanding existing hog-growing facilities. The ban was implemented last January to address low prices and overproduction in the pork industry. FSA will continue to guarantee loans for routine production and other expenses for hog producers. ~~USDA Amends Egg Refrigeration Rules~~USDA is revising the voluntary shell egg grading program by amending the refrigeration and labeling requirements for eggs identified with an official USDA consumer grademark. The action will allow Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) graders to ensure that carton of eggs with the shield-shaped grademark have been continuously stored under refrigeration no greater that 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Currently, AMS regulators require officially graded eggs to be refrigerated at temperatures no greater than 60 degrees F. ~~$13 Million for Schools & Health Clinics~~The 50th Anniversary of USDA's rural telecommunications program was recognized this week with more than $13 million in grants for distance learning and telemedicine projects in rural areas of 34 states and Puerto Rico. The distance learning grants will provide students in rural schools the opportunity to take college preparatory classes taught by an instructor located miles away. The telemedicine grants will provide health technology to remote areas, allowing patients in rural clinics to be examined by medical specialists in distant locations and providing faster and more accurate results. ~~Contract Commodity Payment Rates~~Production Flexibility Contract (PFC) final payment rates for contract payments of $5.1 billion are now available from the Farm Service Agency. The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act FY2000, signed into law last week by President Clinton, provides farmers greater flexibility in the timing of receiving their PFC payments. Those who do not choose a payment option will receive their full payment near the end of FY2000 which began October 1, 1999, and ends September 30, 2000. Producers should contact the Farm Service Agency at their local USDA Service Center to receive information regarding selecting payment options. ~~Reduction in Cotton Crop Insurance Rates~~USDA announced a new rating system that will lower crop insurance rates by up to 50 percent for some farmers. The recently introduced program in the insurance industry brings rates more in line with risk. Rates will fall most dramatically in certain counties in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, southwestern New Mexico, and Tennessee. In the other states, premium charges will range from 10 percent less to 5 percent more. USDA's Risk Management Agency (RMA) will release new premium rate tables to insurance providers by November. Rates will then be available from crop insurance agents or from the RMA website. A listing of agents may be found at local Farm Service Agency offices or http://www.rma.usda.gov/tools/agents. ~~National Scholars Program Accepting Applications~~USDA is now accepting applications for the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program for the school year beginning in September 2000. The program is aimed at undergraduate students studying agriculture or related subjects at the seventeen historic black land grant universities, with the goal of placing successful graduates into career positions at USDA. USDA provides students in the program with full tuition, fees, books, use of a personal computer, software, employment, and employee benefits for each of the four years they are pursuing a bachelor's degree. The institutions provide the scholarship recipients with room and board for each year. Students must agree to work one year at USDA for each year of the scholarship. Applications for the 2000 school year must be received by January 15, 2000. For more information about the program, please contact Linda W. Oliphant, USDA (301) 504-2223. (Contact: Patrick Atagi or Charlie Ingram) STATE NEWS
HORSES CONFIRMED TO HAVE WEST NILE-LIKE VIRUS |