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A publication of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture SENATORS REQUEST SPECIALTY CROPS FUNDING IN PRESIDENT'S FY06 BUDGET LEAVITT NOMINATED FOR SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES EPA EXTENDS USE OF METHYL BROMIDE NEW REPORT FINDS GAPS IN BIOTERRORISM PREPAREDNESS USDA FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO MEET State News--KNEPLEY APPOINTED TO KEY ANIMAL HEALTH POST State News--ODA NAMES NEW ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR MARKETING _________________________________________________________Past Issues What's New on the NASDA Website
Committee Minutes, etc., from NASDA 2004 NASDA Comments on BSE proposed regulation NASDA's Specialty Crop website with final report The Agricultural Jobs, Opportunity, Benefits, and Security (AgJOBS) Act of 2003
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SENATORS REQUEST SPECIALTY CROPS FUNDING IN PRESIDENT'S FY06 BUDGET This week Senators Larry Craig (R-Idaho) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) sent President Bush a letter requesting his support to fund the "Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act" (H.R. 3242) which is awaiting his signature. The letter stated that this bipartisan legislation was carefully drafted to increase U.S. specialty crops' competitiveness both domestically and in international markets. The senators pointed out in the letter they believe in strict fiscal responsibility and are very aware of the demands on limited resources. "However, due to the importance of this legislation to growers across the nation, we request your support in funding this legislation in the FY06 federal budget," the letter said. As approved by Congress, H.R. 3242 authorizes funding for specialty crops to help solve the growing U.S. specialty crop trade deficit. The legislation includes authorizations for block grants to state departments of agriculture, expanded research into environmentally sound crop protection alternatives, and measures to combat pest and disease infestations that can cause millions of dollars of damage to crops. The letter also states that specialty crop growers continue to face serious tariff and non-tariff trade barriers in many international markets, and thus, specialty crop exports have remained stagnant while imports have steadily increased over the past decade. (Contact: Jennifer Yezak) LEAVITT NOMINATED FOR SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES President Bush this week nominated Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Leavitt to serve as secretary of the health and human services. If confirmed by the Senate, Leavitt will replace departing Secretary of the Health and Human Services Tommy G. Thompson, who recently announced his resignation. Leavitt has served as EPA administrator since November 2003. Prior to leading the EPA, he served three terms as governor of Utah. President Bush described Leavitt as a leader in welfare reform, resource management, and environmental stewardship. Several health care organizations praised the nomination and reaction from Capitol Hill was generally positive. (Contact: Charlie Ingram) EPA EXTENDS USE OF METHYL BROMIDE The Environmental Protection Agency this week announced new rules to allow the continued use of the fumigant methyl bromide. Methyl bromide is an important agriculture fumigant and was scheduled to be phased out next year. Last month, international negotiators to the Montreal Protocol, which governs the phase-out of chemicals that deplete the ozone layers, authorized a critical use exemption to the phaseout of methyl bromide for important agricultural uses. The agreement granted the United States approximately 90 percent of its critical-use exemption request for 2005, which amounted to approximately 35 percent of the U.S. baseline, or about 8,942 metric tons. (Contact: Charlie Ingram) NEW REPORT FINDS GAPS IN BIOTERRORISM PREPAREDNESS A new report by the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) says that progress has been made, but basic federal and state bioterrorism preparedness is lacking. The report examined ten key indicators to gauge state preparedness and determine the United States' overall readiness to respond to bioterrorist attacks and other health emergencies. Over two-thirds of the states achieved a score of six or less. Florida and North Carolina scored the highest, achieving nine out of the possible ten indicators, and Alaska and Massachusetts scored the lowest, at three out of ten. Overall, the report found that many basic bioterrorism detection, diagnosis, and response capabilities are still not in place. TFAH makes several recommendations to improve bioterrorism and public health preparedness: (1) conducting practice drills to assess capabilities and vulnerabilities and to help identify gaps; and (2) limiting liability to encourage vaccine development and protect health care workers. The report and state-specific information is available on TFAH's website at http://www.healthyamericans.org. (Contact: Charlie Ingram) USDA FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO MEET USDA announced this week that the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee will meet on Jan. 11 and 12, 2005, in Alexandria, Va. Committee members will also tour the National Training and Development Center of USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) in Fredericksburg, Va., on Jan. 11. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson and Michigan Agriculture Director Dan Wyant are members of the committee. The advisory committee plans to discuss the following: the status of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act branch reorganization, crop insurance, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, the school lunch procurement study, an overview of the Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation, and how USDA programs can encourage increased consumption of fruits and vegetables. Chartered by the agriculture secretary in August 2001, the committee is chaired by Karen Caplan, founder and chairman of the board of Frieda's Inc. in Los Alamitos, Calif. The advisory committee provides ideas on how USDA can tailor its programs to meet the needs of the fruit and vegetable industry. This meeting is open to the public. To submit comments or to register to speak, contact Andrew Hatch, market specialist for AMS' Fruit and Vegetable Programs by phone at andrew.hatch@usda.gov. More information about this committee is available at http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/Industry_Committee.htm. (Contact: Jennifer Yezak) STATE NEWS KNEPLEY APPOINTED TO KEY ANIMAL HEALTH POST Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff has announced the appointment of Dr. Paul Knepley as the director of the Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services. Knepley will also serve as the state veterinarian and executive director of the Animal Health and Diagnostic Commission. "Maintaining the health of animals is extremely important to production agriculture, human health and ensuring a safe food supply," said Wolff. "The department has long been recognized for its strengths in the field of animal health and I am pleased to appoint Dr. Knepley to this important position. His unique blend of private practice and public service will be an asset to the department and the Commonwealth. With Dr. Knepley's leadership, I am confident that the state department of agriculture will continue to stand strong in protecting the health of animals in the state." As the director of the Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services, Knepley will oversee programs designed to detect, prevent and control diseases in livestock, poultry, aquaculture species and other domestic animals. For 10 years, Knepley has worked in veterinary medicine with the department. Recently, he was honored as one of the department's outstanding employees for 2004 for his accomplishments in the Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services. Prior to joining the state, Knepley worked as a production and companion animal veterinarian in private practice. (Contact: Kristina Watson, 717/787-5085) ODA NAMES NEW ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR MARKETING Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) Director Katy Coba has named Dalton Hobbs as assistant director for the department's marketing and agricultural development functions. In his role, Hobbs will oversee the Agricultural Development and Marketing Division (ADMD), located at the Food Innovation Center in Portland. Hobbs is being promoted from the position of ADMD administrator, a position he has held since 1998. Among its many functions, ADMD assists Oregon agricultural companies in marketing their products domestically and internationally. "We are fortunate to have a person of Dalton's talent, expertise, and experience already on staff," says Coba. "Dalton's many years of service to Oregon's agriculture industry have demonstrated his skill in promoting our products and finding markets for our producers. He has a tremendous grasp of the issues facing the industry and has shown leadership in finding solutions to the many challenges at hand. I am pleased that he has agreed to become a part of ODA's executive management team." Hobbs began with the department in 1984 as ODA's director of communications. He joined the ADMD staff in 1989 as a marketing specialist and managed the department's seafood program designed to promote Oregon seafood products. Hobbs was named ODA Employee of the Year in 1997. Prior to joining ODA, Hobbs served as executive director of the Agri-Business Council of Oregon. Hobbs, a native Oregonian, is a graduate of University of Oregon, and has a bachelor's degree in journalism. (Contact: Bruce Pokarney, 503/986-4559) | |