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A publication of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture NASDA CONTINUES PUSH FOR INTERSTATE MEAT SALES LEGISLATION LAWMAKERS URGE USDA TO FINISH FARM PAYMENT DATABASE ERS HIGHLIGHTS REPORTS ON CANADA AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS MARKETS PESTICIDE WATER RULE EXPECTED NEXT MONTH USDA AND EPA SIGN WATER QUALITY AGREEMENT ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH BRIEFS State News--OHIO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE DIRECTOR APPOINTS TOP ADMINISTRATOR State News--IOWA UNVEILS FORMULA THAT RENDERS ANHYDROUS AMMONIA USELESS IN THE PRODUCTION OF METH State News--SOYBEAN RUST PUBLICATION AVAILABLE ONLINE _________________________________________________________Past Issues What's New on the NASDA Website
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NASDA CONTINUES PUSH FOR INTERSTATE MEAT SALES LEGISLATION NASDA is continuing efforts during the October congressional recess to support passage of legislation (S. 3519 and H.R. 6130) that would allow interstate sales of state-inspected meat and poultry products. NASDA has launched a state/local grassroots campaign to support the bipartisan legislation and is leading a coalition of agriculture and farm groups to advance the bills. There are now 14 cosponsors for S. 3519 in the Senate and 19 cosponsors for H.R. 6130 in the House. The key objectives of the bills are to: (1) ensure that all meat and poultry products are inspected under a seamless national inspection system; and (2) eliminate the prohibition on interstate shipment of state-inspected meat and poultry products. NASDA is encouraging its members to contact their congressional lawmakers and ask them to cosponsor and support the bills. NASDA is also distributing an Op-ed article to national/state/local news media. The Op-ed article emphasizes that interstate meat sales legislation would ensure fairness in trade. Foreign-produced meat and poultry products can be freely shipped and sold anywhere in the U.S. as long as that foreign country's inspection program is equivalent to U.S. federal standards--the same standard which state meat inspection programs must meet. H.R. 6130 and S. 3519 would provide U.S. small businesses the same marketing opportunities given to companies in foreign countries. (Contact: Charlie Ingram) LAWMAKERS URGE USDA TO FINISH FARM PAYMENT DATABASE Sens. Bryon Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) last week pressed USDA to complete a database it is developing that would track payments to cooperatives and "corporate mega-farmers." The senators said the database would allow policy makers to better target farm programs to help support family farmers. The 2002 farm bill included a requirement for USDA to develop a database to track recipients of farm payments. In June, USDA released a preliminary file, which listed all entities that receive farm payments, and was expected to finish work on the database by August. Dorgan and Grassley said the information is needed for Congress to make good decisions during upcoming debate on the 2007 farm bill. (Contact: Charlie Ingram) ERS HIGHLIGHTS REPORTS ON CANADA AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS MARKETS USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) highlighted two recent reports on Canada and animal products markets in DatelinERS. This is a monthly two-page newsletter announcing released ERS publications, data products, and other web resources. Canada: A Macroeconomic Study of the United States' Most Important Trade Partner reviews the impact Canada has on total trade and agricultural trade. Canada is a large exporter to the U.S. of critical raw materials--including natural gas, petroleum, and wood products--and a substantial importer of finished industrial and consumer goods. Canada's agricultural trade continues to grow in importance reflecting trade liberalization and greater integration of agricultural markets. The trade outlook is enhanced by Canada's prospects for long-term economic growth of about 3 percent per year, which is underpinned by expected moderate growth in working-age population and labor productivity. The 36-page report can be located at http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/WRS0602/wrs0602.pdf. According to the report on animal products markets, uncertainty continues to shape the forecasts for these markets in 2006. Potential and actual animal disease outbreaks, consumer sensitivities, volatile exchange rates, and growing competition from producers in other countries cloud U.S. trade prospects for major meats. Loss of U.S. trade market share, partly caused by disease outbreaks and related trade restrictions that have affected animal product exports since 2003, compounds the problem. The outlook for U.S. meat, poultry, and dairy markets in 2006 depends on how well domestic production adjusts to changes in input costs, the effect of exchange rates on trade, the continuing effects of disease and trade restrictions on exports, and the increasing competitiveness of emerging animal products exporters. The 15-page report is posted at http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/LDP/2006/08Aug/LDPM14601/ldpm14601.pdf. (Contact: Jennifer Yezak) PESTICIDE WATER RULE EXPECTED NEXT MONTH The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to issue a final rule in November that will clarify that Clean Water Act (CWA) permits are not required for certain pesticide applications in waterbodies. The agency has already issued guidance on the issue and proposed the rule last February. NASDA and a coalition of agriculture groups have supported EPA's position and pushed for the rulemaking. However, NASDA and the coalition believe that legislation is needed to make statutory changes to the law because environmental groups continue to challenge the agency's position. Legislation was introduced in the House and Senate (H.R. 1749 and S. 1269) earlier this year. NASDA and the agriculture coalition are continuing efforts to support passage of the bills. (Contact: Charlie Ingram) USDA AND EPA SIGN WATER QUALITY AGREEMENT USDA Natural Resources and Environment Under Secretary Mark Rey signed a partnership agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on October 13 to establish and promote water quality credit trading markets through cooperative conservation. The agreement offers a flexible, cost-effective approach to producers for implementing conservation practices that reduce runoff. Water quality credit trading uses a market-based approach that offers incentives to farmers and ranchers who implement conservation practices that improve water quality. While reducing pollution, they can earn credits they can trade with industrial or municipal facilities that are required by the Clean Water Act and other laws to reduce the amounts of pollution in wastewater. More information on the market-based approach and the National Resources Conservation Service strategic plan is available at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/strategicplan/. Information about the Water Quality Trading Agreement and water quality trading can be found at http://www.epa.gov/waterqualitytrading. (Contact: Charlie Ingram) ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH BRIEFS ~~Rome AI Crisis Management Center~~Dr. Jacques Diouf, director-general of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), has inaugurated a new FAO Crisis Management Centre (CMC) to fight avian influenza outbreaks and other major animal health or food health-related emergencies. Supported by advanced communications technology, the Centre operates around the clock, seven days a week with a staff of up to 15 specialists and veterinarians. Disease information is monitored and updated from around the globe continuously. When a suspected outbreak is reported, CMC can dispatch its experts to any hot-spot in the world in under 48 hours. ~~Importation of Table Grapes from Namibia~~On October 23, 2006, a final rule will become effective allowing the importation into the United States of fresh table grapes from Namibia under certain conditions. As a condition of entry, the grapes must undergo cold treatment and fumigation with methyl bromide and must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating that the commodity has been inspected and found free of the specified pests. In addition, the grapes will also be subject to inspection at the port of first arrival. The final rule was published in the Federal Register on September 21, 2006. (Contact: Bob Ehart) STATE NEWS OHIO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE DIRECTOR APPOINTS TOP ADMINISTRATOR Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Fred L. Dailey has appointed Paul Panico as deputy director over food safety and animal health programs. He assumed his new duties on Oct. 2, and will serve as one of the department's two deputy directors, overseeing the divisions of animal industry, food safety, meat inspection, dairy, and the Consumer Analytical Laboratory. "Paul is a valuable addition to my management team," said Dailey. "He has a long tenure in state government where he has demonstrated leadership and foresight in promoting and improving food safety in Ohio. Paul's expertise will help the department to better protect Ohio's food and agriculture industry which is critical in maintaining consumer confidence in our food supply." Panico has more than 30 years of experience in state food safety programming, 21 of which were at the Ohio Department of Health. In 1997, he was hired as assistant chief of the Ohio Department of Agriculture's Food Safety Division. He was promoted to chief of the division in 1999, where he has since managed and directed the statewide wholesale, processing, and retail food safety programs. During his tenure at the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Panico has reorganized the division to run more efficiently; helped improve licensing and inspection of retail food establishments; helped develop new retail food establishment rules; updated all state food processing rules; and initiated new programs for shellfish sanitation, farm and farmers' market inspections, and voluntary standards for maple syrup, honey and sorghum producers who collect at least 75 percent of their product themselves. He has been instrumental in developing bioterrorism preparedness materials for the food processing and retail food industries and has served as a key player in table top and functional exercises pertaining to food safety, foot and mouth disease, and pandemic avian influenza. Panico holds a bachelor of science degree in biology from Providence College and a masters degree in Public Health from the University of Michigan. He lives in Pataskala with his wife, Ginger. (Contact: LeeAnne Mizer, 614/752-9817) IOWA UNVEILS FORMULA THAT RENDERS ANHYDROUS AMMONIA USELESS IN THE PRODUCTION OF METH A new chemical to combat the illegal production of methamphetamine nationwide was unveiled today by Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, Iowa Agriculture Secretary Patty Judge, U.S. Senator Tom Harkin, and Congressman Leonard Boswell, along with representatives of the Agribusiness Association of Iowa, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and a host of other officials at a news conference outside the Capitol in Des Moines. The announcement was made in front of an Anhydrous Ammonia fertilizer nurse tank bearing a STOP METH sign. "Iowa continues to be a leader in pioneering meth-fighting strategies that benefit the nation," said Vilsack in announcing Iowa State University researchers have found that Calcium Nitrate works as an effective meth inhibitor when added in prescribed amounts to Anhydrous Ammonia. The Iowa State research, confirmed by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's forensics lab, found that meth cooks who use untreated Anhydrous Ammonia typically get a 42 percent yield of pseudoephedrine for conversion to meth. However, that yield drops to 2 percent or less when the Calcium Nitrate inhibitor is added. "This is an important discovery and one that will help in our continuing fight against methamphetamine production, not only in Iowa, but the nation," said Ag Secretary Patty Judge. "Putting calcium nitrate into the anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks will render them useless in making meth. This compound will be a meth cook's worst nightmare, but for the rest of us, it is a safe product, and has no negative impact on our environment, or farm equipment." Anhydrous Ammonia is used in one of two primary meth production methods, and is the method of choice in agricultural states where Anhydrous Ammonia is commonly used as a fertilizer. Researchers say the chemical reaction between Anhydrous Ammonia and Calcium Nitrate also means more is less, because meth cooks who try using more of the treated Anhydrous Ammonia to defeat the inhibitor will actually produce even less meth. "As co-chair of the House Meth Caucus, I see this discovery as having a great potential for reducing meth production not only in Iowa, but across our nation," according to Boswell. Use of the new meth inhibitor will be on a voluntary basis in Iowa. Ag retailers who participate will receive the formula for injecting Calcium Nitrate into Anhydrous Ammonia, as well as the Agribusiness Association of Iowa's STOP METH signage for placement on their nurse tanks. "Together with rigorous enforcement efforts, Anhydrous Ammonia tank locks and strong regulatory controls on the key meth ingredient-pseudoephedrine--the Calcium Nitrate meth inhibitor is one more powerful tool to help cut illegal meth production," added Harkin. "The message for would-be meth cooks where the meth inhibitor is used is 'Don't Bother'." (Contact: Machelle Shaffer, 515/281-7808) SOYBEAN RUST PUBLICATION AVAILABLE ONLINE A new publication titled, Soybean Rust Management in the Mid-Atlantic Region, is now available on the web at http://www.scda.state.sc.us. This bulletin is the result of teamwork between Clemson Extension, University of Georgia Extension, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Virginia Cooperative Extension, S.C. Soybean Board, and S.C. Department of Agriculture. The goal of this collaborative effort is to provide soybean farmers with the most current, accurate, and concise information based on factual observations and research conducted here in the Southeast. Research has shown that the fungicides and spray equipment currently available, when used properly, can minimize losses in farmers' fields and their budgets. Proper timing and preparation are crucial in successfully managing rust. "We hope to arm growers with that knowledge and equip them with the tools to make economically feasible, educated, and calculated decisions to protect their soybean crop," according to Aaron Wood, Executive Director of the South Carolina Soybean Board. This publication is available through the diligent work of the above land-grant universities and by the soybean checkoff. Cooperative Extension Service professionals and the soybean checkoff work together to make your checkoff payoff! For more information about the Soybean Rust Management in the Mid-Atlantic Region publication or about the state's soybean industry, contact Aaron Wood, 803/734-1767. (Contact: Becky Walton, 803-734-2182) |