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A publication of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture USDA SEEKS COMMENTS ON CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE REGULATIONS USDA DEVELOPING REGULATION FOR LIVESTOCK MANDATORY REPORTING JOHANNS ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF AGR-LITE PLAN OF CROP INSURANCE WHEAT GROWERS PRESIDENT TESTIFIES BEFORE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD State News--COST SHARE DOLLARS FOR 2007 INCREASED FOR MASTER BEEF PRODUCERS State News--FARM-RESTAURANT LINKAGES BUILDING STEADILY IN N.H. _________________________________________________________Past Issues What's New on the NASDA Website
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USDA SEEKS COMMENTS ON CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE REGULATIONS USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is seeking comments on three petitions requesting that APHIS reconsider provisions and delay a recent final rule establishing a herd certification program and interstate movement restrictions for cervids to control the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD). The CWD herd certification program and interstate movement of farmed or captive deer, elk and moose final rule, published on July 21, originally had an effective date of Oct. 19. However, in early August, APHIS received petitions from the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials, and the United States Animal Health Association asking for a delay and review. APHIS is taking this opportunity to solicit comments on the merits of these three petitions. While the public is invited to comment on any of the issues raised by the petitions, APHIS is particularly interested in receiving comments related to the following areas: (1) the alternatives of implementing a federal interstate movement standard versus allowing individual state standards to apply; (2) what additional safeguards do states need to mitigate or reduce the risk of disease transmission; and (3) what practical or operational problems may be expected from the final rule and from the alternatives suggested by the petitions. The notice requesting comments on the petition is published in the November 3rd Federal Register and comments are due by December 4, 2006. Send an original and three copies of comments to Docket APHIS-2006-0118, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, Md. 20737-1238. If you wish to submit a comment using the Internet go to the Federal eRulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov, select "Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service" from the agency drop-down menu; then click on "Submit." In the Docket ID column, select APHIS-2006-0118 to submit or view public comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically. (Contact: Bob Ehart) USDA DEVELOPING REGULATION FOR LIVESTOCK MANDATORY REPORTING USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced last week that it is currently developing a new regulation for Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR). This new regulation must be issued prior to the resumption of the program on a mandatory basis. The statutory authority of the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act of 1999 ended in September 2005. At that time, USDA's AMS requested each packer that was required to report under the act to voluntarily submit market information. Due to the high percentage of voluntary participation by the packers, USDA has continued to publish most reports, except for imported boxed lamb cuts and slaughter cow reports. In the news release, USDA thanked the packers that have continued to participate in LMR on a voluntary basis, and requested their continued cooperation until the regulatory authority for LMR is reestablished by publishing new regulations. For more information about the program, contact John E. Van Dyke, Chief, Livestock and Grain Market News Branch, AMS Livestock and Seed Program by e-mail at john.vandyke@usda.gov. (Contact: Jennifer Yezak) JOHANNS ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF AGR-LITE PLAN OF CROP INSURANCE Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced November 2 the expansion of the Adjusted Gross Revenue-Lite (AGR-Lite) plan of insurance into 10 additional states. With this expansion, AGR-Lite will now be available in 28 states for the 2007 insurance year. The ten states included in the expansion are: Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. AGR-Lite is a whole-farm revenue plan of insurance, developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, providing protection against low revenue due to unavoidable natural disasters and revenue fluctuations. Policies are limited in size to a maximum liability of $1 million annually. Most farm-raised crops, animals, and animal products are eligible for protection. The plan uses a producer's 5-year historical farm average revenue, as reported on IRS tax returns (Schedule F or equivalent forms) and the current year's farm plan, as a basis to provide a level of guaranteed revenue for the insurance period. The AGR-Lite plan can stand alone or be used in conjunction with most other federal crop insurance plans. It provides insurance coverage for multiple agricultural commodities under one insurance product and establishes revenue as a common denominator of insurance for all agricultural commodities on that farm. More detailed information about AGR-Lite is available on the USDA's Rick Management Agency's (RMA) website at http://www.rma.usda.gov. (Contact: Charlie Ingram) WHEAT GROWERS PRESIDENT TESTIFIES BEFORE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD Dale Schuler, president of the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) testified before the Surface Transportation Board (STB) last week about the high rates, unreliable service, and captive-shipper conditions w heat growers continue to face when using the nation's rails. "Since the passage of the Staggers Rail Act of 1980 . . . the degree of captivity in many wheat regions and industry areas has increased dramatically," Schuler said. "In addition to instances of both unreliable service and higher rates, we have had, more-or-less, continuing rail equipment shortages since the railroads started aggressively consolidating and merging in the early 1990s, especially during periods of peak demand." Schuler described the pricing situation in Montana, his home state, where rates between 250 to 450 percent of variable cost are among the highest rates in the nation. He also described the frustration of seeing Canadian wheat growers pay 25 percent less to ship their wheat. He asked the Board to follow a recommendation included in a recent Government Accountability Office report on this subject--perform an assessment of competitive markets. The STB held this hearing to gain input following the release of the GAO report requested by Senators Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) and Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), both long-term advocates for rail competition. The testimony is available at http://www.wheatworld.org/html/info.cfm?ID=10#testimony. (Contact: Jennifer Yezak) STATE NEWS EMPLOYEES DONATE 3,065 POUNDS OF FOOD TO CENTRAL VIRGINIA FOOD BANK IN NAME OF COMMISSIONER COURTER On October 30, 2006, employees of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) gathered to say good-bye to J. Carlton Courter, III, commissioner of the agency. In lieu of a parting gift, employees donated almost 900 pounds of food and generous cash gifts to the Central Virginia Food Bank (CVFB) in Commissioner Courter's name. The Board of Game and Inland Fisheries announced recently that J. Carlton Courter, III had been named director of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF). Courter began his new position on Nov. 1. Courter joined the agency after serving as commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture since 1994. As commissioner, he was the chief spokesperson for agriculture in Virginia. Prior to that, he worked for the Virginia Agribusiness Council for 13 years steadily rising through the ranks, ultimately serving as president of that organization from 1987 to 1994. He earned a bachelor's of science degree from Virginia Tech in 1979 having majored in Dairy Science and minored in Agriculture Economics. Over the course of his career he received numerous awards including the Award of Excellence from the Virginia Society of Association Executives; the Distinguished Service Award from the Virginia Agribusiness Council; and the Distinguished Service Citation from the Agriculture Alumni Organization at Virginia Tech. Throughout his career he has served in leadership roles in state and local associations. VDGIF Board Chairman John Montgomery said of the announcement, "We are pleased to have Carlton Courter on board. With his deep appreciation for Virginia's natural resources, and his extensive experience working with the General Assembly, national organizations, regulatory agencies, constituent groups and the public, Carlton Courter has a proven track record of leadership and will be an asset to the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries." Courter was raised in Amelia County, Virginia, on a farm that has been in his family since 1737. Currently, he and his wife, Scarlett, and their son reside in Midlothian. (Contact: Elaine Lidholm, 804.786.7686) COST SHARE DOLLARS FOR 2007 INCREASED FOR MASTER BEEF PRODUCERS Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens announced that beginning July 1, 2007, producers who have successfully completed the 12-week Master Beef Producer course will be eligible for increased cost share on cattle genetic and handling facilities improvements. "If the increased profits enjoyed by those who become Master Beef Producers isn't reason enough, we're about to give Tennessee cattlemen another reason," said Givens. "Next year, producers who complete the Master Beef course will be eligible for a larger slice of cost share under the Cattle Improvement Initiative." Tennessee cattle producers who become Master Beef Producer certified will be eligible for reimbursement of 50 percent, up to $1,000, for genetic improvements in their herds. Certified producers will also be eligible to receive a 50 percent reimbursement, up to $1,250, for improvements to their cattle handling facilities. In the current round of cost share disbursements, approved producers get a 35 percent cost share up to $700 on genetics and up to $850 on handling equipment. The Master Beef Producer Program is an educational program designed to help Tennessee cow-calf producers improve management skills and profitability and to ultimately help raise industry competitiveness with other states. The 12-session course, led by a team of University of Tennessee Extension specialists, covers business planning, marketing, genetics, feeding and forage, health management and cattle reproduction. Producers can learn more or sign up for the course through county UT Extension offices. The Cattle Improvement Initiative is one of the cost share programs made possible through the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program, an agricultural development initiative proposed by Governor Phil Bredesen and supported by the Tennessee General Assembly with an $11 million appropriation in the first two years. "The great thing about the whole Cattle Improvement Initiative," said Givens, "is that we accomplish so much for our cattlemen with every approved application. We don't just reimburse these serious producers, we also help individuals and the industry as a whole by first making sure these folks have the most current knowledge and certification they'll need to succeed in the future. "By setting these high standards for a successful application, we get the greatest possible value of the cost share dollars the state contributes to a farm." The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is now offering a $100 scholarship to cover the total cost to producers interested in participating in the course. In order to be eligible for the scholarship and cost share, producers must register their farms with the National Animal Identification System and have completed the Beef Quality Assurance course. The scholarship program is also made possible through the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program. "The most important thing producers need to realize at this point," says Givens, "is that these classes are only offered a few times a year. Producers need take the classes now so they can qualify for the greater cost share percentage next year. "Producers who do not take the course will still be eligible to receive the 35 percent cost share," said the commissioner, "but of course we'd like to see everyone get the most help possible." Additionally, equipment not previously accepted for cost share reimbursement, including hay rings and creep feeders, will be eligible items in next year's round of applications, according to Givens. As previously established, producers must be approved before making their purchases. Applications for the program will be available June 2007 at county Extension offices, county Farm Bureau offices, and local co-ops. For more information about farmer cost share opportunities through the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program, visit online at http://www.picktnproducts.org. (Contact: Tom Womack, 615/837-5118) FARM-RESTAURANT LINKAGES BUILDING STEADILY IN N.H. by Steve Taylor, Commissioner's Column for October 4, 2006 The landmark Blake's Creamery restaurant on Manchester's West Side last week was offering a "New Hampshire Growers' Breakfast'' menu that featured a choice of six different meal choices, all made with ingredients from farms and processors right here in our state. Blake's is a big supporter of the New Hampshire Farm to Restaurant initiative, which for the past two years has been building connections between producers and chefs to boost markets for high quality locally grown foods. The Blake's menu offered items like eggs to order, pancakes, waffles and omelets from makings from farms in Monroe, Milford, Tilton, Sanbornton and Concord, the Littleton Grist Mill and North Country Smokehouse in Claremont. Grower dinners have been a key initiative of the Farm to Restaurant program, with the number increasing each of the past three years. Venues have ranged from popular family restaurants to grand hotels. This year the program achieved a breakthrough in dealing with a chronic problem for growers trying to supply restaurants. A deal was negotiated with UPS for favorable rates on overnight delivery of farm products to New Hampshire restaurant kitchens. Next steps include publication of an expanded directory of growers seeking restaurant businss and a survey of chefs to identify new sales opportunities for local farms. In New Hampshire and across the country independently owned restaurants are finding that featured locally grown ingredients on their menus is one way to counter the onslaught of national chains like Applebee's, Chili's and Denny's. The corporations controlling two of New Hampshire's dominant supermarket brands are discussing a possible merger or a sale of one to the other. Royal Ahold, which controls Stop & Shop, and Delhaize Groupe, owner of Hannaford's, are both based in Europe and conduct business worldwide. Financial analysts have been forecasting for years that the global retail food industry will consolidate into just three or four dominant players, with one likely to be U.S.-based Wal-Mart, another one or two in Europe and one in Asia. It is always fascinating to attend the New England Green Pastures banquet and listen as the six state dairy farms of the year tell their stories. This year's crop reflected again the diversity and the industriousness of our regions outstanding producers. Our own Pleasant View Farm for Monroe with 80 milkers and a grass-based feeding program was similar to the Vermont winner in size, while both the Massachusetts and Rhode Island farms had smaller herds. The Maine farm runs 440 cows in Clinton, a town said to produce a third of all the milk in the state. The Connecticut winner has close to 1,000 milkers and operates on 2,000 acres, mostly rented and scattered as far off as 30 miles in adjacent parts of New York and Massachusetts. The Massachusetts winner markets a considerable portion of its milk as raw, while the Rhode Island farm has [its] own bottling plant serving nearby consumers. New Hampshire's newest dairy plant is up and operating. Walpole Creamery last Sunday greeted 400 grand opening customers eager to try its premium ice cream made from milk produced on the Tom and Sharleen Beaudry farm just up the road. Owner Dave Westover says the enterprise will sell by the scoop at the plant and to retail and wholesale accounts in the Connecticut Valley region. It was outfitted from scratch with pasteurizer, separator, batch freezers and related gear, and Westover has completed the farm ice cream maker's course at Penn State. |