|
A publication of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture RILEY ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT PLANS CONGRESS COMPLETES WORK AND ADJOURNS CONGRESS PASSES DROUGHT PLANNING BILL SENATE CONFIRMS MARK KEENUM AS USDA UNDER SECRETARY SENATE CONFIRMS FDA COMMISSIONER FARMERS MARKETS INCREASE IN NUMBERS State News--IBACH ANNOUNCES NEIL MOSEMAN AS NEW NDA ASSISTANT DIRECTOR State News--LANE TO HEAD CONSERVATION SERVICES DIVISION State News--NJDA LAUDED FOR BEST STATE WEBSITE _________________________________________________________Past Issues What's New on the NASDA Website
|
RILEY ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT PLANS Maryland Agriculture Secretary Lewis R. Riley last week announced his plans to retire in January after nearly 35 years of public service in either elected or appointed office. "It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve agriculture, the citizens of Maryland, and three Governors during my time in elected and appointed office," said Riley. "I came out of retirement to serve under Governor Ehrlich and I thank him for that opportunity. With so much accomplished for the benefit of agriculture in the past four years, I am eager to retire--once and for all--so that I can enjoy more time with my family and get back to working the land. For the next six weeks, however, I'll be working with the staff at the Maryland Department of Agriculture to help make the change in administration as seamless as possible for the farm community, for MDA, and for Governor-elect O'Malley and his team." "I am honored to have served the citizens of Maryland with Secretary Lew Riley," said Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. "Secretary Riley must be commended for his lifetime of service to the state and our agricultural community as he leaves a legacy of stewardship for generations to come." Among the accomplishments that Riley noted are the revisions to and subsequent increased participation in the nutrient management program to make it more farmer friendly while still protecting the environment; improving the relationship between the agricultural and environmental communities; promoting staff to leadership positions based on professional merit; and conducting the Governor's Agricultural Forum which lays out a long-term plan for Maryland agriculture. "The priorities and plan laid out in the Forum final report will guide Maryland leadership on agricultural issues for years," said Riley. "The over riding priority areas of maintaining an adequate base of productive farmland, expanding access to markets and profitability, and increasing education/advocacy came directly from the farm community and other stakeholders who participated in the year-long Forum process." Lewis Riley was appointed secretary of agriculture in January 2003 by Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. He was previously appointed secretary of agriculture in 1994 by Governor William Donald Schaefer and was reappointed by Governor Parris N. Glendening. He served as secretary until his retirement in December 1997. Prior to his appointment as Secretary, he served 25 years as an elected official (12 years on the Wicomico County Council, eight years in the House of Delegates, and five years in the State Senate) and established a reputation as a knowledgeable spokesman for the agriculture industry. He serves on the University of Maryland Board of Regents, the Governor's Chesapeake Bay Cabinet, the Peninsula Regional Medical Center's Building Fund Board, and the Maryland Foo d Center Authority. He is a member of the Wicomico County Farm Bureau. Riley is a fifth generation farmer, poultryman, and businessman. When time allows, he still helps out on Beaver Run Farms, Inc.--the family farm (a state designated Century Farm) managed by his son, Quint. They farm 1,150 acres of grain and raise swine, cattle and poultry in Wicomico County. He and his wife of 50 years, Virginia "Ginny," are the parents of three children; five grandchildren, one great grandson (with another great-grandchild on the way). (Contact: Rick Kirchhoff) CONGRESS COMPLETES WORK AND ADJOURNS The House and Senate finished all legislative business late December 9 and adjourned for the year after passing a major tax extension and trade package. The new 110th Congress will convene on January 3, 2007. In the final hours of the session, lawmakers approved a continuing budget resolution to fund government agencies and programs until February 15, 2007. Congress has approved only two of the twelve annual appropriations bills for the 2007 fiscal year which began October 1. The remaining spending bills, including the FY07 agriculture appropriations bill, will be considered when Congress returns in January. (Contact: Charlie Ingram) CONGRESS PASSES DROUGHT PLANNING BILL The Senate late December 6 passed legislation to create a national drought policy that improves drought preparedness, mitigation, and response efforts. The legislation (H.R. 5136 and S. 2751) now goes to President Bush for his signature. Sens. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) and Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) introduced the bill last spring. The legislation will establish the National Integrated Drought Information System within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to improve national drought preparedness, information collection, and analysis. The measure authorizes $81 million to carry out the program through FY12, staring with $11.0 million in FY07. (Contact: Charlie Ingram) SENATE CONFIRMS MARK KEENUM AS USDA UNDER SECRETARY Before adjourning, the U.S. Senate confirmed Mark Keenum as under secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services. This mission area oversees the Farm Service Agency, the Foreign Agricultural Service, and the Risk Management Agency. "Mark's broad experience in agriculture, both in the field and in Washington, D.C., will be of great benefit to USDA and the people we serve," said Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns in a statement. "Mark has built a reputation as an honest, hard-working and insightful person. Those qualities will serve him well in his new role overseeing both our domestic farm support programs and our global efforts relating to agricultural trade. Mark's roots at USDA run as deeply as his roots in agriculture. He followed in his grandfather and father's footsteps as a USDA employee in Mississippi before he moved to our nation's Capitol, Johanns said. Keenum received his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Mississippi State University in 1988 and joined the faculty as an assistant professor/economist. In 1989, Keenum joined the staff of Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) as a legislative assistant for agriculture and natural resources. In this role, he worked on numerous issues important to Mississippi agriculture, including several farm bills. Keenum was named Cochran's chief-of-staff in 1996. (Contact: Jennifer Yezak) SENATE CONFIRMS FDA COMMISSIONER The Senate late December 7 voted to confirm Andrew von Eschenbach as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Eschenbach has been serving as acting commissioner since September 2005. He previously headed the National Cancer Institute and is the first medical doctor to hold the top FDA position. The nomination had been stalled over the past year because several lawmakers placed "holds" on the vote to express opposition to certain FDA health and drug policies. (Contact: Charlie Ingram) FARMERS MARKETS INCREASE IN NUMBERS USDA announced last week that the number of farmers markets increased more than 7 percent between 2005 and 2006, preliminary results of a survey indicate. The new numbers are based on an update of the National Farmers Market Directory by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), and the preliminary results of the 2006 USDA National Farmers Market Survey, conducted by AMS in partnership with Michigan State University. "These statistics show farmers markets continue to be an increasing source of income for our nation's farmers," said AMS Administrator Lloyd Day. "Their popularity with consumers is growing, and buyers enjoy fresh, locally grown products." The updated directory lists 4,385 farmers markets currently operating in the United States, representing a 7 percent increase from 4,093 farmers markets in 2005. As a result of the strong growth in the number of farmers markets, total sales volumes are estimated at about $1 billion for 2005, significantly larger than the estimated sales volume of $888 million in 2000. Average sales at individual farmers markets in 2005 totaled about $245,000; average annual sales per vendor totaled $7,108. Marketing opportunities at farmers markets were sufficiently favorable in 2005 that, on average, 25 percent of vendors from surveyed farmers markets relied on these markets as their sole source of farm-based income. With the help of such USDA programs as the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Farmers Market Nutrition Program and the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, farmers markets also provide low-income people with increased access to fresh foods. Fifty-nine percent of surveyed managers indicate their market accepted WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers, amounting to $17,696 in annual revenue per market site in 2005. Forty-four percent of surveyed managers report their market accepted Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers, amounting to $15,654 in annual revenue per market site in 2005. The revised version of the National Farmers Market Directory can be accessed online at http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/map.htm. AMS is also developing a final research report based on the 2006 USDA National Farmers Market Survey expected to be available in spring 2007. (Contact: Jennifer Yezak) STATE NEWS IBACH ANNOUNCES NEIL MOSEMAN AS NEW NDA ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Nebraska Agriculture (NDA) Director Greg Ibach has announced the appointment of Neil Moseman as the new NDA assistant director. "I am pleased for the agricultural community that we had an opportunity to hire a man of Neil's experience to serve as assistant director," Governor Dave Heineman said. "Greg has given our Department of Agriculture the perspective of an active producer and an experienced leader, and Neil adds ag experience and Washington ties. Together, they will be a great team, working hard on behalf of Nebraska farmers and ranchers." Moseman most recently served as a partner with Moseman and Associates, a private consulting firm dealing with federal appropriations, legislative, and regulatory initiatives. "I am excited for Neil to join our dedicated staff at the Nebraska Department of Agriculture," Ibach said. "His Capitol Hill experience on agriculture policy, energy and international trade issues will serve as a catalyst for Nebraska farmers and ranchers." Prior to his work with Moseman and Associates, Moseman worked for Science Applications International Corporation, and served as the vice president at the United States Beet Sugar Association in Washington, D.C. Moseman has an extensive background on Capitol Hill dealing with agriculture, including serving as agriculture director for U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel and in various positions for the Committee on Agriculture for the U.S. House of Representatives. Moseman was raised on his family's Burt County farm, where they raised corn, soybeans, alfalfa, hogs, and cattle. He earned a bachelor's of science degree in agriculture economics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1983. Moseman is a fifth generation Nebraskan. He is also a United States Navy veteran. He and his wife, Maureen, have a son, Jack, and currently reside in Omaha. Moseman said, "I look forward to serving Nebraska's farmers and ranchers. Agriculture is the backbone of Nebraska's economy, and I am committed to helping it prosper in all 93 counties." (Contact: Christin Kamm, 402/471-6856) LANE TO HEAD CONSERVATION SERVICES DIVISION Eric Lane has been named director of the Conservation Services Division at the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA). Lane, of Denver, Colo., has been with CDA since 1996. "I have spent the past decade serving Colorado's agricultural and conservation communities," said Lane. "I am excited to have the opportunity to broaden my professional experience in natural resource management and conservation issues that face Colorado agriculture today." During his tenure at CDA, Lane has served as the director of the State Palisade Insectary and as state weed coordinator. As weed coordinator, Lane was instrumental in developing a statewide strategic plan to provide coordination of weed management activities for all public and private landowners with the involvement of federal, state, and local governments, public interest groups and industry associations. To implement the strategic plan, Lane led a diverse coalition of stakeholders to revise the Colorado Noxious Weed Act in 2003. Before joining CDA, Lane received his master's degree in Natural Resource Policy at University of Michigan. He also served as chairman of the Western Society of Weed Science Legislative Committee, chairman of the Western Weed Coordinating Committee, and was a team leader for the Center of Excellence Network Sustainable Forestry Program. "I am proud to announce Eric as the new Conservation Services Division director," said Commissioner of Agriculture Don Ament. "His dedication to Colorado agriculture and our natural resources is imperative to the future of agriculture in this state." The Conservation Services Division administers programs designed to protect Colorado's natural resources and the environment. The division has four programs: the Agricultural Chemicals and Groundwater Protection Program, the Colorado State Conservation Board that serves the state's 77 local conservation districts, the Noxious Weed Management Program, and the Biological Pest Control Program. (Contact: Christi Lightcap, 303/239-4190) NJDA LAUDED FOR BEST STATE WEBSITE The New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) recently was honored with the Best Official State Web Site of the Year Award by the Documents Association of New Jersey (DANJ). The group selected the department's website, http://www.nj.gov/agriculture, for the award, which recognizes the department website that documents librarians feel is especially useful or informative. The NJDA web site received several nominations among librarians, who deemed it "excellent." The newly redesigned NJDA website debuted earlier this year, with a goal of being user friendly and easy to navigate, as well as providing useful information for consumers, students, and those in the agricultural industry. The New Jersey Office of Information Technology produced the website for the Department. "We are proud of our web site and happy to know that people find it a useful tool," said New Jersey Agriculture Secretary Charles M. Kuperus. "We thank the documents librarians for this recognition and plan to keep improving the site to meet the needs of our constituency and all state residents." The Best Official State Web Site of the Year Award was first issued in 2000. Past winners include the Office of Legislative Services and New Jersey Judiciary. Award winners are judged on nine different criteria, including: * The site contributes to the expansion of knowledge, gives evidence of innovation in presentation, or demonstrates a creative approach in it treatment. * The site is easy to navigate. * The information available is written in a lucid style comprehensible to nonspecialists. * The site is generally pleasant to access due to physical appearance, layout, organization, use of color, and ease of use. Lynne Richmond, the department's webmaster and a public information officer, accepted the award at the DANJ annual conference at the Friend Center in Princeton on Friday, November 3. DANJ promotes the use of and access to government publications in libraries in the New Jersey area. For more information, visit their website at http://www.danj.org. (Contact: Lynne Richmond, 609/292-8896) |