|
A publication of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture NASDA HIGHLIGHTS FARM BILL RECOMMENDATIONS--INCREASE INVESTMENTS IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE SELECTS MEMBERS AND SUBCOMMITTEES LAWMAKERS INTRODUCE BILL TO BAN SLAUGHTER OF 'DOWNED' ANIMALS MIDWESTERN GOVERNORS ANNOUNCE 2007 FARM BILL RECOMMENDATIONS USDA ADVISORY COMMITTEE DISCUSSES CONCERNS ABOUT FOOD SAFETY, SPECIALTY CROPS AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS State News--REPORT PEGS TOTAL EMPLOYMENT IMPACT ABOVE 10,000 State News--BUREAU CHANGES NAME TO MORE CLEARLY REFLECT ITS SPECIFIC DUTIES _________________________________________________________Past Issues What's New on the NASDA Website
|
STEVE TAYLOR RETIRING
New Hampshire Agriculture Commissioner Steve Taylor has announced his plans to retire when his term ends in November. A native and longtime resident of Plainfield, Stephen H. Taylor has been a farmer, newspaperman, and public official for 25 years. He attended grade school in Plainfield, graduated from Hanover High School and the University of New Hampshire and served in the Army. He was employed as a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and has been a freelance writer for a variety of publications. He and his family in 1970 founded a dairy and maple farm, which they continue to operate in the Meriden Village area of Plainfield. Taylor was first appointed commissioner of agriculture by the late Gov. Hugh J. Gallen in 1982, and was reappointed to successive five-year terms in the office by Govs. John H. Sununu in 1987, Judd Gregg in 1992, and Jeanne Shaheen in 1997 and 2002. He has also served as a town selectman and, since 1980, as town and school district moderator. Taylor said retirement will give him more time to work on the Plainfield dairy and maple farm he runs with his wife, Gretchen, and sons. "They're looking forward to me coming home," he said. (Contact: Rick Kirchhoff) NASDA HIGHLIGHTS FARM BILL RECOMMENDATIONS--INCREASE INVESTMENTS IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT Although the majority of the nation's population now lives in urban or suburban areas, there are still millions of people living in small towns and cities whose local economies depend in some measure on nearby agricultural production. NASDA supports substantially increased investments in rural community economic development in ways that promotes economic growth, entrepreneurship and innovation, and improves rural life. Those investments should include efforts supporting biofuels and bio-industry development in rural areas. NASDA recognizes a significant amount of agriculture occurs, and a large number of rural communities exist, within commuting distances of metropolitan areas. Retaining agricultural and rural youth in next generation businesses, attracting new capital and new business, and maintaining a profitable agriculture must be a focus and priority of rural development and agricultural policy. In addition, the policy needs to be flexible enough to support regional economic development strategies. Keeping farms and ranches profitable and viable is an effective means of maintaining working lands in productive agriculture. A program that would greatly contribute to farm and ranch viability is the Farm and Ranch Profitability Grants program recommended by the American Farmland Trust. This program would provide funding for state, local, and farm level programs and projects that encourage innovative marketing strategies, new business ventures, market development, product development or differentiation, and consumer education related to any agricultural products produced in a state. The concept is based in part upon the Specialty Crops Block Grant Program, and it would fund a mix of programs and projects aimed at enhancing farm and ranch profitability through innovative marketing and business strategies, product promotion and consumer education, and on-farm improvements or diversification. Key recommended actions include: * Current federal programs and federally funded economic development and financing programs at the state level need new definitions and eligibility standards so that full use of the funding programs are not restricted in rural areas in proximity of metropolitan and micropolitan areas. Congress should extend eligibility of federal economic development programs to agricultural and rural community projects in metropolitan and micropolitan counties across the United States. * Congress should establish a Farm and Ranch Profitability Grants program that would be funded up to $1 billion annually and be administered by the state departments of agriculture. NASDA will present highlights each week in NASDA News in preparation for NASDA's Midyear Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., February 7 - 12, 2007, and as Congress gears up its work on the 2007 farm bill. NASDA's recommendations and a summary of highlights are posted on the NASDA website under "Hot Issues." (Contact: Jennifer Yezak) HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE SELECTS MEMBERS AND SUBCOMMITTEES The House Agriculture Committee recently announced its membership for the 110th Congress and selected new leaders for six revamped subcommittees. Committee Chairman Collin C. Peterson (D-Minn.) also announced that he has appointed Rep. Tim Holden (D-Pa.) to serve as vice chairman of the Committee. There will be 25 Democrats and 21 Republicans serving on the committee, which is the same majority-minority ratio as the last Congress. There are nine new Democrat members on the panel: Reps. Brad Ellsorth (Ind.), Nancy Boyda (Kan.), Zack Space (Ohio), Tim Walz (Minn.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Steve Kagen (Wisc.), Nick Lampson (Texas), Joe Donnelly (Ind.), and Tim Mahoney (Fla.). There are three new Republican members on the panel: Reps. Adrian Smith (Neb.), Kevin McCarthy (Calif.), and Tomothy Walberg (Mich.). Peterson also reorganized the panel's subcommittees and created a new Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture. There will be six subcommittees under the new committee organization. Rep. Tim Holden (D-Pa.) will chair the Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy and Research . Rep. Joe Baca (D-CA) will chair the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry. Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-N.C.) will chair the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management. Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif.) will chair the new Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture. Rep. Leoard Boswell (D-Iowa) will chair the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry. Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.) will chair the Subcommittee on Specialty Crops, Rural Development and Foreign Agriculture. A complete list of House Agriculture Committee members, subcommittee rosters and areas of jurisdiction can be found on the committee website at http://agriculture.house.gov. (Contact: Charlie Ingram) LAWMAKERS INTRODUCE BILL TO BAN SLAUGHTER OF 'DOWNED' ANIMALS Reps. Steven C. LaTourette (R-Ohio) and Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.) have introduced legislation that will ban the slaughter of downed animals such as cattle that are too sick or injured to stand or walk. LaTourette said the measure is about food safety and ensuring the humane treatment of animals headed to slaughter. The "Downed Animal and Food Safety Protection Act" (H.R. 661) has 75 original co-sponsors in the House and a companion bill is being introduced in the Senate by Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii). The measures are supported by the Humane Society of the United States. Both the House and Senate have previously approved downed animal legislation, but the legislation has never received final passage by Congress. (Contact: Charlie Ingram) MIDWESTERN GOVERNORS ANNOUNCE 2007 FARM BILL RECOMMENDATIONS Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, chair of the Midwestern Governors Association (MGA), has announced the MGA's recommendations for the 2007 farm bill. The recommendations cover thirteen topics and place additional emphasis on increasing the production and consumption of biofuels. Some of the specific MGA recommendations include: (1) embracing a nationwide Renewable Energy Standard such as 25 percent of our nation's energy being derived from renewable sources by 2025; (2) reviewing all federal regulations to ensure they are not inadvertently stifling renewable energy production; (3) authorizing and implementing a permanent and predictable disaster assistance program; (4) preserving a strong and stably funded conservation title; and (5) creating a dedicated funding source to detect and manage invasive species transported to the United States via transportation activities. The complete text of the recommendations is located at http://www.midwesterngovernors.org. (Contact: Charlie Ingram) USDA ADVISORY COMMITTEE DISCUSSES CONCERNS ABOUT FOOD SAFETY, SPECIALTY CROPS AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS The USDA Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee met in Washington, D.C., last week. Topics covered were new industry-wide food safety measures, labor and immigration legislation, updates on the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, and the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). California Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura participated in the meeting and represents the state departments of agriculture. USDA Secretary Mike Johanns informed the committee that the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is doing well. The program was appropriated $7 million in fiscal year 2006. Johanns stated that Texas and Mississippi are the first two states to be awarded funds under the program. Texas was awarded $156,488.66 and Mississippi was awarded $103,626.70. According to its grant application, the Texas Department of Agriculture will use the funds to increase consumption and consumer awareness of Texas-grown produce and plants through retail promotions; to create new opportunities for suppliers of Texas produce and plants through wholesale promotions; and to develop informational materials to promote produce and plants. The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce plans to promote the state's specialty crops through events held at farmers' markets, as well as present educational workshops to new and existing fruit and vegetable growers to increase the number of producers operating for local farmer's markets and other direct marketing outlets. For more information visit http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/scbgp.html. The committee also heard reports that the PACA has implemented suggestions since the last committee meeting. USDA has raised the audit fee to $1,000 for licensed members and $3,000 for non-licensed companies. Also, PACA has a new hotline number. PACA believes this will improve quality control and the ability to give out consistent and credible information. The new number is 1-800-495-PACA. In addition, the AgJOBS bill is working its way back through Congress. With a few minor changes, the bulk of the bill remains the same. Responses from Congress so far seem to indicate that it will be included in their agenda for the first 100 days of session. New food safety measures were a hot issue at the committee meeting. Questions about the scope of new measures, whether imports are included, and which government agency will oversee the measures, were discussed at length. United Fresh Produce Association presented its newly adopted principles to the committee. The committee decided to conceptually agree with the association in food safety measures, knowing there are many issues to consider. As for suggestions to the Secretary of Agriculture, the committee will establish a working group to form recommendations. The group will report back to the full committee in ninety days. The working group will include members from independent companies as well as agriculture associations to address both large and small business issues within the industry. The committee also recommends the USDA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) deal with issues on invasive pests and diseases with the highest order of priority. For more information and presentations visit http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fviac/presentations8.htm. (Contacts: Casey Wong-Buehler and Blake Patton) PIFB TO CONCLUDE MARCH 2007 Last week the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology (PIFB) announced it will conclude its work at the end of March 2007. Established by The Pew Charitable Trusts in 2001, the project's leaders believe it has achieved its goals of illuminating policy issues arising from advances in agricultural biotech and serving as an "honest broker" that could bring stakeholders of differing views together to discuss opportunities and challenges that agricultural biotech presents. NASDA partnered with the PIFB to conduct three dialogue symposiums. Research and other materials produced by the PIFB, including proceedings from the three NASDA-PIFB meetings, will continue to be available on PIFB website (http://pewagbiotech.org/) after it closes. (Contact: Bob Ehart) STATE NEWS REPORT PEGS TOTAL EMPLOYMENT IMPACT ABOVE 10,000 A new report produced by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) shows Minnesota's growing ethanol industry generated nearly $2.8 billion and supported more than 10,300 jobs in 2006. The MDA's Agricultural Marketing Services Division prepared the four-page report earlier this month as an update to a similar report from February 2006. Among the highlights of the new report: * Minnesota's 16 ethanol plants now have an annual production capacity of 620 million gallons; * Five new ethanol plants under construction will add another 450 million gallons of production capacity, boosting the state's total production capacity above 1 billion by 2008; and * If current trends hold, Minnesota's ethanol industry will generate nearly $5 billion and support more than 18,000 jobs by late 2008. The report confirms that Minnesota is on track to meet Governor Tim Pawlenty's goal of producing enough ethanol to replace 20 percent of Minnesota's gasoline demand by 2013. With corn prices rising to $4 per bushel in recent days, there has been some discussion about the corn supply and whether it could meet the demands from feed markets and biofuels production. The MDA report shows that despite the strong growth in renewable fuels in the last few years, Minnesota's ethanol plants still processed only 15 percent of the state's total corn crop. The majority of Minnesota corn (57 percent) was shipped out of the state as a raw commodity, while another 17 percent was used for animal feed. According to Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson, the MDA ethanol report shows that the state's long-term investment in renewable energy is paying off in the form of jobs and economic activity for greater Minnesota. "We've been talking for decades about the economic promise of renewable fuels," Hugoson said. "I think this report pretty clearly shows that we're now seeing a big return on that investment." MDA prepared the report using an economic impact assessment modeling system called IMPLAN . The system allows users to project the impacts of economic developments at the state, county, and community levels. The report is available on the MDA website at http://www.mda.state.mn.us under the "Hot Topics" heading. (Contact: Michael Schommer, 651/201-6629) BUREAU CHANGES NAME TO MORE CLEARLY REFLECT ITS SPECIFIC DUTIES Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson last week announced that a bureau within his department has been renamed to promote clarity and to make it easier for the public to decide which state office to call for assistance. Effective immediately, the Bureau of License and Bond is now known as the Bureau of Agricultural Dealer's Licenses. "The office deals only with agricultural dealer's licenses, but the bureau's previous name sounded very broad in scope and caused confusion in the mind of the public," Bronson said. "As a result, we received numerous calls from people inquiring about any and all types of licenses--licenses that our department does not handle. This was frustrating for callers. Hopefully, this name change will reduce that confusion and help route inquiries more efficiently." The Bureau of Agricultural Dealer's Licenses is responsible for the licensing of dealers in agricultural products. Any person who is engaged within the state in the business of buying, receiving, soliciting, handling, or negotiating agricultural products from or for Florida producers, or their agents, must be licensed and bonded. The Florida License and Bond Law helps assure that producers of products covered by the law receive proper accounting and payment for their products. In order to secure a license, one must file a properly completed application, pay the required license fee, and post an adequate surety bond or certificate of deposit. Any producer or producer's agent who feels he has been damaged by a dealer's failure to make proper accounting or payment for agricultural products may file a complaint. For more information on the new Florida License and Bond Law, visit http://www.florida-agriculture.com/BondLawUpdate. (Contact: Terence McElroy, 850/488-3022) |