LEGISLATIVE AGRICULTURAL CHAIRS SUMMIT TO BE HELD IN MEMPHIS

The 3rd Legislative Agricultural Chairs Summit is scheduled for January 28-30 at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. The Summit, co-hosted by NCSL, the Council of State Governments and the Rural Policy Research Institute, brings together the chairs of the state agricultural committees to learn about and discuss pressing topics facing states. Workshops will be held on rural development and agricultural trade, as well as a number of roundtable discussions on agricultural issues. For more information, please see www.ncsl.org/programs/agri/agrisummit05.htm.

CHAMBLISS NAMED CHAIR OF U.S. SENATE AGRICULTURE

Senator Saxby Chambliss of Georgia has been appointed Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. Senator Chambliss formerly served on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee as Chair of the General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee. He also assisted in writing the 1996 and 2002 Farm Bills and reforming crop insurance. He anticipates that the Committee will begin reviewing the Farm Bill, which expires in 2007.

NEBRASKA GOVERNOR CONFIRMED AS NEW HEAD OF USDA

On January 6, Nebraska Governor Michael Johanns was recommended to the full Senate to be confirmed as the new Secretary of Agriculture to replace Ann Veneman. In the confirmation hearing with the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee, Governor Johanns discussed national agriculture concerns ranging from the latest information from Canada about BSE findings, reopening beef exports to Japan, an animal identification system, and others. His interests and expertise also include bio-chemical and alternate fuel sources such as ethanol, international agriculture trade, and drought preparedness. With no dissenting comments, the Committee voted unanimously on the recommendation. Governor Johanns was confirmed by the full Senate on January 20, and sworn in as the 28^th USDA Secretary on January 21.

TIMELINE OF JANUARY REPORTS ON USDA BEEF RULE, CANADIAN BSE

December 29, 2004: the USDA announced it would release a 500-page rule for the conditions of importing Canadian beef on January 4 to take effect on March 7.

January 2, 2005: the Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced that a new case of BSE had been discovered in Alberta.

January 6: the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee stated its intentions to conduct hearings on BSE soon. Incoming USDA Secretary Michael Johanns was urged at his confirmation hearing to conduct further investigations prior to allowing the currently-released rule to go into effect.

January 10: the R-CALF United Stockgrowers of America filed a federal lawsuit in Billings, Montana to block implementation of the new rule. The named defendants are the USDA, the Agriculture Secretary and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The organization contends that resuming the importation of Canadian beef products not only endangers the U.S. cattle industry, but encourages other countries to continue to reject U.S. beef exports. The lawsuit is online at http://www.r-calfusa.com/.

January 11: the Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed a second case of BSE in Alberta, but insists that its exports to the US remain safe. However, the USDA plans to send an investigative team to Canada prior to fully lifting the ban. The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee anticipates holding a hearing the week of January 31.  

DEPT OF AG GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR MARKETING IMPROVEMENT

A request was posted in the Federal Register on December 22 for proposals for approximately $1.3 million in FY2005 grant funds under the Department of Agriculture’s Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP). These grants are available for state Departments of Agriculture or other applicable state agencies to conduct studies or develop innovative approaches to marketing U.S. food and agricultural products. State agencies are encouraged to include industry, community and academic participation in the development of the proposals. Proposals will be accepted through February 11, 2005. More information is available at www.ams.usda.gov/tmd/fsmip.htm or by calling Janise Zygmont, FSMIP Staff Officer at 202-720-2704.