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JULY 2003 |
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USDA
Holds First Ministerial Conference on Agricultural Science & Technology
The USDA Ministerial Conference on Agricultural Science and Technology was held
June 23rd - 25th in Sacramento, CA. The purpose of this conference was to address
issues raised at the first World Food Summit in which representatives from 180
countries met in Rome and set the goal of reducing global hunger in half by 2015.
When the second conference, the World Food Summit: Five Years Later came together
in June 2002, everyone reviewed their progress and concluded that their efforts
fell short of achieving their goal. In an effort to focus on goals such as reducing
hunger by increasing agricultural productivity, ending famine and improving nutrition,
USDA Secretary Ann Veneman announced the first annual Ministerial Conference and
Expo on Agricultural Science and Technology in Sacramento, CA.
With
over 100 countries represented, this conference set out to address the unique
role that technological advances in agricultural production can play in reducing
world hunger. Along with the USDA, the National Grange is a big proponent of agricultural
technology. Stated within this year's policy statements regarding agriculture,
the National Grange "recognize(s) that genetic engineering of plants and animals
has already had a positive impact on increasing the availability of food, decreasing
the environmental impact of agriculture and creating foods that are safer, longer-lasting,
more nutritious and better tasting". Despite
the potential of biotechnology in agriculture to deal with global hunger, it is
not without its detractors. During the course of the conference, there have been
a number of protesters objecting to the promotion of this technology, specifically
genetically modified food. They claim that long-term health risks associated with
the consumption of genetically modified food have not been fully studied. Objections
were also raised that technology itself is insufficient for dealing with the crisis
of global hunger. Some have claimed that this conference is nothing more than
a veiled attempt for the U.S. to promote its agenda of increasing food production
to maintain dominance in the agricultural export market. Others claimed that it
constituted a plan to open up trade discussions at the upcoming World Trade Organization's
ministerial conference in Cancun with the intention of controlling seed supply
and exports. Despite
these accusations, this conference can be considered a success. Through the USDA
Ministerial Conference on Agricultural Science and Technology, nations came together
to exchange ideas, paving the way towards improving the quality of life not just
for themselves, but the world. Ann Veneman described it best when she said, "a
seed has been planted. Out of these discussions, a seed can grow into more discussions". Click
here for additional information. top U.S.
Agriculture Vulnerable to Terrorist Attacks
In the wake of the terrorist
attacks of 9-11, the United States has been faced with the need to restructure
its government agencies to best ensure the safety of its citizens. Because these
threats remain, the U.S. must remain vigilant in guarding against terrorist infiltration
and future attacks. A major breakthrough occurred when President Bush passed the
Homeland Security Act of 2002, which established the Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) to specifically address these concerns. The DHS is comprised of 22 consolidated
domestic agencies, which include the Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service
(APHIS) and the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) (see
Nov. '02 issue) The
agriculture industry is especially vulnerable to this type of infiltration because
it is so large and highly compartmentalized. Agriculture provides many opportunities
to initiate biological attacks, such as in the transfer of products from processing
and distribution plants to places such as storage facilities, research laboratories
and transportation infrastructure. Infecting plants and animals is a likely course
terrorists may take because the potential for destruction is so high and it is
less costly yet less risky than infecting humans directly. In fact, when al Qaeda
members vacated their caves in Afghanistan, they left behind U.S. agricultural
documents translated in Arabic along with training manuals discussing the destruction
of crops, livestock and food processing plants. To
allow them to better coordinate and communicate with one another, President Bush
has responded by increasing funds allocated towards these agencies. For example,
the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), which hires food safety
inspectors, veterinarians and funds testing has received an extra $42 million
in funding. APHIS programs geared towards ports of entry inspection and foot-and-mouth
vaccines received an additional $23 million. USDA research agencies focusing on
such things as emerging animal diseases have been granted an additional $47 million
in funding. Although
an increase in funding existing agencies is a step in the right direction, the
process of restructuring and enhancing current infrastructure to prepare for possible
attacks is an ongoing one. Of special concern is the spread of foot-and-mouth
disease, especially since an incident was reported in a Canadian cow on May 20th.
Although humans cannot contract the disease directly from animals, infected dairy
and meat products would have a devastating effect on U.S. health and economy.
On
June 12th, President George W. Bush signed into law H.R. 3448, the "Public Health
Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness Act of 2002". The act was created to improve
the ability of the U.S. to prevent, prepare for, and respond to bioterrorism and
other public health emergencies. Provisions under this new law require all those
in possession or make use of dangerous biological agents to register with the
Secretary of Health and Human Services and be subject to safety requirements and
inspections. Furthermore, this bill would impose new criminal and civil penalties
up to $500,000 for those who are caught either possessing or transferring such
agents without the necessary registration or approval. Although
much has been done to counteract possible terrorist threats, we as a nation have
a long road ahead of us before guaranteeing our safety. With the changes that
have taken place since 9-11, we have established a solid foundation on which to
build a safer nation by creating a solid infrastructure and leaving nothing to
chance. Informative
Links
http://www.foodsafety.gov
http://www.usda.gov/homelandsecurity/homeland.html.
top House
and Senate Pass Medicare Legislation!
History was made recently in Medicare
when, for the first time since its founding 38 years ago, the House and Senate
passed legislation offering subsidies for prescription medications for seniors.
This is a key factor in the President's plan to strengthen and modernize Medicare;
$400 billion has already allocated for drug benefits and other enhancements over
the next ten years.
These bills and the President's plan will provide America's senior citizens with
more choices while maintaining a reliable safety net. It will provide those enrolled
in Medicare a wider variety of plans to choose from as well as introduce competition
from private health insurance agencies to hold down costs. The legislation allows
seniors who want to stay in the current Medicare system to have that option, plus
a new prescription drug benefit. Seniors who want enhanced benefits, such as coverage
for preventive care and a cap on out-of-pocket costs, will have that choice, as
well. Seniors who like the affordability of managed-care plans will be able to
enroll in such plans. Despite
the fact that both bills have prescription drug provisions, there are some differences
between the House and Senate versions, which must be resolved before President
Bush can sign it into law. The House version of the legislation would provide
federal benefits to Medicare recipients who buy private insurance policies that
include drug coverage while the Senate bill would provide prescription drug coverage
without such subsidies. As
the House and Senate prepared to vote on their respective Medicare prescription
drug reform bills, the National Grange joined with the 60 Plus Association, the
Council for Government Reform, the New Black Leadership Coalition the Seniors
Coalition and the United Seniors Association to place advertisements in the widely
read capitol hill political tabloid newspapers Roll Call and The Hill, urging
both houses of Congress to pass their respective Medicare prescription drug benefit
bills this year. Click here to view
advertisement. "We've been waiting for year for the right kind of Medicare
prescription drug coverage. We want Medicare reforms to include prescription drug
benefits and consumer choice without innovation-stifling price controls," the
advertisement explained. Despite
some disagreements between the House and the Senate, inclusion of prescription
drug benefits is a victory for the National Grange and for America's seniors.
Medicare recipients can remain confident that a compromise is on the horizon.
In a recent statement, President Bush said, "Seniors will have more choices and
better benefits, including long-awaited prescription drug coverage, under a modernized
Medicare that provides seniors access to the newest and most effective medicines
and treatment. I will continue working closely with the Congress to improve this
legislation as we move forward." top National
Grange Urges Passage of U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement
In separate letters
to the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate signed by 32 agriculture
and agribusiness organizations, the National Grange urged Congress to adopt the
proposed U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement. "The U.S.-Chile FTA provides new market
opportunities for U.S. agriculture products and resolution of outstanding trade
concerns that U.S. producers have experienced with Chile" the coalition letters
told the Members of Congress. Once
the U.S.-Chile FTA is enacted, over 75% of US agricultural products will enter
Chile duty free within four years. All duties on U.S. agricultural products will
be phased out over 12 years. Trade sensitive U.S. commodities have been provided
special safeguard provisions to help protect U.S. farmers from sudden surges of
imports from Chile as well as the maximum tariff phase out provisions, 12 years
that are allowed by the agreement. Issues
that U.S. agricultural interests, including the National Grange, raised during
the negotiations have been addressed. Chile has agreed to eliminate a controversial
variable tariff levy that has made prices received for products exported there
unpredictable. Both Chile and the U.S. have agreed to eliminate the use of government
agricultural export subsidies for exports to their respective markets. However,
the U.S. preserved the right to use export subsidies within the Chilean market
to respond to subsidies on agricultural exports from other nations that are not
part of this agreement. Finally the U.S. and Chile have resolved most of the sanitary
and phytosanitary restrictions that have acted as non-tariff barriers to U.S.
agricultural products entering the Chilean market, while assuring that both nations
maintain sufficient import control authority to protect the health and safety
of their consumers and prevent the spread of pathogens and diseases that could
damage their respective agricultural sectors. Chile
currently has 16 other Free Trade Agreements with its other major trading partners,
including the European Union and Canada. Failure to adopt the U.S. Chile FTA will
put U.S. farmers at a distinct disadvantage when exporting U.S. agricultural products
to the fast growing and stable Chilean market. "It is important that Congress
act soon in support of fair and open trade with Chile. We urge your support for
the U.S.-Chile FTA and encourage quick action from Congress on its approval" the
coalition letter concluded. top House
Passes Flag Protection Amendment
A Constitutional amendment to protect
the American Flag from acts of physical desecration has been successfully passed
in the House of Representatives. The amendment changes some of the language in
the Constitution to say that "the Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical
desecration of the flag of the United States." This would be the fifth time in
the past eight years that this amendment was passed, with a vote of 300 - 125
in favor. Along
with many other patriotic Americans, passage of the amendment is a major victory
for the National Grange. According to the 2002 Journal of Proceedings, the Grange "urges that emphasis be placed on educating the American public on all aspects
of respect for the American Flag" and "opposes the desecration of the American
Flag, with the act of desecration being classified as a federal felony and the
penalty being strictly enforced with no exception."
In the wake of 9-11, the American Flag has gone beyond being a patriotic symbol
to becoming a testament to our nation's strength, pride and unity. We are a diverse
nation yet when the Flag is raised, we are reminded that we are all in this together.
It symbolizes our past, our present and our future and must continue to be treated
with the utmost respect. Click
here for a listing of cosponsors. top National
Grange Urges EPA to Reconsider Oil Spill Ruling
The National Grange in
partnership with other public interest organizations recently contacted Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Christine Todd Whitman regarding the oil
spill final rule. The purpose of this rule is to prevent discharge from oil spills
from reaching navigable waters, which could harm our food supply, and to ensure
effective response should such a spill occur. Although this new rule addresses
issues such as setting requirements for Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure
Plans (SPCC Plans) and affect Facility Response Plans (FRPs), it does not properly
address the affect of these spills on agriculture. The
EPA's final rule fails to take into account the cumulative effect of these rules
on production agriculture, an industry that remains economically vulnerable. Within
the 112-page rule and limited to the introduction, agriculture is mentioned a
mere six times! Furthermore, there was a total lack of understanding of farm layouts
and oil storage operations. Examples of farms that were studies were limited to
those in the upper 9 percent income bracket in addition to exempting 27,700 farms
out of 2 million. The
National Grange along with other organizations, including the USDA, met with the
EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response on the SPCC program. In formulating
the new rule, the EPA used cost data from 1991. The rule also inappropriately
applied bulk terminal rules to private family property and small businesses and
prematurely certified compliance with the Small Business and Regulatory Enforcement
Act (SBREFA) and Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA). top Kelley
Farm Picnic Coming Soon!
Experience Grange history first hand by registering
to attend the Kelley Farm Picnic on Saturday, August 2, 2003. The day will include
guided tours of the farm and facilities, a dedication and a pig roast. For additional
information, please contact Clyde Berry at (802) 295-2091 or by email.
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