The Senate Agriculture Committee approved comprehensive farm bill legislation this week after adopting titles on conservation, commodities, and nutrition. Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) plans to take the bill to the Senate floor for action in mid-December.

The farm bill package essentially tracks the bill (S. 1628) that Harkin introduced on November 1. The Senate measure is a five-year bill while the House-passed bill (H.R. 2646) sets federal farm policy for ten years. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has not yet scored the bill, but Harkin has said it fits within the $73.5 billion in additional spending provided under the congressional budget resolution. According to Harkin, his commodity title provides $26.5 billion over baseline spending, slightly more than the $25 billion provided in the House bill. The Senate's conservation title would provide $41 billion based on ten years, compared to $37 billion in the House bill.

During the Senate markup sessions, titles on trade, forestry, energy, rural development, research, and nutrition had bipartisan support and were easily approved. Earlier this week, the committee rejected a controversial title on competition that included several antitrust provisions to address concentration in agricultural markets. The competition title would have established a new Agricultural Fair Practices Act. In addition, it would have set some basic contracting requirements, such as minimum disclosure standards and a condition that firms act in good faith when contracting with farmers.

On Thursday, the committee adopted a major conservation title after senators worked late into the night to reach agreement on several issues. The conservation title would (1) increase acreage for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) from the current 36.4 million acres to 40 million acres; (2) double acreage for the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) by increasing the total acreage cap by 1.25 million acres; (3) increase funding for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) up to $1.25 billion annually; (4) increase funding for the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) from $50 million to $360 million over five years; (5) increase funding for the Farmland Protection Program (FPP) from $35 million to $850 million over five years; and (6) establish a new grassland reserve program to enroll up to one million acres in long-term contracts and easements. The title also contains Harkin's Conservation Security Program, which would provide incentive payments to farmers for implementing various conservation practices.

The committee also approved a new version of Harkin's commodity proposal after rejecting several alternative approaches offered separately by Sens. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), Mark Dayton (D-Minn.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), and Thad Cochran (R-Miss.). All of the alternative proposals were defeated on party-line votes. Under Harkin's commodity title, producers can elect to enroll eligible cropland in one of two contracts. Producers who elect option (1) will be entitled to receive both direct payments and counter-cyclical payments based on updated base acres and yields. Producers who elect option (2) will be entitled to receive direct payments based on payment acres and payment yields for their current production flexibility contracts. The title also includes a dairy income support program, a new peanut program, reformed the current sugar program, and requires $175 million in specialty crop purchases.

Another major element of the Senate legislation is a new energy title to promote farm-based renewable energy sources such as ethanol, biodiesel, wind energy, biomass fuels, and other forms of alternative energy. The bill also expands and boosts funding for rural development grants and loans. Finally, the Senate measure would require country of origin labeling for pork, beef, lamb, fish, fruits, and vegetables.

Just as the Senate completed work on its farm bill, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-Texas) issued a statement about the action. Combest said he was pleased that the Senate had moved forward in producing a much needed bill this year. However, he expressed concern that the Senate bill "exceeds the budget allocation and cannot move forward as written." Chairman Combest further stated that he was concerned that the progress in the Senate had "digressed into partisanship, which is both unproductive and unnecessary." Copies of the Senate's modified commodity title have been faxed to NASDA members. Summaries and legislative text of other titles will be posted on NASDA's website as they become available. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)

The Senate began debate on a $67 billion economic stimulus package this week, which includes almost $6 billion for agricultural assistance and relief. However, the debate was halted after lawmakers became deadlocked over budget and tax allocations and further action is not expected until after Thanksgiving.

Democrats and Republicans are divided over the basic issue of how much of the stimulus package should go for tax relief, individual economic assistance, and bioterrorism response. Generally, Democrats favor more funds for unemployment benefits and other worker-related assistance to help boost consumer spending and confidence. Republicans prefer more tax relief to stimulate business investment.

The Democratic package includes $2 billion for emergency agricultural assistance and the purchase of agricultural commodities. Democrats also want to spend an additional $15 billion on homeland defense measures including $40 million for USDA's Agricultural Research Service, $267 million for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), $24 million for food safety and inspection, and $164 million for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Senate Republicans have generally supported the $100 billion GOP plan recently approved by the House. The House measure is primarily focused on tax relief and does not include the agricultural spending. Senate Republicans also want to attach a comprehensive energy bill to the stimulus package. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)

More terrorism initiatives were introduced in Congress this week including proposals to address protection of the nation's food supply and the agricultural production system. House and Senate leaders say they intend to approve comprehensive anti-terrorism legislation before adjourning this year, but final action is not likely until after Thanksgiving.

In the Senate, Sens. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) unveiled their much anticipated bioterrorism package which would provide $3.2 billion in FY 2002 to address gaps in the nation's biodefense and surveillance system and public health infrastructure. The measure includes provisions to enhance food safety supplies and protect agriculture from biological threats and attacks. Specifically, the legislation would increase resources for inspections of imported food, including $61 million to enable the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to hire 410 new inspectors, lab specialists and other experts, as well as invest in new technology and equipment to monitor food imports. It also allows FDA to use qualified employees from other agencies and departments to help conduct food inspections. Any domestic or foreign facility that manufactures or processes food for use in the U.S. must register with FDA. Importers must provide at least four hours notice of the food product to be imported, the country of origin, and the amount. FDA also receives authority to prevent "port-shopping" by marking food shipments denied entry at one U.S. port to ensure such shipments do not reappear at another U.S. port. The Frist-Kennedy package further includes several measures to help safeguard the nation's agriculture industry from the threats of bioterrorism. It contains a series of grants and incentives to help encourage the development of vaccines and antidotes to protect the nation's food supply, livestock, or crops, as well as preventing crop and livestock diseases from finding their way to U.S. fields and feedlots.

In the House, Rep. Rose DeLauro (D-Conn.) introduced a bill (H.R. 3184) that would require any facility handling or processing food for consumption in the U.S. to register with the FDA. Any food that is "reasonably" believed to be adulterated or misbranded could be detained by FDA for not more than 20 days pending action. Another provision would require each food facility to keep records and monitor any recalls. In addition, the National Institutes of Health would be required to coordinate, expand, and intensify its foodborne illness programs. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-La.) announced this week that he is drafting comprehensive bioterrorism legislation that will also address food security. (Contact: Charlie Ingram)

The Doha Ministerial of the World Trade Organization ended on Wednesday of this week. After a long night of difficult negotiations, the Ministerial ended with an agreement on agriculture and other trade issues. Member countries agreed to commit to a comprehensive negotiation aimed at significantly improving market access-with a view to reducing and ultimately phasing out all forms of export subsidies. There was also agreement to a substantial reduction in trade-distorting domestic supports. The agreement, however, only begins the process of the discussion on agricultural trade and is not a final agreement on trade. The next meeting on agriculture will take place from December 3 to 5. The Doha declaration approved by the delegates on Wednesday is ambitious and an important step forward for U.S. agriculture. The declaration calls for the new negotiations to be concluded by January 1, 2005. One of the highlights of the 4th Ministerial Conference was the accession of China and Taiwan as the 143rd and 144th members of the WTO.

To summarize, WTO trade ministers at their 4th Ministerial Meeting approved 1) a declaration launching a new global trade negotiations and a work program; 2) a declaration on intellectual property protection and access to medicines and public health; and 3) a decision on implementation-related issues and concerns raised by developing countries. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick noted, "[f]rom the start President Bush made it very clear that he wanted Secretary Veneman and Secretary Evans and I to make every effort to try to regain the momentum for America for free trade . . . we now are delighted that we've overcome the stain of Seattle."

"Launching the negotiations with this declaration is a landmark achievement for U.S. agriculture. Our team really delivered for America's farmers and ranchers," Zoellick said commenting on agriculture trade issues. He continued, "We've settled on a program that lays out ambitious objectives for future negotiations on the liberalization of the agriculture market."

Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman stated in a USDA press release, "We are hopeful that these meetings will set the stage for further reductions in tariffs on U.S. agricultural products and a stronger science-based dispute settlement process. These areas will help increase access to world markets for U.S. farmers, ranchers and food producers." The Draft Ministerial Declaration released on November 14 can be found at http://www-svca.wto-ministerial.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindec_e.doc. (Contact: Patrick Atagi)

Senate Debates Homeland Security and Infrastructure~~Republican senators are supporting President Bush's promise to veto any spending beyond the agreed to $686 billion for Homeland Security and infrastructure for FY2002. Their support also includes limiting spending to the $40 billion in the supplemental appropriations bill. A letter was sent this week to the Senate Budget Committee from 38 senators supporting the president's position--38 is significant because it only takes 34 senators to uphold a presidential veto, which requires a two-thirds majority (67 votes) to override. Congress has been under extreme pressure to increase spending in virtually every agency to provide increased funding for increased security and the cost has exceeded the limits set just weeks ago on spending for homeland security.

House Ag Committee Holds Hearing on Bioterrorism~~The House Agriculture Committee met today to discuss biosecurity programs and authorities of USDA. The committee focused on protection of the domestic food supply from potential terrorist attacks. "Obviously, the events of September 11th have caused the agencies of USDA to increase their vigilance, but we are very fortunate to have them," said Chairman Combest. "Not unlike our firefighters and police, they do a difficult job every day-a job we appreciate even more during these troubled times." Deputy Secretary James R. Moseley, USDA and newly appointed administrator of USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Bobby Acord, testified before the committee Thursday morning. Since September 11, USDA has been working to increase border protection. APHIS, which is the USDA agency in charge of monitoring U.S. borders, has worked within the veterinary community to increase awareness of security issues to ensure the prevention of harmful plant and animal diseases from entering the United States. Further, the USDA has recently organized the Food Threat Preparedness Network, which links the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Food Safety and Inspection Service, and others to focus on activities that would proactively protect the nation's food supply. (Contact: Patrick Atagi)

Ports Increase Veterinarians on Staff~~This week USDA announced the hiring of 18 veterinarians to protect American agriculture against the entry of prohibited agricultural products that may contain foreign animal diseases. "The addition of these veterinarians to USDA's comprehensive agricultural quarantine inspection program is part of Secretary Ann M. Veneman's continuing effort to bolster the United States' agriculture infrastructure," said Bill Hawks, under secretary for USDA's marketing and regulatory programs. "We are always looking at ways to continue to improve our strong safeguarding programs." These veterinarians, working with USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's plant protection and quarantine program, join approximately 5,000 APHIS personnel already on alert at U.S. borders, ports of entry and on farms ensuring the appropriate prevention and preparedness programs are in place to protect U.S. agriculture. The new veterinarians will provide guidance and training on working with and handling animal products, animal by-products and international garbage; work cooperatively with USDA's plant protection and quarantine officers when dealing with issues involving foreign animal diseases; act as a liaison between APHIS' plant protection and quarantine and veterinary services programs; conduct port reviews; and continue to work closely with state agricultural officials, thereby improving the federal-state partnerships critical to protecting American agriculture. The new veterinarians will be stationed in Florida, Georgia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, Puerto Rico, Texas, Arizona, California, Washington, and Hawaii.

Bryson To Be Nominated USDA General Counsel~~The president intends to nominate Nancy Southard Bryson to be general counsel of USDA. Bryson is currently a partner with Crowell and Moring's Natural Resources and Environment and co-chair of the firm's biotechnologies practice. Prior to entering private practice, Ms. Bryson was a staff attorney and assistant counsel for the Appellate Litigation in the Occupational Safety and Health Division of the Solicitor's Office at the Department of Labor. Additionally, she served as assistant chief of the Land and Natural Resources Division's Environmental Defense Sections at the Department of Justice. She is a graduate of Boston University and the Georgetown University School of Law.

A New Technique Examines Soil Pressure on Cropland~~A new sensor is helping Agricultural Research Service scientists and cooperators develop an alternative approach for detecting compacted soil on cropland. Soil can become compacted as farm equipment repeatedly passes over fields. When this happens, crop roots are restricted from reaching water and nutrients. Less water infiltrates the soil, resulting in increased runoff and soil erosion. The consequences are limited yields and reduced profits. Complicated electronic equipment is now needed to measure compaction. The new approach uses a sensor developed at the Agricultural Technology Centre, or AgTech Centre, a division within Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (AAFRD), the provincial agriculture ministry in Alberta, Canada. AgTech Project Engineer Reed Turner developed the device and is working with ARS Agricultural Engineer Randy L. Raper to evaluate its performance. A standard method to test for soil compaction is to measure peak stress of vehicle traffic. Peak stress is the measured difference between the soil pressure existing before a vehicle approaches a sensor and the highest pressure achieved as the vehicle passes it. The new device is used to determine residual stress, the difference between the pressure before a vehicle approaches the sensor and the pressure after it has passed. Studies performed at ARS' National Soil Dynamics Laboratory in Auburn, Ala., and at the AgTech Centre in Lethbridge, Alberta, showed that the residual stress remaining after a vehicle passes is proportional to peak stress. The AgTech sensor is buried in the soil. A fluid-filled rubber bulb is connected by a high-pressure hose to either a gauge or a pressure sensor that measures the maximum pressure exerted on the soil and the residual pressure remaining after vehicle traffic has passed. If a pressure gauge is used, no electronic or computer equipment is required. Raper says the device is quick and easy to use. Raper says that as equipment used in agriculture has become increasingly heavy, soil compaction also has increased on average.

80 Years of Planting History in Northern Plains Charted by ARS~~Sometimes history is in the plants and the land. Changes in the vegetation and landscape of the Northern Great Plains during the past 80 years are chronicled in a new publication by the Agricultural Research Service. In addition to the print version containing high-resolution photographs, a version with low-resolution images is on the web at http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/np/eightyyears/eightyyearsintro.htm. Comparing three sets of photographs taken at the same locations about 40 years apart, author and ARS rangeland scientist Keith D. Klement has documented shifts in the types and abundance of plants at locations in Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. Klement is with ARS's Fort Keogh Livestock & Range Research Laboratory in Miles City, Montana. The first two photograph sets were taken by the University of Arizona between 1908 and 1937 and from 1958 to 1960. ARS commissioned the third set, taken in 1998. Klement then visited the sites to gather what stories he could of what had been happening to the land during the 80 years-whether the land had been fenced and grazed by livestock, whether rivers and creeks shifted their course, and any other land alterations that might have occurred. The most surprising change Klement found was that in the past few decades there has been an extensive increase in areas densely covered by ponderosa pines on the mountains and by sagebrush in the valleys and foothills. Not surprisingly, human management of the land has also altered the density and mix of plants. Fences have created microhabitats, the interval between wildfires has been extended to near elimination in many areas, and other practices are all changing the face of the rangelands. Detecting shifts in plant species on rangelands can be difficult because changes often occur so slowly they are hard for people to see. Klement hopes this publication will provide researchers, naturalists, land managers, extension agents, and policy makers with a new awareness and appreciation of the subtle but real changes in the Northern Great Plains over the last 80 years. (Contact: Patrick Atagi)

Thanks to a reciprocal agreement recently signed by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the North Dakota State University Extension Service, pesticide applicators in Minnesota and North Dakota are only required to pass a test in their home state to be eligible to apply pesticides on both sides of the Minnesota-North Dakota border. This agreement allows a resident of one state to obtain the equivalent pesticide applicator certification in the other state without having to take certification exams or attend re-certification sessions in the second state. The applicator will still need to meet all other requirements for certification or licensing in the other state, including providing proof of financial responsibility and payment of fees.

Applicants must meet the certification or licensing requirements of their state of residence before reciprocal certification in the other state can be granted. For example, a Minnesota resident must obtain a Minnesota license first before applying for North Dakota certification.

A certified private applicator does not have to obtain reciprocal certification. Both states will accept a private applicator card from either state. If a Minnesota private applicator wishes to apply a grain fumigant in North Dakota, that person must have the fumigation endorsement on their Minnesota Certified Private Applicator Identification Card or obtain the equivalent endorsement in North Dakota.

For more information about the agreement and licensing requirements, contact John Wagner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, at 651/297-7122, e-mail John.Wagner@state.mn.us, or Andrew Thostenson, North Dakota State University, at 701/231-8050, e-mail: athosten@ndsuext.nodak.edu.