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| APRIL 2004 |
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Agriculture
Coalition Raises Concerns Regarding Oil Spill Rule
The Agriculture Coalition,
which includes several farmer advocacy groups, including the National Grange,
expressed concerns regarding the EPA's Oil Pollution Prevention and Response Regulation
(40 CFR 112; "SPCC Oil Spill Rule") in a recent coalition letter. Addressed to
the Assistant Administrator for Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Marianne Horinko,
the coalition individually addressed key points covered in the ruling while making
recommendations on how they can better serve America's farmers.
The
first issue raised was that definitions regarding "facilities" did not directly
apply to farms, but rather to oil refining, transfer and storage facilities. Furthermore,
farms are not limited to a single location; depending on how far apart they may
be, each farm could have its own oil storage facility. The coalition suggested
that farming operations that cover more than one area not be considered a single
facility and that aggregate tankage should be determined separate for each field.
It is also considered necessary that the EPA rule change its limit from a single
1,320-gallon trigger to encompass several triggers depending on the size and number
of fields. The
letter also recommended that the EPA's current testing requirements should be
dropped. The only requirements that should be made on tanks on agricultural lands
consist of visual inspection and appropriate record keeping because commercial
fuel distributors inspect the tanks on a regular basis. During most times, the
tanks are seldom used.
The coalition also requests that an additional two years beyond the August 17,
2004 deadline is needed for farmers to comply with the EPA's final rule. Furthermore,
states should also be given additional time to facilitate implementation and compliance
before the EPA enforcement takes effect.
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USDA Provides $2.2 Billion for Rural Broadband Loans
The USDA Rural
Utilities Service (RUS) recently announced no less than $2.211 billion will be
made available for loans and loan guarantees for broadband Internet providers
to deploy broadband Internet service to underserved communities. As amended by
the 2004 Consolidated Appropriations Act, underserved communities are defined
as "not contained in an incorporated city or town with a population in excess
of 20,000 inhabitants". Both
the substantial funding for the RUS program and the change in the definition of
an underserved community were strongly advocated by Rural Broadband Coalition
(RBC), of which the National Grange serves as one of the founding members. "RBC
members worked hard to promote their shared 2003 legislative agenda," said RBC
President Scott M. Lindsay, "and they look forward to helping underserved communities
realize the benefits of their collective efforts by using these needed funds to
deploy broadband." RBC
is a technology and provider-neutral national advocacy and service association.
RBC serves Internet service providers, telecommunication companies/utilities,
for-profit utilities, rural electric cooperatives, municipalities, public utility
districts, tribal communities, technology companies, government organizations,
associations and other interested parties that are dedicated to supporting the
deployment of broadband Internet access to rural America. To view a copy of the
Federal Register notice, learn more about RBC or other federal financing opportunities,
click here.
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Invests in Rural Development Funds
This month, the United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Ann Veneman announced the selection of 34 loan
and grant recipients in 17 states that are to receive $10.9 million in rural business
development funds. The loans and grants will support 55 new business ventures
and preserve over 900 jobs in order to spur economic development in rural America.
The grants and
loans are awarded through USDA Rural Development to cooperative organizations
that provide loans or grants supporting local economic or community development
efforts. These funds can be applied towards a variety of projects, such as those
improving rural access to health care, promote the use of alternate energy sources
and encourage economic growth. Many award funds were made in conjunction with
other sources of assistance to "leverage" USDA funds for greater effect. For a
list of the awards, click
here.
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Launches "People's Choice" Initiative
In response to the governor's veto,
the Washington State Grange announced that it is now collecting signatures for
I-872 (the "People's Choice" initiative) to run on the November ballot. The
initiative will institute a "modified" blanket primary system (also known as a
qualifying primary) in which voters will not be restricted to choosing among the
candidates of only one party in a primary election. Voters will also not be required
to declare party affiliation when registering. The initiative would implement
a "top-two" system in which the two top vote-getters in a primary election advance
to the general election, regardless of party. "Our
initiative will put a system in place which looks almost identical to the blanket
primary system we've been using for nearly 70 years," said Grange President Terry
Hunt. "The only difference is that this system will satisfy the constitutional
requirements set forth by the courts." The
campaign was launched in response to Governor Locke's partial veto of Engrossed
Senate Bill 6453, which was passed by the legislature last month. The bill would
have put a top-two system in place, which would then revert to a Montana-style
system in the event that legal challenges by the political parties resulted in
a successful ruling.
However,
Governor Locke vetoed the "top-two" system out of the bill, leaving only the Montana-style
system in its place. Under this system, voters are required to choose a ballot
from only one party at a primary election. "The
Governor defied the will of the voters, and he defied the will of the legislators
elected to represent those voters," said Hunt. "By changing the intent of the
bill, he will have to face not only our initiative campaign, but a law suit by
the Grange as well. He simply can't veto the qualifying primary out of a bill
that is titled 'Enacting a Qualifying Primary.'" For more information, contact
David Burr, Washington State Grange Communications Director or visit the Washington
State Grange. For more information about the blanket primary, click
here.
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News for Dairy Farmers!
For the nation's dairy farmer, relief may finally
be in sight. After experiencing a 25-year low in prices last year, the price of
milk is expected to increase by 50 cents next month. This price increase is the
result of factors including shrinking dairy herds, higher feed and beef prices,
less use of growth hormone and the recent discovery of mad cow disease in the
United States. According to National Milk Producers Federation spokesperson Chris
Galen, "it's almost a perfect storm of factors, any of which wouldn't have much
of an impact but together have kept a heavy lid on production". Last
year, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) launched a voluntary program
called Cooperative Working Together to manage the dairy supply. One of the major
elements of the program was to create a higher demand for dairy products by paying
members who agreed to reduce their milk production, either by milking less or
slaughtering cows to reduce herd size. The price increase is not limited to milk,
the price of cheese and butter is also expected to increase.
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Grange Urges President & Congress to Support COOL
In recent coalition
letters to the President and Congress, the National Grange and a coalition of
over 115 other agricultural and rural public interest organizations urged the
support of the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) Act. The COOL Act amends the
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to make country of origin notice requirements
applicable to retail sales of all covered commodities as of September 30, 2004.
If amended, the law would require retailers to maintain country of origin records
for at least 180 days. Despite
its potential benefit to consumers, the fiscal year 2005 omnibus appropriations
bill included a two-year delay of implementation on all covered commodities with
the exception of fish. Representatives Mary Bono and Darlene Hooley introduced
legislation, the Cool Enhancement Act that would restore the implementation date
of September 2004. In
the letter the coalition said the Bono-Hooley Act, "eases the record keeping and
fine burden on retailers and allows for the labeling program to work simultaneously
with a national animal identification program once such a program is operational."
In addressing the President, the coalition said, "we urge you to broaden the statement
you made and work with our coalition to pass the Bono-Hooley legislation and ensure
COOL is implemented by September 30, 2004, as originally intended by Congress."
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Expands BSE Surveillance Program
Since the recent discovery of Bovine
Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease in the United States, the
beef industry has suffered tremendous losses. Despite the appearance of the disease
in one cow among 96 million, 58 countries are still upholding bans on American
beef products. To
ensure the viability of the U.S. beef industry and consumer safety, USDA Secretary
Ann Veneman announced details for an expanded surveillance effort to detect BSE.
The purpose of this plan is to test as many cattle as possible in high-risk populations
to determine if BSE is present. "We are committed to ensuring that a robust U.S.
surveillance program continues in this country," said Veneman. "This one-time
extensive surveillance plan reflects the recommendation of the international scientific
review panel." The
BSE surveillance program focuses on cattle populations most likely to be infected,
such as those condemned to slaughter due to central nervous system disorders,
non-ambulatory cattle and those that die on farms. According to Veneman, $70 million
will be transferred from the USDA Commodity Credit Corporation to fund the enhances
program with the goal to test as many cattle as possible in the high-risk population
as well as to test a sampling of the normal, aged cattle population over a 18
month time frame. Because BSE takes several years to show any outward symptoms,
the program will also include a random sampling of apparently normal animal carcasses
prior to being slaughtered. The
BSE surveillance program is expected to go into effect June 1, 2004. Testing is
expected to continue at the current rate, which is based on a plan to test 40,000
animals in FY 2004. For more details on the new program and information on BSE,
click here.
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Relief Measures Benefit Rural Families
As a result of the Jobs and Growth
Tax Relief Act of 2003, rural farm and ranch families are benefiting financially.
USDA Secretary Ann Veneman released an analysis illustrating the benefits of this
legislation. "The tax relief that has passed since this administration took office
continues to yield enormous benefits for farm and ranch families across the country,"
said Venaman. "Our economists calculate that the relief has provided about $4
billion in tax reductions for farms and ranches in 2003. This year, we are projecting
that it will provide an additional $4 billion." Passing
of this legislation has resulted in an average savings of $2,000 per farm household
per year, or a 16 percent reduction in the annual tax burden. Benefits were gained
mostly form the increased child tax credit and relief of the marriage penalty
in addition to capitol gains tax cuts. "We
need to make these tax cuts permanent, including the repeal of the death tax,
one and for all," said Veneman. "Farmers need this stability in planning their
long-term operations and our economy needs the positive stimulus the tax cuts
have been providing." Results
of the tax cuts have been outstanding; as of now, more than 105 million people
have lower income taxes and more than 23 million small businesses can use these
savings to invest in equipment, facilities and employees, benefiting the surrounding
communities. If overturning the estate tax is soon realized, farmers will be better
able to ensure a prosperous future for the next generation of farmers. For more
information, click here.
Don't
Miss Out.
Be sure not to miss out on the 2004 National Grange Legislative
Fly-In! For over six years, the Grange has provided an opportunity in which all
members are invited to take advantage of all the educational and recreational
opportunities that can be found in our nation's capitol.
top Participants
will have the opportunity to make their voices heard by meeting with their government
officials to discuss the issues that matter the most to rural Americans, providing
a forum in which they can be heard. The Legislative Fly-In has grown rapidly in
the last few years, with a greater number of participants and more influential
speakers. Past speakers include Representative Elliot Engel and Senator Elizabeth
Dole! Other activities include taking a trip back in time through a visit to Gadsby's
Tavern in Old Town Alexandria in addition to hearing lively political debate by
being in the studio audience of Crossfire, CNN's longest running political debate
show. Between all these activities, you will have plenty of options to explore
the city and enjoy the surroundings of Decatur House, the Grange's next-door neighbor
and a historic landmark or visit the White House, which is merely steps away.
Register Now! We hope to see you there!
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