Assessment Regulations Revised for Domestic Date Producers

Posted July 17, 2014

This rule revises the rules and regulations of the California date marketing order to impose interest and late payment charges on overdue handler assessments. The order regulates the handling of dates produced or packed in Riverside County, California.

Assessments are used to fund the expenses of the committee. These changes are intended to help the financial administration of the order by encouraging handlers to pay their assessments in a timely manner.

The effective date is July 17, 2014.

The Federal Register is available here.

USDA Announces Crop Insurance Pilot Program for Diversified Farms

Posted May 22, 2014

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack recently announced a new risk management pilot program for fruit and vegetable growers and producers with diversified farms, according to the USDA news release available here.  The Grower also reported on the story here.

The crop insurance policy is called “Whole-Farm Revenue Protection” and will “allow farmers to insure all crops on their farm at once, rather than insuring commodity by commodity.”  The program aims to give farmers greater flexibility in planting decisions.

“Crop insurance has been the linchpin of the farm safety net for years and continues to grow as the single most important factor in protecting producers of all sizes from the effects of unpredictable weather,” said Vilsack.  “Providing farmers the option to insure their whole farm at once gives farmers more flexibility, promotes crop diversity, and helps support the production of healthy fruits and vegetables.  More flexibility also empowers farmers and ranchers to make a broader range of decisions with their land, helping them succeed and strengthening our agriculture economy.”

This policy, introduced in the 2014 Farm Bill, will offer coverage levels from 50 percent to 85 percent, according to an article by Farm Futures available here.  The policy will also include a Market Readiness Feature “which allows costs such as washing, trimming, and packaging to be left in the insured revenue instead of having to adjust those amounts out of the insured amount.”

The new policy will be available where AGR and AGR-Lite are available and will be administered by USDA’s Risk Management Agency.

For more information on crop insurance, please visit the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.

May 16 CLE: Mid-South Agricultural & Environmental Law Conference

Posted April 24, 2014

The Arkansas Bar Association, the National Agricultural Law Center, and the National Sea Grant Law Center will host the first annual Mid-South Agricultural & Environmental Law Conference on May 16, 2014.  The Delta Farm Press and Ag Fax reported on the story here and here.

“This is the first conference of its kind, and is in direct response to requests we’ve received to provide legal research and information specific to Mid-South agriculture,” said Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agricultural Law Center.  “Farming in the Mid-South has its own unique legal and policy aspects.  This conference is meant to address those, and we’ve got a top-flight lineup of experts to speak on the topics.”

The conference offers 6.0 hours of CLE credit, including 1.0 Ethics hour in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.  The complete schedule is available here.

Topics and speaker include:

“Litigating Federal Crop Insurance Disputes: Overview and Discussion of Important Practical Pointers and Pitfalls”

J. Grant Ballard, Banks Law Firm PLLC

“Agricultural Leases for Mid-South Farmers, Lenders, and Landlords”

William C. Bridgforth, Ramsey, Bridgforth, Robinson and Raley LLP

James Calman McCastlain, Dover Dixon & Horne PLLC

J. Travis Baxter, Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C.

“The Gulf Dead Zone and Gulf Restoration v. EPA: What it Means for Agriculture in the Mississippi River Basin”

John Milner, Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC

“Hot Topics in Invasive Species Management: Lacey Act Reform, Biofuels, and More”

Stephanie Showalter Otts, Director, National Sea Grant Law Center

“Interacting Ethically with State Agencies”

Drew L. Kershen, Earl Sneed Centennial Professor of Law, The University of Oklahoma College of Law

“Nuisance Lawsuits and Right-to-Farm Laws for Mid-South Agriculture and Aquaculture”

Rusty Rumley, Senior Staff Attorney, National Agricultural Law Center

Location: Harrah’s Casino, 13615 Old Highway North, Tunica, MS.  For hotel reservations, please call 800-223-7277.

Member Cost: Online by 5/9 $270, Mailed/Faxed by 5/9 $290, Onsite after 5/9 $305

Non-Member Cost: $340

Student Cost: $35

Registration information is available here.  For non-attorneys and attorneys not licensed in Arkansas, use event code “CLE751” for online registration.  For any difficulties registering, please contact Kristen Scherm at KScherm@arkbar.com. 

USDA Announces New Efforts to Help Small and Mid-Sized Farmers

Posted March 18, 2014

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced new and expanded efforts to connect small- and mid-sized farmers and ranchers with USDA resources, according to a USDA News Release available here.

“The recent Census of Agriculture shows that there is tremendous growth potential for small and mid-sized producers in the American agricultural landscape,” said Vilsack.  “USDA is taking a hard look at our existing resources to ensure that they work for producers of all sizes.  We’ve adjusted policies, strengthened programs and intensified outreach to meet the needs of small and mid-sized producers.”

New efforts announced include: 

Access to capital, including changes to the Farm Storage and Facility Loan (FSFL) Program to help fruit and vegetable producers access the program for cold storage and related equipment; funding for producers under the microloan program; and funding for hoop houses.

Risk management, including developing a whole farm insurance policy for highly-diversified producers.

Locating market opportunities, including new coordinators to connect producers with the Farm to School program.

Food safety, including launching pilot programs in five states to help small and mid-sized farmers achieve Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification.

Educational resource and outreach efforts, including a “Learning Guide Series” specifically for small and mid-sized farmers and “Small Scale Solutions for Your Farm” for small livestock and fruit and vegetable producers.

Expansion or modifications for certain programs through the 2014 Farm Bill, including the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, Value-Added Producer Grant Program, and the Farmers Market and Local food Promotion Program.

Additional information on USDA’s Small and Mid-Sized Farmer Resources is available here.

The National Agricultural Law Center offers more information on agricultural finance and credit, risk management, food safety, local food systems, and the 2014 Farm Bill.

Christmas Tree, Organic Growers Find Help in Farm Bill

Posted February 11, 2014

Christmas tree and organic growers have found helpful provisions in the newly enacted farm bill, which took over two years of debate and negotiations to be approved by Congress, according to a Capital Press article available here.

Christmas tree growers experiencing slow sales and competition from artificial trees sought to establish a program to pay for media marketing and cross-promotional campaigns.  While the USDA was set to approve the program, in November 2011, the Heritage Foundation portrayed the fee as the Obama administration’s “tax” on Christmas.  As a result, the program was tabled. 

“It had nothing to do the Obama administration at all,” said Bryan Ostlund, of the Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Association.  “It blew up in the press like none of us had ever seen before and probably never will again.  It was something to behold.”

When the farm bill began moving through Congress, U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR), lead the move to include the Christmas tree assessment in the farm bill approved by the House of Representatives.  Oregon leads the nation in Christmas tree production with about 6.4 million harvested annually and sales valued at $110 million.

Organic growers have also found relief in the new farm bill in funding for research and funding to enforce organic standards, according to an article by the Oregonian available here.  Organic farmers will also find improved crop insurance benefits.

For more information on farm bills and crop insurance, please visit the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here and here.

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Issues Two Marketing Order Final Rules

Posted August 23, 2013

 

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) recently issued two marketing order final rules affecting cranberry and avocado growers, handlers, and consumers. 

 

According to the Federal Register notice, available here, the final rule, “Cranberries Grown in States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Long Island in the State of New York; Revising Determination of Sales History” modifies sales history calculations so they are “applicable for future seasons and adjusts the number of years that can be considered when determining the highest four years of past sales.”  The rule was changed to improve the accuracy of representing grower sales because “calculated sales history impacts the amount of allotment received under volume regulation.”

The second final rule, “Avocados Grown in South Florida; Change in Minimum Grade Requirements,” increases the minimum grade requirements currently prescribed under the Florida avocado marketing order.  According to the notice, available here, the rule increases the current minimum grade requirement form a “U.S. No. 2 to a U.S. Combination grade for avocados shipped to destinations outside of the production area.”  This change “aligns marketing order regulations with current industry practices the benefit of growers, handlers, and consumers.”

For more information on federal marketing orders, please visit the National Agricultural Law Center website, here.

Agriculture Industry Wants to Override Veto on North Carolina Immigration Bill

Posted August 20, 2013

In addition to the debate in Congress over immigration, the North Carolina legislature passed an immigration bill, which was recently vetoed by the state’s governor, Pat McCrory.  According a PR Newswire article, available here, the North Carolina Farm Bureau is garnering support for a veto override when the General Assembly reconvenes.   The NC Farm Bureau announced “it strongly supports NC Legislators taking bold action to override” Gov. McCrory’s veto of the RECLAIM NC Act (HB 786).  The bill passed the North Carolina House 85-28 and the North Carolina Senate 43-1 during the 2013 Legislative Session.  However, it was vetoed last week. 

The text of the bill is available here.

NC Farm Bureau President, Larry Wooten, stated that a recent report shows “the immense need expressed by our farmers for a more stable agricultural workforce.”  In addition, Wooten cited agricultural workforce survey which showed “more than 60 percent of surveyed farmers have had trouble hiring qualified domestic employees and that nearly one-third reported a loss of income in the past five years due to an insufficient supply of workers.”  He also stated that “one in five surveyed farmers indicated they would shut down their farm if E-Verify became mandatory without a workable guest worker program in place.”

According to a News Observer article, available here, the original bill “would have exempted all seasonal workers from E-Verify, but a late amendment reined that in by setting the exemption at up to nine months.”  Currently, employers are not required to screen workers through E-Verify if they are employed for less than 90 days in a year.  The current 90-day law will stay in place, unless the veto is overridden. 

North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner, Steve Troxler, believes the current 90-day exemption is not sufficient for most farmers because growing seasons are not limited to 90 days. 

House Speaker Thom Tillis blames Washington for “failing to address the nation’s immigration issues.”  In Congress, an immigration reform bill has passed the Senate, while House GOP leaders say “they’re not willing to put the bill up for the vote” according to a CBS News article, available here.  On the federal front of the immigration debate, The Hill reported today that Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) has “kept a low profile on the subject of immigration reform this month” while “others in the Senate Gang of Eight pressure the House to act.”

FDA Announces Intent to Prepare Environmental Impact Statement for FSMA Rule

Posted August 20, 2013

Evidenced by recent posts on this blog, the pace of action and news involving regulatory activity under the Food Safety Modernization (FSMA) is picking up speed.  For information on these other developments, be sure to check previous posts to this blog.  Updates are also available on the National Agricultural Law Center Facebook page and via twitter at @nataglaw. 

Another recent FSMA update is that the FDA has announced its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential environmental effects of the proposed rule “Standards for Growing, Harvesting, Packing and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption” and the beginning of a “scoping process” designed to determine relevant issues influencing the scope of the environmental analysis. 

According to the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Constituent Update, available here, the FDA will conduct the EIS “because it has received information through comments and its own analysis that an environmental analysis is needed.”  FDA “is already assessing the issues that may give rise to significant impacts from the standpoint of the environment and the practicality of the rules and alternative ways to achieve the food safety goal.”  The agency does not anticipate a delay of the final rule. 

According to the Notice, available here, the EIS is necessary for the final rule because the “proposed action may significantly affect the quality of the human environment.”  Public comment has indicated that irrigation practices in some regions “use water that is unlikely to meet the proposed microbial standards for much, if not all of the growing season.”

The proposed rule “Standards for Growing, Harvesting, Packing and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption” is part of the FDA’s implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).  According to the Federal Register summary of the proposed rule, the purpose of the rule is to minimize the risk of illness from consumption of contaminated produce by establishing “science-based minimum” safety standards for fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption.  The proposed rule is available here. 

The comment period for the proposed rule was recently extended to Nov.  15, 2013.  A recent post on this blog on the extension is available here. 

FDA Meets with Farmers Concerned about Water Regulations

Posted August 15, 2013

 

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials recently met with farmers in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington to listen to concerns about upcoming water quality regulations required by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FMSA).  The meeting was part of a larger effort by the FDA to reach out to growers, hear concerns, and explain the implementation of the FSMA. 

A Food Safety News article on FDA’s outreach efforts is available here.  For detailed information on the Food Modernization Act, visit the National Agricultural Law Center website here.  For information on a recent extension of the comment period for two proposed rules, a recent post on this blog is available here.

According to Capital Press, FDA officials visited farms, packing sheds and irrigations systems in these states “to get a first-hand look at how their proposed produce safety rule could impact farmers.”  The proposed rule applies to “any produce that could be consumed raw and affects agricultural water that could come in contact with that produce” and includes limits on bacteria levels.  The rule would require generic E. Coli “levels in irrigation water to be under 235 colony forming units per 100 milliliters for any single sample” and would “also require five consecutive samples to have a rolling geometric mean of under 126 units.” 

According to the article, farmers voiced concerns that FDA’s proposed standards for agricultural water quality “cannot be met and are impractical.”  Some said that that most Idaho waterways could not meet the proposed standard and argued that the proposed standard is identical to the standard for recreational water. 

Michael Taylor of FDA said that “the final rule will be different from what the agency has proposed but he didn’t speculate on what the changes would be.”  Taylor “and other FDA officials emphasized a provision in the rule that allows farmers to establish alternative standards or practices than those proposed if they can provide adequate scientific data or other information that shows they provide the same level of public health protection.” 

The Statesmen Journal reports that Derek Godwin, Mid-Valley regional administrator for the Oregon State University Extension service said many onion growers are concerned that the levels for purifying irrigation water are too rigid and will negatively affect their businesses.  Godwin also stated that “FDA is making a concerted effort to prevent food-safety problems instead of just reacting to them.”

Edamame Meeting in Russellville, AR

On Monday, September 24^th, Rusty Rumley from the National Agricultural Law Center presented at an edamame meeting in Russellville, Arkansas.  The meeting was well attended with over 25 participants representing the farmers, industry, state government, and extension personnel. 

One of those points of interest is the herbicide registration process.  This has been an issue came up earlier in the growing season.  During the meeting the crowd also talked about the possibility of developing crop insurance for edamame which currently has nothing available for it.  During the meeting the group also discussed labeling issues related consumers concerns such as non-GMO and organic labels and the legal issuses surrounding them.  For more information on each of these topics pleas click on: the Pesticide Approval Process, Crop Insurance for Edamame or Non-GMO Labeling Issues.

Promising Peanut Crop Predicted for Mississippi Growers

A video published by Delta Farm Press reports that 50,000 acres of peanuts have been planted in Mississippi this year.


According to the video, this promising crop is being grown for the first time by many of the contributing farmers.

With the highest number of peanut acres being planted since 1943, the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation reported good progress for the crop at the end of June. However, “abnormally hot, dry weather was a concern for growers in many areas.”

To view the full video, click here.

This article posted on July 4, 2012.

June 21 Webinar on Crop Insurance for Southern Agriculture

On June 21, the National Agricultural Law Center will provide a webinar titled, Crop Insurance and Southern Agriculture:  What You Need to Know.  The webinar is free-of-charge and is tailored to extension personnel and southern agricultural producers, but is applicable to anyone seeking to learn more about federal crop insurance. 

The webinar will cover the basics of the federal crop insurance program, a brief update on the crop insurance debate in the farm bill debate, key terminology and resources, and discussion of key legal issues of which producers and extension agents should be aware.  The webinar will also include a question and answer session for the webinar presenters.

The webinar will be broadcast on June 21 at 12-1 p.m. EST. For full information about the webinar, including sign-on instructions, please visit the National Agricultural Law Center here.  For questions regarding any aspect of the webinar, please contact Center Director Harrison Pittman at hmpittm@uark.edu or 479-575-7640.


The June 21 webinar presentation is part of the Legal Issues for Southern Agricultural Producers, sponsored by the National Agricultural Law Center and made possible by generous support provided by the Banks Law Firm, PLLC. The gift was provided by the Banks Law Firm, PLLC to to create a premier legal education series focused on southern agricultural producers and to help promote the 25th anniversary of the National Agricultural Law Center. 

 

Chairwoman Stabenow to Host Farm Bill Reform Teleconference

On Monday, June 4 at 2:15 EST, Senator Debbie Stabenow will host a press teleconference to discuss the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012, commonly referred to as the 2012 Farm Bill.  On April 26, 2012 the bill was adopted by the full U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and is very likely to be considered on the Senate Floor in the near future. 

For call-in information for the teleconference, please RSVP to Ben Becker at Ben_Becker@ag.senate.gov. 

For an excellent and comprehensive side-by-side comparison of the current Senate version of the 2012 Farm Bill and the 2008 Farm Bill published by the Congressional Research Service on May 30 ("The Senate Agriculture Committee's 2012 Farm Bill (S. 3240):  A Side-by-Side Comparison with Current Law"), click here.  For a full listing of the National Agricultural Law Center database of Congressional Research Service Reports on the farm bill and other food and agriculture topics, click here.

Penn State receives $2.3 million organic-agriculture research grant

Researchers in Penn State's College of Agriculture Sciences have been awarded a $2.3 million grant by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to investigate how certain cover crops and rotations can improve production of organic commodities.

Jason Kaye, associate professor of soil biogeochemistry, stated that, "the study's goal is to determine whether diverse cover crop mixtures -- as opposed to a single-species cover cropping -- can enhance ecosystem functions in a corn-soybean-wheat cash crop rotation that produces organic feed and forage."

"There has been a lot of regional interest in these mixtures, or cover crop cocktails as they are sometimes called, so we want to provide farmers with information they need to design mixtures that serve them well."

For more information, click here.

Posted 11/2/2011

USDA Supports Research and Marketing of Organic Agriculture in 18 States

Yesterday, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced 23 new grants to research and extension programs working to help organic producers and processors grow and market high quality organic agricultural products. The grants, totaling $19 million, are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) through two unique programs: the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) and the Organic Transitions Program (ORG).

Merrigan stated that, "as more and more farmers adopt organic agriculture practices, they need the best science available to profitable and successful organic farms. America's brand of organic agricultural goods is world-renowned for its high-quality and abundance of selection. These research and extension projects will give producers the tools and resources to produce quality organic food and boost farm income, boosting the 'Grown in America' brand."

For more information, click here.

Posted 10/26/2011

US Supreme Court Will Not Review Grape Assessment Issue

The United States Supreme Court refused to hear a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on the right of the California Table Grape Commission to levy assessments for advertising according to the Central Valley Business Times.

"Delano Farms Company, the Susan Neill Company, and Lucas Brothers Partnership had sued over the mandatory assessments to pay for generic advertising, contending that it violated the First Amendment."

The trial court and appellate court, however, ruled against the petitioners.  The Court of Appeals stated that the "Commission's promotional activities constitute government speech that is immune to challenge under the First Amendment."

Commission president, Kathleen Nave, said that "the majority of California's fresh grape farmers have looked to the commission to help increase demand for their product."

To read the full text of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Opinion, click here.

To read the Central Valley Business Times story, click here.

Posted: 10/06/2010

Melon Production Trends Toward Small and Local

The New York Times reports that watermelon production is trending toward small and local production, while some growers still prefer their watermelon large and seeded.

Terry Kirkpatrick, professor of plant pathology at the University of Arkansas, tests watermelon for color, texture and sugar content.  A good watermelon "has to ship well, which means a thick rind and a uniform shape."  Additionally, consumers want watermelon that are small enough to fit in a shopping cart or refrigerator and they do not want seeds.  

Watermelon are trending toward small and seedless varieties.  "Only about 2 of every 10 watermelon sold in the United States have seeds."  These small melons have become more popular in recent years and have become economically attractive to growers.  According to Dr. Kirkpatrick, an acre of large watermelons may yield 40,000 pounds, while an acre of small melons yields 65,000 to 80,000 pounds.

Some, however, still prefer the giant, seeded watermelon for flavor and nostalgic reasons.

To read the New York Times story, click here.

Posted: 08/19/2010

Senate Jobs Bill Contains Agriculture Provisions

Yesterday, the Senate passed a roughly $140 billion jobs bill aimed at stimulating job growth in the struggling economy, as well as covering other areas of concern in this time of economic recession. Also included in the bill were provisions that America's agricultural producers might find helpful.

As Sally Schuff writes for Feedstuffs online, the Senate bill included a $1.5 billion agricultural disaster package and a one-year extension of the biodiesel tax credit that is retroactive to January 1, 2010. According to Schuff, the Senate bill will now proceed to the House "as part of the tax extenders legislation." Agricultural leaders in Congress are hoping the bill will move quickly through the House so the legislation can be enacted and farmers can receive the help they need.

Here's how the disaster money breaks down: $1 billion for crop losses suffered in 2009; $75 million in disaster moneys for poultry; $50 million for livestock; $20 million for aquaculture, "and relief for cotton handlers." There is also $300 million included for specialty crop producers. The bill also includes a one-year extension of the tax credit for short line railroads, "and a one-year tax credit for a new markets program [.]"

Hoosier Ag Today online reports that to be eligible for the disaster payments, those suffering losses must be in a county declare a "primary" disaster area by the US Department of Agriculture. The biodiesel tax incentive will allow biodiesel producers to continue with their current work, or in some cases, even expand production.

As Gail Russell Chaddock reports for the Christian Science Monitor, the $140 billion legislation passed the Senate 62 to 36. In addition to the previously mentioned provisions, the bill also extends unemployment insurance, provides support for state Medicaid programs, and "blocks mandated cuts in reimbursement for doctors service Medicare patients.

The House of Representatives passed a version of the tax extenders legislation back in December, 2009. Since the two bodies of Congress used different offsets to help pay for their legislation, it looks like a conference on the package is inevitable.

How long it will take to proceed to such a conference, let alone conduct one, remains to be seen.

To read the Feedstuffs online article click here.
To read the Christian Science Monitor article click here.
To read the Hoosier Ag Today article click here.

Posted: 03/11/10

California and Oregon nurseries sue to overturn a South Carolina regulation

The Natural Resource Report online is running a news release from the Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN) that reports that the California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers (CANGC) and the OAN filed a lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court in Columbia, South Carolina "seeking to overturn a new regulation aimed squarely at blocking California and Oregon nursery growers from shipping their plants to that state."

While the US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has regulations in place to deal with Phytopthora ramorum, or Sudden Oak Death, to protect against the spread of the disease, last year South Carolina passed a bill that prevents California and Oregon growers from shipping to South Carolina unless the growers comply with additional requirements for inspections, documentation, and notice. According to the news release, these state regulations go further than the federal rules. Thus, the two organizations are seeking an injunction to invalidate the regulation.

The organizations believe the South Carolina statute is in violation of the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, as well as the US Plant Protection Act, "which gives the federal government the exclusive power to protect plants sold in interstate commerce." The organizations also believe they have legal precedent on their side since, in 2004, the CANGC "successfully sued the State of Kentucky under similar circumstances."

As Dana Tims reports for the Oregonian online, "potentially millions of dollars are riding on the lawsuit since most of the plant material grown in the two states is exported to markets in the south, east and Midwest. " This is in part why the challenge is being brought--if South Carolina's actions are allowed to stand what is to prevent other states from doing the same?

Indeed, John Aguirre, executive director of the OAN is quoted in the Tims story as stating, "For us, the problem is much bigger than just South Carolina . . . If other state think this will go unchallenged, there's every likelihood that they will start doing just what South Carolina has done . . ."

Since the organizations feel the regulation is clearly in violation of the Constitution, federal law, and the legal precedent is on their side, they are hoping for a quick ruling from the US District Court in their favor.

To read the OAN news release on the Natural Resource Report online, click here.
To read the Oregonian story click here.

Posted: 03/10/10

US to Afghans: Grow Grapes not Opium

The Associated Press (AP) is reporting out of Kabul that US Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who is finishing up a three day tour of the country (his sixth visit to Afghanistan overall), is working towards changing the Afghan agricultural landscape from one where poppy used to produce opium and heroin thrives and is promoted by the Taliban to one where the government is providing farmer support, credit flows, and diversification describes the agriculture industry best as grapes, nuts, pomegranates, and apple orchards dominate the landscape.

This is no easy effort, as the AP reports that currently the Taliban offers what the Afghan government can’t—credit, seeds, and fertilizer to grow a drug that provides five times the profit over a similar acreage of wheat. In a country where 80 percent of the population lives off farming, this spells trouble for US efforts to create structural stability in the country. This is why the Obama administration, in hopes of stabilizing the country, has made “agricultural reforms” the top of the non-security agenda in the country, according to the AP.

Secretary Vilsack acknowledges the challenge, telling the AP ‘“If the Taliban offer something, you have to be able to beat it with something else [.]”’ To that end the Secretary announced the US government is giving the ministry of agriculture in Afghanistan $20 million “to improve the ministry’s capacity on condition that it accept five American advisers.”

The AP reports that Vilsack has confidence in the Agriculture Minister, Muhammad Asif Rahimi, who established a “framework” that will help farmers transition to new crops and techniques.

Because of the value of the poppy trade, the US government feels the need to proceed cautiously in their efforts so not to denigrate already established goodwill and not cause job losses that will alienate farmers. However, Vilsack remains confident in the upcoming and ongoing efforts, pointing to success in the Helmand province, home to 50 percent of the world’s poppy. “Farmers were offered wheat seeds and fertilizer at a reduced cost and the poppy crop was reduced by a third [.]” Vilsack believes similar initiatives could work throughout the country.

Meanwhile, Sue Pleming of Reuters India is reporting that Secretary Vilsack sat down with some Afghan farmers who told the secretary that there is a need for more international aid. Vilsack was meeting the farmers at a fruit export plant in Kabul that was partially funded by the United States. The problems the farmers cited are the same problems that the Taliban takes care of for farmers who grow poppy—a lack of credit facilities, problems getting seeds, and problems getting their product to the market.

It was at this stop that the secretary announced the $20 million in additional aid the US will provide the Afghanistan agriculture ministry to improve the agriculture industry in the country and move farmers from producing poppy to producing wheat and value-added products like fruits, nuts, and vegetables.

Pleming notes in her article that the US has already spent $300 million on agricultural projects in the country and may spend more than $400 million this year. Still the situation in Afghanistan is not good because of the profit farmers reap from poppy production, a profit the US hopes can be replicated through growing new crops that once were a staple of Afghan agriculture.

To read the AP article click here.
To read the Reuters article click here.

Posted: 01/12/10