JOHANNS RELEASES FIRST FARM BILL PAPER, ONLINE FEEDBACK FORM LAUNCHED

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns released a risk management briefing paper May 8, the first in a series of documents intended to provide factual information and continue the national discussion about best policy approaches in preparation for the 2007 Farm Bill.

The paper offers up three approaches to agricultural risk management in the next farm bill: 1) continue existing farm programs but make them WTO consistent, 2) replace existing programs with one that focuses on revenue shortfalls, and 3) replace existing payments with a cadre of crop insurance products, farm savings accounts, and conservation programs.

USDA said the concepts in the document are based on the more than 4,000 comments received orally and in writing during 52 USDA Farm Bill Forums across the nation. Click here to access the paper.

The next subject for analysis will be conservation.

Also on May 8, the House Agriculture Committee announced the launch of a web-based farm bill feedback form on its website. The form, accessible from www.agriculture.house.gov, allows producers throughout the nation to provide the committee with feedback about current farm policy as well as input about the future of farm policy.

The committee created the form to supplement Farm Bill forums. The 2002 Farm Bill expires September 2007, and debate on the new bill is expected to begin in early 2007.

The information submitted to the committee via the website will not be part of the Congressional Record, but will be shared with Members of the House Committee on Agriculture.

 

OPTIONS FOR MOVING FRESH CITRUS EXPLORED

The Florida citrus industry is looking at three possible options it will need to adapt to if it is to move fruit into other citrus producing states or the European Union.
The options were explored at a meeting Friday (May 12) of the Citrus Canker Technical Advisory Task Force. They are: 1) no Florida citrus should go to citrus-producing states, 2) fruit from quarantined portions of the state (“blocks”) would not be eligible for movement to those states, and 3) a 3,800-foot zone would be developed around positive finds, where only fruit grown outside that zone would be allowed to enter citrus-producing states (or the EU) provided strict regulations were followed. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry is currently working on the last option.

State officials also pointed out at the meeting, which FFVA attended, that many producers are not aware that canker and greening surveys continue and decontamination requirements are still in place, although the focus is now on management rather than eradication.

CITRUS MAY HELP BUILD HEALTHY BONES

Drinking citrus juice may enhance serum antioxidant status and bone strength, according to a study published in the journal Nutrition. Researchers from Texas A&M University assigned 36 male rats to either a control group or a sexually altered group that was divided into sub-groups. Some in those sub-groups were given orange juice as a part of their diet, some grapefruit juice, with the remaining rats consuming no citrus juice at all.

Sixty days later, the rats were examined for antioxidant status and levels of bone formation. Those that were given the citrus juice had higher levels of antioxidants, moderately restored femoral density, increased femoral strength and significantly delayed time-induced femoral fracture.

The researchers concluded intake of citrus juice positively affects serum antioxidant status and bone strength.

Source: Nutrition (22, 5:559-63, 2006)

 

AG IN THE CLASSROOM TO HOLD WORKSHOP

Florida teachers and agriculture industry volunteers are invited to “Discover Florida Agriculture: Education’s Greatest Treasure” at Florida Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc.’s State Teacher and Volunteer Workshop, June 15-17 at the Hyatt Regency Tampa. Registration deadline is Friday, June 2. For details, call (352) 846-1391 or email LBGaskalla@ifas.ufl.edu.

 

ON THE ROAD FOR WORKER PROTECTION

Thanks to farmers, ranchers, pesticide handlers and others throughout the state, the recent series of Worker Protection Road Shows were a great success. Participants of the well-attended events, held in venues from Homestead to Quincy, learned about changes to the federal Worker Protection Standard (WPS). The Road Shows were sponsored by Florida agriculture industry leaders including FFVA’s Environmental & Pest Management Division, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the University of Florida Pesticide Information Office. Find out more in the May issue of Harvester Online at www.ffva.com.