December 2011
As 2011 winds to a close we look back on the legislative year and prepare for 2012. While this was the first budget enacted before July 1, it was littered with gimmicks and far too optimistic revenue projections. In order to allow for the budget to be financed and revenue warrants to be issued to the state (essential for cash flow purposes) the budget had to include automatic spending cuts enacted by a trigger. The trigger is “pulled” if the revenue projections fall below expectations. The Legislative Analyst Office has already stated that revenues are running over $3 billion below projections and the Director of Finance will release her findings on December 15th. All indications are that the “triggers” will be pulled, requiring mid-year budget cuts of $3.7 billion – 40% from education, the rest from a cross section of programs.
Impacts on agricultural interests from the current budget are significant including $19 million in general fund cuts to the Department of Food and Agriculture from a cross section of programs from pest inspection and prevention, increased fees for phytosanitary certificates, elimination of the $32 million for the state’s fair system and fee increases in many agencies that impact business and agriculture most notably $24 million increase in fees at the Water Resources Control Board. The association is actively meeting with the Department and our industry allies assessing what additional potential negative impacts from the triggers.
The Governor completed his first bill signing of his third term on Sunday October 9th. His overall veto percentage was low, 14.36 percent. Number of bills considered by the Governor was 870. Typical with Governor Brown, there was not a clear pattern with bills, but he was clearly more friendly to unions and public employees.
For agriculture it was a mixed bag. After vetoing the “card check for ag bill” in the summer, the Governor signed SB 126 (Steinberg) which retains the secret ballot but upon a finding by the ALRB of an unfair labor practice during the election that rises to a level where a fair election cannot be held, the ALRB can certify a union as the sole representative for that workplace.
Click here for full article....
NOP regulations expressly prohibit the use of GMOs in organic production and handling, defining it as an "excluded method" (7 CFR 205.105). Excluded methods include:
A variety of methods to genetically modify organisms or influence their growth and development by means that are not possible under natural conditions or processes and are not considered compatible with organic production. Such methods include cell fusion, microencapsulation and macroencapsulation, and recombinant DNA technology (including gene deletion, gene doubling, introducing a foreign gene, and changing the positions of genes when achieved by recombinant DNA technology). Such methods do not include the use of traditional breeding, conjugation, fermentation, hybridization, in vitro fertilization, or tissue culture. (7 CFR § 205.2-Terms defined)
Compliance with the organic standards entails that operations have verifiable practices in place to avoid contact with GMOs. Since organic certification is process-based, presence of detectable GMO residues alone does not necessarily constitute a violation of the regulation.
The NOP relies on organic certifiers and producers to determine preventative practices that would most effectively prevent contact with GMOs on an organic operation. The policy memo addresses frequently asked questions and will be incorporated in the next update of the NOP Program Handbook, scheduled for publication in the spring of 2011.
To view the entire memo go to
http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5090396
The April 2011 “Items of Interest in Seed”is now available at www.ams.usda.gov/seed or you can go directly to the IOI using the link below;
http://www.ams.usda.gov/2011IOI
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Thank you for your interest and support of our programs.
(To access CAST publication go to : http://www.cast-science.org/publications.asp and scroll down the list)
Implications of Gene Flow in the Scale-up and Commercial Use of Biotechnology-derived Crops: Economic and Policy Considerations
Issue Paper
This Issue Paper identifies the nature of gene flow and discusses the relatively limited situations in which it is likely to cause economic problems in the production of commercial biotech crops. The paper explains how gene flow relates to adventitious presence, describes the biological traits being imparted into biotech crops, summarizes present risk assessment and regulatory mechanisms, and discusses potential economic effects and policy and research ramifications of gene flow of commercial biotech crops. Chair: David Gealy, USDA--Agricultural Research Service, Stuttgart, Arkansas. IP 37, December 2007, 24 pp., FREE. Available online (www.cast-science.org)
Gene Flow in Alfalfa: Biology, Mitigation, and Potential Impact on Production
Special Publication
This Special Publication describes the biology and agronomic practices in alfalfa that should be considered in developing coexistence strategies to allow growers to have choices, specifically between genetically engineered (GE), conventional, and GE-sensitive markets in the United States. These strategies are based on science and are a direct extension of well-established coexistence principles routinely used by seed growers. The management practices currently being used by growers of Roundup Ready alfalfa seed are presented as an example of strategies developed by the alfalfa seed industry that allow coexistence of different production systems. Chair: Allen E. Van Deynze, Seed Biotechnology Center, University of California, Davis. SP28, September 2008, 30.
The 2nd Annual CSA Flower Seed Tour was a grand success, with 30 students and advisors representing CSU Chico, CSU Fresno, Cal Poly Pomona and UC Davis. The one day event on April 1st was no “April Fools Day” joke. The tour took them to Syngenta Flowers, Sakata Seed, American Takii and McShanes Nursery where they enjoyed the flower seed industries’ annual showcase event “Spring Flower Trials”. Thank you to the CSA members who organized and planned this much anticipated event; Matt Linder, Bonnie Marquardt, Alecia Troy and Steve McShane with an extra special thanks to Matt at Sakata for arranging for a delicious Italian lunch for us to enjoy among the flowers.
We have already received thank you notes from some of the students expressing their appreciation for the event and their hope that it will be continued in future years. Please enjoy the letter from one of our student members Randi Jimenez and then be sure to sign up for Bocce Ball or Golf at our October Mid Year meeting to help support these important programs.
If you would like to become involved with planning the next tour our Fall Seed Tour September 7-8 in Yolo County please contact Matt Linder or Betsy Peterson.
At the recent CSA Flower Seed Tour Syngenta Flowers announced that they are pleased to offer 2 new scholarships for college students.
"The Glenn Goldsmith Breeding Excellence Scholarship" for a student working toward a degree in plant breeding and "The Goldsmith Seeds Floriculture Business Advancement Scholarship" for a student working toward a degree in ornamental horticulture business.
The two scholarship recipients will each be awarded $7,500! Please pass this on to a student you know who fits the eligibility requirements and encourage them to apply by the June 15, 2011 deadline.
For more details please see the attached flyer.
Agricultural Energy Consumer Association
Management Report
A Month in Review - February 2011
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has just announced the partial deregulation of Roundup Ready® sugar beets which will allow growers to plant them this spring. Attached is the APHIS announcement and details, including terms and conditions, of the decision. I will forward more information as it becomes available.
Links:
APHIS RR Sugarbeet Partial Deregulation.pdf
fFAQ Sugarbeets 2011.pdf
The Cal-HIP Steering Committee held a quarterly meeting by conference call earlier this week to discuss proposals for the long term role and ultimate goals of the steering committee moving forward. Betsy Peterson is one of the charter members of the Steering Committee representing the California Seed Association, California State Floral Association and more recently the California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers. The Steering Committee has been meeting for the last five years and a great deal has been accomplished by this group during that time. We discussed how we should move forward into the next phase of the program how that might change the role of the Steering Committee.
it was deemed important that as PlantRight prepares to enter an implementation phase of the Weed Risk Assessment, (WRA) tool/Invasive-Free Certification program that the Steering Committee maintain structure and continue to meet on a regular basis. The group agreed that the Cal-HIP steering committee will continue to exist as an entity that represents the broader interests of the various stakeholder groups on critical decision points and to oversee the program. The Cal-HIP/PlantRight project manager will update and inform the Cal-HIP steering committee on the progress towards achieving our project goals via quarterly reports. The Committee will continue to meet quarterly with one in person meeting and three conference calls; in addition it was agreed that additional calls may be convened as needed. The Cal-HIP project manager will continue to engage with steering committee members for technical expertise or advice on an as-needed basis and in addition to seek assistance from outside technical experts and nursery industry leaders on an as-needed basis.
The group approved the 2011 goals for PlantRight as proposed by the Cal-HIP project manager;
a. Design and initiate the implementation of an Invasive-free Certification Program using the WRA tool, utilizing the Cal-HIP steering committee and Growers Working Group for technical input.
b. Identify and secure short and long term funding for the Invasive-free Certification Program.
c. Pursue partnerships with as many of the 50 priority grower and retailers as possible, refine the list as needed.
d. Conduct a statistically significant, annual, and statewide retail nursery survey to measure metrics identified by Sustainable Conservation’s Board of Directors and Cal-HIP Steering Committee.
e. Update content on PlantRight website; build site capacity for nursery survey volunteers and WRA program.
We welcome the input from growers during the process of designing and implementing the Invasive–free Certification Program. If you are interested please contact Betsy Peterson at bpeterson@cgfa.org to learn more about how you can participate.
(click here for Cal-HIP Reort 11 2010)
On April 19, the National Organic Program (NOP) issued clarification on the use of green waste and green waste compost produced from approved feedstocks in organic production systems. It reiterates NOP support of the use of composted plant and animal materials to maintain or improve soil organic matter, as supported by the regulations. The guidance clarifies what can comprise compost allowable in organic production systems, including approved feedstocks, and addresses the issue of residual pesticide levels that can be present in green waste and green waste compost. The a pdf of the guidance document (NOP 5016) is attached.
If you are responsible for labeling any seed that is chemically treated make sure that you are following the regulations as defined in the Federal Seed Act, (FSA). The FSA has very specific labeling requirements for labeling treated seed. The definition that the FSA uses for treated seed: Act Section 101(23); The term “treated” means given an application of a substance or subjected to a process designated to reduce, control, or repel disease organisms or other pest, which attack seeds or seedlings growing there from.
