Events & Activities - Legislative Agricultural Chairs Summit - New Orleans, Louisiana - January 16, 2004

Agriculture Committee Chairs from virtually all States, some U.S. protectorates and Canadian Provinces met in New Orleans for a weekend conference devoted to agricultural trends, opportunities and federal policies. The program, entitled "Where is agriculture headed?", was organized by a steering committee lead by Roger Thomas (D-Kentucky) and Douglas Jones (R-Idaho) and which included Senator Hoffmann. In addition to her involvement in setting up the program, Senator Hoffmann also arranged the post-conference farm tour, something for which she's become well known. "Whenever Ag leaders travel, we have an obligation to see the farms and environmental enterprises that are breaking new ground across the country. There is nothing like putting your feet on the soil to understand how it works." As guests of Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Bob Odom, Senator Hoffmann and her counterparts visited the Tangi Turtle farm and Circle "M" Ranch, an alligator farm. Senator Hoffmann with Robert Odom (l), Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Jim Moseley, Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture Presentation #1 David E. Reeves DVM, MS, a professor at the University of Georgia, delivered a compelling presentation with slides illustrating the challenges faced by US farmers. One of his major points struck home with Senator Hoffmann. "Brazil is a monster food-wise. If we burden our farmers with regulations, we will lose them to Brazil." Senator Hoffmann, who has traveled to Brazil with two Agricultural trade delegations, has voiced the same concerns. Dr. Reeves showed the wide variations in milk prices received by dairy farmers. The shaded areas are former farmlands which have been "developed". Presentation #2 Bob Langert, a Consumer Affairs Representative of McDonalds Corporation, discussed the data that lead to McDonalds decision to embark on a campaign focused on "a socially responsible food supply." He described the animal welfare program in place at McDonalds, including 500 audits of slaughterhouses and packing facilities annually. Langert said "We met PETA head-on when they came to the McDonalds annual meeting". McDonalds will not use animals treated with antibiotics purely for growth promotion. McDonalds is currently promoting leaner meats and conducting a campaign around the concepts of "choices" and "be active". Diane Hoppe, Colorado State Representative and Agriculture, Livestock & Natural Resources Chairwoman. Presentation #3 Dr. Ron Jones of the Tufts School of Medicine and the Jones Group in North Liberty, Iowa, gave a presentation on antibiotic resistance. This is a highly controversial area in the United States, and even more controversial in the European Union. The use of antibiotics in U.S. livestock has prevented exports to the EU. According to Dr. Jones, most data suggest a clear relationship between antibiotic resistance and human medical use, but not human consumption of animals which have ingested antibiotics. North Dakota State Senators Tim Flakoll (l) and Eugene Nicholas. Presentation #4 There was also a program on biotechnology. "Many Legislators are faced with bills proposing to ban the use of genetically modified or biotech crops, compelling the Biotech industry to aggressively market the benefits of their crops. Legislators will be dealing with this issue for a long time," said Senator Hoffmann. Advocates state that pesticide and herbicide use can be reduced, while opponents fear cross-fertilization and development of resistant insects and weeds. For a biotech perspective visit www.whybiotech.com. Presentation #5 Bob Wellington, Vice President of Agrimark, was a presenter, at Senator Hoffmann's request. The topic of his remarks was "Where is the Dairy Industry headed?". "His slides were compelling. Lower feed costs, lower capital costs, lower labor costs, and government-supplied water on irrigated land all contribute to huge dairy farms in Texas and Idaho," said Senator Hoffmann. Keeping dairy production viable in the northeast requires evaluating farms for their green space and enhancment of rural communities. Consumers are willing to pay a little more for milk that they know is produced nearby. These slides show starkly the trend of U.S. dairy production by region. (l-r) Senator Hoffmann; Robert Odom, Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture; Jim Moseley, Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture; Gus R. Douglass, West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture. (l-r) Senator Hoffmann; Bob Odom, Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture; and Jim Moseley, Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, discussed conservation programs and trade issues during a break. (l-r) Francis C. Thompson, Louisiana State Representative; Robert Odom, Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture; Senator Hoffmann; Jim Moseley, Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture; Gus R. Douglass, West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture. In the foreground reading is Clay Serby, who holds three titles -- Deputy Premier, Minister of Agriculture and Food, and Minister Responsible for Rural Revitalization -- for the Province of Saskatchewan, Canada. Senator Hoffmann discussed beef policy at great length with the Canadian attendees, who are anxious to have the border reopened following the Canadian BSE outbreak. Senator Hoffmann was surprised to learn that the Saskatchewan government had paid producers in that Province to offset the loss of markets after BSE was found in Canada last summer. $25,000,000 (USD) was paid by the Province of Saskatchewan and another $30,000,000 (USD) was paid by the Canadian National Government to beef producers in that Province alone. The U.S. government pays no comparable disaster grants to its beef producers. (l-r) Senator Bob Jackman of Indiana, Mike Zumwinkle of Cargill, Minnesota, Marsha "Marty" Bowen, Florida State Representative and Agricultural Chairwomen, and Representative Howard Swenson of Minnesota stopped to review the conference agenda. One presentation on renewable energy discussed the benefits of wind power and its advantages as an alternative power source in the United States. For more information visit the U.S. Department of Energy Division of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Senator Hoffmann with Senator Diego Songao (r), of the Northern Mariana Islands and Senator Paterno Hocog (l), also from the Northern Mariana Islands. Day Two Presentations The second day of the conference focused on rural development with a wonderful program developed by RUPRI (Rural Policy Research Institute). Chuck Fluharty and Bobby Gierisch, of that organization, have provided valuable technical support during the development of the Agriculture Chairs Summit, both in 2003 in 2004. The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) is located at 14.10 degrees North Latitude and 145.30 East Longitude in the Pacific Ocean. The Islands are about 1,500 miles or a three-hour plane ride from Tokyo, Japan. The Mariana Islands consist of four large Islands (Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan) and several smaller islands. The Mariana Islands enjoy a large and efficient tourist infrastructure. A series of NBC's wildly popular reality TV show, "Survivor" were filmed on location on the Islands. Many retirement communities have sprung up over recent years due to the Islands' year round tropical climate. Ernesto Sirolli, founder of the Ernesto Sirolli Institute. Ernesto Sirolli described successful economic development programs in rural areas that broke new ground for their ability to link people in sparsely populated areas with international markets. Sirolli, now a consultant, had the legislators rolling in laughter at failed attempts brought out by cultural blunders. He told one story of a project in Africa where economic development experts had helped plant a crop of tomatoes in a particular area, near a river bank which had been previously unused by the natives. The land was wonderfully fertile and the technical pros were amazed that the indigenous population had chosen not to plant there. The night before the crop of tomatoes was to be harvested, a herd of Hippos emerged from the river and consumed the entire crop, which came as no surprise to the natives but was a major wake-up-call to the European-trained economic development "experts". Post Conference Farm Tours Handmade in America. Becky Anderson of Handmade in America, based out of Asheville, North Carolina, is responsible for one the most exciting rural enterprise success stories in the nation. Handmade in America has been written up in the New York Times and other major publications and is responsible for community development and innovations so practical, everyone wishes they had thought of them. Under the handmade in America model, whole communities organize to identify their best resources and options and then work in a united front to achieve their goals, marketing the community in the process. The Handmade in America model also takes pride in turning environmental challenges into advantages. An art colony was constructed in a rural community over a landfill. They used the methane produced by the landfill to power numerous craft activities and physical plants. Miniature Turtles in a basket. Almost all the turtles from the Tangi Turtle Farm are sent overseas, primarily to Asia, where some are consumed as food and some become pets. The breeding stock, sunning themselves at the Tangi Turtle Farm. Robert Odom (l), Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Roger Thomas, Kentucky State Representative and another co-convener of the the Summit, enjoyed themselves at the Tangi Turtle Farm. The alligators are housed in round buildings because when startled, they attempt to rush to a corner and pile onto each other, thus damaging the valuable skins. The solution developed by Circle "M" Ranch is a round alligator house with no corners. Idaho State Representative Doug Jones outside an alligator house. Mr. Jones was also one of the co-conveners of the Agricultural Chairs Summit. Behind him is an employee of the Circle "M" Ranch. (l-r) Teresa Ragusa; Bob Odom, Louisiana Agriculture Chairman; Mike Ragusa, owner of the Circle "M" Ranch; and Senator Hoffmann. Senator Hoffmann holding a 'Gator.' Return to Events Listing