Legislature(2001 - 2002)
04/03/2002 01:10 PM House RES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 432-AGRICULT. PROG.COORDINATOR/ANIMAL FEED CO-CHAIR MASEK announced the next order of business, HOUSE BILL NO. 432, "An Act relating to the labeling of animal and poultry feeds and to the agriculture program coordinator; and providing for an effective date." Number 1540 PETER FELLMAN, Staff to Representative John Harris, Alaska State Legislature, presented HB 432 on behalf of Representative Harris, sponsor. He informed members that because the Division of Agriculture [Department of Natural Resources (DNR)] hasn't received general funds in ten or twelve years, some problems haven't been addressed because of lack of manpower and financing. This bill creates a position in the Division of Agriculture to address three existing problems before they mushroom: "organics," feed labeling, and invasive weeds. MR. FELLMAN referred to the proposed agriculture program coordinator position. He suggested the "organic" issue is fairly clear: somebody is needed to coordinate and get qualified to inspect organic farms in Alaska to ensure that they meet federal regulations. There have been some federal regulation changes with which Alaska is out of step now; getting in step with those would be one responsibility. MR. FELLMAN turned attention to the responsibility of feed labeling, explaining that some Alaskan businesses produce animal feed and food for pets, for instance, but that nobody inspects or utilizes a current federal system to guarantee the quality of that feed. This comes into play with issues such as BSE [bovine spongiform encephalopathy], [known as] "mad cow" syndrome, which happens because certain products put into feed can spread this disease. MR. FELLMAN addressed the spread of invasive plants and weeds, noting that this could affect the state quickly and be very expensive to control. Currently in Alaska, some citizen groups and farm groups have used a lot of their own money and time, as well as a small amount of state money - $10,000 last year - to begin setting up a system. MR. FELLMAN cited the "Canadian sow-thistle" as an example of a weed that has spread from Delta Junction to the Fairbanks area. It not only has a rhizome root system - meaning that whenever the roots are chopped up, it produces more plants - but also reproduces from airborne seeds. In his fields, this weed took hold the year before, in a small patch of ground, and killed everything else there. He cautioned that when packhorses are allowed into Denali [National Park and Preserve], the weed will end up there as well. If it spreads throughout the state, it will take over the native population of plants and dominate - not unlike the dandelion, but even more aggressive. Number 1830 MR. FELLMAN clarified that with good program coordination in Delta Junction, there was success in eradicating the Canadian thistle, a purple-topped plant that he indicated is different from the sow-thistle; for that eradication effort, he indicated, the State of Alaska spent $10,000. However, if the state doesn't spend more than that now, in four or five years the state will have to spend millions of dollars [on weed control], as happens in other Western states. Therefore, [HB 432] is to create this new position and hopefully get money to fund it. MR. FELLMAN acknowledged that there wasn't a fiscal note yet, but mentioned that perhaps $60,000 in GF [general fund] money would cover the position. He indicated some federal grant money could be obtained once [Alaska's] weeds are identified and the program is set up. Then the hope is to control the spread of these invasive plants. Number 1944 REPRESENTATIVE GREEN remarked that this sounds as bad as the spruce bark beetle. MR. FELLMAN explained that if it gets into Denali [National Park and Preserve], it will be a real battle logistically to control because of the wind, for example. He reiterated how aggressive the plant is. In further response, he said Alaska has become more aggressive at the border, requiring that seeds coming into the state are certified, for instance. There also is a mechanism for inspecting hay that comes into Alaska. If there were a feed coordinator to watch what is going into the feed, he suggested, and if there were somebody to "target the areas and really find out where this is at, and stop it now," it would save the state a lot of money [in the long run]. Number 2029 REPRESENTATIVE GREEN asked how one person can do this; he surmised that travel all over the state would require a fairly large travel budget, for example. MR. FELLMAN conveyed the hope of having this [coordinator] be the "center of the wheel." He reiterated that many farmer groups are working on this, for instance, as well as the [cooperative] extension service. He told members: What we lack is the continuity. ... We need a person who can get us in touch with the federal government, with federal regulations - a person who can keep us in touch with what's going on at the border; what ... the [regulations] are and how that's affecting us; what's going into the feed; where the stuff is coming in - whether it's coming up on the barge or whatever; and how clean is the corn that comes in, how clean is the soybean that comes in, and so on. And then this person would coordinate. There's already an effort ... within the farmer groups, who have put their own money into this. And the soil and water conservation people have put money into it. So we're hoping that by coordinating we can target the problems and stop them before they become a situation where we're spending a lot of money on it. Number 2123 REPRESENTATIVE GREEN recalled that a person raising cattle on the Channel Islands off California would have every plane that came in spray-cleaned because of the fear of mustard seed, because California mustard does the same sort of thing. MR. FELLMAN responded that other states are very aggressive about this. Number 2150 MARTA MUELLER testified via teleconference from Fairbanks, noting that she is a lifelong Alaskan who grew up in the Matanuska Valley on a "hobby farm" with "chickens and ducks and plants," and graduated from Palmer High School. In addition, she is a seasonal employee with the cooperative extension service. Ms. Mueller said she understands what native plants exist, as well as what is present in agricultural fields. MS. MUELLER spoke in support of HB 432, suggesting that the agriculture coordinator position will benefit development in Alaska. First, by enforcing federally mandated organic-food regulations, it will help Alaskan food producers to market organic foods, because there will be standards that consumers can follow and appreciate. Second, by enforcing existing state noxious-weed codes and reviewing regulations, it can help ensure that disturbed areas - including mineral leases, oil leases, transportation corridors, public recreation areas, and farms - remain weed-free. MS. MUELLER pointed out that working towards this end now are many organizations such as the "committee for noxious and invasive plant management." However, they need state support, and need that coordinator position to ensure that efforts aren't duplicated, and perhaps to see what areas are being neglected or need some help. She also suggested that tourists to Alaska don't want to see the same old weeds here that grow along the Iowa roadside; rather, they want to see Alaska's native plants. Number 2255 ROBERT WELLS, Director, Division of Agriculture, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), came forward to testify, thanking Mr. Fellman and Representative Harris for getting the bill before the legislature. He spoke in support of the bill, saying it covers three areas that the division needs to be more active in. MR. WELLS expressed what he called minor concerns with regard to the organic inspection and certification in the bill, but suggested those could be addressed between the time the bill moves out of this committee and when it goes to the House Finance Committee. He characterized it as "a little bit of getting our law into conformity with the federal rule that's finally been adopted and will go into effect this October." Number 2325 REPRESENTATIVE GREEN asked why Mr. Wells wasn't proposing improving the bill in the current committee. MR. WELLS answered that it was Mr. Fellman's preference that it be handled "on down the line." Calling the concerns "technical," he explained that current state law with regard to "organic" doesn't reflect the rigorous standards included in the new federal rule. He added, "So we've drafted up those changes, and certainly would defer to your wishes about where ... those changes are made." REPRESENTATIVE GREEN suggested the bill should be corrected in the current committee. CO-CHAIR MASEK responded that she wasn't planning to move the bill out that day, and was hoping the sponsor could return with information on the necessary changes mentioned by Mr. Wells. Number 2411 MICHAEL C. PURVIANCE, Owner, Granite Mountain Farms, testified via teleconference, noting that he'd attended a state workshop on invasive and noxious weeds. He asked members to give this proposed program coordinator [position] the utmost consideration; because of the federal financing, Mr. Purviance said he didn't see why this can't be supported. He said he'd only been farming here for a couple of years, and yet already was seeing the invasion of foxtail barley and chickweed, although fortunately not sow-thistle. "We are trying very hard, as [an] organization here, to spearhead this and get this taken care of before it becomes a real problem for the state," he said. "And we've already demonstrated how we can do that. And with a program coordinator, we're going to make sure ... that the hub ... is there so that this program proceeds." Number 2490 LYALL BRASIER, Owner, Brasier Farms, testified via teleconference. A member of the "Delta farm bureau noxious weed committee," he spoke in support of HB 432. Mr. Brasier mentioned his seven-year fight against sow-thistle, which he said hasn't been completely eradicated despite many thousands of dollars spent in the effort. He cautioned that this weed is continually spread to new areas by wind, wildlife, and vehicles. MR. BRASIER suggested that the phrase "invasive plant species" be modified. He pointed out that federal regulations say "invasive species"; that includes not only plants but also insects, for example. Under that scenario, this coordinator could help with the fight against spruce [bark] beetles, he noted. CO-CHAIR MASEK asked whether anyone else wished to testify; she then closed public testimony. She requested that Mr. Fellman talk to Representative Harris and Mr. Wells and then come back with a fiscal note and the necessary information. [HB 432 was held over.]
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