A push to get AQI back to USDA

The Senate will probably get a chance to consider an amendment during the farm bill debate that would move AQI functions back to USDA. The drumbeat of support for the move is heard in this letter passed on by an industry lobbyist today:

November 5, 2007

The Honorable Tom Harkin
The Honorable Saxby Chambliss
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Chairman Harkin and Senator Chambliss:

The undersigned organizations write in strong support of restoring the Quarantine and Inspection functions now at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The 2003 transfer of inspectors previously dedicated to agricultural threats has proven to be unsuccessful. A May 2006 U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report documented that detections at ports of entry have dropped dramatically while the threats have increased. Moreover, the GAO report found that only 21 percent of agricultural inspectors at DHS consistently received timely inspection alerts. In addition, a 2007 report from the Offices of Inspectors General for both DHS and USDA along with a recent investigation by the House Agriculture Committee and additional GAO reviews in 2006 and 2005 all found persistent problems.

Despite many assurances that performance will improve, the problems continue and lead us to conclude that improvement is not possible in the current structure. The threat of pests and disease is too great for us to continue to wait, particularly since the USDA program had an excellent track record. A 2004 Cornell study showed that invasive species cost U.S. agriculture $120 billion annually and continued delay in addressing this issue will only increase these costs.

We resolutely support the DHS’ statutory mission to protect us from terrorist attack and reduce our vulnerability to such threats. Restoring agricultural functions to USDA will simultaneously improve the detection of agricultural risks while permitting those charged with our overall security to focus on their mission that is of the greatest importance.

To protect American agriculture and our natural environment, we urge you to support the transfer of the Agricultural Quarantine and Inspection functions and restore our confidence in this important safeguard.

Sincerely,

American Beekeeping Federation
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Feed Industry Association
American Mushroom Institute
American Nursery and Landscape Association
American Sheep Industry Association
American Society for Horticultural Science
Association of Floriculture Professionals
Cherry Marketing Institute
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
National Association of Wheat Growers
National Chicken Council
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
National Farmers Union
National Milk Producers Federation
National Pork Producers Council
National Potato Council
National Watermelon Association
Nectarine Administrative Committee
Peach Commodity Committee
Produce Marketing Association
Society of American Florists
United Egg Producers
United Fresh Produce Association
U.S. Apple Association
Winegrape Growers of America
Blue Diamond Growers
CalCot Ltd.
California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers
California Association of Wheat Growers
California Association of Winegrape Growers
California Avocado Commission
California Citrus Mutual
California Fresh Fig Growers Association
California Grape and Tree Fruit League
California Plum Marketing Board
California Strawberry Commission
California Table Grape Commission
California Tree Fruit Agreements
California Tree Fruit Marketing Board
Empire State Potato Growers, Inc.
Florida Citrus Mutual
Florida Citrus Packers Association
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association
Florida Strawberry Growers Association
Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association
Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation
Holly Tree Farm
Idaho Grower-Shipper Association
Idaho Potato Commission
Indian River Citrus League
Maine Potato Board
Miami-Dade County
Michigan Apple Committee
Michigan Agri-Business Association
Michigan Bean Shippers Association
Muddy Lake Cattle Company
New York Wine & Grape Foundation
North Carolina Wine & Grape Council
Northern Plains Potato Growers Association
Northwest Horticultural Council
Ohio Apple Growers
Ohio Wine Producers Association
Oregon Potato Commission
Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Farmers Organization
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Pennsylvania Farm Bureau
Pennsylvania Farmers Union
Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association
Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association
Peace River Valley Citrus Growers Association
Potato Growers of Idaho
South East Dairy Farmers Association
Sunkist Growers
Sun-Maid Growers of California
Texas Citrus Mutual
Texas Produce Association
Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association
Virginia Apple Growers Association
Washington Apple Commission
Washington State Potato Commission
Western Growers Association
Western United Dairymen
WineAmerica
Wine Association of Georgia
Winegrowers Association of Georgia