Fresh Produce Discussion Blog

Created by The Packer's National Editor Tom Karst

Friday, March 6, 2015

DeLauro, Slaughter Statement on US-Korea Trade Deficit Numbers



WASHINGTON, DC--As we approach the 3rd anniversary of the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (KORUS), the U.S. Census Bureau today released their monthly goods trade deficit data. The data reveals a record-breaking $3 billion deficit with Korea. This comes as the Administration pushes to finalize the expansive, 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement that was modeled upon KORUS.

The data released today does not reveal the full scope of the trade deficit as it includes the re-export of foreign-made goods through US ports. Since entering into KORUS, the trade deficit with Korea has grown by a staggering 72 percent and has contributed to 70,000 jobs lost.

“Any dialogue about U.S. trade policy must focus first and foremost on the impact on jobs and wages,” said DeLauro. “Massive trade deficits, like the one outlined by the Census Bureau today, equate to job loss and a significant weakening of the U.S. economy. Unfortunately, the Trans-Pacific Partnership is more of the same. That is why I do not support the Administration’s continued pursuit of fast track trade promotion authority for the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The overwhelming majority of Democrats in the Congress agree that we will not give away our authority to set trade policy for a massive multilateral free trade agreement that will only worsen the economic conditions for the citizens we serve.”

“Another month, another record-breaking trade deficit with our most recent free trade agreement ‘partner,’ South Korea,” said Slaughter. “We can see why the administration wants to fast track the Trans-Pacific Partnership, because if they have to debate our nation’s trade policy and allow congressional input into the deal, the public will realize that other countries have been eating our lunch when it comes to these agreements. Any lawmaker even thinking about voting for another job-killing trade deal should take a serious look at the data from this Korea agreement and think about whether they want to be responsible for shipping their constituents’ jobs overseas.”

USDA Confirms H5N2 Avian Influenza in Commercial Turkey Flock in Minnesota


First Finding in the Mississippi Flyway
The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza in a commercial turkey flock in Pope County, Minnesota.  This is the first finding in the Mississippi flyway.  It is the same strain of avian influenza that has been confirmed in backyard and wild birds in Washington, Oregon and Idaho as part of the ongoing incident in the Pacific flyway.
Samples from the turkey breeder replacement flock, which experienced increased mortality, were tested at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa confirmed the finding.  APHIS is partnering closely with the Minnesota Board of Animal Health on a joint incident response.  State officials quarantined the affected premises and the remaining birds on the property will be depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the involved flock will not enter the food system.
CDC considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks, and commercial poultry, to be low. No human infections with these viruses have been detected at this time.  The Minnesota Department of Health is working directly with poultry workers at the affected facility to ensure they are taking the proper precautions.  As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 ˚F kills bacteria and viruses.
Federal and State partners are working jointly on additional surveillance and testing in the nearby area, following existing avian influenza response plans.  The United States has the strongest AI surveillance program in the world, and USDA is working with its partners to actively look for the disease in commercial poultry operations, live bird markets, and in migratory wild bird populations.
USDA will be informing OIE and international trading partners of this finding.  USDA also continues to communicate with trading partners to encourage adherence to OIE standards and minimize trade impacts. OIE trade guidelines call on countries to base trade restrictions on sound science and, whenever possible, limit restrictions to those animals and animal products within a defined region that pose a risk of spreading disease of concern.
These virus strains can travel in wild birds without them appearing sick.  People should avoid contact with sick/dead poultry or wildlife. If contact occurs, wash your hands with soap and water and change clothing before having any contact with healthy domestic poultry and birds.
All bird owners, whether commercial producers or backyard enthusiasts, should continue to practice good biosecurity, prevent contact between their birds and wild birds, and to report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to State/Federal officials, either through your state veterinarian or through USDA’s toll-free number at 1-866-536-7593.  Additional information on biosecurity for backyard flocks can be found at healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov
Additional background:
Avian influenza (AI) is caused by an influenza type A virus which can infect poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl) and is carried by free flying waterfowl such as ducks, geese and shorebirds.  AI viruses are classified by a combination of two groups of proteins: hemagglutinin or “H” proteins, of which there are 16 (H1–H16), and neuraminidase or “N” proteins, of which there are 9 (N1–N9). Many different combinations of “H” and “N” proteins are possible. Each combination is considered a different subtype, and can be further broken down into different strains.  AI viruses are further classified by their pathogenicity (low or high)—the ability of a particular virus strain to produce disease in domestic chickens.
The H5N8 virus originated in Asia and spread rapidly along wild bird migratory pathways during 2014, including the Pacific flyway.  In the Pacific flyway, the H5N8 virus has mixed with North American avian influenza viruses, creating new mixed-origin viruses.  These mixed-origin viruses contain the Asian-origin H5 part of the virus, which is highly pathogenic to poultry.  The N parts of these viruses came from North American low pathogenic avian influenza viruses.
USDA has identified two mixed-origin viruses in the Pacific Flyway: the H5N2 virus and new H5N1 virus.  The new H5N1 virus is not the same virus as the H5N1 virus found in Asia, Europe and Africa that has caused some human illness.  Detailed analysis of the virus is underway in cooperation with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  None of these viruses have been identified in humans, nor are expected to pose a public health risk.
For more information about the ongoing avian influenza disease incident visit the APHIS website.  More information about avian influenza can be found on the USDA avian influenza page.

State Secretary Dijksma visits Koppert México



Sharon Dijksma, Dutch State Secretary of Economic Affairs, paid a two day official working visit to México on 2 March 2015. Dijksma was accompanied by 25 Dutch organisations on a trade mission focusing on the agricultural sector. Koppert México was part of the programme.

Dijksma visited Koppert Biological Systems together with Dolf Hogewoning, the Dutch ambassador to México. Rigoberto Bueno Partida, the general manager of Koppert México, provided an extensive tour that naturally included the innovative bumblebee production centre. The production of bumblebees at Koppert México is the largest in North or South America.

'Koppert México's success is partially due to our close collaboration with our headquarters in the Netherlands. In addition to our high-quality standards for natural enemies, our focus on service and quality enables us to deliver our products throughout México in perfect condition,' explains Bueno Partida. He goes on to say, 'Koppert is continuously looking to collaborate with nature in every branch of the chain. This is reflected, for example, in our collaborations with Ceickor Rappel, Ceickor University, and Ceickor Berries. Our relationships with companies like Nature Sweet, Rancho La Mision and Los Pinos are also important factors in our collaboration with nature.'

Koppert's new mission and its tagline 'Partners with Nature' appealed personally to State Secretary Dijksma. Dijksma explained that, in her function, she is responsible for supporting nature and biodiversity. Every day she looks for ways to stimulate the partnership between nature and both the agricultural and horticultural sectors.

During the trade mission, Dijksma spoke with Mexican Agriculture Minister Enrique Martínez about key themes such as cooperation in the field of agrologistics and agroparks, access of Dutch pears in the Mexican market, and collaboration between the poultry and horticultural sectors.

Dijksma not only believes that México is an interesting market for the Dutch agricultural sector, but also that the Central American country offers an alternative to the Russian market. As she says, 'The Russian boycott of horticultural products makes it clear that you shouldn't put all of your eggs into one basket.'

Webcast of U.S. Department of Agriculture Stakeholder Workshop on Coexistence



The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has posted information allowing the public to join a webcast of the upcoming stakeholder workshop on coexistence. This workshop will be held March 12-13, 2015, on the campus of North Carolina State University, in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The objective of the workshop is to advance an understanding of agricultural coexistence and discuss proposals for making coexistence more achievable for all stakeholders. Agricultural coexistence is the concurrent cultivation of conventional, organic, identity preserved (IP), and genetically engineered (GE) crops consistent with farmer choices and consumer preferences. USDA supports the successful coexistence of the different forms of agricultural production and recognizes that each contributes to the overall health of farming and rural communities throughout the United States.

Workshop participants will represent a broad range of interests and experience relating to agriculture. While attendance at the workshop is by invitation only, we invite all other stakeholders and the public to listen to or watch the workshop, which will be streamed as a Webcast online. Webcast participants will also have the opportunity to provide comments on the meeting and on any proposals discussed.

Webcast, as well as audio call-in, information is as follows:

DAY 1 - March 12, 2015 @ 8:30 a.m. ET
Webcast Link: http://mediasite.online.ncsu.edu/online/Play/68e5233e5ef0427c9f6d0c0aef8b3c151d
Dial-in: 1-888-621-9649 or 1-617-231-2734
Event ID: 419052

DAY 2 – March 13, 2015@8:30 a.m. ET
Webcast Link: http://mediasite.online.ncsu.edu/online/Play/604cf39f19954cf3b569226d50b7911a1d
Dial-in: 1-888-621-9649 or 1-617-231-2734
Event ID: 419053
For dial-in participants, you may join the teleconference 5 minutes prior to the scheduled start. If you need technical support please call AT&T Connect Support at 1-888-796-6118. If you require a list of international dial-in numbers, visit http://events.uc.att.com/events/integrate/PhoneAccessPage/OCCSAccessNumbers.asp?ExEventID=4190542