| | Purpose of travel:
To attend and participate in the Legislative Agricultural Chairs Summit (LACS)
Overview:
The Legislative Agriculture Chairs Summit brings together senior state agriculture legislators and elected officials from the United States (US) and Canada to discuss agriculture policy challenges and to exchange best practices. The LACS, through Alberta Agriculture and Food, invited the Canadian provinces to participate in the Summit. This year’s attendance of 200 participants included legislators representing 43 states and 4 provinces, which makes this 5th Summit the largest attended gathering of its kind. The Summit was attended by agriculture Ministers from the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario, and MLAs from Manitoba and Quebec. Alberta attended the Summit for the first time in 2006. Representatives from the Alberta Beef Producers and the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association were also in attendance as sponsors. Attendance by the provinces at the LACS was co-sponsored by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Summit organization. The Summit provides a unique opportunity to build relationships and advance our agriculture interests with influential US state agriculture legislators.
Minister Lloyd Snelgrove attended in his role as a board member for the State Agriculture Leaders (SARL). Minister Snelgrove was elected in 2006 to serve on the SARL board for a two-year term. Minister Groeneveld attended as the Minister of Agriculture and Food.
Objectives of SARL are to:
- provide and promote educational opportunities that advance the interests of agriculture and rural communities;
- educate its members on technology, policy, processes and issues that are of concern to agriculture and rural communities;
- serve as a liaison between members/entities interested in the viability of rural communities and the profitability of agriculture;
- strengthen leadership qualities at the state, provincial and national level; and,
- foster an exchange of ideas, cooperation and coordination in agriculture and rural issues.
Mission Objectives:
The mission objectives were to:
- broaden understanding between the US and Canada;
- enhance our relationship and encourage cooperative efforts with key US legislators;
- collaborate with participating provinces in an effort to influence and move the Canadian agenda forward; and,
- advance and advocate our agriculture and agri-food interests.
The agenda for the LACS was a combination of keynote speakers, panels and roundtables. Main themes included:
- the US Farm Bill;
- global climate change and its impact on agriculture;
- allocating water use;
- dairy profitability;
- siting of livestock operations;
- animal biotechnology;
- bio-fuels;
- international trade issues;
- threats to food security and agriculture; and,
- rural development opportunities in the Farm Bill.
A number of representatives and staff from the House and Senate Agriculture Committees provided an overview of priorities for the 2007 Farm Bill. The targeted date for the Farm Bill to go to the House and Senate is September or October 2007. Speakers stressed that there is less money available to write the 2007 Farm Bill. Of priority in the Farm Bill is $1.6 billion for alternative fuels. The US administration has targeted a decrease of 20 percent usage in gasoline fuel by 2017. Other Farm Bill priorities include vegetables, fruits and nutrition. In terms of Farm Bill expenditures, the “Pay Go” methodology is being implemented – if you increase your “pay” outs, other programs must “go” to address the over expenditures.
United States Department of Agriculture Secretary, the Honourable Mike Johannes addressed the Summit. He suggested that subsidies are ineffective in ensuring the growth of the industry. He stated that the US needed to broaden its scope and consider policies that succeed in the marketplace. He stressed that the US needs to pay attention to trade given its dependency on trade. He also reiterated the focus on bio-energy in the Farm Bill.
A trade panel that included former Ambassador Allen Johnson, US Trade Representative, Victor Villalobos, Coordinator, SAGARPA, Mexico and Steve Lavergne, Director, Western Hemisphere Trade Policy, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada provided a perspective on US, Canada and Mexico trade issues and concerns.
The US speaker focused on the re-launch of the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations and Free Trade Agreements. He stated that US agriculture has a huge impact on global agriculture. Johnson commented that 93 percent of the benefits will come from market access not from domestic support. He suggested a 60-80 percent reduction in marketing loan payments tied to current price and production.
The Mexico overview focused on North American Free Trade Agreement and its positive impacts to US-Mexico trade. Villalobos highlighted the importance of Canada and Mexico as the largest and most reliable sources of oil to the US. He spoke to the integration of the North American marketplaces, the strategic partnership and common goals and interests. Mexico encouraged the US to reduce their trade distorting subsidies and provided the Canadian Agriculture Income Stabilization Program as an example of a WTO compliant farm support program. He also encouraged work towards greater harmonization of Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures to eliminate barriers to trade.
Canada’s speaker, Steve Lavergne, focused on the positive Canada-US trade relationship, highlighted concerns with country of origin labelling, successful re-engagement of the WTO talks, US trade distorting subsidies and the importance of tri-lateral cooperation.
Canadian elected officials also attended a roundtable briefing with Ambassador Michael Wilson. Ambassador Wilson provided an overview of the post election political climate in DC and priority issues on the hill.
Pre-Summit, Mr. Murray Smith, Minister, Counsellor, Alberta Washington Office, provided the Canadian delegation with a Canada US relations briefing. This was also an opportunity to discuss provincial US priority agriculture issues and the approach for the Summit.
Results:
- Advanced our agriculture interests on: Rule 2 – over thirty months resumption of trade, WTO negotiations, country of origin labelling and our national identification system and animal health protocols;
- Met with numerous key agriculture legislators to advocate Alberta’s interests and dispel misinformation;
- Enhanced our network of key US contacts at the state legislative level;
- Worked collaboratively with provincial legislators and Ministers to advance the Canadian agriculture agenda;
- Enhanced Alberta’s/Canada’s profile with the SARL organization ensuring future inclusion in this influential US organization; and,
- Alberta industry’s participation and sponsorship was well received and advocacy objectives were met by the representatives.
Delegation:
Honourable Lloyd Snelgrove, President of Treasury Board and Minister of Service Alberta
Honourable George Groeneveld, Minister of Agriculture and Food
Michael Norris, Executive Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture and Food |
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