In Case You Missed It: April 29, 2011

Ag in the News Florida Agriculture Department May Take Over School Meal Program A bill that would allow the state’s new agriculture commissioner to decide what’s served in public-school cafeterias passed the Florida Senate today. The bill, dubbed Healthy Schools for Healthy Lives, would shift oversight of schools’ food-services operations from the Florida Department of Education to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services – an arrangement that exists in only a few other states. (Orlando Sentinel, 4/29) Out Front In The Fight On Fat At first, it seems obvious: Recess and fruit keep kids trimmer and healthier than videogames and cookies. But there isn't much that's obvious about moving the needle on childhood obesity rates in the U.S. Nine year-old Ayub Mohamud was gaining weight rapidly when he went to see his doctor at a pediatric clinic here in September. At home, Ayub and his four siblings snacked regularly on candy, chips and soda; a younger brother also was overweight. Ayub ate two breakfasts, one at home and one at school, and got little exercise during the long Maine winters. He had a dark skin coloring on the back of his neck called "acanthosis nigricans," which can be a sign of being prediabetic. (Wall Street Journal, 4/26)   Adam Putnam Joins Call For EPA To Rescind Numeric Nutrient Criteria Like Gov. Rick Scott, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam wants the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to rescind its January 2009 determination that numeric nutrient criteria are necessary in Florida. Putnam wrote a letter Tuesday to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson expressing his support for the petition to that end, submitted Friday by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The petition wants rulemaking authority for nutrients returned to the state. (Sunshine State News, 4/26)   U.S. Judge Says EPA, Not Fla., Must Lead Glades Fix Aiming a legal shot directly across the bow of Gov. Rick Scott’s anti-regulation agenda, a Miami federal judge on Tuesday cleared the way for the federal government to do something he contends the state has failed to do for decades: Enforce water pollution standards tough enough to protect the Everglades. In the latest in a string of blistering rulings, U.S. District Judge Alan Gold reiterated frustration at repeated delays and “disingenuous” legal maneuvers by state lawmakers and agencies he charged have weakened rules intended to reduce the flow of phosphorus into the River of Grass. (Miami Herald, New York Times, 4/26)   Administration To Expand Federal Waterways Oversight The Obama administration moved Wednesday to expand federal jurisdiction over waterways across the U.S., an act environmentalists said would restore protection to millions of acres of wetlands but which business groups fear would make it harder to build malls, homes and other establishments. The administration's proposed interpretation of its jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act, announced jointly by the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, aims to revise the definition of waterways and wetlands subject to federal regulation. (Wall Street Journal, 4/28) Don’t Fall For Scam That Uses FPL Name Dorothy Marble was under the impression the phone call she received last week was from Florida Power & Light. The recorded voice told the Fort Myers woman that as an electric company customer, she qualified for a free energy audit and a refund on her electricity bill made possible through a government program. (Marco Island Sun Times, 4/26) Commissioner Spotlight On Monday, Commissioner Putnam celebrated Agriculture Literacy Day by reading to students at Shady Hill Elementary School in Ocala and Columbia City Elementary in Lake City. This year’s book,  "Florida Farms at Work," highlights different careers related to Florida agriculture. On Tuesday, Commissioner Putnam met with Florida’s 4-H Officers, who traveled to Tallahassee for Florida 4-H Day. Later that afternoon, Commissioner Putnam joined other elected officials at the Old Capitol to welcome participants of Lauren’s Kid’s Walk as they completed their 1,000 mile trip from South Florida. The walk raises awareness about sexual abuse and urges those who have been abused to speak up.  Wednesday morning, Commissioner Putnam met with the Florida Public Defenders Association and the Central Florida Development Council of Polk County. He welcomed students visiting the Capitol for Florida 4-H Day (see photo right). On Thursday, two of the Department’s legislative priorities – HB 663 and HB 7209 - were passed unanimously through the Florida House of Representatives. Both measures will be considered by the Senate next week. HB 663 will designate certain areas of Florida State Forests in honor of and for use by members of the armed forces who were injured while on duty. HB 7209 streamlines programs and creates efficiencies at the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Today, the Senate voted unanimously in favor of the Healthy Schools for Healthy Lives Act (SB 1312). This legislation, which will be considered by the House next week, will move school food and nutrition programs to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, where they will be a top priority. The expertise in nutrition and capabilities in marketing and education enable this Department to bring more fresh and healthy foods to school cafeterias. At the Department This week, in honor of “Bring Your Child to Work Day”, the Division of Agricultural Environmental Services (AES) offered young visitors an in-depth look into what some of their parents and grandparents do at the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. After receiving a briefing on laboratory safety requirements, the children engaged in hands-on laboratory experiments and demonstrations. Students selected from the following curriculum to study while at “AES University”: ·         College of Seed Science – Students observed seed “grow outs” for germination studies and learned how air, water and food transform seeds into plants. ·         College of Entomology – Students learned the basic skills for collecting, handling, spreading, mounting, preserving and displaying insects such as butterflies. ·         College of Feed Science – Students learned how indicators are used in chemical analyses and conducted their own experiment to determine the presence of a contaminant in animal feed.  ·         College of Water Science – Through experiments, students determined the efficacy of slow release coatings on fertilizers.  Students also attempted to dissolve various fertilizers in water, then used a nitrogen analyzer to determine the amount of dissolved nitrogen present. ·         College of Separation Science – Students utilized gas chromatography with a mass spectrometer detector to determine the type of sweetener used in energy drinks and the amount of caffeine present.  A Look Ahead ·         Monday, May 2: Commissioner Putnam will participate in the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Fallen Heroes Ceremony, Tallahassee, FL ·         Monday, May 2: Commissioner Putnam will attend the Fire Service Awards with Senior Forest Ranger Chris Farley, 2010 Florida Forestry Firefighter of the Year, Tallahassee, FL ·         Tuesday, May 3: Commissioner Putnam will participate in the twice monthly meeting of the Governor and members of the Cabinet, Tallahassee, FL ·         Thursday, May 5: Commissioner Putnam will join the Lieutenant Governor and other Cabinet officials during the National Day of Prayer rally, Tallahassee, FL

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