Agribusiness Day at the General Assembly

North Carolina's diverse agribusiness community had the opportunity to meet with the state's legislators during Agribusiness Day at the General Assembly on May 2. The NCFA staff was among the food producers and non-food agribusiness groups present to let state representatives know their wishes as budget talks begin in this shortfall budget year.

NCFA President Jerry Schill, Chairman Billy Carl Tillett, Communications Director Dustin Schrimpsher, VP of Administration Amy Willis, Administrative Assistant Karen Pike, and NC Marine Fisheries Commission Chairman Jimmy Johnson represented North Carolina's seafood industry at the event.

The event was kicked off with a morning presentation featuring Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight, Speaker of the House Pro Tem Joe Hackney, Agriculture Committee Chairs Rep. Dewey Hill and Sen. Charlie Albertson, and NC Agribusiness Council Executive Vice President Lu-Ann Coe.

"We want to take care of our state's agriculture," exclaimed Sen. Basnight. "We want our state's agriculture to look the same tomorrow as it does today; only we want it to have some improvements."
Sen. Basnight went on to point out that much of the scientific research demonizing agribusinesses as polluters amounts to finger pointing by institutions far removed from rural life and agribusiness. "Some scientists say agriculture creates pollution but the history of pollution shows that the bulk of polluting occurs in cities," he said.

When the senator opened the floor for questions Lu-Ann Coe summed up the feelings of virtually every commodity producer present. "We are able to be more efficient because of some of the agricultural programs at our universities. With budget cuts looming we're near panic," she said.

Sen. Basnight was sympathetic to Coe's statement and reassured the audience that he was doing everything in his power to protect agricultural programs, saying, "Ag programs should be protected. We will protect these programs."

Speaker of the House Pro Tem Joe Hackney was somewhat less optimistic about the coming budget. "As you probably know, we are struggling with a budget crisis and North Carolina is a balanced budget state, it's in our constitution," Rep. Hackney said.

"We're working hard to find solutions for the following year. Your opinions on these issues carry great weight so as you're meeting with your representatives today please make your views known."

One audience member pointed out that as time goes by reports of our budget shortage seem to be getting bigger and bigger. Hackney responded that, yes, the latest information puts the previous budget estimates, those released prior to April 15, somewhere between 40 and 80 percent off. "No one truly understands the economy of North Carolina or the United States for that matter," Rep. Hackney said. "But we're doing the best we can."

Rep. Hackney says the Senate anticipates their budget will be put forward by the end of May, followed by the House budget within three weeks. North Carolina can expect the final state budget by June.

Agriculture Committee Chairs Rep. Dewey Hill and Sen. Charlie Albertson each had words of encouragement for agribusiness people. Sen. Albertson assured the audience that he and Sen. Basnight were working hard to give North Carolina's agricultural community a helping hand even in this tight budget year.

Rep. Hill, noting the importance of agriculture to our state's economy urged agribusiness people to maintain a dialogue with their representatives."We have come along way in agriculture. Let's continue to move forward," Rep. Hill said. "We've fought some battles in agriculture in the past and there are many more to come."

Legislators Get a Taste of Ag Extensions

Conversations at NC Agribusiness Day at the General Assembly were dominated by two topics: funding for agricultural extension services sponsored by state universities and maintained funding for NC Department of Agriculture (NCDA).

Services provided through extension services and the NCDA help develop more efficient means of production and harvest for all types of products, help develop new markets, and help North Carolina residence break into existing markets in which the state has not traditionally participated.

The seafood industry benefits most directly from university funded programs through the Seafood Lab in Morehead City, NC as well as the NC Department of Agriculture's Seafood Marketing Section.

Garland Fulcher Seafood donated blue crab meat and Wanchese Fish Company donated Medallion Scallops for the Agribusiness celebration luncheon at NCFA President Jerry Schill's request.

In a letter to members of the General Assembly Schill pointed out that North Carolina is first in the nation for harvesting blue crab and first in the nation in processing blue crab meat.

But, Schill writes, there are fewer than half the number of processors in 2001 as there were in 2000. Our state's crab industry depends on developing new marketing strategies and advancing our harvesting and processing techniques for this historical fishery to remain viable.

The Medallion Scallops are not the giant, whole scallops they appear to be, but actually several small scallops fused together to create the uniform size and consistency that restaurants demand. The process was developed through cooperative project between Wanchese Fish Co. in Dare County, NC State University and the Seafood Lab through a Fishery Resource Grant.

It remains to be seen whether the issues behind these products break through to the elected officials. But several representatives were observed returning for seconds and even thirds of the delicious blue crab and scallop dishes.

One can never truly predict what will convince the general assembly to act but if they put their money where their mouth is agricultural extension and NCDA programs could be saved.

Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight

"Senator Basnight and I….are trying to do something for agriculture even under these conditions," said Agriculture, Environment and Natural resources Chairman and Co-Chair of the Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture Sen. Charlie Albertson. "Please let us know about your needs and concerns. Our doors are always opened." Sen. Albertson said that there might still be some financial hope for this difficult budget year. One possibility he mentioned involves a temporary one-cent sales tax, which the senator says, would go a long way toward correcting the budget shortfall.

Jerry Schill with the North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Meg Scott Phipps at the North Carolina Products Dinner on April 11. The event was jointly sponsored by the NC Commodity Assn. and the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

NCFA is working to make elected officials understand the importance of university extension programs to the seafood industry. (Above) Jerry Schill, NCSU Chancelor Marye Anne Fox, Sen. John Kerr, NCSU College of Ag and Life Sciences Dean Jim Oblinger and NC Agribusiness Council Executive VP Lu-Ann Coe.

Former NC Secretary of Agriculture Jim Graham and daughter, Rep. Alice Graham Underhill

(L to R) NCFA Chairman Billy Carl Tillett and President Jerry Schill, NCSU College of Ag and Life Sciences Dean Jim Oblinger and NCMFC Chairman Jimmy Johnson