H-2B inaction creates risk for employers, ANLA says
ANLA exec. v.p. Bob Dolibois urged Congress to take prompt action on the ag-worker situation when he spoke before a hearing by a House subcommittee: "The failure of Congress to promote viable guest-worker programs, in this case extending the policy of exempting returning H-2B guest workers from the statutory cap as they have in the past 2 Congresses, leaves employers in a precarious situation in the midst of an acute seasonal labor crisis, and leaves returning employees depending on that income to support their families on the outside looking in." Earlier, ANLA filed extensive technical comments on a pair of proposals by the Bush administration to overhaul the existing H-2A ag guest-worker program.
Governor halts LBAM aerial spraying in California
Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced aerial spraying for light brown apple moth would be suspended across the state until a series of health tests on the pheromone used in the sprayings is completed. "To thoroughly ensure the public's safety, the Dept. of Food and Ag. has engaged in a thorough battery of acute toxicity tests," Schwarzenegger said in a statement. "I am confident that the additional tests will reassure Californians that we are taking the safest, most progressive approach to ridding our state of this very real threat to our agriculture, environment and economy." Hours before the governor's decision, a judge had ruled that aerial spraying in Santa Cruz County cannot occur until state officials complete a full environmental review. Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Paul Burdick said CDFA did not prove that the invasive LBAM poses an immediate threat to life or property.
Ontario approves insecticide to battle ash borer
Ontario's provincial government has approved a new injectable insecticide that has been shown to be highly effective against emerald ash borer. The product, TreeAzin, uses an ingredient from the neem tree in India. The insecticide poisons larvae so they stop eating and die. If larvae make it to the beetle stage, the insecticide they have ingested can make males sterile and reduce fertility of females, Paul Bolan of BioForest Technologies Inc. in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, told the Windsor Star newspaper. Bolan said research has shown TreeAzin kills 87% to 100% of larvae, depending on the size of the tree. It's the first registered product available in Ontario for use against emerald ash borer, he said. The material is expected to be used to protect high-value trees such as those on golf courses or trees in isolated infestations.
Congress grapples with estate tax reform
Congress is struggling with the expiration of estate tax relief in 3 years. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., said he wants to reach a bipartisan compromise on estate tax law changes before the current law expires in 2011 and rates shoot up. President Bush's 2001 tax cut gradually reduced estate taxes through 2011 and will eliminate them altogether for 1 year in 2010. But that tax law is temporary and the estate tax rates are due to revert to 2001 levels — a maximum 55% rate — in 2011 if Congress doesn't act. Analysts don't believe Congress will act on the issue during a presidential election year.
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Conn. bill exempting herbs from sales tax stuck in committee
A bill that would exempt herb plants from Connecticut's 6% sales tax suffered a setback when the Finance Committee of the state Legislature failed to report it to the Senate floor. The committee avoided many bills that would either deprive the state of revenue or result in new expenditures. Sal Gilbertie, owner of Gilbertie's Herb Gardens in Easton, had testified before the committee. The state already exempts most foods from the sales tax, "so exempting herbs which are grown to be eaten or to be used as medicinal supplements makes sense," said Bob Heffernan, exec. sec. of Conn. Nursery and Landscape Assoc.
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