2004-2005 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

I.  ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH WORKSHOPS RECOMMENDATION

CONDUCT A BINATIONAL WORKSHOP ON ANIMAL AND PLANT PESTS AND DISEASES TO PROMOTE BIOSECURITY, THE INTERCHANGE OF EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION AND MATERIALS AND ALLOW FOR SHARING OF BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.

The Agriculture Work Table Plant Health Committee planned topics for the plant health workshop to include discussions on avocado pests, cotton pests, cactus moths, pink bollworm and Medfly among other issues.

Each border state worked on issues specific to items to be discussed during the plant health workshop.  

•       The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) cooperated with USDA and Mexico Federal and state officials on the development of a pink bollworm suppression /eradication program for New Mexico, West Texas, and Northern Mexico.  Once the program is approved, CDFA will provide the necessary sterile moths from CDFA rearing facility in Phoenix, Arizona.
  

•       CDFA and the Secretariat of Agriculture of Baja California (SEFOA) cooperated with USDA, SAGARPA and the Baja California State Committee for Plant Health on the initial response to the Tijuana Mediterranean fruit fly Eradication Project with equipment and initial release of sterile flies.

•       CDFA provided exotic fruit fly pest identification for the Baja California fruit fly program and provided translation and liaison assistance with US vendors for the program.

•       CDFA cooperated with USDA and Mexico to provide an independent review of trapping, sterile release, and quarantine efforts in Baja California.

•       CDFA and SEFOA conducted one cooperative meeting to mutually update Baja California and California on current pest activities in the respective states.

•       CDFA informed and provided an update and tour of the Avocado Lace bug infestation in San Diego County for Baja California.

•       CDFA provided an eradication update of the San Diego County Valley Center Anastrepha ludens Eradication Project.

•       CDFA provided pink hibiscus mealybug parasites for release in the Mexicali Valley, Baja California as part of a cooperative biocontrol effort.

The Agriculture Work Table Animal Health Committee planned topics for the animal health workshop to include discussions on sharing surveillance information, local animal diseases and rapidly spreading diseases.

The BGC-AWT co-chairs sent a letter to all Border Governors emphasizing the importance of agriculture issues in the activities of other Border Governors work tables and requesting that the other work tables consider the implications of their decisions on the agriculture sector and urge them to seek appropriate input from the AWT on such decisions.  

The co-chairs of the BGC-AWT sent letters to the then USDA Secretary Ann Veneman requesting additional funding for the pink bollworm and Mexican fruit fly eradication programs.  As a result of these letters and the efforts of all Border states, there is an increased awareness of the need for funding for these eradication efforts and great promise for additional funding.

Each border state worked on issues specific to items to be discussed during the animal health workshop.  

•       The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) is working with Mexico to respond to an incursion of the boophilus (cattle) fever tick outside of the quarantine zone along the Rio Grande River to prevent the possible reintroduction of Texas Cattle Fever in animals into Texas and other states.

•       Since the beginning of 2004, 12 TAHC personnel have participated USDA TB technical team reviews that review all Mexican Border States TB programs.  CDFA  and Baja California staff also participated in these USDA reviews.

•       California and Baja California representatives attended the Binational Tuberculosis and Brucellosis meetings in October 2004, February 2005 and June 2005.

•       Dr. Mikolon, of CDFA, participated in the binational Fever Tick meeting in Manzanillo on June 2, 2005.

Members continue sharing information using the BGC-AWT website.

II. BIOTERRORISM EXERCISE RECOMMENDATION

DEVELOP A TABLETOP BIOTERRORISM EXERCISE TO BE CONDUCTED WITH PARTICIPATION FROM ALL TEN BORDER STATE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENTS.

The New Mexico Department of Agriculture obtained  $96,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for accommodations and travel related costs and also received funding from the State of New Mexico Homeland Security Office for exercise related expenses.  New Mexico has also applied for additional funding from the Environmental Protection Agency Border 2012 grant program.  This funding will support the bioterrorism exercise to be held in conjunction with the plant and animal health workshops in the first recommendation.

Each U.S. border state has begun planning for emergency response plans and exercises in their own state.  The learning experiences they have in their state will be an asset to planning the border exercise.

•       The New Mexico Department of Agriculture conducted a Preparedness and Response to Agricultural Terrorism course in New Mexico on May 17-19, 2005.  

•       The New Mexico Department of Agriculture prepared a state emergency response plan and held a state tabletop exercise with all state agencies and the private sector to test the plan.  This exercise will serve as a model for the Border State Exercise program.

•       The Texas Department of Agriculture prepared a state emergency response plan.  

•       TAHC prepared an emergency response plan and participated in several tabletop and functional exercises. 

•       CDFA conducted a training exercise that simulated a Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak from November 8-10, 2004 in Tulare, California.

•       Dr. Mikolon, of CDFA, distributed copies of poultry biosecurity videos and DVDs produced by the USDA/CDFA Avian Health Program to several states in Mexico in order to promote training to prevent spread of Exotic Newcastel Disease and Avian Influenza.

•       California and Baja California have been exchanging information regarding West Nile Virus in humans, birds, horses and mosquitoes.

Members continue sharing information using the BGC-AWT website.

III.  FOOD SAFETY SEMINAR RECOMMENDATION

COORDINATE A SPECIAL MEETING AT THE ANNUAL REGIONAL FOOD SAFETY SUMMIT IN ENSENADA, BAJA CALIFORNIA.

Representatives from California and Baja California participated in the annual Food Safety Seminar in Ensenada conducted by the Baja California Secretariat of Agriculture in August of 2004.

Dr. Mikolon, of CDFA, gave a lecture during the seminar on Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy and its implications for food safety.

Members continue sharing information using the BGC-AWT website.