Border Governors' Conference

Border Governors Conference
Phoenix, Arizona, June 20-22, 2002
Issues of Interest from May Meeting

Western Growers Reception – Thursday Night (June 20-2002)

The US Western Growers Association is sponsoring a reception for the Secretaries of Agriculture of the ten Border States during the XIX Border Governors Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. The invitation is extended to the Secretary of Agriculture of each state and a staff member only. The reception will take place on Thursday, June 20, 2002 in the Terrace Suite at the Arizona Biltmore from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Although formal invitations will be sent by the end of the week, please ensure your Secretary (Director-Commissioner) is aware of this event. Please confirm your attendance by June 7^th via e-mail to Helen Lopez at Hlopez@cdfa.ca.gov

Agriculture Work Table meeting – Friday Morning (June 21-2002)

At last year’s Conference in Tampico, several members of the Executive Committee suggested to meet prior to the official Conference meeting. A meeting has been scheduled for Friday, June 21, 2002 from 9:00– 12:00 AM (room to be announced) to review and discuss the final Governors Joint Declaration, Biosecurity Plans, and any other agenda item that is submitted.

Food and Agricultural Biosecurity Presentation and Discussion

During the recent meeting in Nogales (May 2002) it was suggested to discuss food and agricultural biosecurity at the June meeting. This issue is part of Recommendation One of the 2002 Joint Declaration. Specifically, the Executive Committee would like to discuss and share any efforts or information that each state has on food and agricultural biosecurity. In order to prepare a presentation of what each state currently has or is planning to implement, we would like to receive any materials prior to June 10, 2002. Examples could be bisosecurity plans for dairies, risk assessment for food processors, etc. Please e-mail them to Victor Velez at vvelez@cdfa.ca.gov or via fax at 916-653-2215.

Co-Chair selection

The Border Governors representatives recently established guidelines for selection of the Chairs of the Work Tables. The new election procedures request that each Work Table select the Co-Chairs by the end of the Annual Border Governors Conference (with one delegate voting per state) and serve for a period of two years. See attached document containing details of the election procedures.

Prior to this announcement, at the Nogales meeting, the Agriculture Executive Committee recommended that California and Coahuila continue as Co-Chairs of the Work Table for the coming year. In order to comply with the new election procedures we will be conducting an election at the June meeting in Phoenix.