Southern
Region Report January 27, 2005
Pesticide
Registration Fees
South Carolina fees legislation has been drafted and
circulated for stakeholder approval prior to introduction. The draft language
mirrors the negotiated MOU agreed upon by industry in late ’04. Basic terms of
the draft include;
- set annual
fee at $175/product,
- no
increase prior to June 30, 2010,
- designate
fee to support general regulatory, enforcement, and education programs of
Division of Regulatory and Public Service.
- Copies
Available.
Around The Region
Two months post election and an
Ag Commissioner for North Carolina has yet to be determined. A scheduled
January 11th election for Carteret County, where 4,438 Troxler votes
were lost, was ruled unlawful by the NC Election Board. Likewise a Superior
Court judge has ruled against a statewide election and has asked the election
board to reconsider another resolution. The Board may place the matter before
the Democratic controlled state Legislature for their vote on who the
commissioner will be.
Virginia Governor Mark Warner has appointed the State’s
first Secretary of Agriculture, Robert Bloxom. The new cabinet level position
will serve as an advocate for the industry at the highest level of state
government. Current Ag Commissioner, Carlton Courter, will continue to serve at
the pleasure of the new Secretary.
Former South Carolina Ag Commissioner Charles Sharpe has
plead guilty to extortion and lying to law enforcement authorities for
protecting an illegal cockfighting ring while in office. Sharpe, who faced 12
counts, negotiated a plea with federal prosecutors to agree to one count of
extortion and one count of lying to investigators. Sharpe could face up to 25
years in prison and $500,000 in fines. Sharpe officially resigned last week,
forcing Gov. Sanford to consider a permanent replacement. It is likely the
Governor will ask current Interim Commissioner Hugh Weathers to serve out the
remainder of Sharpe’s term.
Southern Crop Production Association