U.S. TOBACCO GAP PROGRAM JANE STARNES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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1 U.S. TOBACCO GAP PROGRAM JANE STARNES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

2 Who is GAP Connections?

3 Where did we start? Thousands of growers GAP GAP GAP Many companies and many GAP Programs One grower attending multiple trainings, keeping several set of records, and subject to multiple GAP assessments

4 Streamline efforts Simplify requirements Create efficiencies Provide a framework for collaboration and continual improvement

5 Non profit Membership Organization Started in by the tobacco industry to help minimize the burden of compliance while maximizing the rate of compliance Knoxville, TN 2013 Company Members (contract purchasers) Non contract Members Associate Members Grower Members Any organization that contracts with growers to purchase agricultural products used to produce consumable products Any organization that procures agricultural products by means other than directly contracting with growers in order to further process the agricultural product and/or manufacture consumable products that contain the agricultural product as a significant ingredient Any organization representing those who have a commercial interest in the agriculture industry (e.g., farm/grower organizations and input suppliers) Any individual grower of an agricultural product shall be eligible for membership as a Grower Member of the Corporation. A grower member must have been actively engaged (i.e., at risk ) in agricultural production for at least three (3) of the five (5) years prior to obtaining membership in the Corporation..

6 Non profit Membership Organization Over 12,000 grower members in 20 states Growers by State Started in by the tobacco industry to help minimize the burden of compliance while maximizing the rate of compliance Knoxville, TN 2013 Location Number of Growers International 4 Florida 23 Georgia 196 Illinois 23 Indiana 209 Iowa 2 Kentucky 5,178 Louisiana 5 Maryland 89 Massachusetts 1 Michigan 1 Missouri 39 New York 3 North Carolina 2,246 Ohio 343 Pennsylvania 1,423 South Carolina 197 Tennessee 1,311 Virginia 690 West Virginia 10 Wisconsin 149 Grand Total 12,142

7 Non profit Membership Organization 15 Tobacco Purchasing Companies 22 Buying Names Started in by the tobacco industry to help minimize the burden of compliance while maximizing the rate of compliance Knoxville, TN 2013 Alliance One International Altria American Snuff Burley Tobacco Growers Coop. Association Burley Stabilization Corporation China Tobacco International (NA) Gallatin Redrying and Storage Co. Hail and Cotton John Middleton JTI Leaf Services (US), LLC Lancaster Leaf Philip Morris USA Philip Morris International R.J. Reynolds Sante Fe Swisher International TH Int l Tobacco Company United Tobacco Company Universal Leaf U.S. Agro Logistics U.S. Smokeless Tobacco U.S. Tobacco Cooperative Inc.

8 Non profit Membership Organization Started in by the tobacco industry to help minimize the burden of compliance while maximizing the rate of compliance Knoxville, TN Associate Members and growing 8 Partners in Compliance

9 What do we do?

10 An industry wide program that aims at ensuring sustainable, economically viable production of useable tobacco and can be defined as: agricultural practices which produce a quality crop wile protecting, sustaining or enhancing the environment with regard to soil, water, air, animal and plant life as well as protecting and ensuring the rights of farm laborers.

11 GAP Connections Unified Approach The one stop shop for growers and companies Review and Develop Guidelines Training and Education Resource Development Compliance

12 Over 240 GAP training meetings in 13 states Over 9,500 growers trained each year in best practices for crop, environmental, and labor management

13 2014 Crop Environment Labor Variety selection for disease control and quality (all areas) Weed ID and choosing the most economical system of weed control (traditional burley and dark area) MH use in sucker control for effectiveness with low residues (traditional burley and dark area) Greenhouse management (flue cured, PA and MD) Blue mold control (PA and MD) Black shank control (flue cured, PA and MD) Leaf disease control (flue cured, PA and MD) Field insect control (flue cured, PA and MD) NTRM (PA and MD) CPA residues (PA and MD) Conservation tillage (traditional burley and dark area) CPA storage (PA and MD) Energy efficiency in curing (flue cured) Use of IPM principles to minimize pesticide use (flue cured, PA and MD) Provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (traditional burley, dark and flue cured) Provisions of the Migrant and Seasonal Worker Protection Act (traditional burley, dark and flue cured) Worker safety and green tobacco sickness (flue cured, PA and MD) FLPG pilot labor training (Selected NC and KY locations) 2015 Variety selection for disease control and quality (all areas) Weed ID and choosing the most economical system of weed control (traditional burley and dark area) Greenhouse management (all areas) Blue mold control (PA and MD) Black shank control (all areas) Leaf disease control (flue cured, PA and MD) Field insect control (flue cured) NTRM (all areas) Weed seed contamination of cured tobacco (flue cured) CPA residues (VA, PA, MD) Pest resistance management (VA, MD, PA) Conservation tillage (burley and dark area) CPA storage (all areas) Energy efficiency in curing (flue cured) Use of IPM principles to minimize pesticide use (all areas) FLPG Enhanced Labor Training (all areas) o Disclosure of employment terms o Disclosure of wages o Transportation requirements o Housing requirements o Farm labor contractors o Child Labor Worker Protection Standards (PA and MD)

14 Training allows growers to interact with content experts and receive materials that will help them maintain and improve compliance Partners Clemson University of Missouri North Carolina State University The Ohio State University Penn State University Purdue University University of Georgia University of Kentucky University of Maryland University of Tennessee Virginia Tech University West Virginia University John Doe 1/24/

15 Focus on Labor Partnership with the Farm Labor Practices Group and the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division Enhanced Labor Training Migrant and Seasonal Protection Act Fair Labor Standards Act Disclosure of employment terms Disclosure of wages Transportation requirements Housing requirements Farm labor contractors Farm Worker Rights Child Labor

16 Focus on Labor Partnership with the Farm Labor Practices Group and the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division Tangible resources that aid in compliance with U.S. labor laws and regulations Interaction with U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour employees

17 Focus on Labor Partnership with the Farm Labor Practices Group and the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division Available at and on the GAP Connections Grower App

18 Over 300 growers were visited for a GAP assessment in 2014 Over 700 will be visited in 2015 to measure compliance with the guidelines and requirements in the U.S. Tobacco GAP Program

19 GAP Assessment Documentation Visual Inspection Grower Interview Employee Interview Auditor GOAL One audit One database Auditor

20 The Future

21 Assessments Beginning in July 2015 Guidelines Review and stakeholder discussion Training Evaluating new topics and methods of instruction for 2016 Farm labor projects Farm Labor Contractor training in partnership with the Farm Labor Practices Group and AgSafe

22 As a clearinghouse between producers and purchasers, we plan to continue to coordinate the adoption and implementation of one set of standards, instead of multiple. Streamlining processes that free farmers and those companies that purchase their products from wasted effort while simultaneously promoting high standards for their industry.

23 Continue to fill in the figurative gaps and connect farmers to resources that aid in the adoption environmentally and socially sustainable good agricultural practices. As a third party industry partner, we aim to create awareness and cultivate positive environmental and social impact through good agricultural practices. We seek to promote production that is competitive, sustainable, fair, compliant, and responsive to changing industry conditions and stakeholder needs.

24 Join Us GAP Connections is a resource and a tool for the entire industry growers, companies, and affiliates. This coordinated effort produces comprehensive benefits that impact consumers, communities, farm labor and the environment. The greater our membership, the greater our impact. W W W. G A P C O N N E C T I O N S. C O M

25 For more Information: (865) Address: 2450 E.J. Chapman Drive Knoxville, TN