1. Article 27, section 14 of the Agricultural Natural Disaster Relief Regulations was revised.

2. Heavy rains in early and mid-June caused serious damages, resulting in over NT$138 million in crop losses. The COA ratified relief measures for Changhua County vegetable farmers, Yunlin County vegetable, watermelon, muskmelon, and cantaloupe farmers, Kaohsiung County leafy vegetable and green onion farmers, Pintung County vegetable, pasture grass, watermelon, muskmelon, sweep basil, cantaloupe, and feed corn farmers, Miaoli watermelon and muskmelon farmers, Taitung County vegetable farmers, and Hsinchu County persimmon farmers. Cash payments and low-interest loans were also provided to Tainan cabbage, green onion, leafy vegetable, and watermelon farmers. In addition, low-interest loans for Pintung County watermelon and young soybean farmers and Taitung County tomato farmers were announced.

3. Promulgated the Guidelines on Inspection of Imported Maize (corn) for Feeding.

4. From May 30, 2008, the government and Taiwan Fertilizer Co. subsidized fertilizer and absorbed 85% of price increases, while the balance of the increase would be reflected in the purchase price.

5. Promoted several measures to increase food crop production: 1) From the first growing season of 2008, the public grain procurement price was increased from NT$21 to NT$23 per kilogram, while the guidance purchase price and surplus purchase price for grain were also increased. 2) From 2009’s first growing season, farmers can only receive payments for leaving fields fallow for one season, while in the second season that field should be planted or rented through the agricultural bank system in order to revitalize the land. 3) The COA encouraged contract farming of feed corn with incentives of up to NT$45,000 per season per ton. 4) From the second growing season of 2008, the COA ceased promoting the planting of biofuel crops.

6. Assisted farmers of a variety of crops to take part in the food traceability system. Crops with priority are those imported into countries requiring tracing, those with stable distribution channels and whose price can reflect the production costs, and those about which there are security concerns.

7. Pursuant to policies governing weekend charter flights to mainland China and visits by Chinese tourists, the COA encouraged 20 farmers’ and fishermen’s associations to join the Travel Quality Assurance Association and display their goods in Taiwan’s four agricultural goods exhibition centers.

8. Due to weekend charter flights to mainland China and visits by Chinese tourists, airport quarantine measures were enhanced.

9. The Forestry Bureau contracted the private firm Hungtu Alishan to operate the Alishan Forest Railway.

10. Signed a memorandum of understanding regarding Taiwan and US cooperation on fishery and fish farming.

11. Sent representatives to the 78th meeting of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) and other relevant working group meetings.

12. Attended Taipei Food Exhibition 2008.

13. Assisted the Nantou County government in holding a debris flow disaster and evacuation drill.