I used the occasion to announce the IPM funding effort/coalition
several of us have been working to put togehter in D.C. The text of my
speech is posted on the PMAC web page, go to
<http://www.pmac.net/ipmtalk.htm>. Please feel free to post, pass around,
get to reporters, etc the text of this speech. Andy, others managing web
pages -- you have permission to place the text, or part of it on your pages,
just accurately identify the occassion/place.
We are hoping to broaden our coalition working to support a $25
million increase in biologically based IPM research and education -- twice
the increase proposed in the FY 1998 budget. The case for this increase,
and how it would be spent are explained in some detail in the 2/28 speech.
Any ag, commodity, food industry, IPM practitioners, sus ag, or
environmental or consumer groups wishing to sign on to the coalition should
send me e-mail at <benbrook@hillnet.com>.
There will be discussion of whether the Sus Ag Coaliton should
support this effort at the upcoming mid-March Washington gathering. I hope
they will decide -- YES -- since this effort has a good chance of
succeeeding and will generate perhaps another $5 million for systems-based
IPM via SARE. As I see the budget realities, this is the best shot SARE has
for a significant increase in funds.
chuck
Charles Benbrook 202-546-5089 (voice)
Benbrook Consulting Services 202-546-5028 (fax)
409 First Street S.E. benbrook@hillnet.com [e-mail]
Washington, D.C. 20003 http://www.pmac.net