Sustainable Agriculture News Bulletin
Volume 2, Number 13
August 6, 1993
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HEADLINES:
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION DEFENDS TIMBER PLAN
SUCCESS OF ORGANIC GARDENING SEEN IN PUBLICATIONS
POPULARITY
SCIENTISTS THINK ASPIRIN COMPOUND MAY PROTECT PLANTS
IRELAND BEGINS WIND FARMING
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News Summaries
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CLINTON ADMINISTRATION DEFENDS TIMBER PLAN
Testifying before a joint House committee panel, Assistant Secretary
of Agriculture Jim Lyons defended the Clinton administration's forest
plan. Lyons said the cutbacks proposed by Clinton were necessary
due to excessive logging that had taken place during the Bush
administration. "We realize now we were cutting timber faster than
we could sustain," Lyons said. Tom Collier of the Interior Department
also testified before the panel, saying, "The government knew it was
cutting too much timber. There were numerous reputable warnings."
The White House released a statement this week saying it would ask
the court's permission to resume logging in some Northwest forests
under the condition that the work does not harm the habitats of rare
fish and birds. The statement said that up to 200 million board feet
could soon be released from a court injunction that has been in place
after years of litigation over the spotted owl and other endangered
species. President Clinton presented a plan in July that would allow
some logging in the disputed spotted owl territory but it was unclear
when it would be implemented. "Now we are taking steps to
implement the plan and get timber to the mills," Clinton said in a
statement. "This is really a major step forward in terms of a good-
faith effort to free up some timber," said Representative Bruce Vento
(D-MN) of the House Natural Resources subcommittee.
Environmentalists responded that they were "committed to a
process" that would not harm endangered habitat. "If such timber
volume is identified in the process, we will not oppose a motion to
the court to release that volume," said Todd True of the Sierra Club
Legal Defense Fund. The Congressional Research Service (CRS)
responded it is not sure at this point if the Clinton plan will stand a
test of environment and endangered species protection laws. "The
proposed harvest level is a very substantial drop ... but whether the
decline is sufficient ... to meet the requirements of environmental
laws and regulations is unclear," said a recent CRS report.
Source: Scott Sonner, "Congress-Forests," AP, August 3, 1993; "White
House Sees Path to Northwest Timber Sales," REUTER, August 3, 1993;
"Clinton Termed Close to Accord Lifting Northwest Logging Ban,"
INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY, August 4, 1993.
SUCCESS OF ORGANIC GARDENING SEEN IN PUBLICATIONS
POPULARITY
The success of organic gardening can be measured by the upsurge in
publications that promote the practice. Rodale Press, publishers of
the magazine ORGANIC GARDENING, now calls its publication the
most widely read magazine on organic food production in the world,
with a circulation 735,000. More Americans are turning to organic
gardening, says a spokesperson for Van Patten Publishing, because
"all of the nation's landfills are bulging and many of them no longer
accept plant residues." The company is publishing four new books
about organic gardening. Author Steve Solomon said that the long-
term consequences of food consumption are also a consideration in
his book called ORGANIC GARDENER'S COMPOSTING. "The purpose of
food is not merely to fill the belly or to provide energy, but to create
and maintain health," he writes. The other books are: ORGANIC
GARDENER'S BASICS; ORGANIC GARDENER'S EDIBLE PLANTS; and
ORGANIC GARDENER'S ANNUALS. They are available in local
bookstores or by calling Login Publisher at (800) 626-4300.
Source: James Walters, "Gardening-Organic," AP, August 5, 1993.
SCIENTISTS THINK ASPIRIN COMPOUND MAY PROTECT
PLANTS
In their search for safer alternatives to pesticide, scientists for the
chemical giant Ciba-Geigy say they have discovered a naturally
occurring aspirin-like compound in plants that is necessary to fight
off enemies. Salicylic acid, the researchers say, is essential to the
development of an immune system in plants. They believe that the
creation of a synthetic equivalent of the compound will eliminate the
need for pesticides. "This is a key discovery. This provides the first
definitive proof that this compound is important," said Ray
Hammerschmidt, a professor of plant pathology at Michigan State
University. John Ryals, who directs research for Ciba-Geigy at
Research Triangle Park, NC, said that the goal of a pesticide
alternative will be to strengthen the immune system of a plant,
thereby creating a novel type of pest control. No timeline for
potential product research was given.
In other news, George Kapusta, an agronomist at Southern Illinois
University, said that contrary to popular belief, farm chemicals are
not as harmful as people might think. His comments came in the
wake of a study by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) that
concluded children are more vulnerable to pesticide exposure
through their diet. Even the NAS study does not recommend
discontinuing pesticide use, Kapusta said. And without modern
technology like chemicals, pests could have destroyed many crops in
recent years. Farmers have already begun using fewer chemicals, he
maintains. In Illinois, for example, farmers used 25% fewer
pesticides in 1990 than they did a decade ago.
Source: Teresa Riordan, "U.S. Scientists Closer to Pesticide
Alternative," REUTER, August 5, 1993; Char Kosek, "Midwest Farm
Report," UPI, July 28, 1993.
IRELAND BEGINS WIND FARMING
Ireland recently finished completion of its first wind farm, located in
western Bellacorick. Wind from the sea is being harnessed and
funneled through a peat-generated power station to provide
electricity for 4,500 households. The project received technical
assistance and funding from Denmark, Germany and the EC. "As of
now, it is not cheap. It is dependent on grant aid to make it viable.
But I think we will see it develop. Maybe five to 10 percent of our
electricity will ultimately come from wind power," said Pat Ring of
the Bord na Mona (Peat board).
Source: Paul Majendie, "Ireland Harnesses Wind and Boosts Green
Image," REUTER, August 3, 1993.
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Resources
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THE WAY WE GROW is a new book by Anne Witte Garland
and Mothers and Others for a Livable Planet. The book seeks to
address concerns parents may have about pesticide residues in foods
and suggests ways to protect families. For more information, contact
Risa Bryan at Berkeley Publishing Group at (212) 951-8922.
ACACIA is a circular newsletter that addresses the progress of
sustaf the world speak to their efforts at promoting
a more sustainable method of agricultural production in Africa.
Northern organizations seeking more information should contact
Helene Hollard, Acacia, F-39160 Poisoux, France. Southern
organizations should contact Agrecol, s/c Oekozentrum, CH-4438
Langenbruck, Switzerland.
Conferences/Events
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AUGUST
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NATIONAL COMMUNITY LAND TRUST CONFERENCE, August 5-
8, 1993, Cincinnati, OH. FFI, contact: Institute for Community
Economics, 57 School Street, Springfield, MA 01105, Tel: (413) 746-
8660.
TOUR OF COMMUNITY-SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE FARM,
August 7, 1993, Osceola, WI. FFI, contact: Paul Schaefer, Western
Wisconsin Sustainable Farming Network, Tel: (715) 792-5227.
10TH ANNUAL SUMMER CONFERENCE & CELEBRATION OF
RURAL LIFE, August 13-15, 1993, Amherst, MA. FFI, contact: Julie
Rawson, Natural Organic Farming Association, 411 Sheldon Road,
Barre, MA 01105, (508) 355-2853.
ETHNOSCIENCES INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP, August 13-20,
1993, Sussex, U.K. FFI, contact: Tadue Caldas, Emerson College,
Forest Row, Sussex, RH18 5JX, U.K. tel: (44) 342-824622, fax: (44)
342-824949.
INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON SOIL TESTING, PLANT
ANALYSIS AND PRECISION NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT, August
14-19, 1993, Olympia, WA. FFI, contact: Benton Jones, Jr., Evergreen
State College, (706) 546-0425.
THIRD NORTH AMERICAN AGROFORESTRY CONFERENCE, August
15-18, 1993, Ames, IA. FFI, contact: Dr. Richard Schultz, Department
of Forestry, 251 Bessey Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011,
fax: (515) 294-1337.
PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE, August 16-29, 1993, Orleans,
CA. FFI, contact: Sandy Bar Ranch, P.O. Box 347, Orleans, CA 95556,
Tel: (916) 627-3379.
SOIL MANAGEMENT IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, August
31-September 4, 1993, Ashford, Kent, U.K. FFI, contact: Dr. H. Lee,
Wye College, University of London, Ashford
Kent TN25 5AH, U.K., Fax: (44) 023 381-3320.
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Produced by: Michelle Thom, Institute for Agriculture and Trade
Policy , 1313 5th Street SE Suite 303, Minneapolis, MN 55414, Tel:
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