Sustainable Agriculture News Bulletin
Volume 2, Number 19
October 15, 1993
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HEADLINES:
- ADMINISTRATION'S PESTICIDE PROPOSAL FACES MULTIPLE
OPPOSITION
- PRESIDENT REACHES LOGGING AGREEMENT, RELEASES SOME BOARD
FOR SALES
- HIGHER GRAZING FEES PROPOSED, PASSED
- USDA RESEARCHING POWDER TO STOP RUNOFF, EROSION
- USDA TO SURVEY CHEMICAL USE AMONG FRUIT GROWERS
- UNIVERSITY OF MN RESEARCHERS SAY EARLY NITROGEN
APPLICATIONS CAN BE HARMFUL
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News Summaries
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ADMINISTRATION'S PESTICIDE PROPOSAL FACES MULTIPLE
OPPOSITION
The administration's recent pesticide reform proposal faces
opposition from several fronts. Many farmers, chemical
manufacturers and food processors say that the risks of pesticide
residues on food are negligible considering the success of the
country's agricultural system. Environmentalists are angry about a
provision that would not ban even the most dangerous pesticides if
such a ban would cause severe economic disruption. In addition,
because the proposal won't ban pesticides that do not pose a
negligible risk, which it defines as one more cancer case in a million,
it essentially supplants the Delaney Clause which prohibits the
presence of carcinogens in processed foods. Specialists at the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claim that the immediate
effect of the proposal would be that several leading pesticides used
in agricultural production, including atrazine which is a carcinogen,
would be taken off the market within three to seven years. "What
they seem to have proposed is a process for dismantling a food
production system that works. Before they do that, they ought to
more carefully examine the perceived risks they say are out there,"
said Daniel Botts of the Florida Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association.
"The administration claims their new policy has teeth, but we just
don't see it. The long-term policy question is: in 10 years, will
American agriculture get off the pesticide treadmill with this
proposal? The answer right now is no," said Al Meyerhoff of the
Natural Resources Defense Council. "I can't think of a circumstance
where a single pesticide would disrupt production for a crop because
there are no alternatives," said Al Heier of the EPA.
Source: Keith Schneider, "Pesticide Plan Could Uproot U.S. Farming,"
NEW YORK TIMES, October 10, 1993.
PRESIDENT REACHES LOGGING AGREEMENT, RELEASES SOME
BOARD FOR SALES
In a settlement reached between environmental and logging
interests last week, the Clinton administration will soon release 54
lumber sales that have been tied up as the result of a court
injunction. As part of the settlement, 83 million board feet of timber
will be freed up for harvesting and an additional 140 million board
feet will be made available at the end of the year. In return for
smaller amounts, the plaintiffs in the suit, which include a dozen
environmental groups, have agreed not to impede the process and
allow the release to go ahead. Logging groups reminded the
president that earlier this year, he had promised them 2 billion
board feet before the first of the year. Clinton said, "This is a good
agreement, a constructive agreement, and one that I fully support. I
also support the agreement's continued commitment to allow existing
law to work and to oppose any legislative shortcuts that would
insulate the final plan from review."
Both lumber and environmental interests expressed disappointment.
"It's a sad day for the environment," said Tim Hermach of the Native
Forest Council in Eugene, OR. Luke Popovich of the American Forest
and Paper Association said, "The administration promised that
throughout this process they would keep the industry going and
provide adequate volumes. This is a very measly down payment."
"No one is pretending this is a large volume of timber, but this is an
important agreement," responded Secretary of Agriculture Mike
Espy. The agreement still has to be approved by a federal court. The
Chicago Mercantile Exchange reported a $9.20 per thousand board
feet jump in lumber futures in reaction to the agreement.
Source: "Administration Reaches Unprecedented Agreement for NW
Forests," WHITE HOUSE OFFICE ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, October
7, 1993; "Lumber Prices Up Sharply After Clinton Agreement," NEW
YORK TIMES, October 9, 1993; Scott Sonner, "Clinton-Spotted Owl,"
AP, October 7, 1993.
HIGHER GRAZING FEES PROPOSED, PASSED
Last week, House and Senate Interior Appropriations conferees
agreed to increase grazing fees on public lands to $3.45 per animal
unit. The increase was less than that originally sought by the Clinton
administration but would still double what cattle ranchers are
currently paying. Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt had
originally sought an increase to $4.00. Other measures proposed by
Babbitt and included in the proposal are more authority for the
government to restrict ranchers who are hurting the environment;
more control and protection over water on federal lands; a say over
the installation of fences, tanks and other items installed on federal
lands; and an end to grazing boards, which tend to be dominated by
ranching interests.
Representative Mike Synar (D-OK), who fought for increased grazing
fees and better federal land management for years, said, "Today,
Bruce Babbitt became Secretary of the Interior. If we had lost here,
the public would have rightfully doubted our commitment to serious
deficit reduction and true honest land reform." Senator Pete
Domenici (R-NM) said, "I am deeply, deeply disappointed by this so-
called compromise by the Democrats. No Republicans were part of it,
and I fear it will result in unnecessary pain and economic suffering
for thousands of New Mexico's ranchers and small townspeople. It
will irreparably damage a rural way of life." Deb Sease, legislative
director for the Sierra Club, said, "We think Bruce Babbitt has pulled
off a coup in getting the House and Senate to agree on this. It's going
to be good for the public lands." However, Al Schneberger of the
New Mexico Cattle Growers said, "I'm sure they feel proud of what
they've done, but they should feel shame. They are in the process of
destroying the lives of thousands of innocent people."
This week, conferees approved the proposal and rejected an
alternative put forth by Domenici that would phase the increase in
over six years and allow for an economic impact review after four
years. Domenici, Senator Malcolm Wallop (R-WY) and Senator Don
Nickles (R-OK) claim they have the votes to stop the proposal on the
floor. Domenici has also said he plans to filibuster the package. An
aide to Synar said he doubted the votes were there to stop the
proposal.
Source: Keith Schneider, "Pact Would Raise U.S. Grazing Fees," NEW
YORK TIMES, October 8, 1993; Davis Rogers, "Administration Agrees
to Cut Increases on Grazing Fees for Western Ranchers," WALL
STREET JOURNAL, October 8, 1993; "Reid, Miller Strike Accord on
Grazing Reform," NATIONAL JOURNAL, October 7, 1993; "Reid
Grazing Compromise Survives, Faces Senate Threat," NATIONAL
JOURNAL, October 14, 1993.
USDA RESEARCHING POWDER TO STOP RUNOFF, EROSION
USDA researchers are working on a white powder called
polyacrylamide, or PAM, they claim will stem soil erosion and cut
down on groundwater pollution linked to fertilizer runoff. "Sediment
loss has been reduced by up to 97 percent and water infiltration by
about 25 percent during our tests which began in 1991," said Robert
Sojka, with the USDA's Agricultural Research Service lab in Kimberly,
ID. Sojka and research partner Rick Lentz say PAM is a nontoxic,
nonirritating polymer that can be added to irrigation water and has
successfully saved soil in tests on corn and edible bean fields. "The
PAM treatment also keeps fertilizers and other chemicals -- as well
as the soil -- on the fields where they belong," Sojka said. They also
believe PAM could be instrumental in stemming topsoil erosion in
developing countries where it occurs at a rate of several million acres
per year.
Source: Jennifer Loven, "Farm Scene," AP, October 5, 1993.
USDA TO SURVEY CHEMICAL USE AMONG FRUIT GROWERS
The USDA said it will soon begin surveying some 8,000 fruit
producers about how they use chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It
is the second survey of its kind performed by the Department. Sam
Rives, chief statistician at the USDA, said the first survey found that
the most commonly used insecticide is petroleum distillate and the
most commonly used herbicides are bromacil and glyphosate. He
said the data will enable the government to deal more effectively
with issues like food safety, environmental quality and pesticide
regulation.
Source: "USDA Taking Survey of Fruit Grower Chemical Use," Farming
Today, UPI, October 14, 1993.
UNIVERSITY OF MN RESEARCHERS SAY EARLY NITROGEN
APPLICATIONS CAN BE HARMFUL
Two soil scientists at the University of Minnesota Extension Service
say applications of nitrogen fertilizer that are done too early can be
harmful to the soil. Mike Schmitt and George Rehm say some
farmers, like those in Minnesota, should not apply nitrogen at all.
The potential for nitrogen loss is too great, they say. Producers in
other areas should wait until at least the middle of October before
beginning nitrogen fertilizer applications. Soil temperatures must be
consistently below 50 degrees before application begins. "It's a good
time to pay attention to soil temperature. There's a good chance that
nitrogen applications to warmer soils will be lost by dentrification
next spring," said Rehm.
Source: Cris Carmody, "Midwest Farming Today," UPI, October 8,
1993; "Wait for Cooler Soils to Apply Nitrogen Fetilizer," MINNESOTA
EXTENSION SERVICE NEWS/INFORMATION, October 4, 1993.
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Resources
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AGRO-ECOLOGY NEWS AND PERSPECTIVES is a publication
of the College of Agriculture at the University of Illinois Champaign-
Urbana campus. The Spring 1993 issue examines agro-ecology
activities at the University; a program linking farmers and
community sustainable agriculture organizations with the University;
and a report on the Illinois Sustainable Agriculture Committee. For
more information, contact Agro-Ecology, University of Illinois, 211
Mumford Hall, 1301 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801.
UNITY magazine devoted their Summer 1993 issue to the topic
of environmental justice. Articles of interest address the issue of
pesticides and the farmworkers; farmers and their perceptions of
environmental justice; and how Kaye Kiker took on Waste
Management Inc. in Sumter County, Alabama after the company
polluted her community with toxic waste. In both English and
Spanish, Unity is a quarterly publication and subscriptions are
$12.00 a year. For more information, contact Unity/La Unidad, P.O.
Box 29293, Oakland, CA 94604.
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Events
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OCTOBER
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WORLD FOOD DAY, October 16, 1993. FFI, contact: World Food Day,
1001 22nd Street NW, Washington D.C. 20437, Tel: (202) 653-2404.
ALLIANCE CO-OP CONFERENCE, October 22-24, 1993, Spencer,
WV. FFI, contact: Co-Op News Network, Box 583, Spencer, WV
25276, Tel: (304) 927-5173.
SCIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY: RESHAPING AGRICULTURAL
RESEARCH AND EDUCATION, October 24-26, 1993, Seattle, WA.
FFI, contact: Norma Fuentes-Scott, (509) 335-2921, Colette DePhelps,
(509) 335-2887.
FALL CONSERVATION SYMPOSIUM, October 30, 1993, St. Paul,
MN. Sponsored by the Nature Conservancy. St. Paul Student Center,
University of MN, 2017 Buford Avenue, St. Paul, MN 22108.
NOVEMBER
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DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES, November 5-7,
1993, Raleigh, NC. FFI, contact: Dr. Jeanine Davis, North Carolina
State University, Tel: (704) 684-3562.
PENNSYLVANIA COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE
WORKSHOP, November 6, 1993, Dauphin, PA. FFI, contact: PASA-
CSA Workshop, P.O. Box 316, Millheim, PA 16854, Tel: (918) 647-
9123.
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN THE AMAZON, November 8-12,
1993, Kansas City, MO. FFI, contact: Jerry Pitt, (sorry, could only find
email address in announcement) plf@nccibm1.
INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL
LIFE, November 11-12, 1993, Girona, Catalonia, Spain. FFI, contact:
Secretariat, International Symposium on Agriculture and Rural Life,
Mejia Lequerica, 16 ent. 3a, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
8TH ANNUAL SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE CONFERENCE,
November 12-14, 1993, Raleigh, NC. FFI, contact: Dr. Richard
McDonald, North Carolina Department of Agriculture, Tel: (919) 733-
3610 or Keith Baldwin, NC Cooperative Extension, (919) 542-8202.
PUBLIC FORUM ON THIRD APPRAISAL OF THE SOIL AND
WATER RESOURCES CONSERVATION ACT OF 1977, November
16-17, 1993, Washington, D.C. FFI, contact: Linda Keil, USDA, Soil
Conservation Service, P.O. Box 2890, Washington D.C. 20013, Tel:
(202) 720-7728.
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Produced by: Michelle Thom, Institute for Agriculture and Trade
Policy, 1313 5th Street SE Suite 303, Minneapolis, MN 55414, Tel:
(612) 379-5980 Fax: (612) 379-5982 EMail: mthom@igc.org or
mmthom@alex.stkate.edu. In addition to this news bulletin, the
Institute publishes a variety of news bulletins on agriculture, the
environment and international trade. These include: Biotechnology
Bulletin (weekly news bulletins on biotechnology); Trade News (daily
news bulletins on international trade issues); and Farm Policy News
(news bulletins on farm policy four times a week). The Institute
also maintains a wide range of computer-based information services
on the EcoNet computer network. Contact the Institute for more
information.