Alternative Agriculture News
Volume 18, Number 3 (March 2000)
Henry A. Wallace Center for Agricultural & Environmental Policy at Winrock
International
9200 Edmonston Road, Suite 117
Greenbelt, MD 20770 USA
Phone: (301) 441-8777, Fax: (301)220-0164
E-mail: wallacecenter@winrock.org
Web site: www.hawiaa.org
* * *
If You Are Interested in Sustainable Agriculture...
In addition to this monthly newsletter, the Henry A. Wallace Center for
Agricultural & Environmental Policy at Winrock International (formerly the
Henry A. Wallace Institute for Alternative Agriculture) publishes the
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture (AJAA), a quarterly,
peer-reviewed journal of research on alternative agriculture. It is a
scientific forum for disseminating technical, economic, and social research
findings about the character and requirements of alternative agriculture
systems.
Fine-scale analysis of soil quality for various land uses and landforms in
central Honduras is the lead article in the new issue (Volume 14, Number 4)
of AJAA. Other articles cover breeding corn for adaptation to two diverse
intercropping companions; the impact of irrigated agricultural practices on
environmental quality and human health in the West Bank; trying and buying
locally grown produce at the workplace: results of a marketing
intervention; and evaluating consumer knowledge of alternative agriculture
commodities: the case of IPM produce.
For U.S. subscribers, one volume (four issues) of AJAA costs US$44 for
libraries, US$24 for individuals, and US$12 for students; foreign rates are
also available. For more information, contact the Wallace Center, 9200
Edmonston Road, Suite 117, Greenbelt, MD 20770-1551 USA; (301) 441-8777;
wallacecenter@winrock.org.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
New Federal Budget Proposes Increases for Sustainable Ag
House Ag Committee to Hold Field Hearings on Farm Policy
Ad Campaign Calls for "Ecological Agriculture"
Fine-Scale Analysis of Soil Quality Covered in New AJAA Issue
Positions
130 Countries Finalize Trade Treaty on Biotech Food
Two Organizations Seek Grant and Award Applications
EPA's Science Panel Makes Plant-Pesticide Recommendations
Resources
Upcoming Events
NEW FEDERAL BUDGET PROPOSES INCREASES FOR SUSTAINABLE AG
The proposed federal budget for Fiscal Year 2001 includes increases for
many sustainable agriculture programs, most notably in the Sustainable
Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. Here are proposed
appropriations for several sustainable agriculture discretionary programs:
SARE: A $10.5 million appropriation is requested, an increase from the
final FY00 appropriation of $8 million. The increase would be used to award
grants in organic agriculture production, processing methods, benefit
analysis, and marketing, and to increase organic expertise among Extension
and other professionals in SARE's Professional Development Program.
SAPDP: A $4.5 million appropriation is requested for the SARE (Chapter 3)
Professional Development Program, an increase from the final FY00
appropriation of $3.3 million.
ATTRA: A $2 million appropriation is requested for Appropriate Technology
Transfer for Rural Areas, an increase from the final FY00 appropriation of
$1.5 million.
OFPA: A $2.1 million appropriation is requested for the Organic Foods
Production Act, an increase from the final FY00 appropriation of $1.4
million. The increase would establish market reporting of organic products,
development of an international certification program, accreditation,
establishment of a system to prevent fraudulent labeling, and extensive
customer outreach.
In addition, the following appropriations are proposed for mandatory
programs:
CSP: A $600 million appropriation is requested for Conservation Security
Payments, the major conservation piece in the Administration's new farm
proposal.
EQIP: A $325 million appropriation is requested for the Environmental
Quality Incentives Program, a significant increase from the final FY00
appropriation of $174 million.
WRP: A $286 million appropriation is requested for the Wetlands Reserve
Program, a significant increase from the final FY00 appropriation of $157
million.
CFSA: A $2.5 million appropriation is requested for the Community Food
Security Act, the same as the final FY00 appropriation.
FRA: A $60 million appropriation is requested for the Fund for Rural
America, the same as the final FY00 appropriation. Its funding had been
deleted for FY00, but was added back by USDA in January. USDA legal staff
have argued that although FRA funding was deleted for FY99, it was
statutorily available to be spent in two years and, therefore, could be
used in FY00.
IFAFS: A $120 million appropriation is requested for the Initiative for
Future Agriculture and Food Systems, the same as the final FY00
appropriation. Its funding had been deleted for FY00, but was added back by
USDA in January.
HOUSE AG COMMITTEE TO HOLD FIELD HEARINGS ON FARM POLICY
The House Agriculture Committee will hold field hearings in March, April,
and May to develop a consensus for reviewing federal farm policy. The
hearings are being convened "exclusively for producers to describe specific
policy issues and to respond to Ag Committee members' questions about how
producers want those problems addressed," according to the Committee. The
hearing schedule is: March 6, Lubbock, TX; March 17, Memphis, TN; March 18,
Auburn, AL; March 27, Raleigh, NC; April 1, West Chester, OH; April 3,
Kutztown, PA; May 1, Sacramento, CA; May 2, Sioux Falls, SD; March 12,
Boise, ID; and May 13, Peoria, IL. Meeting locations, maps, and additional
information are available on Internet at http://agriculture.house.gov. AD
CAMPAIGN CALLS FOR "ECOLOGICAL AGRICULTURE"
A newspaper ad campaign by a new non-profit educational organization is
calling for "ecological agriculture" that produces "safe, healthy,
poison-free food by means that do not destroy the environment." A full-page
ad in The New York Times (February 14, 2000) makes eight recommendations
for making U.S. agriculture sustainable, including eliminating monocultures
and returning to diverse mixed crops produced for local consumption;
reducing soil erosion to natural replacement levels; reintroducing mixed
cropping, cover cropping, crop rotation, and limited mechanization;
reducing use of irrigation through appropriate crop selection; and reviving
rural communities. The ad was sponsored by the Turning Point Project, an
organization formed to "design and produce a series of educational
advertisements concerning the major issues of the new millennium." Signers
of the ads included the Rodale Institute, Organic Farming Research
Organization, and Institute for Food and Development Policy. More
information is available on the Internet at www.turnpoint.org.
FINE-SCALE ANALYSIS OF SOIL QUALITY COVERED IN NEW AJAA ISSUE
Fine-scale analysis of soil quality for various land uses and landforms in
central Honduras is the lead article in the new issue (Volume 14, Number 4)
of American Journal of Alternative Agriculture, the Wallace Center's
quarterly, peer-reviewed journal of research on alternative agriculture.
Other articles cover breeding corn for adaptation to two diverse
intercropping companions; the impact of irrigated agricultural practices on
environmental quality and human health in the West Bank; trying and buying
locally grown produce at the workplace: results of a marketing
intervention; and evaluating consumer knowledge of alternative agriculture
commodities: the case of IPM produce.
For U.S. subscribers, one volume (four issues) costs US$44 for libraries,
US$24 for individuals, and US$12 for students; foreign rates are also
available. For more information, contact the Wallace Center, 9200 Edmonston
Road, Suite 117, Greenbelt, MD 20770; (301) 441- 8777;
wallacecenter@winrock.org; on the Internet, www.hawiaa.org.
POSITIONS
The Wallace Center for Agricultural & Environmental Policy at Winrock
International seeks a program officer to conduct original research and
provide policy analysis on rural development and sustainable agriculture
issues; send resume, cover letter, and salary requirements to HRM, Winrock
International, 38 Winrock Drive, Morrilton, AR 72110; fax (501) 727-5643;
jobs@winrock.org; full job description is on the Internet at www.winrock.org.
Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA) has compiled a
list of farm- based internships for 2000; contact ATTRA, P.O. Box 3657,
Fayetteville, AR 72702; 1-800-346- 9140.
USDA-ARS seeks a post-doctoral ecologist/microbiologist/soil scientist for
the Natural Resources Conservation Center, Watkinsville, GA; contact Harry
H. Schomberg, (706) 769-5631 ext. 222; hschomberg@ag.gov.
North Carolina State University seeks applicants for its summer internship
program in sustainable agriculture in Goldsboro, NC, from June 5 to July
31; contact Keith Baldwin, Department of Horticultural Science, Box 7609,
Raleigh, NC 27695; (919) 515-1199; keith_baldwin@ncsu.edu.
130 COUNTRIES FINALIZE TRADE TREATY ON BIOTECH FOOD
Representatives of 130 countries have adopted a treaty regulating trade in
genetically modified food and other products. Under the Cartagena Protocol
on Biosafety, which was finalized in Montreal in late January, countries
can bar imports of genetically altered seeds, microbes, animals, and crops
that they think may be a threat to their environment. The treaty requires
"stating only that the shipment 'may contain' genetically modified
organisms," according to The New York Times. "Industry officials said
genetically modified crops would not have to be segregated." The treaty,
which will go into effect after 50 countries have ratified it, is the
outgrowth of the Convention on Biological Diversity approved in Rio de
Janeiro in 1992. Because the United States never ratified the convention,
it cannot become a party to the protocol. But American industry will have
to comply with the rules when exporting to countries that have ratified it.
The protocol is posted on the Internet at www.biodiv.org.
TWO ORGANIZATIONS SEEK GRANT AND AWARD APPLICATIONS
The Organic Farming Research Foundation, and the Center for Rural Affairs
with the Consortium for Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education are
seeking applications for organic farming grants, and a new agriculture
research award. OFRF is accepting applications for grants to fund research
into organic farming methods, dissemination of research results to organic
farmers and growers interested in making the transition to organic
production systems, and education of the general public about organic
farming methods. Proposals are due by July 15. Details about the
application process are available on the Internet at www.ofrf.org/grants,
or from Jane Sooby, jane@ofrf.org.
The Center for Rural Affairs and the Consortium for Sustainable
Agriculture Research and Education are seeking applications for the new
Seventh Generation Research Award, a national recognition award for an
individual or group who have contributed to making US agriculture more
sustainable. Deadline for applications is May 1. More information and the
application form are available on the Internet at www.cfra.org, or from
Bradley Porterfield at (541) 687-1490.
EPA'S SCIENCE PANEL MAKES PLANT-PESTICIDE RECOMMENDATIONS
EPA's Scientific Advisory Panel has released its recommendations to help
ensure that the best science is used for regulatory decisions regarding
plant-pesticides and biotech products such as Bt corn. According to the
Associated Press, the panel said "the government should improve its testing
and monitoring of genetically engineered crops to ensure they aren't
killing butterflies and other harmless insects . . . the crops should be
tested on a wider variety of insects than the current four species, and the
EPA should require more data from seed companies on the impact of crops in
the field." The full report is available on the Internet at
www.epa.gov/scipoly/sap/.
RESOURCES
"Inventory of Technical and Institutional Resources for Promoting Methyl
Bromide Alternatives," published by the United Nations Environment
Programme, is available on the Internet at www.unepie.org/ozonaction.html.
"Exploring Organic Alternatives: Meeting the Challenges of Agriculture,
Health and Community" is $30 plus $7.50 shipping from U-LEARN/Extension,
University of Saskatchewan, Room 125 Kirk Hall, 117 Science Place,
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5C8; (306) 966-5565.
Proceedings from "Organic Farming and Marketing Research—New Partnerships
and Priorities" are available from Organic Farming Research Foundation,
P.O. Box 440, Santa Cruz, CA 95061; (831) 426-6606; research@ofrf.org; on
the Internet, www.ofrf.org.
"Marketing Strategies for Farmers and Ranchers" is available from
Sustainable Agriculture Network, Hills Building, Room 10, University of
Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405; (802) 656-0471; on the Internet,
www.sare.org/san/htdocs/pubs. UPCOMING EVENTS
March 28-30, "Managing Nutrients and Pathogens from Animal Agriculture"
will be held in Camp Hill, PA; contact Natural Resource, Agriculture, and
Engineering Service, Cooperative Extension, 152 Riley-Robb, Ithaca, NY
14853-5701; (607) 255-7654; nraes@cornell.edu.
March 29, Salinas Winegrape Conference will be held in Salinas, CA;
contact Jo Ann Baumgartner, Committee for Sustainable Agriculture, (831)
763-2111; on the Internet, www.csa- efc.org.
March 30-31, "Building Bridges Between Gleaning, Food Recovery and
Community Food Security" will be held in Phoenix, AZ; contact Association
of Arizona Food Banks, 4221 N. 43rd Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85031; 1-800-445-1914
or (602) 278-5877.
April 7-9, "Beyond Pesticides: Solving a Public Health Crisis" will be
held in New York, NY; contact National Coalition Against the Misuse of
Pesticides, 701 E. St., SE, Washington, DC 20003; (202) 543-5450;
info@beyondpesticides.org.
April 8, Maine Grazing Conference will be held is Oakland, ME; contact
USDA Cooperative Extension, 967 Illinois Ave., # 3, Bangor, ME 04401; (207)
947-6622.
April 9-11, "Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easements: Foundations
for the Future" will be held in East Windsor, NJ; contact Lynn Johnson,
American Farmland Trust, 1- 800-370-4879; ljohnson@farmland.org.
April 17-18, 23rd Annual National Food Policy Conference will be held in
Washington, DC; contact Consumer Federation of America, 1424 16th St., NW,
# 604, Washington, DC 20036; (202) 387-6121.
April 25-28, 11th Global Warming International Conference/Kyoto Compliance
Review Year 2000 Conference will be held in Boston, MA; contact Dr. Sinyan
Shen, GWIC-USA, 22W381 75th St., Naperville, IL 60565; (630) 910-1551;
syshen@megsinet.net; on the Internet, http://GlobalWarming.Net.
April 28-30, "Driving Rare Breeds in the Future," the American Livestock
Breeds Conservancy's Annual Conference, will be held Williamsburg, VA;
contact ALBC, (919) 542- 5704; on the Internet, www.albc-usa.org.
April 28-May 2, leadership seminar on multi-functional agriculture will be
held in Savannah, GA; contact the Learning Communities Project, (606)
986-5336 or (413) 587-9302; jspencer@centerss.org, or vanzee@mail.javanet.com.
May 4-6, "The Culture, Economics, and Ecology of Ranching West of the
100th Meridian" will be held in Fort Collins, CO; contact Office Conference
Services, Colorado State University, (970) 491-6222;
ocsreg@lamar.colostate.edu.
May 8-10, "The Future of Composting and Organics Recycling," the 30th
Annual BioCycle National Conference, will be held in Orlando, FL; contact
BioCycle, 419 State Ave., Emmaus, PA 18049; (610) 967-4135; on the
Internet, www.biocycle.net.
***
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Farming Connection Web site,
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For information on subscribing to the hardcopy version of this newsletter,
contact the Wallace Center, wallacecenter@winrock.org (full contact
information above), or visit our Web site, http://www.hawiaa.org/aanews.htm.
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