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USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
announced Monday that it has completed work on the long-awaited draft
environmental impact statement (EIS) evaluating the potential
environmental effects of deregulating Roundup Ready (RR) alfalfa. A
public comment period for the draft EIS will begin on Friday following
publication of the announcement in the Federal Register.
As part of yesterday’s announcement, APHIS noted that it had
originally deregulated two lines of RR alfalfa in 2005 and that it
prepared the draft EIS to comply with a February 2007 judgment and order
by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The
APHIS press release pointed out that “the court did not overturn
APHIS’ 2005 conclusions regarding the safety of the RR alfalfa for
food and feed purposes, but rather concluded that APHIS had not
adequately documented potential, or lack of potential, environmental
impacts.”
While APHIS stated yesterday that it “preliminarily” had concluded
there is no significant impact on the human environment due to granting
non-regulated status to RR alfalfa, the EIS draft analyzes two
alternatives for potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts, as
well as human health and safety impacts of deregulating RR alfalfa. One
alternative would be to grant non-regulated status to the two RR alfalfa
lines. That designation would mean the alfalfa would no longer be under
the regulatory oversight of USDA-APHIS and could move and be planted
freely without continued federal agency involvement. Under the other
alternative, the alfalfa would remain a regulated article, still under
USDA-APHIS authority and subject to oversight of its movement and field
testing.
The 60-day public comment period starts Dec. 18 (Friday) and runs
through Feb. 16. To see the draft EIS, visit the APHIS Web site. A factsheet with
frequently asked questions about RR alfalfa and the draft EIS process is
also available on the site.
To submit comments online, go to the Federal
eRulemaking Portal. To submit comments by mail, send two copies to
Docket No. APHIS-2007-0044, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD,
APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD
20737-1238.
APHIS is also scheduling four public meetings to take comments from the
public:
- Week of Jan. 17, in conjunction with the Western Alfalfa Seed
Conference, Las Vegas, NV.
- Week of Feb. 2, during the Mid-America Alfalfa Expo in Kearney, NE,
and the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society Annual Healthy
Farms/Rural Advantage Conference in Lincoln.
- Week of Feb. 8, in the Washington D.C., area.
Exact meeting dates and locations will be published in the Federal
Register and posted on the APHIS Web site.
Read Now
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 Know where to find the best alfalfa? It’s Syngenta for
varieties like Genoa, three-time Forage Superbowl grand champion and
new 6475 with PLH resistance. For these and other Syngenta alfalfas,
see your Garst seed advisor, Golden Harvest dealer or NK retailer.
The Syngenta logo is a trademark of a Syngenta Group
Company.
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The environmental watchdog group that brought the lawsuit resulting
in the 2007 injunction outlawing the sale of Roundup Ready alfalfa seed
will fight to keep it off the market, says its executive director.
“We will mobilize to make sure the USDA knows that the American public
will not allow their right to safe food to be taken away so easily,”
said Andrew Kimbrell following yesterday’s release of the draft
Roundup Ready alfalfa environmental impact statement.
In the draft, USDA concludes preliminarily that deregulating the
transgenic crop poses “no unreasonable environmental risk.”
“USDA’s announcement is simply business as usual, once again
catering to Monsanto’s corporate interests at the expense of farmers
and consumers,” said Kimbrell. “This is a huge disappointment coming
from the Obama administration, which has repeatedly claimed to support
family farms and consumers’ right to know what’s in their food.”
Read more on the Center
for Food Safety’s statements.
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Unfavorable federal loan requirements remain a major obstacle for
companies interested in producing cellulosic ethanol, says Cole
Gustafson, biofuel economist with North Dakota State University.
Gustafson points out that several companies have been critical of
federal loan provisions that were too narrow or favored specific types
of technologies. “There is a wide array of potential feedstocks being
researched for cellulosic ethanol, but most federal loan programs
prioritize feedstocks that qualify,” he says. “This limits the
development of alternative technologies.”
He adds that the amount of loan funding available also is in question.
“Federal loan programs require a minimum of 30% private capital from
commercial lenders or equity. However, in the present lending market,
lenders are reluctant to go this far with unproven technology. Lenders
are cautious following low profit margins that prevailed last year and
forced almost a dozen ethanol plants to file for bankruptcy.”
For more comments from Gustafson and biofuel companies, watch for Hay
& Forage Grower’s January issue, due to hit readers’ mailboxes
the first week of next month.
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Whether you’re looking for proven
performance in a package that offers exceptional value or a tractor that
gives you the latest electronic conveniences and push button simplicity,
the new T6000 Series tractors from New Holland are built for you. T6000
tractors are a natural choice for haying operations and heavy loader
work. To learn more, see your local New Holland dealer or call
1-888-290-7377. www.newholland.com/na
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The wintry blast that hit much of the country last week is a
reminder that now is the time to winterize your farm sprayer so it’s
ready for use next spring. Charles Ellis, University of Missouri
Extension natural resource engineer, recommends the following:
- Clean the sprayer inside and out to get rid of dirt, grime and
chemical residue.
- Use a pressure washer with a detergent to wash the whole sprayer,
including booms, frame and undercarriage.
- Clean the inside of the spray tank, circulating the solution for 10
minutes and, at the same time, check for leaks and repair them before
storing.
- Remove all filters, screens, tips and check valves to be washed.
After washing, reinstall to keep moisture out during the winter.
- To winterize plumbing, use a 50-50 mix of antifreeze and water. This
mixture will prevent rust by protecting metal surfaces from contact with
air.
- Circulate this mixture through the system and then out through the
boom and nozzles. Remove the tips, allow the liquid to drain, then
replace the tips.
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700+ Attendees at the 2009 Western
Alfalfa & Forage Conference held in Reno, NV, earlier this month.
Conference organizers note that 140 people also attended the Hands On
Alfalfa Diagnostics Workshop held prior to the conference. The trade
show attracted a record 70 exhibitors. Proceedings are available at the
University of
California Alfalfa and Forage Web site. (Click on topic titles to
view individual presentations.)
2,613 Acres of switchgrass harvested in the
University of Tennessee Biofuels Initiative’s research and
demonstration project during 2009. Next year, the program will raise
about 7,000 acres. By 2025, officials estimate that Tennessee farmers
could be growing enough switchgrass to produce nearly a million gallons
of cellulosic ethanol annually.
14,000 Bales of hay destroyed in a fire at a
construction site in Sutter County, CA, according to a report in the
Marysville Appeal-Democrat. The construction company was going to
use the hay to seed a Sacramento River levee against erosion. Since the
fire didn’t threaten any structures, fire crews elected to let it
burn. They estimated the fire could last five to seven days.
$750 million Predicted receipts generated by
the Kentucky horse industry this year, according to University of
Kentucky ag economist Lee Meyer. In 2007, receipts exceeded $1.1
billion. Receipts for the state’s poultry industry are expected to
total $930 million. Meyer says this marks the first time the equine
industry hasn’t ranked No. 1 in receipts among state agricultural
enterprises.
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 New from National Alfalfa &
Forage Alliance and Hay & Forage Grower
The Fall Dormancy & Pest Resistance Ratings for Alfalfa Varieties
2010 Edition is now available in print and online. National Alfalfa
& Forage Alliance produced and Hay & Forage Grower published the
2010 Varieties Guide. The 2010 Varieties Guide is well-regarded within
the alfalfa seed industry as the most accurate listing of alfalfa
varieties ratings available. Click here for the
2010 Alfalfa Varieties Guide.
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Iowa
Alfalfa variety trials at Iowa State University (ISU) are now officially
a thing of the past. According to university officials, a lack of
funding was the deciding factor. “It seems to be the way the
agriculture industry is evolving,” says Kendall Lamkey, chairman of
ISU’s agronomy department. “There’s less and less money for
production research all the time. We’re even seeing that with our corn
production program. When you think about that, it’s almost
unbelievable for Iowa.”
ISU announced a year ago that it would discontinue the alfalfa trials at
the end of 2009. The fate of the program was sealed when Charlie
Brummer, an alfalfa breeder, left ISU for the University of Georgia.
“He was able to subsidize the trials to some extent through his
research,” explains Lamkey. “People did pay to enter the trials, but
what they paid didn’t cover the cost of the tests.”
This year, trials were conducted in Ames and Nashua. “We were
basically finishing up on our obligations,” says Lamkey. “The
entries had been there for three years – the seeding year and two
harvest years.”
With the program ending, Iowa forage producers will have to rely on
trial information from neighboring states, including Minnesota and
Wisconsin, still doing variety trials. “It’s unfortunate,” Lamkey
says. “This was a good service. If I could make it work financially, I
would bring it back.”
Data from the trials are available on the ISU agronomy
department Web site.
Wisconsin
Organizers of the state’s two quality-tested hay auctions are feeling
more than just a little snakebit by the weather so far this month.
As eHay
Weekly reported a week ago, the Dodge County Forage Council’s
(DCFC) first auction of the year, scheduled for Dec. 1, was cancelled
when no sellers showed up. Organizers noted that unusually pleasant
weather likely led many would-be sellers to take to the field to finish
fall fieldwork. Eight days later (last Wednesday), a major snowstorm
forced the Sheboygan County Forage Council to cancel its December
auction.
Organizations in both counties plan to go ahead with the remainder of
their winter auction schedules. The DCFC is holding an auction today at
the Beaver Dam Auction Market (north of Beaver Dam). Follow-up auctions
will be held on the first and third Tuesdays of the month from January
through April 6. Testing for sale loads will run from 10 a.m. through
noon. Auctions will start at 1 p.m. Sale results from each auction will
posted on the DCFC Web site. For
more information, contact Dodge County Extension agriculture agent Matt
Hanson at 920-386-3790.
The Sheboygan County Forage Council’s next auction is scheduled for
Wednesday, Jan. 13, at Chissy’s Pub & Grill in Waldo, with follow-up
auctions scheduled for the first Wednesday of the month through April.
Sale loads need to be at the auction site by 10:30 a.m. for testing. The
auctions will begin at 1 p.m. For additional details, contact Mike
Ballweg at the Sheboygan County UW-Extension office at 920-459-5904.
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The 2010 Kansas Hay and Grazing Conference is scheduled for Jan. 13
at the Kansas Farm Bureau building in Manhattan. Sponsored by K-State
Research and Extension and the Kansas Forage and Grassland Council, the
conference will begin with registration at 8:30 a.m. The program will
start at 9:30 a.m.
David Davis, superintendent of the University of Missouri’s Forage
Systems Research Center, will be the keynote speaker. The day also will
feature educational displays, commercial exhibits and breakout sessions
on a wide range of topics, including weed control in cool-season and
native grass pastures, biomass research in Kansas, weed management in
new and established alfalfa fields, insect control in alfalfa and an
alfalfa variety update.
The registration fee of $45 will include membership in the Kansas Forage
and Grassland Council, conference lunch and breaks, conference
proceedings and a 2010 KFGC discount coupon book.
For more details and registration information, call 620-431-1530 or
email kwalters@ksu.edu.
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Jan. 13-14 -- Washington State Hay Growers Association Annual
Convention And Trade Show, Three Rivers Convention Center,
Kennewick. Details at www.wa-hay.org/convention.
Jan. 13-15 -- Ag Connect Expo, Orange County Convention Center,
Orlando, FL. Visit www.agconnect.com.
Jan. 14-15 -- 2010 New Mexico Hay And Forage Conference, Ruidoso
Convention Center, Ruidoso. Details at www.nmhay.com or call 575-626-5677.
Jan. 19 -- Delmarva Hay & Pasture Conference, ACE Building,
Delaware State Fairgrounds, Harrington. See
an agenda. Phone 302-730-4000.
Jan. 19-21 -- North Carolina Forage And Grassland Council Mid-Winter
Conferences, on efficient management of diverse forage resources,
starting at 1 p.m. at three locations: Jan. 19, Nash County
Extension Office, Nashville; Jan. 20, Union County Extension
Office, Monroe; Jan. 21, Mountain Research Center, Fletcher.
Register by Jan. 10 by calling 919-552-9111. For details, call
800-896-4857 or 919-609-9824.
Jan 25-28 – Virginia Forage And Grassland Council’s Winter
Conferences at four locations. Jan. 25 – Brandy Station
Fire Hall, Brandy Station; Jan. 26 – Mrs. Rowe’s Country
Buffet, Mt. Crawford; Jan. 27 – Southern Piedmont Ag Research
and Extension Center, Blackstone; Jan. 28 – Wytheville Meeting
Center, Wytheville. Contact Margaret Kenney at 434-292-5331 or download
the brochure here.
Jan. 26-27 -- Midwest Forage Association, Wisconsin Custom Operators
And Professional Nutrient Applicators Symposium And Annual Meetings,
Chula Vista Resort, Wisconsin Dells, WI. Contact the Midwest Forage Association.
Jan. 28-29 -- North Central Ohio Dairy Grazing Conference,
Buckeye Event Center, Dalton, OH. Contact the Small Farm Institute.
Download
the brochure here.
Feb. 2-3 -- 2010 Mid-America Alfalfa Expo, Buffalo County
Fairgrounds, Kearney, NE. Visit www.alfalfaexpo.com, call Barb
Kinnan at 800-743-1649 or email her at nebalf@cozadtel.net.
Feb 8-12 -- Minnesota Forage Days, held at various locations
throughout the state. Call 651-484-3888 or visit the University of Minnesota
forage Web site for specific locations, dates and times.
Feb. 16-17 -- Idaho Hay And Forage Conference, Best Western
Burley Inn, Burley. Contact Glenn Shewmaker at 208-736-3608 or gshew@uidaho.edu.
Feb. 18-20 -- 2010 Wisconsin Grazing Conference, Hotel Mead,
Wisconsin Rapids. Visit www.grassworks.org or contact
Heather Flashinski at 715-289-4896 or grassheather@hotmail.com.
April 8-9 -- Hay Production School, Spence Field, Moultrie, GA.
Details at www.georgiaforages.com.
June 21-23 -- American Forage And Grassland Council Annual
Conference, University Plaza Hotel, Springfield, MO. Details at www.afgc.org.
Sept. 5-7 -- National Hay Association Annual Meeting, Griffin
Gate Marriott Resort, Lexington, KY. Watch for details on the NHA Web site.
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