Home News & Events Alternative Agriculture News -- December '98

Consumers Union Calls for EPA To Ban Two Insecticides
Voters Support Restrictions on Factory Farms
Sustainable Ag May Have Role in Reducing Greenhouse Gases
USDA, EPA Seek Public Comments on Animal Feeding Plan
Resources
Farm Children Face Significant Health Risks, Says Report
Center Seeks Applicants for EPA IPM Grant
Siehl Prize Accepting Nominations
Positions
Upcoming Events

Back Issues

This newsletter is also available to subscribers to the sanet-mg discussion group. To subscribe, send a message to: almanac@ces.ncsu.edu. Leave the subject line blank and in the body of the message type only: subscribe sanet-mg

Subscription information for the hard-copy version is available at the Wallace Institute website.

In addition to this monthly newsletter, the Henry A. Wallace Institute for Alternative Agriculture publishes the American Journal of Alternative Agriculture, 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.

The current issue (Volume 13, No. 3) features articles on:

• Alternative practices for managing plant-parasitic nematodes.
• The impact of agricultural management on nitrate concentrations in drainage waters.
• An assessment of legume and non-legume ground covers on coleoptera.
• The agronomic and economic performance of wheat and canola-based double-crop systems.
• Soil improvement following addition of chipped wood.
• An examination of microbiological and biochemical parameters in a long-term fertilization trial.

Subscriptions to AJAA are $44 for libraries; $24 for individuals; and $12 for students. Find more information about AJAA at he Wallace Institute website.

A Consumers Union report, highlighted in the November issue of Consumer Reports, calls for the EPA to phase out two classes of insecticides: high risk organophosphates and carbamates used on children's foods. It also recommends a doubling of funding for research on pesticide alternatives.

The report, "Worst First: High-Risk Insecticides, Children's Foods, and Safer Alternatives," reviews the 40 uses on nine fruit and vegetable crops that together account for a large portion of children's dietary insecticide exposure and risk.

"Our 'Worst 40' uses should be high-priority targets for EPA action under the Food Quality Protection Act's 'worst first' mandate," the report says. If the EPA eliminated the "Worst 40" insecticide-food combinations identified, the report estimates that the risks associated with the nine crops would decrease by about 95 percent.

The report also concludes that "there are many viable alternatives growers can use to manage crop pests." The alternatives listed include bio-based alternatives and natural control products, such as pheromone products used in mating disruption; and bio-IPM practices, such as crop rotation, soil fertility and irrigation management, building and maintaining populations of natural enemies of insects, and measures to block or disrupt reproduction.

"The FQPA provides an opportunity and an incentive for growers to build on the success that many have already achieved, to share experiences with safer insect pest management systems, and to accelerate progress away from dependence on the higher-risk organophosphate and carbamate insecticides," according to the report. "The sooner this transition is completed, the better off farmers and children will both be."

The report's other recommendations include:

• The EPA should reduce or eliminate residues from all organophosphate and carbamate uses on key children's foods.
  
  
• USDA and Congress should fund farmer education on safer alternatives to the "Worst 40" uses.
  
  
• EPA should expedite registration for safer alternatives.
  
  
• USDA and Congress should double funding for research on IPM and safer alternatives within the CSREES IPM program, the Pest Management Alternatives Program, and area-wide IPM research in the Agricultural Research Service.

"Worst First" is available on the Internet at http://www.consunion.org; a technical analysis is at http://www.ecologic-ipm.com.

Voters in Colorado and South Dakota supported restricting large commercial hog facilities on ballot initiatives Election Day, November 3.

In Colorado, voters approved by 64 percent an initiative regulating the construction and operation of large commercial hog feeding facilities, and the disposal of manure and wastewater to minimize odor and water pollution.

In South Dakota, 60 percent of voters approved a constitutional amendment to prevent concentrated animal feeding operations from acquiring or otherwise obtaining an interest in any land used for farming in the state, essentially saying that only family-controlled farms can operate in the state.

According to The Des Moines Register, "Al Tank, a top official of the National Pork Producers Council, said environmental restrictions approved by Colorado voters and a ban on corporate ownership of hog facilities by South Dakota citizens are ominous precedents.'" A New York Times editorial said that "the votes against hog farms should encourage the Environmental Protection Agency to push ahead with tougher clean water regulations for big agricultural operations."

Policymakers are now focusing on the potential of farms and new farming techniques to help fight global warming by offsetting emissions from burning fossil fuels, according to an article in The Washington Post (November 23, 1998). The goal is to get farms to act as carbon "sinks" which would soak up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it for decades or even centuries.

"A few simple practices, applied across the U.S. Corn Belt, could transform farms into carbon-dioxide sponges that sop up millions of metric tons a year of the chief greenhouse gas blamed for global warming," the article said. "In a 15-year experiment at the Rodale Institute, [Laurie] Drinkwater and two colleagues discovered they could dramatically increase the carbon content of soils simply by changing crop rotations and cutting back on chemical fertilizers."

Drinkwater said that a switch in farming practices in the Corn Belt could reduce the country's net carbon dioxide emissions by up to two percent, at the same time the farms themselves would also burn less fuel and purchase fewer chemicals.

The USDA and EPA are seeking public comment until January 19, 1999, on their draft Unified National Strategy for Animal Feeding Operations, requiring all animal feeding operations to develop and implement nutrient management plans by the year 2008. The draft strategy is available on the Internet at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov or http://www.epa.gov/owm/afostrat.htm. Public comments should be mailed to Denise C. Coleman, Program Analyst, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, ATTN:AFO, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, D.C. 20013-2890; e-mail denise_c.coleman@usda.gov

• "How to Establish Goals: A Group Project for Farmers and Their Families," for whole farm planning, is $3 from The Minnesota Project, 1885 University Ave. West, #315, St. Paul, MN 55104; (651) 645-6159; e-mail Water007@gold.tc.umn.edu
  
  
• "LandWorks," a land use subscription service for professionals, includes online discussions, publications, and a private Website for $125 a year; contact American Farmland Trust, One Short St., Northampton, MA 01060; 1-800-370-4879; e-mail LandWorks@farmland.org.
  
  
• "Pesticide Exposure Handbook" is $2, "DO NOT SPRAY" sign is $4.75, from Californians for Alternatives to Toxics, P.O. Box 1195, Arcata, CA 95518; (707) 822-8497; e-mail catz@reninet.com.
  
  
• "Pesticide Decision Tool" is available free from John Vickery, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, 2105 First Ave., S., Minneapolis, MN 55404-2505; (612) 870-3430; e-mail jvickery@iatp.org; on the Internet, http://www.iatp.org/enviroag/pesticidesummary.htm
  
  
• USDA's Farmer Direct Marketing Web Page, providing resources and information about direct marketing, is at http://www.ams.usda.gov/directmarketing.
  
  
• "Alternative Farming Systems: Economic Aspects" and "Vegetables and Fruits: A Guide to Heirloom Varieties and Community-Based Stewardship, Annotated Bibliography/Resources Organizations/Historical Supplement" are available from Alternative Farming Systems Information Center, National Agricultural Library, 10301 Baltimore Blvd., Beltsville, MD 20705; (301) 504-6559; e-mail afsic@nal.usda.gov; on the Internet, http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic

Children who live on or near agricultural land, or whose families work in the fields, are "likely to be the most pesticide-exposed subgroup in the United States," and face "particularly significant health risks," according to a new report from the Natural Resources Defense Council.

These children come in contact with pesticides through "residues from the parents' clothing, dust tracked into the house, contaminated soil in outdoor play areas, food brought directly from the fields to the table, and contaminated well water," the report concluded.

NRDC recommends that pesticide tolerances be set low enough to protect farm children from cumulative health risks, and that the EPA phase out Category I acute toxic pesticides, most hazardous neurotoxic organophosphate and carbamate pesticides, endocrine disrupters, and carcinogens, while developing and promoting alternative pest management practices.

"Trouble on the Farm: Growing Up with Pesticides in Agricultural Communities" is $10.50 plus $3 from NRDC Publications Department, 40 West 20th St., New York, N.Y. 10011.

The American Farmland Trust's Center for Agriculture in the Environment is seeking applicants for an EPA grant that will fund an IPM implementation project that focuses on corn and soybean rotations in the Midwest. Project funding is anticipated to range between $90,000 and $190,000 a year; only one project is anticipated to be selected for funding. For more information and proposal applications, contact Ann Sorensen, AFT CAE, P.O. Box 987, DeKalb, IL 60115; (815) 753-9347; e-mail asorensen@niu.edu

The College of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences at the University of Minnesota is now accepting nominations for the Siehl Prize for Excellence in Agriculture. The prize is awarded every two years to three recipients who have made significant contributions to agriculture in three areas:

• In production agriculture, to producers whose careers combine progressive technology and innovative farm management skills.
  
  
• In agribusiness, to individuals who have generated, introduced or applied scientific knowledge to challenges facing production agriculture.
  
  
• In academia, to those who, through teaching, outreach, or research at an academic or government agency, have made a profound difference in agriculture.

For more information, contact Dani O'Reilly, Director of Communications, College of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences, University of Minnesota, 277 Coffey Hall, 1420 Eckles Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108; (612) 624-3235; on the Internet, http://www.coafes.umn.edu/showcase/siehl.pdf.

• Appalachian Sustainable Development seeks a Sustainable Farm Products Marketing Specialist; send resume and cover letter to Anthony Flaccavento, P.O. Box 791, Abingdon, VA 24212.
  
  
• Crystal Spring Community Supported Garden seeks a seasonal full-time grower; send resume, references and information on past experience to Crystal Spring CSG, 76 Everett Skinner Road, Plainville, MA 02762; (508) 699-7167.
  
  
• St. Lawrence University seeks candidates for a tenure track position in Environmental Studies at the Assistant Professor level; send letter, C.V., statements of teaching and research goals, descriptions of two upper level courses, and letter from three references to Chair, Environmental Studies Search, Ecological Sustainability Position, Environmental Studies Program, St. Lawrence University, Canton, N.Y. 13617.
  
  
• Stratford Ecological Center seeks a Farm Manager; contact Jeff Dickinson, SEC, 3083 Liberty Road, Delaware, OH 43015; (740) 363-2548; e-mail secenter@aol.com

For additional listings, see the Sustainable Agriculture Network's Calendar of Events.

• January 8-10, 1999, 11th National Conference on Organic Food and Farming will be held in Cirencester, England; contact the Soil Association, phone 0117-925-2504; e-mail cirencester@soilassociation.org.
  
  
• January 9-14, 1999, Pennsylvania State Farm Show will be held in Harrisburg; contact Pennsylvania Farm Link, Point Shopping Center, #205, Harrisburg, PA 17111; (717) 558-7726; e-mail pafarmlink@redrose.net
  
  
• January 13-15, 1999, "Workforce Management for Farms and Horticultural Businesses" will be held in Camp Hill, PA; contact Northeast Regional Agricultural Engineering Service, 152 Riley-Robb Hall, Ithaca, N.Y. 14853; (607) 255-7654; e-mail NRAES@CORNELL.EDU.
  
  
• January 15, 1999, is the deadline for papers for "Water and Environmental Resource Management: Focus on Asia and the Pacific," the 6th Conference of the International Water and Resource Economics Consortium, to be held in Hawaii June 29-July 3, 1999; contact Prof. Ujjayant Chakravorty, Agricultural and Resource Economics, Gilmore 112, 3050 Maile Way, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96822; (808) 956-7279; e-mail unc@hawaii.edu.
  
  
• January 15-17, 1999, "Revitalizing Family Farms," the 8th Annual Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group Conference and Trade Show, will be held in Jekyll Island, GA; contact Chris Campany, (225) 336-9532; e-mail BREADA@aol.com.
  
  
• January 19-21, 1999, "The State of North America's Private Land" will be held in Chicago, IL; contact Charlie Persinger, Soil and Water Conservation Society, (515) 289-2331 ext. 12.
  
  
• January 20-23, 1999, 19th Annual Ecological Farming Conference will be held in Pacific Grove, CA; contact Committee for Sustainable Agriculture, 406 Main St., #313, Watsonville, CA 95076; (408) 763-2111.
  
  
• January 20-23, 1999, "We Started Something Great In Memphis," the annual meeting of the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants, will be held in Memphis, TN; contact NAICC, 1055 Petersburg Cove, Collierville, TN 38017; (901) 861-0511; on the Internet http://www.naicc.org.
  
  
• January 22-24, 1999, Midwest Sustainable Agriculture Working Group's Annual Gathering will be held in Madison, WI; contact Dave Butcher, MSAWG, (218) 568-8624.
  
  
• January 23, 1999, Captain Cook, Hawaii; March 20, 1999, Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida; July 23-25, 1999, Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness area, Idaho; and October 8-10, 1999, Rutland, Ohio; "Planting the Future" conferences will be held about at-risk native medicinal plants; contact United Plant Savers, P.O. Box 98, E. Barre, VT 05649; (802) 479-9825; e-mail info@plantsavers.org.
  
  
• January 29-31, 1999, 18th Annual Organic Conference & Eco-Products Trade Show will be held at the University of Guelph, Canada; contact Tomas Nimmo, Box 116, Collingwood, Ontario, Canada L9Y 3Z4; (705) 444-0923; e-mail organix@georgian.net

Home News & Events Alternative Agriculture News -- December '98