Crop Connection

Thursday, August 17, 2006 3:57 PM CDT

This week's listing of upcoming industry events and announcements.

First Annual Harvest Fest Aug. 26, Antigo

The first annual Harvest Fest will be held Aug. 26 at the Langlade County Fairgrounds in Antigo to honor local producers. This event is a fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club. Growers should mark their calendars for this fun-filled family day, cohosted by the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association and the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary.

There'll be activities from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. including a couch potato race, potato decorating contest, minnow races, frog jumping contest, candy drop, monster veggie contest and more. There'll be a county-wide scavenger hunt from 3 to 6 p.m. Find treasures on the list and learn about local growers. From 7 p.m. to midnight there'll be a grilled chicken and ribs dinner and dance. The evening event costs $25 per person. For more information contact Kim McCann at 715-627-1389.

Corn Silage Analysis Offered In Outagamie

The Outagamie County Forage Council, Outagamie County UW-Extension and Fox Valley Technical College are jointly sponsoring four Corn Silage Dry Down events. All will run from 12:30 to 3 p.m. or until samples are finished. Dates and locations are: Aug. 24 - Bruce and Mark Wichman Farm, W4735 County Trunk EE, Appleton; Aug. 31 - Randy Dorow Farm, W9728 County Road TT, Hortonville; Sept. 7 - Outagamie County Forage Council Fall Field Day - Sleepy Hollow Farm, Farley family, N7374 Miller Rd., Black Creek; and Sept. 12 - John and Charlene Everett Farm, W219 Bain Road, De Pere. For more information, contact Kevin Jarek at the UW-Extension office at 920-832-5119.

Corn Silage Moisture Testing In Chippewa County

Chippewa County UW-Extension will offer whole-plant corn silage moisture testing at three locations. Determining whole-plant moisture is critical to harvest timing and proper storage of corn silage. Moisture testing will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on: Aug. 22 - Cloverleaf Farm Supply in Cadott; Aug. 23 - Crossroads Ag LLC in Chippewa Falls; and Aug. 24 - Agri-Tech Services in Bloomer. There is no charge for the testing. Farmers should bring in four cornstalks cut at their harvest height. Chopping and moisture testing will be done on site. For more information, contact Chippewa County UW-Extension at 715-726-7950.

New Labeling Guidelines For Potatoes

The Food and Drug Administration recently published its final rule regarding "Food Labeling; Guidelines for Voluntary Nutrition Labeling of Raw Fruits, Vegetables, and Fish," which amends the voluntary nutrition labeling values for the 20 most frequently consumed raw fruits, vegetables and fish in the U.S., including potatoes. The final rule provides official FDA guidelines for voluntary nutrition labeling and nutrient content claims.

Changes to the voluntary fresh potato nutrition label include a 10-calorie increase per 5.3 ounce serving from 100 to 110 calories, potassium decreased from 720 to 620 milligrams, and fiber decreased from 3 to 2 grams. With the changes to the nutrition label, the nutrient claims for potassium and fiber will also change. The potassium decrease changes the nutrient claim from "high, rich in, or excellent source of" to "good source of, contains or provides 17 percent of the daily value." With the decrease in fiber, the nutrient claim "good source of, contains or provides" can no longer be used, reports the National Potato Council.

The old nutrition label can be used until Jan. 1, 2008.

Hands-On Field Days Offers Growers Local Insights Into Crop Conditions

Land O'Lakes, which produces CROPLAN GENETICS and FORAGE FIRST seeds, is giving producers local perspectives into seed selection though Answer Plot learning sessions in 23 states and Canada. This concept allows growers to see the difference between seeds up close and first-hand.

Growers can learn more about attending an Answer Plot session in their area by calling 800-295-3011. In Wisconsin, sessions are scheduled: Aug. 28, Chilton; Aug. 29, Evansville; and Aug. 31, Eau Claire.

Heirloom Tomato Festival: Janesville

Mark Aug. 19 from 1 to 5 p.m. on your calendar for free admission to the Rotary Gardens Horticulture Center, 825 Sharon Street, Janesville, and the Rock Prairie Master Gardener Association's Heirloom Tomato Festival.

Heirloom tomatoes are cultivars with no genetic modifications that have been nurtured, selected and handed down through the generations. Rotary Gardens has a collection of 100 varieties that Master Gardeners will use to educate the general public about heirlooms. Tours will be conducted throughout the day by Master Gardeners. Tasting tables will provide a chance to evaluate a multitude of flavors from the mild, solid Abraham Lincoln to the excellent, tangy Zogola. A variety of demonstrations, recipes and nutritional information will be available.

The Janesville Area Herb Society will be creating and sharing special tomato treats such as tomato jam and fried green tomatoes. The Home Educators Group and the UW-Extension Nutrition Educators will supply fresh salsa and recipes, as well as nutritional guidelines. Master Gardeners will demonstrate how to save seeds to begin your own heirloom collection. Children's activities include games, face painting, coloring pages and prizes.

AgSource Expands Agricultural Testing Services

AgSource more than doubled its soil testing capacity and became an international player in the soil testing market with the recent acquisition of Harris Laboratories, a soil and turf laboratory located in Lincoln, Neb.

Harris Laboratories has a long history and outstanding record of service in the industry. It was the first accredited soil testing laboratory in the country. In addition to a strong presence in the regional agricultural market for soil testing, Harris has extensive clientele across the country in turf, tissue and specialty markets, as well as a sizeable international business doing work for clients in 38 countries.

Steven Frack, a previous Harris employee, is continuing with the laboratory as the vice president of the Harris Laboratories Division for AgSource. The present staff at Harris Labs includes 15 employees.

L. buchneri Preserves Quality

With silage season at hand, it's time producers make decisions about managing quality. In addition to harvest conditions and chop length, also top of mind is preserving silage quality. Using an inoculant can help keep ensiled forage stay fresh longer in the feed ration. Pioneer is offering a new generation of inoculants that improve bunklife by inhibiting growth of spoilage organisms and minimizing losses during feedout.

"These new products contain specific strains of naturally occurring bacteria called Lactobacillus buchneri," says William Rutherford, Pioneer research coordinator. "L. buchneri promotes aerobic stability of the silage stack and keeps forage fresher for a longer period of time. The net result is that silage inoculated with L. buchneri is more resistant to heating at feedout (exposed to air) compared to untreated silage."

L. buchneri has been shown to improve the aerobic stability of a variety of crops, including corn, alfalfa, wheat, barley and ryegrass.

NCGA Accepting Action Team, Committee Applications

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is looking for a few good growers to join the organization's action teams and committees for fiscal year 2007 and contribute to the future of NCGA and agriculture. Applications for NCGA action teams and committees will be accepted through Sept. 1. NCGA members can apply for spots on four action teams and two committees.

The four action teams are: Grower Services, Production and Stewardship, Public Policy and Research and Business Development. The two committees are: Biotechnology Working Group and Ethanol.

In addition, NCGA has up to six slots on the Joint Trade Policy A-Team, which is a combined team of NCGA's Trade Task Force and U.S. Grains Council's (USGC) Trade Advisory Team. USGC has up to eight spots on the team, which reports to the NCGA and USGC boards.

Action team and committee applications are available on the Leader Resource Center at http://www.insidencga.com. Go to Leader Teams, on the Corn Board page under "What's New?" Applications should be completed and returned to Ken McCauley, c/o Kathy Baker, by e-mail at baker@ncga.com or fax at 636-733-9005 by Friday, Sept. 1.

Johanns Releases Renewable Energy Farm Bill Discussion Paper

U.S. Ag Secretary Mike Johanns has released an analysis prepared by USDA economists of the department's renewable energy and energy efficiency programs. This is the fourth in a series of subject areas that warranted comprehensive examination based on comments received during last year's nationwide Farm Bill Forum listening tour.

The paper looks at all potential sources of energy under agriculture's umbrella, from farm fields to pasture and forest lands. It also tracks the results of USDA's renewable energy and energy efficiency programs and contemplates enhancements and alternatives to those programs. These alternatives do not represent specific farm bill proposals but instead are put forward to further public discussion.

In March, Johanns announced the release of 41 papers summarizing the 4,000 comments received during 52 Farm Bill Forums, as well as those sent via mail and the Internet. Within those 41 papers emerged key themes USDA economists are studying in depth in preparation for 2007 farm bill discussions. The first three theme papers covered risk management, conservation and the environment, and rural development. The fifth and final farm bill theme paper will examine opportunities to strengthen the foundation of U.S. agriculture.

The renewable energy analysis paper, as well as previously released analysis papers, are available at http://www.usda.gov/farmbill.

EPA Denies State Petitions To Ban Pesticides

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently issued an order denying a petition from the Attorney Generals in the states of New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut and California to modify or revoke the tolerances for some widely used pesticides. The petition targeted alachlor, chlorothalonil, methomyl, metribuzin, and thiodicarb. The decision is significant in that it indicates EPA's willingness to reaffirm the scientific conclusions about the safety of these products and the preemptive nature of the EPA registration process, reports the National Potato Council. The states argued that the risks posed by these pesticide tolerances did not adequately account for the risk to infants and children.

Organophosphate Risk Assessment Finalized

A recent Federal Register notice was published announcing EPA's completion of the Cumulative Risk Assessment for Organophosphates. EPA concluded that the Cumulative Risk Assessment for the more than 30 products in this class of chemistry is below the level of concern. This now clears the way to make the Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decisions (IREDs) for all these products final and allow consideration of new uses for organophosphates that were on hold pending completion of the cumulative risk assessment. In this category, the potato industry has a particular interest in Fosthiozate and will be working with the registrant and EPA to establish that product as a priority.

EPA Actions: Carbofuran, PCNB

Recently in the Federal Register, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its proposal for conditions and uses allowed for re-registration of Carbofuran and PCNB (Blocker). In both cases EPA has proposed eliminating all use of the products on potatoes. The National Potato Council had previously filed comments with EPA on both products indicating the value of those products to the potato industry. NPC is in contact with the registrants of both products as they develop their response and strategy for next steps. NPC will also submit comments during the 60-day comment period open for both products.

FMC Corporation disagrees strongly with conclusions in an Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision (IRED) document issued by EPA that would cancel and phase out carbofuran uses in the U.S. FMC believes there are crop uses that meet both the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) standard for dietary risk and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) risk-benefit standard that clearly warrant continued registration of carbofuran.

The IRED is not a final decision and FMC will vigorously defend the product.

FMC contends that EPA is underestimating the value of carbofuran, sold under the brand name Furadan, by ignoring the comments from more than 3,000 growers nationwide. FMC believes that carbofuran does not pose an unreasonable risk to workers, the public or the environment when used according to label directions. According to the company, very strict labeling standards and product stewardship programs, including "closed transfer" systems for loading and mixing Furadan 4F liquid formulations, have proven that the product can be handled by workers in a safe manner.

Because the IRED is not a final decision, farmers may continue to use Furadan on all currently registered crops and uses.

Latest Buzz: Russian Bees

The busy bee - that tireless purveyor of plant pollen - has had a rough time of it lately. Parasitic mites are beating down this industrious insect that's crucial for producing more than $15 billion worth of U.S. crops each year. But according to scientists with the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), there's hope for weary American bees. It comes from the hills of southeast Russia.

According to recent studies done at the ARS Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Research Unit in Baton Rouge, La., Russian bees are capable of deflecting three of the honey bee's worst assailants: Varroa mites, tracheal mites and cold temperatures.

Since Russian bees were first imported by Thomas Rinderer, they have continued to impress researchers. In fact, ARS entomologist Jose Villa recently discovered just how the bees fend off tracheal mites, which kill honey bees by invading and clogging their airways. Villa discovered that, much like other bees resistant to tracheal mites, Russian bees are fastidious and agile groomers, capable of using their middle pair of legs to brush mites away.

Villa and fellow ARS entomologist Lilia De Guzman have also confirmed that Russian bees are excellent cold-weather survivors. After studying Russian bee colonies for five winters in northeast Iowa, Villa and De Guzman found that the bees are less likely than other bees to lose hive members during harsh, cold weather. Russian bees appear more frugal with their winter food stores.

Thanks to the ARS Russian bee breeding program, promising Russian bee stock will continue to reach U.S. honey bee queen breeders. Kicking off an intensive selective breeding effort this year, Baton Rouge researchers are still striving for the ultimate Russian bee - one that embodies the important economic qualities, like mite resistance and good honey production, which beekeepers look for.

New Fusarium Wilt Could Pose Threat to Watermelon

In separate studies, scientists with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Lane, Okla., and at the University of Maryland (UM) in Salisbury have identified a new, more aggressive race of the fungus that causes Fusarium wilt in watermelon.

This disease is one that all melon farmers dread seeing. It can attack plants at any stage of growth, leaving young seedlings lifeless, or mature plants fruitless with nothing to show but shriveled and yellowing leaves.

ARS scientists Benny Bruton and Wayne Fish, together with UM's Xin-Gen Zhou and Kathryne Everts, discovered a new race of the fungus Fusarium oxysporum that causes Fusarium wilt. Their findings were presented recently at the joint meeting of the American Phytopathology Society and Mycological Society of America, in Quebec City, Canada.

Bruton and Fish, who work at the ARS South Central Agricultural Research Laboratory in Lane, found the new race, dubbed "Race 3," while monitoring watermelon plants in fields near their Oklahoma laboratory. Bruton saw that a new, differently-acting fungus was plaguing plants thought to be resistant to Fusarium.

Three distinct races of Fusarium are known to cause wilt in melons. Plant breeders have developed watermelon varieties that can fend off Races 0 and 1 fairly well. And, luckily, Race 2 - for which there are no resistant commercial cultivars - isn't competitive in the soil environment.

According to Bruton, the same is likely true for the new, more virulent Race 3. But he's got a solution. He and colleagues have found that grafting watermelon onto sturdy squash or gourd rootstock is an effective way of controlling Fusarium wilt. Those rootstocks are resistance to the Fusarium races that attack watermelon.

Stockpile For Winter Graze

Jeff McCutcheon, Knox County Extension Educator, with Ohio State University thinks stockpiling forages for grazing in winter is one management tool every beef producer should utilize. Winter feed costs are the single biggest costs in most beef operations. Grazing is the cheapest way to feed cattle. Every day spent grazing is saving you money, he contends.

Stockpiling is basically accumulating growth to be grazed when the forages are dormant. All forages on your farm can be stockpiled. Some, like bluegrass, legumes and perennial ryegrass, will deteriorate faster in winter and should be utilized in early winter after a killing frost. Usually tall fescue is the forage mentioned because it produces more fall growth than the other cool season grasses, responds well to nitrogen and will maintain its quality and quantity longer into winter. Orchardgrass is also a viable option.

Stockpiling does require some advanced planning. What fields will you stockpile? Remember these will be grazed in winter. Fields used should be well drained and have a dense sod. A dense sod can help to support livestock when the fields are wet. Are there areas in the fields that can afford protection from winter winds? Do not forget about a water supply.

Once the fields are selected for stockpiling then you need to do three things. First, cut or graze the fields short in early August. You want to remove the low quality summer growth and stimulate vegetative growth. Early August should give enough growing days to accumulate around a ton of dry matter per acre without nitrogen.

Second, add nitrogen. Nitrogen can boast yields. When do you add nitrogen? Anytime during August. Remember to limit nitrogen loss, apply before a rain. The tradeoff is that early applications will give the greatest yield, but late applications will have the highest quality. Experiments have shown almost a linear response for applications up to 100 pounds actual nitrogen. When costs are considered applying more than 50 to 60 pounds of nitrogen usually doesn't pay.

If you have 40 percent or more legumes in your fields then the nitrogen could be skipped. The actual response to added nitrogen will be less. Some studies show the yield of fescue with legumes equal to the pure fescue stands with 50 to 60 pounds of nitrogen added.

The last step, let it grow. Do not graze it until growth has stopped.

Potato Council, Apple Growers Don't Want Farm Bill Extended

The National Potato Council has joined a number of other specialty crop organizations expressing opposition to an extension of the current farm bill. The NPC believes the 2007 Farm Bill provides a unique opportunity to redirect U.S. farm policy in a way that is supportive of all domestically produced crops. Joining NPC against extension of the current Farm Bill are: U.S. Apple Association, American Mushroom Institute, California Association of Winegrape Growers, California Citrus Mutual, California Grape and Tree Fruit League, California Table Grape Commission, Cherry Marketing Institute, Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, Idaho Grower Shippers Association, National Watermelon Association, Northwest Horticultural Council, Sunkist Growers, Texas Citrus Mutual, Texas Produce Association, Texas Vegetable Association, United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association, Western Growers and Wine America.

Carbon Dioxide, Ozone Influence Variant Western Corn Rootworm

In a recent journal article (Environmental Entomology, June 2006), researchers described how elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide and ozone may affect egg laying by variant western corn rootworm adults in soybean fields. The authors indicated that global atmospheric carbon dioxide has increased 20 percent in the last century and may increase another 48 percent by 2050. Concentrations of ozone also may increase another 20 percent midway through this new century as well.

During 2003 and 2004, investigators conducted experiments on the SoyFACE (free air gas concentration enrichment) site near Champaign and Urbana, Ill. Stephen Long at the University of Illinois is project leader for this novel study area.

The researchers offer the following remarks: "Although elevated carbon dioxide and ozone did not have an effect on adult female densities of the variant western corn rootworm, they did significantly affect egg densities. Approximately twice as many eggs were found in the soil of soybean plots exposed to elevated carbon dioxide compared with ambient control plots or those with elevated ozone. Egg densities were even greater (approximately three times) in plots with the elevated carbon dioxide and ozone combination treatment than in ambient plots. This suggests that rising carbon dioxide and ozone are stimulating egg-laying by the variant western corn rootworm, potentially increasing population densities and risk of damage to the subsequent corn crop."

These findings suggest that western corn rootworms in the future may exert even greater pressure on corn production. Transgenic corn rootworm hybrids, along with soil insecticides, will certainly help manage corn rootworm damage well into the future; however, this insect is an adaptable foe.

Yield, Stand Impact Noted Of Frequent Alfalfa Harvest

Some Wisconsin alfalfa producers are wondering about cutting alfalfa frequently to get very low fiber for dairy rations. Recent research at the UW's Arlington Ag Research Station looks at this issue. Twenty varieties were cut at either a 21-day or 35-day interval.

Reports Tim Bender, Jefferson County crops and soils agent, in the seeding year, the date shows a 33 percent yield loss from the 21-day cutting versus 35 days. Actual tons per acre of dry matter dropped from an average of 4.3 to 2.9 tons.

In the first production year, results get worse. The 21-day cut yielded 47 percent less than the 35-day cut, says Bender. The actual average yield from across the 20 varieties was 3.9 tons per acre from the 21-day cut versus 7.3 tons from the 35-day cutting schedule. Bender says the 21-day cut is equal to "giving up your total first crop of hay in your first year of full production."

"The story gets even worse for the 21-day cut schedule," he says. It resulted in alfalfa dying out the next winter, while the 35-day cut came through in good shape.

There didn't appear to be any significant differences among varieties in tolerance of more frequent cutting. Producers considering shorter cutting intervals to reduce fiber content should consider the 50 percent yield reduction and shorter stand life. It's hard to believe the economics of the practice will be beneficial, Bender alludes.

Biodiesel Gets Boost in Furnaces In New York

New York leads the way this year by enacting legislation that will significantly impact the use of biodiesel. New York Governor Pataki recently signed a residential bioheat credit that takes effect this month. New York's state income tax incentive allows homeowners to receive one cent per percentage of biodiesel blended into heating oil, not to exceed 20 cents a gallon.

New York's governor also has directed the New York State Thruway to begin installing or converting fuel pumps at all travel plazas to provide motorists with the option to use B20 or E85.

Study Casts Doubt On Climate-Change Prediction

Leading crop-production models predict that higher temperatures and dryer soils will diminish crop yields as a result of global climate change in the year 2050. The models also predict that another anticipated climate-change phenomenon - the yield-stimulating effects of elevated carbon dioxide - will offset those losses. So nothing gained or lost, right? Not quite, says a team of USA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), University of Illinois, and Swiss scientists.

In a recent issue of Science, the researchers contend that today's simulation models overestimate the "Carbon dioxide fertilization effect," which refers to the improved efficiency of some crops in using sunlight to convert carbon dioxide into sugars. The problem is, the models rely on data from enclosure studies, say ARS plant physiologists Donald Ort and Elizabeth Ainsworth, UIUC scientists Stephen Long and Andrew Leakey, and Josef Nšsberger of the Institute of Plant Science in Switzerland. They contend trapped heat, poor airflow, high humidity and other conditions inside greenhouses and growth chambers skew plant responses to elevated carbon dioxide.

To avoid these problems, the researchers used free-air concentration enrichment (FACE) to simulate the atmosphere of 2050 under actual field conditions. The method continuously exposes crop plants to the carbon dioxide concentration predicted for 2050. Ort, who leads the ARS Photosynthesis Research Unit in Urbana, Ill., monitored the growth and yield of corn and soybeans there with his ARS and UIUC colleagues. In Maricopa, Ariz., an ARS collaborator monitored wheat and sorghum; in Switzerland, Nšsberger examined forage grasses. The scientists compared their findings to earlier growth-chamber-based simulations. The difference was dramatic: Carbon dioxide fertilization-effect yield increases were 50 percent lower than the chamber simulations.

According to Ort, the finding warrants a reexamination of carbon dioxide's role in forecasting future yields, especially in the presence of other climate-change concerns such as ozone pollution, which is toxic to crops.

Bolster Stalks: Turnips or Rye

Planting turnips or cereal rye into corn stalks can boost the nutrient value of post-harvest field grazing.

Corn stalks are one of the better and cheaper winter feeds available, but once cattle finish eating the grain and husks, what remains isn't all that good. Some growers have improved both the amount and quality of corn stalk grazing by flying turnip or rye seed onto standing corn in early August. When successful, turnip or rye plants provide extra grazing days and extra protein when corn stalks become poor quality.

The emphasis is on "when successful." It's not all that easy to get a good productive stand of either turnips or rye in a growing corn field, says Bruce Anderson, Extension forage specialist, University of Nebraska.

Several factors can affect success. Moisture can be limiting in dryland corn or difficult to manage in surface irrigated fields. Even under pivots, providing water for rye or turnips without slowing corn harvest takes planning.

Another problem is the density of the corn canopy. Irrigated fields can be especially thick, acting like weeds to prevent adequate light from reaching new seedlings. Chopping corn for silage or combining high moisture grain early helps.

Herbicide carryover also can be a problem. Turnips are very sensitive, but rye also can be affected.

Lastly there's wheel traffic at harvest. Turnips are damaged more than rye, but both lose stand if fields get muddy. Anderson does like improving corn stalks with rye or turnips, but be aware of the potential challenges.

Dairy Nutrition Way to Promote Soybeans in Pakistan

The American Soybean Association International Marketing (ASA-IM) Pakistan recently conducted dairy seminars in Pakistan to promote soybean meal (SBM) in dairy rations, including the use of soy-containing complete feed blocks. These seminars took place in conjunction with the import of 1.5 million bushels of U.S. soybeans under a U.S. government concessional program. Such seminars and ASA-IM's ongoing one-to-one consultation with dairy farmers and feed millers is helping to create awareness about the value of SBM protein in dairy rations over locally expelled cotton cake (which contains only 18 to 20 percent protein and has high levels of aflatoxin).

Pakistan is the fourth largest milk producing country in the world, so the potential for soy utilization in the sector is considerable

Triazine Herbicides Make the Grade

Two of the most proven Syngenta herbicides, atrazine and simazine, reached a major regulatory milestone recently when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency concluded that the cumulative risks associated with triazine herbicides pose "no harm that would result to the general U.S. population, infants, children or other...consumers."

EPA made the statement as it completed the cumulative risk assessment of the herbicides, stating that tolerances have been found to meet the safety standards established by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA). This reconfirms the favorable results of an EPA safety review on atrazine published in 2003.

"This decision marks the defining moment in a process that improved risk assessment methodology and testing for all pesticides," says Valdemar Fischer, president of North American operations for Syngenta Crop Protection. "Just as importantly, this action also enables farmers to continue using two of the most important and effective herbicides on the market today."

The decision brings EPA's Triazine Special Review near a close, a process that began in late 1994. Since then, hundreds of studies were conducted and reviewed by EPA, allowing the triazines to become one of the first major groups of pesticides to be re-registered under what EPA calls a "pilot process to facilitate greater public involvement" during re-registration under FQPA. This process also paved the way for innovative mitigation and stewardship requirements, including site-specific management.

"Syngenta appreciates the transparent, comprehensive and science-based approach EPA has taken in reviewing atrazine, as well as the agricultural information provided by farmers, agricultural organizations and others to EPA," adds Fischer.

With the completion of the cumulative risk assessment, EPA considers the safety reviews of atrazine and simazine to be final. A 60-day public comment period on the assessment ends Aug. 21.

Atrazine is the most widely used corn herbicide in conservation tillage systems. EPA estimates it saves farmers $28 per acre over other corn herbicides. Simazine is a key weed control tool in more than 30 crops, including apples.

Pioneer Introduces New Varieties With Peking Source Of SCN Resistance

Pioneer Hi-Bred International is introducing an expanded lineup of soybean varieties for the Midwest this season with a novel source of soybean cyst nematode (SCN) resistance as an added tool of protection against the pest. Available in two Pioneer brand soybean varieties in 2006, the Peking source of SCN resistance will be offered in a growing number of Pioneer soybean products in future growing seasons.

The Peking source has not been widely deployed in the Midwest. Pioneer researchers, using sophisticated molecular marker technology, are now integrating this source into high-performance soybean varieties

"Race 3 has long been the predominate SCN race in the Midwest and SCN resistance from the PI 88788 source has been the primary choice of resistance deployed in Midwestern varieties," says Jeff Thompson, research scientist for Pioneer in Mascoutah, Ill. "In the past three or four years, we have been receiving more and more reports that PI 88788 has not been providing adequate SCN protection in some fields. While these reports have been isolated, it compels us to consider future SCN resistance strategies."

Just as alternating herbicides with different modes of action helps prevent weed resistance from developing, agronomists also recommend planting soybeans with different sources of SCN resistance. The Peking source, which controls SCN races 1, 3 and 5, was introduced in the United States from China nearly a century ago.

"The Peking source of resistance was first incorporated in soybean varieties in the South more than 30 years ago," Thompson says. "Over time, repeated use of the same source caused changes in SCN populations in the field, and SCN resistance from Peking was no longer very useful in that region. In the Midwest, however, it is an excellent source of SCN resistance."

The new varieties in 2006 with the Peking source of SCN resistance, Pioneer brands 92M52 and 92M75, are Group II varieties with the Roundup Ready trait. Pioneer will offer more Peking source varieties in the future, Thompson adds. In addition to Pioneer products already available in Groups I and II, Pioneer will expand product offerings into maturity Groups 0, III and IV.

"Growers have the choice to rotate SCN sources in their fields, which provides a complete and sustainable SCN management system. This gives soybean growers another tool in their battle against SCN," he says.

New 'Jeanne' Gooseberry Resists Diseases

USDA Agricultural Research Service scientists have developed and released a new disease and pest-resistant dessert gooseberry called "Jeanne." Sweet and sturdy, this new high-quality, late-fruiting gooseberry was developed by ARS scientists at the National Clonal Germplasm Repository (NCGR) in Corvallis, Ore.

Gooseberry production is limited in the United States, partially due to restrictions imposed in the last century. Like other Ribes species, gooseberries are generally susceptible to white pine blister rust. While the disease causes them little harm, it can be devastating - even fatal - to pine trees. Jeanne gooseberries are highly resistant to white pine blister rust and to powdery mildew, the biggest disease threat to U.S. gooseberry production.

The plant's robustness protects it from insect threats as well. Jeanne is highly resistant to pests like aphids and sawflies. This and its high-quality fruit make it ideal for home plantings or commercial gooseberry production in the Pacific Northwest and similarly temperate climate zones.

How does Jeanne measure up against other cultivars? According to NCGR research leader Kim Hummer, the plant produces green berries, which ripen to a deep red as they mature to their full size of about five grams. Jeanne also boasts a higher yield than similar cultivars such as Invicta and Captivator, producing about 3.3 pounds of the flavorful fruits per plant during the growing season. Scientists project that Jeanne, whose dark, sweet berries are well suited to desserts, juices and jams, could extend the production season because it blooms and produces fruit about one to two weeks later than other red gooseberry plants.

The NCGR has provided Jeanne plant material to several nurseries that will propagate the gooseberry for homeowners. Cuttings and rooted cuttings are available for research. Interested parties should contact Hummer at khummer@ars-grin.gov.

Biodiesel Availability Continues To Skyrocket

Biodiesel is the fastest-growing renewable energy source in the country, and this trend shows no signs of slowing down. The farmer-leaders of the soybean checkoff have helped grow the number of soy biodiesel retailers and distributors from about 450 in 2002 to close to 3,000 today. And the number continues to increase almost daily.

In addition, checkoff promotional efforts have helped increase the number of farmers using biodiesel to one in two, but the checkoff will continue to work until that number is two out of two. Helping that goal, the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) figures show 50 U.S. biodiesel manufacturers in operation with another 50 planned.

Checkoff Helps Form Animal Nutrition Club in China

The farmer-leaders of the soybean checkoff are working with the two largest groups of Chinese soybean crushing plants to jointly initiate a "Club for Animal Nutritionists and Feed Ingredient Purchasing Managers." This new group will provide a platform for high-level technical service and exchange for Chinese feed and livestock enterprises. There will be a special Web-based exchange forum containing the most current livestock and feed processing information, which will help users select and purchase feed ingredients. The soybean checkoff will conduct technical workshops and marketing seminars as a joint service program for the entire feed industry.

Checkoff-funded international marketing staff in China have partnered with the two groups that are producing about 40 percent of China's soybean meal and are working together to increase the total demand of soybean meal and utilization of China's domestic capacity.

Meat Exports Add Value To Soybeans

The soybean checkoff has long supported livestock and poultry production, recognizing that feeding soybean meal to livestock is one way to add value to our crop. A new study confirms meat and poultry exports will continue to grow, increasing value for all members of the food system. A report on the value of meat and poultry exports to U.S. soybean producers through 2015 concluded that broiler exports are the largest cause of indirect soybean meal exports and that avian influenza is a major threat to U.S. soybean producers. The study also found that pork holds the longest-term growth potential of U.S. meat exports. Turkey exports now use more soybean meal than beef and represent a solid opportunity to increase indirect exports and utilization of soybean meal.

'Herald' Barley Benefits Environment

Just like people, livestock need phosphorus to stay healthy. Now, a new barley for feeding to cows, pigs, chickens - and perhaps even farm-raised trout - not only provides this essential nutrient, but does so in a way that helps the environment and barley growers, too.

USDA Agricultural Research Service plant geneticists Phil Bregitzer, Donald Obert and Victor Raboy in Idaho and University of Idaho colleagues Juliet Windes and James Whitmore developed the new, eco-friendly grain. Named "Herald," it is the first commercial-quality barley that provides a greater proportion of its phosphorus in a bioavailable form - that is, more readily absorbed and used. That's according to tests conducted by the ARS scientists, all of whom are with the agency's Small Grains and Potato Germplasm Research Unit in Aberdeen, Idaho.

Compared to other top-yielding feed barleys like Baronesse and Colter, Herald had about 10 percent less total phosphorus, but had more than three times as much phosphorus in the bioavailable form.

Bioavailable phosphorus is less likely to end up in animal manure and be carried away by rain runoff from pastures and fields into nearby streams, rivers and lakes, or seep into underground water supplies intended for people to drink.

Superior bioavailability of this nutrient in the novel barley should save growers the cost of feeding phosphorus supplements to farm animals. What's more, Herald barley produces excellent yields. So, growers don't have to sacrifice quantity to take advantage of the unique barley's pollution-lessening trait.

Herald barley is the latest addition to a line of crops - including corn, rice and soybeans - that are low in the hard-to-digest or, for some animals, completely indigestible form of phosphorus known as phytic acid. These low-phytic-acid feeds build upon earlier work in which Raboy used conventional plant-breeding procedures to chemically tweak seeds' phosphorus makeup, resulting in the prized, low-phytic-acid trait.

Seed companies and plant researchers can acquire supplies of Herald seed from the Foundation Seed Program at Kimberly, Idaho.

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