August 2003

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EU Justice Court Targets 11 Nations Over Biotech Regs From Far West This Week, 7/24/03 The EU Commission referred 11 member states to the European Court of Justice last week for failing to implement EU law regulating environmental release of biotech organisms. Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Spain failed to meet the agreed Oct. 17, 2002, deadline for enacting such legislation. Access the news release at http://europa.eu.int/news/index_en.htm ID Governor Agrees No Viable Alternative To Field Burning From Far West This Week, 7/24/03 Idaho Department of Agriculture Director Patrick Takasugi declared Tuesday that there was no economically viable alternative to field burning, clearing the way for thousands of grass fields to be burned this year. Idaho's new Smoke Management and Crop Residue Disposal Act required the study of burning alternatives and that Takasugi make a decision based on the study. The law shields farmers from lawsuits as long as they follow state regulations, burning only on days when regulators say wind conditions are favorable. Takasugi reviewed 48 documents included in the study, which found that equipment needed to bale and store bluegrass residue instead of burning costs too much, alternative markets for straw are undependable, mechanical methods of straw removal do not produce as many future seed crops as burning does. Growers are now waiting for the Idaho Supreme Court to determine whether the law is constitutional. Grants For Biodiesel Fuel Education Program Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman recently announced the availability of $920,000 in grants to conduct a biodiesel fuel education program. "The biodiesel education program supports President Bushís energy plan to expand the economic prospects and environmental promise of renewable energy," said Veneman. "This Administration is committed to encouraging the further development of a biodiesel industry in the United States." The purpose of the program is to award the grants for the development of an education program to target governmental and private entities that operate vehicle fleets. The program will address issues previously identified by fleet operators and other potential users of this alternative fuel, including the need to balance the positive environmental, social and human health effects of biodiesel consumption with the increased cost per gallon. In addition, the education programs are to be designed to inform other interested entities and the public about biodiesel fuel use. The program is authorized by Section 9004 of the 2002 Farm Bill through 2007. Biodiesel can be made from almost any agricultural oil including soybean oil, animal fats and recycled greases. Biodiesel has many environmental and health benefits. It is biodegradable and reduces air toxics and cancer-causing compounds and can be considered to be an environmentally preferable fuel. Burning biodiesel or biodiesel blends reduces most forms of air pollution, including sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and particulate matter. Detailed information about program requirements and information on how to apply is available in the July 15, 2003 Federal Register and at http://www.usda.gov/oce/oepnu/index.htm. Eligibility of applicants is limited to nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education (as defined in Sec. 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) that have demonstrated both knowledge of biodiesel fuel production, use or distribution and the ability to conduct educational and technical support programs. Applications must be received by the close of business on August 14, 2003 to be considered. A maximum of two grant awards will be made. Applicants and other interested parties are encouraged to contact Carmela A. Bailey, Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service at (202) 401-6443 or cbailey@csrees.usda.gov; or James Duffield, Office of Energy Policy and New Uses, U.S. Department of Agriculture, at (202)401-0523 or mailto:jduffield@oce.usda.gov. Availability of the grant is contingent on finalizing a proposed rulemaking for the administration of grants under this program. The proposed rule appeared in the July 15, 2003 Federal Register and is posted at http://www.usda.gov/oce/oepnu/index.htm. How To Cut Water Use In The Vegetable Garden By Carol Savonen, Oregon State University Oregon's summers are quite dry compared with other parts of the country. We are heavily dependent on watering our gardens, rather than waiting for rain. The OSU Extension Service's Master Gardener Program has worked for decades with home gardeners to help make them more successful in the garden, including teaching them to use water more efficiently. Here are some ideas OSU Master Gardeners recommend to help people use water more efficiently in the yard and garden during dry Oregon summers. Try to concentrate watering in the plants' root zone. The less water you apply between the rows where roots can't use it, the less water lost to evaporation and into the ground. As much as 25 percent of the water applied in overhead sprinkling is lost to evaporation, especially during the hot part of the day, from noon to 6 p.m. To help keep the water in the root zone, try these ideas: Take the top off, then punch holes in the bottom of an empty large juice or coffee can. Then bury the can in the ground so the bottom of the can is adjacent to, and at root level of the plants you want to water. Pour water in the open top and it will reach the roots with a minimum of loss. This works well with squash or other plants grown in a cluster or hill. Irrigate individual plants like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants in the same manner, using a slightly smaller can. Punch the holes in the can only on the side next to the plant. A "trickle" or "drip" irrigation system permits water to ooze from a continuous soaker, or it emits water at a given location. You can buy kits with various components to supply water in this fashion at garden stores. Canvas soakers, or inverted sprinkler hoses near the plants, perform the same function. These types of delivery can save you many gallons of water and are easy to install. If you use sprinklers, help minimize water losses by these methods: Sprinkle the garden, not the surrounding area. Water early in the morning when the air is cool, the wind is low and the water pressure is better on municipal systems. Keep an eye on the water. Is it soaking in or running off? When it runs off or pools on the surface, the ground may be saturated. Stop sprinkling. Place used tuna cans around the garden to see how much you have sprinkled. Oftentimes, an inch is enough. It is better for your garden plants to thoroughly soak the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches and do it less frequently than water lightly and more often. With fairly mature plants in cooler weather, a 5- to 7-day interval may be enough. But with younger plants or hot weather, more frequent watering will be necessary. After watering, it is crucial to monitor how deep the water has percolated. Take a shovel and see if the moisture has seeped as deep as the root zone of the plants you are watering. If the root zone is still dry, your plants need more water. Adjust watering time. Eastern Oregon sandy soil is much more porous than clay and loam soils of western Oregon. And water will penetrate clay and loam more slowly than sandy soil. Try planting in closer rows. A smaller area gardened more intensively will produce more vegetables relative to the amount of water applied. You can grow quite a few vegetables much closer together than traditional 2 1/2- to 3-foot rows. You can place radishes, onions, beets, carrots, etc., in rows as close as 1 foot apart. This way, you make better use of the water you apply in the root zone. In addition, a shaded soil loses less water by evaporation to the atmosphere. Remember, container planting of vegetables will use more water than the same plants grown in the ground. Containers dry much faster than garden beds and rows. Applying organic matter to your soil and mulches on top of the soil help the soil retain moisture and keeps weeds at bay. For more information about efficient watering, the OSU Extension Service offers "Conserving Water In The Garden" (EM 8375-E), "Growing Your Own," and "Eastern Oregon Vegetable Gardening," (EC 1491) on the web. These and many other gardening publications are available on-line at: http://eesc.oregonstate.edu. Click on "Publications and Videos," then "Gardening," then "Vegetables." British Science Panel Finds No Justification To Ban All GM Crops From Far West This Week, 8/01/03 Britain's GM Science Review panel told the government this week there is "no scientific case for ruling out all GM crops or their products," according to The Times of London. The verdict strengthens the position of Prime Minister Blair and others who feel commercial licensing should take place as soon as possible. Reviewers also said, however, that each crop variety should be assessed on a case-by-case basis to assure no direct environmental or health risks. If field trials produce positive results during the fall, up to four biotech crop varieties could be approved for planting in 2005, said the Times' report. How To Discourage Sowbugs In The Garden By Carol Savonen, Oregon State University Looking like tiny armadillos, sowbugs and pillbugs inhabit garden soil, dank basements and shady areas of the yard. They feast on decaying plant material and play a role in decomposing organic matter in the garden and compost pile. And most annoyingly, sowbugs and pillbugs feed on tender seedlings, young roots, flowers and fruits and vegetables laying directly on damp soil. Sowbugs and pillbugs get blamed for more damage to garden plants than they actually do, said Oregon State University Extension entomologist Glenn Fisher. "They are deemed guilty by association, as they are often found feeding in decaying or damaged garden produce," said Fisher. "Actually, diseases, slugs and other pests often inflict the initial damage. Sowbugs enter later to take advantage of the feast. They are great opportunists." Both sowbugs and pillbugs have seven pairs of legs and are dark gray, brown or almost black after molting. The type that curls up in a ball when disturbed is often called pillbugs. True sowbugs cannot curl up in a ball and have two small projections at their hind ends. Both are similar enough in lifestyle to be considered "sowbugs" by most biologists, said Fisher. Most active at night, sowbugs hide in dark, moist protected areas during the day, such as under flowerpots, decaying leaves on the soil surface, boards, mulches and ground cover. They thrive under sprinkler irrigation. They do no structural damage to homes and will not harm humans or pets. Fisher recommended some strategies to reduce sowbug populations in the yard and garden. Limit moist, dark hiding places. Clean up organic debris, boards, boxes and piles of leaves around the yard and garden. Water early in the day so plants and the soil surface dries out by the evening when sow or pillbugs are active. Mulch with coarse materials, so water passes through to the soil quickly. Elevate fruits and vegetables off the ground with old strawberry baskets or pebbles. Black plastic mulches are good because they get too hot in the summer to provide desirable shelter for sowbugs. Seal cracks around the house and eliminate the dark, damp hiding places next to your foundation if sowbugs are entering your basement. Plant seeds deeply and do not water until seedlings have their first true leaves. Or start seedlings indoors. Then to maintain good drainage, transplant seedlings into the garden so that the soil around seedlings is higher than surrounding garden soil. Wheat bran-based slug and snail baits containing carbaryl among the active ingredients will also help control sowbugs. A less toxic method for sowbug control is to place a rolled up newspaper tube on the soil surface. Leave it overnight. In the morning, shake out the tubes into a pail of soapy water. Another less toxic method to control sowbugs is to sprinkle diatomaceous earth directly on the row where seeds have been planted to dry the soil surface enough to discourage sow bugs. Experiment with the amount of diatomaceous earth, as too thin a layer will not be effective and too thick a layer can become like plaster if it becomes wet. Clearfield Wheat Formally Launched In PNW Reprinted from WAWG's Green Sheet After more than 7 years in development, the nation's first herbicide-tolerant wheat is a reality in the Pacific Northwest (PNW). At a day-long launch meeting July 17, more than 200 members of the PNW wheat industry learned about the Clearfield Production System for wheat and ClearFirst, the first new Clearfield variety developed and marketed by General Mills. Chad Shelton, Clearfield market development manager with BASF, characterized the launch as the first of its kind in the PNW, in which a new technology is simultaneously rolled out to seed retailers, ag chemical retailers and grain merchandisers. "Look around," Shelton urged. "This isn't your typical launch meeting." The need to bring many different industry segments together for the launch, Shelton said, is driven by the nature of the Clearfield technology: an "intricate, functioning system" that requires the commitment of the entire wheat production chain to be successful. "One of the things we've been hearing you say is that we need to be sure to steward this technology properly," Shelton said. "That's why we're here today." The Clearfield stewardship protocol, Shelton said, is designed to prolong the usefulness of the non-GMO technology and prevent the onset of herbicide resistance. Key tenets of the protocol require growers to: purchase new seed (registered or certified) every year from a Clearfield seed retailer (specifically, growers will not be allowed to use saved seed&emdash;no "brown-bagging" or 'bin-running"); and use Beyond herbicide in accordance with the product label, including stated label rates and timing. In addition, the Clearfield stewardship protocol includes the following recommended practices: avoid continuous use of Clearfield wheat on the same land; rotate Clearfield winter wheat with spring crops such as corn, sorghum, sunflowers, soybeans or peas to break the cycle of winter annual weeds and allow the use of alternate mod-of-action herbicides; use herbicides with different modes of action (specifically, limit the sole reliance of ALS-inhibiting herbicides&emdash;of which Beyond is one&emdash;to no more than 2 out of 4 years unless other control practices are implemented on target weeds); and properly manage weeds in wheat-fallow rotations. Kevin Hodges, ClearFirst marketing manager with General Mills, cited a simple reason for his company's partnership with BASF. "We need cleaner wheat at General Mills," Hodges said. "Is wheat important to us¿ Yes. Do we want cleaner wheat? Yes. That's the key for us. General Mills considers it a very strong relationship we have with BASF." The Clearfield system allows for cleaner wheat because of Beyond herbicide's ability to control previously uncontrolled, or difficult-to-control weeds such as jointed goatgrass, brome species and feral (or cereal) rye. Such weeds have been a menace to wheat growers for years not only because they can reduce crop yields, but also because they lead to increased dockage and presence of foreign matter in the harvested crop. Hodges said he considers this year's ClearFirst trials a "model for the future." He noted that the second General Mills Clearfield winter wheat variety, called Mel, is slated for introduction in fall 2004. Hodges characterized Mel as a club winter wheat, adapted for the PNW, with a Coda background. He estimated that pilot programs would get under way this fall, with 50,000 to 75,000 acres expected to be planted commercially in 2004. Further down the road, Hodges said General Mills was anticipating 2 new varieties of hard white winter wheat, one new variety of hard white spring wheat and one new variety of hard red winter wheat for the 2005-06 season. How To Take Better Garden Photos By Carol Savonen, Oregon State University Every garden has its beautiful moments. Flower and vegetable beds contain the raw material for thousands of photos, from the broad view of a landscape, to a favorite plant, and right on down to the honeybee that's sipping nectar from a flower. But did you ever get prints or slides back and wonder what it was that inspired you to take the shot? Just as with vacation snapshots, garden snapshots can be disappointing. It's easy for a three-dimensional garden to get lost on the flat plane of a slide or print. Below are several suggestions on how to take better photos of your garden from Bob Rost, an award-winning photographer with Oregon State University's Extension and Experiment Station Communications. Get close to your subject. The biggest photography mistake people commonly make is being too far from their subject. After you take your photo move in closer and take it again. Repeat several times, as necessary. Keep backgrounds simple. A wall of evergreens, a fence, the side of a house, the sky or the ground-all work well. Or with a 35-mm camera, use a large aperture setting (a lower f-stop number, such as f 1.4, f 2, f 2.8) to blur the background and isolate your target, making it stand out from the background. Remove distracting weeds, dead flowers, or other items intruding on the scene. Add variety to the composition of your photos by mentally dividing the picture into thirds horizontally and vertically with an imaginary tic-tac-toe grid. Then, rather than centering the subject of your photo, place important elements where the lines intersect. Include non-plant elements to add interest: trellises, benches, steps, walls, walks, sundials, birdhouses, bird baths, gazing balls or even a garden gnome, if you have one. Add perspective and action by putting people in the picture doing something natural, such as picking flowers, planting, hoeing, mowing, digging or raking. Or how about a child in the garden blowing bubbles or sitting on giant pumpkin? Shoot the same scene from various vantage points (looking down from above, perhaps on a ladder and kneeling down looking up) and at different times of the day. Take both horizontal and vertical shots. Observe the light. Pictures made when the sun is low in the sky, in the early morning or late afternoon, will be more interesting than those taken in the flat, overhead light of mid-day. Take side and back lit shots with the sun behind the plant instead of behind the photographer. To avoid sun flares in your photos, hold an umbrella above the camera lens, or your hand, or stand in the shade of a tree. Use a tripod if you have one. If not, hold the camera steady as you press the shutter. Hold your breath to help keep the camera steadier. Most fuzzy pictures are the result of camera movement rather than faulty focus. Lighten dark shadows with a flash or some sort of reflector. Aluminum foil, crumpled and then smoothed out, reflects light softly into the shadows. After you have mastered the art of garden photography, you might want to try entering a garden photo or two in the county or state fair. Less World Wheat Supplies This Year, More U.S. Exports From OWGL's Oregon Wheat Newsletter Forecasts by the U. S. Department of Agriculture for the total world supply of wheat continues to drop, to 724.41 million metric tons (MMT) in 2003/04, from 761 MMT last year and 781.7 in 2001/02, according to the July 11 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates. That represents a 7% drop in world wheat supplies in just two years. Wheat supplies in the U. S., on the other hand, are projected up 17% from last year, and only a million tons less that 2001/02. The U. S. Department of Agriculture forecasts U.S. 2003/04 total wheat production at 2.311 billion bushels, up more than 40% from last year and the largest crop since 1998/1999. They project that U. S. supplies lower U.S. prices, and reduced competition. The big winner in forecasted exports, according to the report will be hard red winter wheat which (they predict) will see a 30% increase in exports. By projecting an astounding 79% increase in production, however, and only 4% projected increase in domestic use, ending stocks will head back up over 2001/02 levels, to 370 million bushels. White wheat exports are also projected to increase, by 27% to 190 million bushels, following a 23% increase in production. With only a 6% increase in domestic use, ending stocks are expected to rise slightly, to 92 million bushels. A small reduction in exports is projected for hard red spring, down 6%. With domestic use and exports nearly equal (246 million bu and 240 million bu, respectively) the projected 30% increase in production will result in 23% higher ending stocks, according to USDA estimates and projections. Soft red winter wheat supplies continue to be tight, with only 34 million bushels more produced this year over last. Use swings are similarly limited, with USDA projecting a 1.5% increase in domestic use and a difference of only 5 million bushels in exports (down 5%). Starting off the marketing year with only 28 million bushels of ending stock and a modest rise in production (from 79 million bushels to 93) USDA expects durum exports to remain steady.

Mandatory Pesticide Buffers Coming From Washington Court Ruling From WAWG's Green Sheet Note: Information from Heather Hansen, WAWG's lobbyist in Olympia. On July 17, a federal district court judge in Seattle issued his preliminary ruling on the Washington Toxics Coalition (WTC ) request for interim measure in its lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Judge Coughenour's statement outlined what information he wants to hear on August 14, the final hearing in the case. The judge stated that because EPA had failed to follow procedures for consulting with the NOAA-Fisheries (formerly known as NMFS), as required by the Endangered Species Act (ESA), he would grant WTC's request for buffers on all pesticides named in the suit for which EPA has not already made "no effect" determinations. On August 14, the judge will allow EPA and intervenors (a coalition of 30 pesticide user groups including WAWG) to present information about how wide buffers should be. If he is not convinced otherwise, buffers will be as requested, 300 feet for aerial applications and 60 feet for ground applications from all water accessible to listed salmon. (There is no legal definition of "water accessible to listed salmon," so the total impact of the ruling is unclear.) Background: WTC filed suit against the EPA alleging failure to consult under section 7 of ESA. Under ESA, when an agency takes an action that may affect an endangered species, that agency is required to consult with the agency responsible for recovering the species. In this case, the EPA should have consulted with NOAA-Fisheries, the agency responsible for salmon recovery. The lawsuit was not about the toxicity of pesticides, it was about the consultation process. In July 2002, the Federal District Court in Seattle found in favor of WTC and ordered EPA to initiate consultation on a list of 54 pesticide active ingredients named in the suit. The judge outlined a schedule for "may effect" decisions to be made. So far decisions have been made for 21 ingredients with 11 "no effect" and 10 "may effect" results. All decisions must be made by December 2004. WTC went back to court and asked the judge to grant "interim measures" mandating buffers along water accessible to salmon for the 54 named pesticides until consultations are complete. They also requested a complete ban on the use of 13 products by unlicensed users (homeowners). The judge has requested more information about why WTC feels it is necessary to ban homeowner use of 13 pesticides. The following pesticides, registered for use on wheat, will have required buffers along water accessible to salmon, once the judge's ruling becomes final. Insecticides: carbaryl (Sevin); carbofuran (Furadan); chloropyrifos (Lorsban); dimethoate (Digon); disulfoton (Di-Syston); malation; Methomyl (Lannate); methyl paration; and phorate. Herbicides: 2, 4-D; atrazine; bromoxynil (Buctril); diuron; linuron; metalochlor; metribuzin; pendimethalin; and triflurain (Treflan). Seed treatments: Lindane. Healthy Forest Legislation Advanced By Senate Committee From Far West This Week, 8/08/03 The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry passed HR 1904 out of committee last week, advancing it for consideration by the full U.S. Senate. The committee approved the Healthy Forest Restoration Act without a single dissenting vote, according to Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., who originated the bill in the House. Walden said the bill is needed to deal with widespread forest health problems created by more than a decade of hands-off management policies imposed largely by environmental extremist groups and their lawyers. Those hands off policies have increased the threat of catastrophic wildfire, disease and insect infestation in our nation's forests, Walden said. For more information on the Healthy Forests Restoration Act, visit the following link: http://walden.house.gov/issues/healthyforests/healthyforests.html. Fight Summer Wild Fires: Landscape With Fire-Resistant Plants By Cynthia Freyer, CFNA PR/Marcom It's fire season. And while some may be thinking hoses and water, others are heading for their local garden shop. That's because there's a group of plants that vegetation experts say are fire-resistant. Planting them around your home or business is an easy and low-cost way to reduce a structure's vulnerability to fire during the summer months, said Michael Bowman, the City of Lewiston's urban forester. Bowman is in charge of the one-mile Fire Wise Greenbelt being planted by the city along Lewiston's Bryden Canyon. It's a demonstration of how landscaping can be created to stop the spread of fire, while being pleasing to the eye. "The idea behind firescaping, " said Bowman, "is to eliminate dry, easily combustible plants and strategically plant fire-resistant trees, shrubs, groundcovers and flowering plants." What's a particularly combustible plant? Tall grasses. Annuals. Those junipers that are in nearly everyone's landscape. And evergreen trees. "The needles of evergreens usually contain large amounts of resin, which ignites easily and quickly," said Bowman. "When a fire hits them, there's actually a gaseous ignition that occurs, enveloping the tree and then, everything around it." This makes them especially dangerous, making it important to keep the lower trunk area free of ignitable branches, he explained, adding that homeowners should provide a large nonflammable space around evergreens. At the least, he said, take steps to keep them from catching on fire. Annuals aren't on the list of fire-resistant plants because they quickly go from beautiful to fuel for fire. "When an annual plant dies, you have this big, dry, standing biomass of dead material, like those tumbleweeds you see blowing around," Bowman said. "You can imagine what kind of fire hazard that is." Vegetation choice is one of the most important aspects of creating a fire-resistant landscape, says Bowman Bowman, a Moscow, Idaho, resident, worked previously in management in the US Forest Service, a career which provided him 30 years of experience in fire control and suppression. He is heading the Fire Wise Greenbelt Bryden Canyon project, which is funded under an $85,000 grant to the city from the Idaho Department of Lands and U.S. Forest Service. Bowman noted that perennial plants and shrubs, as well as native plants, are the preferred choices for a fire-resistant landscape. These plants, he explained, need less water, are easy to maintain and tend to "smother a fire rather than encourage it." Perennials stay alive year round, retaining water even when they look dry. Bowman suggested planting alder or aspen trees. Both are deciduous, which is the most fire-resistant tree choice. Cherry, apricot and plum trees are also good choices.. "The wood is what we call 'hard,' which means it stays dense and wet and is difficult to burn.," said Bowman. Bowman said that homeowners should be looking carefully at the landscapes right now. "August is a big month because of high lightning occurrence and the fact that fuels, like grasses, get dried out," he said. "If you reduce the flammability of vegetation around a building, you reduce the risk of damage by fire." For those with established yards, simple steps to improve the landscape's fire resistance include mowing the grass, pruning shrubs and trees, keeping plants watered and removing shrubs from around trees and buildings so as to eliminate fire ladders.. "Fire ladders occur when fire burns bushes and then leaps to the trees above and around them," said Bowman. "A good policy is to keep shrubs at a distance from trees and keep trees at least 10 feet from buildings and other trees. Don't forget to keep plants mulched. "Any mulch will work as long as it is kept moist," said Bowman. "Mulch keeps plants wetter and greener for a longer period of time." Plants with the highest water content are succulents, such as Jade and Aloe. They risk rot during the winter, however, so they should be planted in a well drained area, among rocks or in an especially dry location, explained Bowman. Bowman also emphasized the benefits of planting native vegetation to increase the safety of a landscape. He said many plants that naturally grow in this area are also low water-use plants. "Low water-use plants are any that, compared to other plants, use less water. Cacti is one example," he said. "Native plants include the Red Barberry shrub and the Currant, both of which have adapted to low rainfall. They require less care and grow well in this area." Native and low water-use plants are so much safer than other plant choices because of the way they store water. "Since they are adapted to using less water," said Bowman, "they stay green and lush much longer than higher water-use plants, which tend to wilt and dry out much faster, making them more susceptible to fire." Finding appropriate vegetation may seem a daunting task, but there are plenty options and resources to consult, according to Bowman. "There are literally thousands of choices," he said, referring beginners to the library, internet and their local nursery, all of which can give information on native, perennial and low water-use plants and deciduous trees. In fact, five nurseries in Lewiston and Clarkston and one in Orofino are participating in the FireWise Plant GreenBelts program. Plants there have fluorescent markers on them identifying them as fire-resistant. A flyer is present at the entrance of each nursery, identifying it as a participant. An up-to-date list of participating nurseries and more information is available from an autoresponder by sending a blank email to greenbelt@cfnaonline.com. The most crucial step in Firescaping is creating and phasing in a plan depending on your resources. Choosing vegetation, grouping plants that require the same kind of care together in the landscape, and integrating safety tips such as avoiding fire ladders are important steps in this plan. "When you have a plan, it saves money, and that's part of the efficiency," said Bowman, "so plan your work, and work your plan." To get a look at expertly done firescaping, visit the Demonstration FireWise Greenbelt along Bryden Canyon Road in Lewiston. Bowman said it is built as a protective greenbelt on a slope next to the road and emphasizes how firescaping can be creative and interesting as well as safe.. In August 2003 and March 2004, the city of Lewiston Library will display a FireWise Greenbelt educational exhibit. The library already has a Fire Wise Greenbelt resource center, with informational brochures and videotapes. The videotapes are from the firewise.org web site and were made available locally for residents easy access. Groups who want a free presentation on FireWise Greenbelt landscaping are encouraged to contact Michael Bowman, City Forester, at 208-746-3671 ext 242. Michael Bowman said he is also available to answer any questions on how to firescape. He will even visit a business or residence to provide counsel, at no charge. Quarantine Reduction For Exotic Newcastle Disease Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman recently announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has eliminated the last remaining areas quarantined for exotic Newcastle disease in Arizona, Nevada and Texas and reduced the quarantined area in California. This action removes restrictions on the movement of birds, poultry and certain other articles from those areas. "I commend the efforts of the federal and state officials who have worked so hard to manage this disease," said Veneman. "This is an example of what the state and federal partnership can accomplish in animal disease eradication." Exotic Newcastle disease was first confirmed in backyard poultry in southern California in October 2002 and in commercial poultry in December 2002. It was later identified in Nevada and Arizona in January and February 2003, respectively. In April, the disease was also diagnosed in Texas. With this action, there are no longer any areas in Arizona, Nevada and Texas that are quarantined because of END. All areas removed from the quarantine in California have gone under extensive surveillance for END and have been determined to be free of END. Of the areas being released in California, only portions of San Diego County ever had END-positive premises detected. END is one of the most infectious poultry diseases in the world. It is a contagious and fatal viral disease that affects the respiratory, nervous and digestive systems of all species of birds. The virus is spread primarily through direct contact between healthy birds and the bodily discharges of infected birds. The disease is transmitted through infected birds' droppings and secretions from the nose, mouth and eyes. END is not a human health risk. This interim rule is published in the Aug. 4 Federal Register and was effective July 30. APHIS documents published in the Federal Register and related information, including the names of organizations and individuals who have commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html. Consideration will be given to comments received on or before Oct. 3. Send an original and three copies of postal or commercial delivery comments to Docket No. 02-117-9, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, Md. 20737-1238. If you use e-mail, address your comments regulations@aphis.usda.gov. Your comments must be contained in the body of the message; do not send attached files. Please include your name and address in the message and use "Docket No. 02-117-9" on the subject line. Comments may be reviewed at USDA, Room 1141, South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C., between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing to review comments are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to facilitate entry into the comment reading room. Perennial Flowers Color August & September Gardens By Carol Savonen, Oregon State University Do you sense a lack of color in your late summer garden? By mid- to late July, many of spring and early summer's brilliant blooms have gone to seed. Yet autumn is quite a way off. If you want to learn to avoid a drab late summer garden at home, August and September are good months to pay close attention to beautiful flower gardens around your area. Make note of what catches your eye. There are still many flowers in bloom and some will blossom long into the fall. Some of the colorful perennials that bridge the gap until frost in the Pacific Northwest include: monkshood, Japanese anemone, white mugwort, many perennial asters, chimney bellflower, pink turtlehead, giant daisy, common autumn crocus, purple coneflower, Joe-Pye weed, common sneezeweed, plantain lily (Hasta), red-hot poker, gayfeather, many of the lilies, sea-lavender, salvias (sage), stonecrops, goldenrods and clump speedwell. "Sustainable Gardening: The Oregon-Washington Master Gardener Handbook" covers late blooming perennials and many other facets of gardening in the Pacific Northwest, including how to: • choose plants that will thrive in your yard; • grow healthy and productive vegetables, fruits, flowers, shrubs, trees and lawns; • propagate and prune plants successfully; • diagnose and solve plant problems; • prevent and manage weeds and pests; • make and use compost; • reduce use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The 526-page loose-leaf volume also includes chapters on basic botany, soils, fertilizers, how yard care affects water quality, home orchards and berry crops, houseplants, weed management, entomology, landscape design, plant identification and more information than ever on non chemical controls for garden diseases and pests. The pages of this guide are designed to fit into a larger size three-ring binder that the owner provides. For more information on "Sustainable Gardening: The Oregon-Washington Master Gardener Handbook," EM 8742, visit our on-line catalog. Our publications and video catalog at: http://eesc.oregonstate/edu/agcomwebfile/edmat shows which publications are available on the Web and which can be ordered as printed publications. Insurance Changes For 2004 Fall Crops From Jo Lynne Seufer, Risk Management Specialis, USDA-Risk Management Agency (RMA) (509-353-2147) RMA is moving quickly to inform insurance providers, commodity groups and producers of the changes in the federal crop insurance program for 2004 Fall Crops. The major changes that will affect insurance programs in Washington this fall include: New Small Grains Crop Provisions; Winter and Spring Wheat Practice changes in select counties; Winter Barley coverage availability in some counties; and New Basic Crop Insurance Provisions. For 2002, nearly 47% of the potential barley acres and 67% of the potential wheat acres in the state are insured with over $199-million in crop insurance protection coverage. 2003 coverage numbers are incomplete, but are expected to be higher. Many of the 2004 crop year policy and program changes are necessary to maintain the integrity of the program while others are enhancements and/or improvements that were recommended by the Washington Barley Commission and WAWG. Changes made to winter and spring wheat non-irrigated practice designations recognize the yield differences between the summer fallow (SF) and annual or continuous cropping (CC) practices. This practice change (non-irrigated to SF/CC) affects wheat producers in Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Douglas, Garfield, Grant, Klickitat, Lincoln, Spokane, Walla Walla and Whitman counties. RMA is confident this change will maintain the integrity of the federal crop insurance program and will continue the affordability on insurance premiums for future generations of Northwest small grain growers. Insured producers will have to separate existing non-irrigated Actual Production Histories (APH) databases into SF and CC as applicable. Producers may recertify existing APH histories or use RMA established procedures to attribute or apportion the non-irrigated history into the applicable SF and/or CC practice databases. Insurance industry representatives and RMA will work together to make sure every insured is able to make informed choices as they apply these practice designation changes to their individual insurance programs. The new Small Grains Crop Provisions includes several changes that will improve upon the existing program. Most notable are the addition of barley to the Winter Coverage Endorsement and improved replanting policy provisions changes. For winter barley producers, additional coverage will be available in Klickitat and Yakima counties in Washington under a Winter Coverage Endorsement (like wheat) for the first time. By accepting this winter coverage endorsement, the contract change, cancellation and termination dates for wheat (6/30) in the county will be applicable to the spring and winter barley. Therefore, producers of winter barley in these counties in Washington will have to make decisions on whether to insure their barley under this new endorsement by Sept. 30. Coverage in other counties may be available via written agreement; producers are encouraged to visit with their crop insurance agent ahead of Sept. 30 for specific details. The replanting provisions were significantly improved by expanding the crops eligible for payment to include barley, flax, and oats and by increasing the maximum amount of the wheat replanting payment per acre from three to four bushels. There is also a positive change in terms of the date when damage must occur to be eligible for a replanting payment on fall wheat. The fall final planting date applicable to the Winter Coverage Endorsement (the earlier date) will be used for this purpose. Therefore, damage must occur after the earlier of the two fall final planting dates to be eligible for a winter wheat replanting payment. Finally, insurance producers will see new Basic Crop Insurance Provisions for the 2004 crop year. Changes in the Basic Provisions that could affect producers in Washington include prevented planting provision modifications; new "Double Insurance" provisions; addition of provisions to allow coverage for crops produced using an organic farming practice, if the information needed to determine a premium rate for and organic practice is included on the actuarial table, or if insurance is allowed by written agreement; providing a reconsideration process for determinations regarding good farming practices; and improved provisions regarding yield substitutions when actual yields fall below 60% of the applicable Transitional Yield. All of the changes have been approved and filed. The insurance industry and RMA are working diligently to get this information out to agents, commodity organizations, producers, and other interested parties. Producers should plan to spend adequate time with their local insurance agent in preparation for the 2004 crop year. Barley and wheat organization members will play a critical role by continuing to provide opportunities for RMA to present detailed descriptions of ALL changes in time for producers to make policy changes. Our commitment is to continue working with grain producers throughout the northwest to ensure the programs and insurance plans offered fit the needs of the Northwest producers. Wheat Use In Food Aid Down Slightly From Last Year From OWGL's Oregon Wheat Newsletter The wheat donation pattern reveals a 43% drop in the last four years. The unofficial preliminary summary of wheat donations, assembled by the export sales reporting staff at USDA, shows total wheat donations at 2,209,200 tons for the marketing year ending May 31, 2003. They year's donations are down 10.9% from MY 2001/2002, which had 2,481 thousand metric tons of donations. While the difference is relatively small, it continues a down ward pattern since 1999/00, when 3,858,300 tons of U. S. wheat was donated. The largest amount of donations was of hard red winter wheat, which eclipsed all other classes. HRW donations, totaling 1,464,700 tons, went to 29 countries around the world, with Ethiopia as the largest single recipient country. White wheat donations came in second, with 462,300 tons going to eight countries. Afghanistan was the largest recipient country of white wheat. About a quarter of a million tons of hard red spring wheat went to 12 countries, with Mozambique and Ghana receiving the largest donations. Donations of soft red winter wheat were negligible (26.4 thousand metric tons) and, as usual, no durum was donated.

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