UPI Farming Today

EPA implements new pesticide rules

The Environmental Protection Agency is creating new rules on the use of two agricultural pesticides to ensure that farm workers are adequately protected from their use on crops.

Azinophos-methyl and phosmet both were registered more than 35 years ago, but officials say new information makes it necessary to change the ways in which the two substances are used to prevent insects from ruining crops.

"The new measures ... will help decrease pesticide exposure and provide additional health protection for agricultural workers," EPA assistant Administrator Stephen Johnson said.

"The best scientific expertise has been incorporated into these new precautions," Johnson said. "New health effects monitoring of agricultural workers will be required to determine if it is necessary to impose additional restrictions."

For azinophos-methyl, 28 crop uses are being canceled, while seven crop uses -- including almonds, tart cherries, cotton, cranberries, peaches, pistachios and walnuts -- will be phased out during the next four years.

Eight other crop uses -- apples, blueberries, sweet cherries, pears, pine seed orchards, Brussels sprouts, cane berries and by nurseries for quarantine requirements -- will be allowed to continue under "time-limited" restrictions for another four years.

Just before that four-year period expires, EPA officials will conduct a review of the uses to determine if they should continue to be registered for agricultural purposes.

For phosmet, uses for domestic pets, household ornamentals and household fruit trees are being voluntarily canceled although officials say such uses were infrequent.

Nine crops are being authorized for use under specific terms for five years. Those crops include apples, apricots, blueberries, crab apples, grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears and plums.

Thirty-three more crops are being approved for continued use.

To boost protection for farm workers during the phase-out and time-limited registration periods, new precautions are being implemented. Those include longer periods before a worker can enter a treated area, and significant limiting of the number of applications of pesticides.

The EPA also will require that studies on potential health effects to workers be conducted to help ensure that they are not exposed to unacceptable levels of these pesticides.

Environmental group praises Harkin farm bill

The Environmental Law & Policy Center is praising Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, for his attempts to win passage of a new farm bill that spends more money on conservation programs.

Harkin is chairman of the Senate agriculture committee, which began its work this week on drafting an alternative to the farm bill approved last month by the House.

"They advance a more diversified agriculture future in which renewable energy development provides both economic benefits for farmers and a cleaner environment for everyone," said Howard Learner, executive director of the center.

Many Democrats believe that bill does not do enough for conservation and environmental measures and the Senate likely will pass its own version of a farm bill, forcing lawmakers of both political parties to try to reach a compromise later this year.

Feds fund excellence centers

The Agriculture Department Thursday said it would provide money for eight National Centers for Excellence that help promote economic development in underserved rural communities.

Centers would be located at the University of Texas-Pan American, Somerset Community College in Kentucky, Heritage College in Washington, Candeska Cikana Community College in North Dakota, Crownpoint Institute of Technology in New Mexico, Fort Peck Community College in Montana, San Diego State University-Imperial Valley and California State University-Fresno.

The program consists of one-year cooperative partnerships between eight rural colleges and the Agriculture Department. It tries to provide economic opportunity and visions for change.

Each center will receive $20,000 from the Agriculture Department to help rural communities achieve sustainable community development.

Drought conditions spread in So. Plains

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Thursday drought conditions have expanded in the southern Plains states.

Rainfall shortages of six to eight inches are being experienced in parts of Oklahoma, and "moderate drought" conditions have moved north and east into the Oklahoma Panhandle.

The drought expansion came even though cooler temperatures spread throughout the Plains states. The agency's Drought Monitor noted that since rainfall did not accompany the temperature drop, it did nothing to alleviate the dryness.

Drier weather during the past three months has led to an expansion of "abnormally dry" conditions in Minnesota down to Iowa.

Tobacco farmers blast World Health Org.

Tobacco farmers from 18 countries are upset with the World Health Organization for excluding two member countries from what they say was an important regional meeting.

Officials from Zimbabwe and Malawi say they were not advised of the International Tobacco Growers Association's meeting last month in Algiers until it was too late to make arrangements to attend.

"This is typical of the underhanded way in which the WHO has conducted itself in formulating the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control," association President Marcello Quevedo Carrillo said.

He says he believes that the World Health Organization is trying to exclude tobacco farmers and their allies from meetings where international policies are being set.

Grains mixed on CBOT

Grains futures were mixed at the close Thursday on the Chicago Board of Trade.

Soybean futures were up due to solid weekly export sales figures but increases were held in check by bearish supply outlooks.

Corn futures were down due to poor export sales figures, down 37 percent from the four-week average. A lack of new information for traders also hurt activity.

Wheat futures were down due to carryover weakness from Wednesday price drops. Many traders were convinced that the market remained overbought.

Oats futures were up, continuing gains of recent days.

The prices:

Soybeans: Nov 4.35 up 6 1/2, Jan 4.41 1/2 up 4 3/4, Mar 4.47 up 5 1/4, May 4.51 1/4 up 3 3/4.

Corn: Dec 2.04 off 1 1/2, Mar 2.17 off 1, May 2.25 off 1, Jul 2.31 1/2 off 1/2.

Wheat: Dec 2.88 3/4 off 4 1/2, Mar 2.97 1/2 off 3 1/4, May 2.99 off 1 3/4, Jul 2.99 1/2 off 2 3/4.

Oats: Dec 2.01 3/4 up 3 1/4, Mar 1.87 3/4 up 3 3/4, May 1.77 up 3 3/4, Jul 1.62 up 1 1/2.