Northeast Oregon Business News
AGRICULTURE
The ODA Introduces Investigation Closes on Genetically Engineered Wheat Found in Oregon New Magazine News release September 11:
The Oregon Department of Agricul-
ture announces the premiere issue of a new magazine, Growing Oregon: A guide to the state’s agriculture, food and markets with the publication targeting potential buyers of the state’s products. The magazine provides a comprehensive look at Oregon farmers, ranchers, and fishermen as well as food processing. The publication also pairs with a website that provides a digital magazine and tablet friendly versions. ODA has worked with nationally recognized publisher Journal Communications to produce the magazine. No public funds were used in the production of the magazine, which was supported through advertising by Oregon commodity commissions, agricultural organizations, and private companies. “With the tremendous diversity of our agriculture and fisheries, we have a lot to offer for those interested in buying our products,” says ODA Director Katy Coba. “Growing Oregon will be a great resource and marketing tool to showcase the business of Oregon food and agriculture. I believe it will be well received and I’m excited to see the response.” The 53-page magazine features original photography, reader-friendly charts and graphs, and profiles of individual farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and companies. Articles focus on Oregon’s top agricultural sectors as well as innovations in technology and research. ODA will use the magazine in direct mailings, trade shows, consumer venues, and to connect with Oregon’s decision makers. Copies will also be distributed to Oregon businesses and organizations connected to agriculture and fisheries. “We will distribute the magazine to a variety of audiences that we are confident will want to purchase Oregon food and agriculture products,” says Coba. “The publication can also be a great supplement to a company’s or organization’s own marketing and promotional efforts.” Growing Oregon will debut at three events where potential buyers of Oregon’s agricultural products and industry influencers will gather. These events, happening the week of September 15th, are Fine Food Australia in Melbourne, which is Australia’s largest food industry expo; Feast Portland’s media room reaching food writers from across the US; and 15 food service, retail, and baking industry buyers from China seeking products from Oregon. ODA plans to make the magazine an annual publication.
USDA Announces Close and Findings of Investigation into the Detection of Genetically Engineered Wheat in Oregon in 2013; Opens New Investigation Into Separate Detection of GE Wheat in Montana in 2014
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2014— After conducting a thorough and scientifically detailed investigation into the detection last year of genetically engineered (GE) wheat growing in a single field on a single farm in Oregon, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has concluded that the presence of the GE wheat appears to be an isolated incident. The GE wheat found on the Oregon farm was developed by Monsanto to be resistant to the herbicide glyphosate, also known as Roundup. APHIS closed the investigation after exhausting all leads. The agency also found no evidence of GE wheat in commerce. APHIS is releasing today its findings and full report of investigation and evidence file, with appropriate personal information and confidential business information redacted. Additionally, APHIS has opened a new investigation into a regulatory compliance issue involving GE wheat found growing at a research facility that was the previous site of authorized field trials in Montana. GE wheat was field-tested under APHIS’ regulatory approval at the Montana State University’s Southern Agricultural Research Center (SARC) in Huntley, Montana, between 2000 and 2003. Genetic testing shows that the GE wheat at this research facility location is significantly different from the GE wheat found growing at the Oregon farm last year. APHIS has not deregulated any GE wheat varieties to date, and thus, there are no GE wheat varieties for sale or in commercial production in the United States. Additionally, the genetic trait detected in the wheat in these two instances does not present a food safety issue because FDA completed a food safety consultation for this GE wheat in 2004 and expressed no food safety concerns. Oregon Investigation APHIS began its comprehensive investigation into the detection of GE wheat on the Oregon farm on May 3, 2013. During the following 10 months, APHIS conducted 291 interviews with wheat growers, grain elevator operators, crop consultants, and wheat researchers, and collected and carefully reviewed thousands of pages of evidence. Additionally, APHIS collected more than 100 samples from businesses that sold and purchased the same certified seed planted in the field in Oregon, as well as from businesses that purchased the harvested grain from the grower. The investigation indicates that this appears to be an isolated occurrence and that there is no evidence of any GE wheat in commerce. Information collected during the investigation was instrumental in providing critical informa-
tion to trading partners to keep foreign wheat markets open. After exhausting all leads, APHIS was unable to determine exactly how the GE wheat came to grow in the farmer’s field. The investigation also found that the GE wheat is not a commercial variety of wheat. Instead, the genetic characteristics of the GE wheat volunteers are representative of a wheat breeding program. A copy of the 12,842 pages that comprise the complete report of investigation and evidence file that has been redacted for personal information and confidential business information is available on the APHIS website at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/foia/efoia.php. Montana Investigation On July 14, 2014, APHIS was notified that suspected GE wheat had been discovered growing at the Montana State University’s Southern Agricultural Research Center (SARC) in Huntley, Montana, where Monsanto and researchers grew GE wheat as part of field trials between 2000 and 2003. These field tests were conducted under APHIS’ regulatory approval. APHIS immediately began an investigation into this regulatory compliance issue and sampled wheat at the SARC. Testing of the samples by a USDA laboratory confirmed that the wheat is genetically engineered to resist Roundup. Further genetic testing shows that the GE wheat collected from the field in Montana was not the source of the GE wheat found growing in the single field in Oregon. Among other things, APHIS’ ongoing investigation is focusing on why GE wheat was found growing at the research facility location. GE wheat from the facility has not been allowed to enter commercial channels this year and GE wheat grown as part of authorized field trials at this research facility between 2000 and 2003 was likewise not allowed to enter commercial channels. None of the wheat is sold as seed. APHIS will provide more information when it concludes its investigation. Next Steps As it continues its investigation in Montana, APHIS is also taking several additional steps to ensure that unintended GE wheat is not growing in other locations in the United States where field trials are taking place or have recently occurred. APHIS will inspect field trials planted in 2014, and follow-up with post-harvest inspections to ensure those conducting the field trials adhere to APHIS’ requirements to monitor for, and remove, volunteer plants (plants that grow in a field following a previous harvest). It will also conduct some post-harvest volunteer monitoring inspections of GE wheat field trials that were planted in 2012 and 2013. Beyond this, APHIS is assessing other measures – such as the requirements it puts in place for field tests involving GE wheat, as well as the frequency of its inspections of field test sites – to minimize the potential for any further incidents involving GE wheat.
Pesticide Stewardship Partnership Grant Funds Now Available News Release September 2, 2014
T
he Oregon Department of Agriculture is launching a new grant program and looking for innovative project proposals that prevent or reduce pesticides entering waters of the state. As part of Oregon’s Pesticide Stewardship Partnership (PSP) Program, approximately $160,000 is available to those interested in submitting collaborative project proposals that produce a broad range of benefits for Oregonians and the state’s environment. In announcing the program, ODA is collaborating with other state agencies involved with the PSP Program, including the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB). Those eligible to apply for funding include agriculture industry associations, producer groups, commodity commissions, non-profit and for-profit organizations, community organizations, institutions of higher education, soil and water conservation districts, watershed councils, tribal entities, and federal, state, county and local government agencies.
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Proposed projects must focus on preventing and/or reducing the risk posed by pesticides entering water systems in agricultural, urban/rural residential, or forestry environments. For a project to be considered eligible for funding, work must take place in or collaborate with an existing PSP watershed-based project (See http:// www.deq.state.or.us/wq/pesticide/docs/OregonPSPmap. pdf for a list of current PSP watersheds.) Written proposals must be received by Tuesday, September 30, 2014 at 12:00 noon Pacific Standard Time. Proposals may be submitted for a project within the suggested funding range of $10,000 to $50,000, and for a project timeline of up to two years. The PSP Program has identified the following 2014 Grant Program funding priorities: Prevention/reduction of the frequency and concentration of pesticides in water Collaborations that leverage expertise and funds in ways that reduce the input into water Demonstrations of application technology that reduces off-target movement of pesticides or increases on-target application efficiency and cost savings. Implementation of proven Integrated Pest Man-
agement (IPM) principles. Outreach and education programs that emphasize the proper use of pesticides. Demonstration projects and workshops that link behavioral changes – or the implementation of best practices – to reducing/preventing pesticide contamination of water. Projects that demonstrate how to reduce pesticide runoff or drift into waterways. Oregon’s Pesticide Stewardship Program grant program is a competitive process. An interagency team will evaluate proposals and make recommendations to ODA Director Katy Coba on the selection of the top project proposals. Projects chosen to receive funding will be announced by November 2014. ODA staff is available to provide applicants with additional information on the 2014 PSP granting process and requirements. Grant guidelines, applications, directions on submitting proposals, and other information are available at http://oregon.gov/ODA/programs/Pesticides/Water/Pages/PesticideStewardship.aspx or by contacting Steve Riley, ODA’s Pesticide Stewardship Specialist (503) 986-6485.
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