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2008 Archive
Spring is here and so is increased use of pesticide products in homes across Oregon...ODA offers advice on home-use pesticides...more
OSU agriculture dean to step down June 30...more
Judge angrily scolds court, and it responds. 9th Circuit case - Sen. Gordon Smith's brother sparks a rare review of a timber sale ruling that he said went much too far...more
ORGANIC
versus
CONVENTIONAL
FOODS....more
The Federal Registry re-listing the Coho
The Federal Registry (below) includes a list of all rivers, streams and creeks that will be affected by the re-listing of the Coho along with watershed maps. The Coho re-listing will take affect on May 12, 2008.
Federal Registry
(A PDF file)
Coho are once again listed as threatened...Salmon - The federal decision follows a ruling that science didn't support delisting...more
You will also find information by clicking on the links below...
NOAA Fisheries
Oregon Coho Relist
(The PDF file above includes stream listings)
Oregon
Farm
Bureau
president
elected
vice
president
of
AFBF...more
From Senator Gordon Smith...
Northwest’s First Cellulosic Ethanol Plant Bound for Oregon; New bio-fuel will come from excess wood chips and wheat stocks found on Oregon farms and forests...more
Pesticide label is law - for all
Violations give black eye to
agriculture, threaten all onion growers
in the Pacific Northwest
Guest Comment by Terry L. Witt
April 4 was a sad day for farmers,
foresters and urban pest control folks
who responsibly use pesticides.
That was the day the Department of
Agriculture publicly announced it was
issuing civil penalties totally over
$112,000 to 19 Malheur County onion
growers for misuse of a pesticide during
the 2006 growing season.
The real tragedy, however, will come
down the road when anti-pesticide
activists and regulators regurgitate
this story time and time again to
portray how they believe all farmers and
foresters use pesticides. While it
appears true that this is evidence that
19 folks made a very poor and
inexcusable decision, it does not
accurately reflect the fact that many
hundreds of thousands of lawful
applications of all kinds are done every
year in Oregon.
Oregonians for Food and Shelter is now
in its 27th year of proactive efforts
regarding the responsible use of
pesticides and fertilizers by
agriculture, forestry and urban
applicators. Since our inception in
1980, our basic tenet has always been
"the label is the law." OFS has and will
continue to proudly represent those who
use these beneficial tools properly. We
also highly recommend using pesticides
as only one tool in an integrated pest
management program. OFS has not and will
not defend any user who intentionally
violates the label, therefore breaking
both state and federal law.
I am
not
aware
of
any
circumstance
or
situation
that
justifies
using
a
pesticide
in a
manner
inconsistent
with
the
U.S.
EPA
product
registration
requirements
on
the
label
or
the
Oregon
Department
of
Agriculture's
prohibited
acts
within
Oregon's
Pesticide
Control
statutes
(ORS
634).
This
even
includes
the
situation
where
a
grower
faces
the
potential
for
significant
economic
loss
due
to
pestilence
in
cases
where
there
is
no
legally
registered
product
for
the
specific
crop
in
peril.
A pesticide user, whether a farmer or a
homeowner, must recognize that
regardless of what a dealer, crop
advisor or retail store person may
suggest, the label is the law - and it
is the user's ultimate responsibility to
insure that these beneficial chemical
tools are applied in full compliance
with all laws. If anyone is getting
recommendations or personal
interpretations from a dealer, chemical
rep, crop advisor or a retail store to
use a product off-label, I highly advise
they quickly find a more reputable
source for information. It appears that
Oregon was not alone, as similar
violations occurred in other states,
including at least Idaho and Washington.
Fortunately for all Northwest onion
growers, fast action by ODA, running
hundreds of laboratory analyses at part
per billion levels, assured buyers that
the onion bulbs were safe to consume. As
a result no crop embargo or destruct
order was needed and market interruption
was minimal. Had a Northwest onion
boycott or a consumer food panic
occurred - all onion growers and their
creditors (agricultural suppliers and
lending institutions) would have
suffered major economic hardship.
Some may berate ODA for taking
enforcement action when it appears at
least one other state turned a "blind
eye." I salute our state agency for
handling this extraordinarily
time-consuming action swiftly and
professionally.
For many years a reminder was printed on
the back of all OFS business cards. It
said, "BE SMART" - read the pesticide
label for specific product information
and requirements when you:
Buy, Educate workers, Store or handle,
Mix, Apply, Re-enter and Treat waste or
empty containers.
"Follow the label - it's the law!" It
looks like we should start that practice
again.
(Terry L. Witt is Executive Director for
Oregonians for Food and Shelter in
Salem, OR)
"The Label Is The
Law"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Disaster assistance for eastern Oregon...more
2007 PURS deadline fast approaching...more
Pesticide Use Reporting System to provide summarized report by July 2008; First year of PURS drawing to a close...more
From Senator Smith...
How the Farm Bill Impacts Oregon's Farmers and Ranchers...
2007 Farm Bill Summary
ODA Pesticide Bulletin Fall Edition...more
Summary of Senate Agriculture Committee passed farm bill and Amendments
Memo on Farm bill task force Senate Agricultural Committee passed farm bill
TFI summary of U.S. Senate Passed Farm Bill
ODA will be holding PURS help classes again this fall. ODA staff will be available, in a computer lab, to provide one-on-one help registering and filing one or two reports into the PURS system. Users will need to bring application records to take advantage of the classes. For additional information call 503-986-6472.
List of Classes
House
Agriculture Committee Unanimously Passes
Groundbreaking Farm Bill...more
A nice article from today’s Capital Press about our own Jerry Harchenko!
(see below)
Flying low
Willamette Valley farmers turn to one business when they need aerial sprayers...more
Congressman Greg Walden's Oregon Congressional Connection...more
Senator Gordon Smith hits the road in Oregon...more
The Fish and Wildlife Commission today appointed Roy Elicker as Director of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife...more
Science on coho
ignored...more
Coastal Coho Listing -
appeal
HOUSE
PASSES WALDEN WATER BILL...more
USDA approves emergency CRP grazing for ranchers impacted by wildfire...more
USDA Drought Assistance Request
August 27th Meeting Request
From
Terry
Witt:
The
attached
letter
to
the
editor
at
the
Eugene
Register-Guard
by
Bob Kintigh
and
Larry
Giustina
is
very
well
done
and
worth
reading.
Eugene
Register
Guard
"
Letter
to
the
Editor"
You
might
also
be
interested
in
the
article
below...It
is a
very
well
written
column
on
forest
health
by
Don
Brunell,
formerly
with
Crown-Zellerbach
prior
to
his
taking
over
as
AWB’s
President
(Association
of
Washington
Business).
"Humans
pay
price
for
unkempt
forestlands"
Rep. Bruce Hanna Elected House Republican Leader...more
Science clears Cheney in Klamath salmon die-off...more
Keep science in its place...more
Spotted Owl...more
SALMON: Pacific Legal Foundation appeals federal hatchery-raised decision...more
Timber Fight Pits Judge vs. Judges...more
Roy Elicker named
interim head of ODFW...more
Shetterly quits his land-use position...more
Friends: We are sending you this appeal in hopes that you will take a few minutes and join a coalition to urge BLM to support sustainable forest management practices that can boost our economy, create jobs across Oregon and help fund our rural counties. OFS has joined the coalition. We urge you to help in the communications effort as well. (Note: this is not a request for funds!) Best regards, Terry & Paulette
Help support real management of our public forests; Join Citizens for Sustainable Forests and Communities (CSFC) Today!...more
They call it 'Oasis Project' for a reason...more
From the NW FishLetter, July 2, 2007:
OREGON WATER BILL
DRIES UP IN STATE SENATE...
An Oregon proposal to end the state's 15-year
moratorium on withdrawing new water from the
Columbia River died in the state Senate after
Gov. Ted Kulongoski promised to veto the bill if
it reached his desk because it threatened
salmon. The Governor's office said it would
conflict with a 1992 agreement with other states
that called for "no net loss of flows." But
attorney John DiLorenzo, who represented backers
of the water bill, said he couldn't find any
such "memorialized deal" with other Northwest
states...more
2007
Legislative
Session...YOU
DECIDE
Session
Wrap-up: house
Democrats
Vote
To
Pass
Over
$856
Million
In
New
Taxes
And
Fees...more
Rep. Minnis Announces Decision Not To Seek
Re-Election...more
Senate
President
and
House
Speaker
Announce
2007
Interim
Emergency
Board
Members...more
Oregon
Legislature
Adjourns
Sine
Die...more
State
Government
Now
More
Accountable
to
Oregonians...more
House
Democrats
Serve
Pork,
But
No
24/7
Oregon
State
Police
Coverage...more
House
Approves
Sweeping
Ethics
Reform
Bill...more
House
Democrats
Pass
Payroll
Tax
In
Final
Hours...more
Democrats
Approve
Rigged
Ballot
Titles,
Quash
Judicial
Review
For
Special
Interest
Supporters...more
With
Ore.
legislative
session
over,
focus
turns
to
elections...more
Rotary
GSE
Trip
--
Argentina
--
OREGON
BIOFUEL
INTEREST...more
Commentary by Terry Witt for the Capital
Press..."The Label Is The Law"
Clean Water Act trumps endangered species
protections...more
Oregon's Fish & Wildlife leader resigns...more
The June 6th "OFS Legislative Update"
"OFS
Bill's of Interest"
FRIENDS:
The Oregon
University System has recommended $15 million in
funding for the OSU statewide
programs--Experiment Stations, Extension Service
and Forestry Research Lab. The Governor's
budget recommended $5.5 million and the
legislative co-chairs of the Ways and Means
Committee recommended zero dollars in funding.
Now some legislators have come forward to push for
the full $15 million, anything less than full
funding is unacceptable. Please
thank the 64 members who signed onto the letter,
and contact those who didn't sign and ask them
to support full funding for these important
programs.
"OSU Statewide
Budget Letter"
There were 26 Legislators who DID NOT sign onto
the OSU Budget Letter. They were:
Senators:
Senate President Peter Courtney,
Ginny Burdick,
Margaret Carter,
Ryan Deckert,
Rick Metsger,
Laurie Monnes-Anderson,
Rod Monroe,
Kurt Schrader
Representatives:
Speaker Jeff Merkley,
Terry Beyer,
Suzanne Bonamici,
Peter Buckley,
Ben Cannon
Jackie Dingfelder,
David Edwards,
Larry Galizio,
Mitch Greenlick,
Paul Holvey,
Dave Hunt,
Tina Kotek
Nancy Nathanson,
Mary Nolan,
Chuck Riley,
Diane Rosenbaum,
Chip Shields,
Carolyn Tomei
Walden
continues
push
for
long-term
county
payments
extension...more
Walden...on
"Memorial
Day"...more
ESA
INFORMATION
Columbia River Salmon's Gender Not Altered...more
(The
above article, of interesting and good news, is
thanks to Heather Hansen, WFFF in Olympia.)
Return to
responsible timber management...more
ETHANOL:
Farmers to plant
most corn since 1944 -- USDA...more
Senator
Crapo Introduces Endangered Species Bill...more
EPA Issues Final Rule on Aquatic
Pesticides...more
Congressman Greg Walden calls on US Senate to
pass Forest Recovery Bill...more
ODA
Pesticide Bulletin (Winter Edition)...more
Civil
penalties issued for pesticide violations
involving Furadan in Malheur County...more
Oregonians for
Food and Shelter Press Release regarding Furadan...more
ENDANGERED SPECIES:
Bush admin
wants to give states more control over
protections...more
FORESTS:
Judge forbids Forest Service from using 2005
planning regs...more
ODA staff available for free instruction to
pesticide users on filing PURS reports...more
Congressman
Walden's
Vote
on
War
Spending
Bill...more
Senate President Peter
Courtney today announced Senate committee
assignments...more
Lawmakers
Adjourn the 109th Congress...more
Speaker-Elect Merkley announces Committees...more
USDA
2007
Farm
Bill
Proposal:
USDA
FACT
SHEET
JOHANNS
PRESS
RELEASE
for 2007
FARM
BILL
System for online reporting of pesticide use
on schedule for January 2007;
Pesticide Use
Reporting System almost ready for Oregon...more
Rep. Richardson's February 9, 2007 Update:
Measure 37--Voters' Patience Running Thin...more
Congresswoman
Hooley to Host Farm Bill Forum...more
US Dept of Ag Survey participation
opportunity...more
Walden announces intent to vote against bill
to fund federal government if "County
Payments" not included…more
No County
Payments, No Budget:
Senator Smith Readies for Filibuster...more
Democrats Ready Assault on Corporate Kicker
(Conkling Fiskum & McCormick Staff)...more
Representatives Wally Herger (CA-02) and
Greg Walden (OR-02)
Joint Statement
On the Appointment of Debra Crisp to the Klamath
River Compact Commission...more
Please
take
a
minute
to
visit
the
website
below...of
particular
interest
is
the
"Facts
and
Fears
page"!
"American
Council on
Science and Health"
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