News and Views #62

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	IN THIS ISSUE
		Dear Organic Gardeners The gardening season is getting into full swing...
		Farmer Interview with Nash Huber, the second in a series...
		Seed Give-away Every April Seeds of Change hosts a Seed Give-away...
		Healthy Fundraising New programs at Seeds of Change...
		Disease Corner A new feature focusing this issue on "damping off"...
		Farm Report: May'07 Planting update, new interns, and chickens on the farm...
		News & Views Study Links Industrial Chemicals to Obesity... Massive Honey Bee Die-Off Has Serious Agricultural Implications... Nationwide Ban on Roundup Ready Alfalfa Upheld... Organic Seed Alliance to host On-Farm Variety Trials...
		Please send letters regarding this eNewsletter to Scott Vlaun by clicking on Editorial Inquiry.

News & Views

Study Links Industrial Chemicals to Obesity

A new study links a class of industrial chemicals to disruptions in the endocrine system which may cause obesity and weight gain. A recent article in Molecular Endocrinology discusses the study of these chemicals, called organotins, which are found in common household products such as pesticides and paints, and are present in low concentrations in most people and animals. The study focused on the effects of TBT, or tributyltin chloride, an organotin and a pervasive contaminant, on laboratory animals. Researchers found that exposure to TBT, a heavy metal, resulted in increases in fatty tissue in both fetal and adult animals. This is the first time that an environmental agent has been shown to increase fat by disrupting the function of the endocrine system, and adds to the growing body of evidence which points to the role of environmental contaminants in the upsurge of obesity.

For more information please visit the Environmental Health Perspectives website.

Massive Honey Bee Die-Off Has Serious Agricultural Implications

The recent enigmatic death of huge numbers of honey bees has alarmed the bee-keeping and agricultural worlds. Recently coined "Colony Collapse Disorder," or CCD, the mysterious malady causes entire colonies of bees to rapidly die. The effects of CCD were first reported in North America by apiarists in the eastern United States during the last months of 2006, and since then colonies in almost every state in the continental U.S., and several provinces in Canada, have been affected. Bees are also vanishing in countries throughout Europe and Asia, and hives have disappeared in Brazil as well. Although colony deaths have varied from keeper to keeper, some have lost thousands of colonies, representing a massive yet untold number of insects. CCD is having a devastating effect on many commercial honey producers, and it is poised to threaten the agricultural world as well. According to Congressional testimony given in March by May Berenbaum, the Chair of the Committee on the Status of Pollinators in North America, bees provide pollination services for nearly 100 different crops, which account for nearly 1/3 of the diet of the average American. Berenbaum estimated the value of this pollination service in the billions of dollars.

Scientists are attempting to unravel the mystery. Researchers from the USDA, Penn State, and the Pennsylvania and Florida Departments of Agriculture, among others, are investigating possible causes. Suspects range from mites to pesticides to fungus to unknown diseases. Dying or dead bees have been found to be suffering from a variety of diseases, making it difficult to pinpoint a singular cause. Some researchers have suggested that environmental stressors have weakened the immune systems of bees, making them susceptible to common and catastrophic illnesses. Although similar die-offs have been experienced by beekeepers for over a century, Maryann Frazier, agriculture extension associate for Penn State University, refers to recent losses as "unprecedented."

Nationwide Ban on Roundup Ready Alfalfa Upheld

Monsanto's genetically modified (GM) "Roundup Ready" alfalfa has been banned from further planting by a U.S. District Judge. In March, Judge Charles Breyer issued a preliminary injunction against planting more of the GM alfalfa on the grounds that the USDA had allowed the crop to go to market without preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). In failing to produce this statement, regulators had not followed the requirements set forth in the National Environmental Policy Act. In early May, Breyer filed a formal injunction upholding the ban, ruling that it should stay in place until a thorough government examination of environmental effects is carried out.
220,000 acres of the alfalfa had already been planted when the injunction took effect, and this crop will be allowed to be harvested and sold for seed back to the genetics company that produces and markets it, Forage Genetics International. As safeguards against cross-contamination, Breyer's directive orders the GM alfalfa to be segregated from conventional alfalfa immediately after harvest, farm equipment used on the transgenic crops to be properly cleaned after use, and restricts pollinators from being used on Roundup Ready alfalfa fields that are grown specifically for hay production. Additionally, the injunction orders the disclosure of all field locations where Roundup Ready alfalfa has been planted.

According to the non-profit public interest group The Center for Food Safety, this ruling is a first; never before has a federal court overturned USDA approval for a genetically modified seed and halted planting. Monsanto is considering appealing the decision.

Organic Seed Alliance to host On-Farm Variety Trials

From June through September, the Organic Seed Alliance will host a series of on-farm variety trials at farms in several northwestern states. The training sessions will provide education aimed at selecting the best crops and varieties for specific locations and markets and will offer instruction on planning and managing your own scientific on-farm trials. Organic growers will also benefit from learning about organic regulation compliance. Host farms and trial dates include:

Greentree Naturals, Sandpoint, ID - June 24, 2007
Springhill Farm, Albany, OR - Late June / Early July
Arctic Organics, Palmer, AK - August 20, 2007
Ayers Creek Farm, Gaston, OR - September
Brian Anderson Farms, Royal City, WA - September
Ralph's Greenhouse, Mt. Vernon, WA - September

For more information please visit the Organic Seed Alliance website.

Permaculture Design Course and Teacher Training Offered in Oregon

5th ANNUAL ADVANCED PERMACULTURE COURSE: IN TEACHING Dates: June 19-25, 2007 Instructors: Jude Hobbs and Tom Ward Location: Aprovecho Research Institute Cottage Grove, Oregon

Empower yourself to advocate sustainable living and design! In this dynamic, interactive and fun course, participants will learn powerful teaching techniques to communicate whole systems education and permaculture principles in a wide variety of settings. Jude and Tom have a combined experience of over 40 years in the education and design fields. Their commitment to encouraging diverse learning styles helps build upon the unique strengths and talents of their students. They model various teaching and learning styles including lecture, discussions, lesson planning, module building and group presentations. These provide the essential learning experiences for this course. Each participant will be offering several presentations that provide essential hands-on experience. This is a Certificate Course offered by the Cascadia Permaculture Institute.

Tuition: $650-$725 (includes course materials, three organic meals a day and camping) Contact: Tao Orion at (541) 942-8198, or tao@aprovecho.net, or visit: www.cascadiapermaculture.com

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