Vol. 51—1997 - NorthEastern Weed Science Society

208
Glickman comments that his "highest priority will be meeting your commitment to our farmers and
ranchers.land everyone in rural America -- the commitment to sustain a solid economythat provides
opporturuty for growth and prosperity. I intend to keep your commitment to insure that America's
consumershave the world's most abundant, wholesome food supply. Today's farm programs helped
create those opportunities -- a lesson we should never forget. "During a recent commentary,
newscaster Paul Harvey referred to farm programs as "consumer subsidies" and encouraged the
public tolsupport them. Senate confirmation hearings have taken place and Mr. Glickman received
the unammous vote of the Senate Ag Committee. A vote of the full Senate is expected in early
April. While in the House, he served as Chairman of the Subcommittee on General Commodities
and as a member of the Subcommittee onDepartment Operations and Nutrition. He is recognized as
a national leader in the areas of food safety and food labeling. A quote by Glickman from the
hearings: "I have long believed tha t our national strength, indeed our national security, is grounded
in the s~rength of American agriculture. The abundant food supply we enjoy - that we take for
granted r is a rarity in human history."
FDA.gave the go-ahead to companies seeking federal endorsement for seven genetically altered
products including herbicide-tolerant cotton and soybeans. The manufacturers voluntarily submitted
their products to FDA, which concluded that these plants appear to be as safe as their non-altered
counterfarts. APHIS and EPA will still need to comment.
TheiUSDA, FDA, and EPA have formed a partnership with several grower organizations and
utility companies to promote environmental stewardship in pesticide use in the United States. This
"stewardship program" will be a voluntary program and is intended to circumvent the need for
mandated pesticide reduction regulation or legislation. Many of the grower groups have taken
specifid steps to demonstrate their commitment to the partnership. They have committed to more
research and demonstration into IPM techniques and programs, the development of prediction
models! for more targeted and precise pesticide applications, education programs to encourage
alternative pest control technologies, and cooperation with equipment manufacturers to find
application techniques that maintain pest control efficacy while reducing application rates.
USpA is still discussing a 75% IPM goal by the year 2000. This appears to be coupled with the
stewardship program and will be in the form of research funding and educational efforts.
The Pesticide Performance Guidelines appear to be stalled indefinitely. They will not be a part
ofthe new registration guidelines. Word at the WSSA annual meeting was that they are "dead".
The CASf report entitled "Public Perceptions of Agrichemicals" has been released. The report
surveys the public onboth pesticide and animal drug issues. The full 35-page report is available for
$10 plus $3 postage and handling from CAST, 4420 West Lincoln Way, Ames, Iowa 50014-3447.
C4Sf recently sponsored a conference in Washington, D.C. entitled "Sustainable Agriculture
and thie 1995 Farm Bill. The NEWSS sent Mr. Earl Anderson, research associate with Leonard
Cianessi of NCFAP (National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy).Very little in regard to
weed science or pesticides in general was discussed; however, what little was said was not
negatfve. Much of the discussion revolved around commodity programs. Earl commented that the
conference was well organized, well attended, and ran on time. Several prominent Congressman
were ~n attendance, including Rep. Charlie Stenholm of Texas who said that pesticide reform,
including a science-based Delaney revision, will happen after the first 100 days and before
discussion of the Farm Bill begins.
The WSSA Pesticide Use/Risk Reduction Committee (Robin Bellinder, Chair; Rich Bonanno
and ~eonard Gianessi, members) drafted a response to the Tap Water Blues document for
consideration in Seattle at the WSSA meeting. The weed scientists quoted by the EWG
(Environmental Working Group) were against such a response and appeared to be comfortable wit h
the broad interpretations and misrepresentations of the EWG. The statement was modified into a
WSS.APosition Statement onHerbicide Use/Risk Reduction Policy.
Ji1nBarrentine, WSSA President, has appointed Rich Bonanno as Chair of the WSSA
Legtslative Committee for 1995.
Leonard Gianessi has been quite active in Washington, D.C. in trying to educate EPA about
various aspects of agriculture and pest management. He has organized a seminar "opportunity" for
thosq of us that may be in the D.C. area. While in D.C. in March for the IR-4 Annual Meeting, Rich
Bonanno presented a seminar at EPA entitled "Dealing with Mother Nature and the Federal
Govemment". The seminar discussed the challenges faced on intensive vegetable farms in the
Northeast. Dr. Clyde Elmore (CA), who is finishing a sabbatical at Penn State Univ. will present
the next seminar in April. If you will be in D.C. and have the inclination to participate, please