Two busloads full of people interested in learning more about how best to preserve Michigan farmland will return Monday, March 29, after a five-day trek through three states, seeing first-hand how developers, farmers and government officials can work together to implement effective farmland preservation programs. The group stopped, looked and listened. But, even more importantly, they plan to put this knowledge to work upon return, providing a compilation of the best methods to aid Michigan in developing the most effective farmland preservation strategies in the nation.

Michigan Farm Bureau and the Rural Development Council of Michigan sponsored the bus trip - dubbed The Ultimate Farmland Preservation Tour - March 25-29.

"This group got a chance to see for themselves just how effective farmland preservation tools and sustainable development strategies can be and how the programs work," said Scott Everett, one of the trip's organizers and Michigan Farm Bureau legislative counsel.

In addition, "These programs provide the foundation for the economic viability of agriculture in their communities," said Dave Skjaerlund, Rural Development Council director and a coordinator of the tour. "It all boils down to providing growth and opportunities for the future of Michigan agriculture."

Dozens of county and township officials were on the bus. "They were the most important group on this trip, because this issue will be decided at the local level," Everett said. State legislators making the trek included: Rep. Patricia Birkholz of Saugatuck, Rep. Stephen Ehardt of Lexington, Rep. Elizabeth Brater of Ann Arbor, Rep. Lauren Hager of Port Huron, Rep. Edward LaForge of Kalamazoo and Rep. Susan Tabor of Lansing.

"About a half dozen legislative staffers came along, as well," Everett added.

"There was a lot to absorb on this trip," Everett said. "But most importantly, it was geared toward what needs to be done after returning. We plan on taking what we saw and finding out what will work for Michigan with three goals in mind - to redevelop urban core areas, preserve prime farmland and open space, and make agriculture more profitable."

The tour included many farm visits, speakers and land use experts, showing and explaining how these strategies have worked for their states and how they can be applied in Michigan.

The beetle carries with it a huge threat, as Florida beekeepers have suffered considerable colony loss. With no chemical control methods currently available, it has caused other states to take notice.

"We're not aware of any small hive beetles reported in Michigan - yet," said Ken Nye, Michigan Farm Bureau horticulture and forestry specialist. "But, as bees move north, out of the wintering areas and into the producing areas, we have the potential to have these beetles in our state."

The beetle larvae tunnel through combs, killing bee broods and ruining combs. The bees cause the honey to ferment, making it no longer marketable. Moreover, it is distasteful to bees and therefore cannot be used as bee feed.

"The small hive beetle has the potential to be a big problem," Nye explained. "We're trying to learn more about it. Because it poses a substantial threat to beekeepers in our state, Michigan may consider a quarantine."

Michigan isn't alone. Although no restrictions have yet been issued, a number of states are considering it.

Honey production in Michigan during 1998 totaled 6.8 million pounds, 14 percent more than a year ago. Michigan ranked ninth in honey production, the same as 1997, but down from sixth place a year earlier. There were 80,000 colonies in production during 1998, averaging 85 pounds per colony. Nationally, honey production from producers with five or more colonies totaled 220 million pounds, up 12 percent from 1997.

American Farm Bureau Federation is planning a national summit in the near future to address the beetle situation. "This meeting will become particularly important if states start restricting the movement of bees," Nye added.

Earlier this month, North Dakota had one 123-head dairy operation in Morton County test positive for bovine TB. About half the herd tested positive on the skin graph test and, of those cows, 31 tested positive on the more precise comparative cervical test.

The high rate of infection within that herd has raised the eyebrows of some North Dakota officials. The herd is currently being destroyed, and testing within a five-mile radius, including 44 herds and about 5,000 head, is about half finished.

"At this point, the disease appears to be contained to just one farm," said Larry Schuler, North Dakota state veterinarian. "Testing in the surrounding area has come back negative."

North Dakota was declared TB-free by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1976, just three years earlier than Michigan. Currently, the state retains its TB-free status, but the North Dakota Department of Agriculture is not taking the outbreak lightly.

"We can certainly empathize with Michigan right now," Schuler said. "We're hoping to keep this in just one herd and find the source, so it doesn't have to affect too many people."

North Dakota ships about 9,000 calves across state lines annually. "If we do not retain our TB-free status, we may have to start testing those animals," Schuler said. "That's a substantial cost and concern for our state."

According to Schuler, the area surrounding the infected farm has few deer. "We've had no TB-positive deer to date," he said. "The farm is about 10 miles from the Missouri River and most of the deer are down by the river."

Prior to the TB diagnosis, about 30 cattle from the infected farm were sold to two farms - one in Menoken and the other in Carson. Both are currently under quarantine and are being tested, Schuler said.

"Michigan has the experience of TB in its cattle and hopefully that will be of some help to North Dakota, in that we can share some of the things we've learned," said Ron Nelson, Michigan Farm Bureau legislative counsel. "TB in cattle is a real economic problem for producers at a time when markets do not provide much of a margin. Because of the health implications to livestock, it is important to eliminate the disease as soon as possible."

In Michigan, Nelson applauded the leadership of Gov. Engler, the Legislature and the Department of Agriculture for indemnifying farmers who have, or will, suffer the loss of livestock. "But, even so, this is still a tremendous loss," he said. "The indemnification provides for a monetary solution, but it doesn't compensate farmers for the years devoted to building a quality herd and then losing it at the drop of a hat. Unfortunately, another state now has to experience that."

North Dakota's Emergency Commission has appropriated funds to compensate for the loss of livestock at appraised value with no cap on the limit.

The bill passed 37-1 and is expected to be taken up by the House when it returns to session in two weeks.

The bill provides extra dollars for testing of cattle, laboratory work, indemnification to farmers, disposal of the animals, and other staff resources necessary to address the outbreak in both cattle and wildlife. It also looks at the bigger picture, by providing resources and dollars for surveillance testing of cattle throughout the state.

"It's critical to eradicate the disease in the shortest possible time," said Ron Nelson, Michigan Farm Bureau legislative counsel. "It's good to see such prompt and overwhelming support from the Legislature."

Michigan Farm Bureau members are calling for the eradication of the disease through increased testing and elimination of exposed and diseased animals - both cattle and deer.

"Because of the nature of the disease, it continues to spread unless it's eliminated," Nelson said. "While $9.6 million is a lot of money, the longer we delay, the more it will cost in the long run. We're hoping this moves quickly through the House as well."

The eradication effort got another boost just a week earlier when the Michigan Department of Agriculture named Dr. Daniel Graham to the newly created position as bovine TB regional supervisor in northeast Michigan. A veterinarian with 15 years experience in private practice, Graham's familiarity with the region, specialization in large-animal medicine and surgery, and his previous work on the TB eradication program make him uniquely qualified to fill the need in the 11-county area, according to MDA Director Dan Wyant.

Graham will work out of a new MDA office at 16860 M-32 East, Atlanta, Mich., opening April 1. A phone number will be released at that time.

Nelson says Graham's appointment is much needed and appreciated. "By having a supervisor in the area, it will cut travel time and make the effort more efficient and productive," he said. "By working with the affected producers and landowners in the area, it gives them an immediate and nearby information resource."

Michigan's Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Commission recently addressed the TB outbreak in wildlife by recommending a deer-feeding ban throughout the state and placed a limit on baiting in the 11-county quarantined area. Baiting (during the hunting season) is restricted to five gallons and must be granulated. Legislation on the statewide ban on feeding is expected to be introduced within the next few weeks, which will allow for the implementation and enforcement of the ban through a named agency.

"Just as we remove infected cattle herds, we must continue to aggressively reduce the deer population to more natural levels to deter the spread of TB in the free-ranging deer," Nelson added.

The unmistakable smell of livestock odor will wrinkle the noses of even the most hardened country folk. So it's no surprise that as suburbia encroaches on farmland, people who haven't previously smelled a farm are turning up their noses at livestock waste and other associated odors. That's one reason Agricultural Research Service scientists are looking for solutions to the problem. But how do you measure odors? The scientists are developing tools to measure the "stink factor" in livestock odors.

Currently, there's no standard measure for nuisance livestock odors, nor are there scientific tools to determine when odors reach eye-watering levels. The results of the research may lead to improved farm management techniques to keep a smelly problem in check.

Hardworking honeybees might need the farmer's help to get a varied diet containing all the proteins, vitamins, minerals, fats and carbohydrates necessary for good bee health. Nectar supplies carbohydrates or sugars. Pollen supplies everything else. But sunflower pollen, one of the familiar honeybee's favorite foods, doesn't provide enough protein, according to tests by Agricultural Research Service scientists. High crop yields depend on having healthy, effective pollinators, but bees that work only in sunflower fields are likely to become undernourished. As they lose strength, they may not do a good job in that crop or in other crops they are "hired" to pollinate later on. Sunflower growers can help bees get the mix of nutrients they need by planting small areas of other crops such as canola near sunflower fields. Or they can let weeds and wildflowers grow along field edges, beside ditches or among rock outcroppings.

A chemical in peaches could become an alternative to methyl bromide for controlling certain soil-dwelling pathogens. Methyl bromide, a chemical now used worldwide on more than 100 crops, has been linked to ozone depletion and will be banned in the United States in 2005. Methyl bromide is critical to agriculture to control many pests on various crops. In preliminary studies, scientists are studying natural plant chemicals as alternatives. One that looks promising is benzaldehyde. Found in peaches and other fruit, benzaldehyde is a naturally occurring, colorless, nontoxic, aromatic liquid used in perfumes, flavorings, pharmaceuticals and dyes. Scientists have applied for a patent on a time-release formula of benzaldehyde to fumigate fruit, grain and soil.