On Oct. 5, the House voted 291-120 to pass H.R. 2646, commonly referred to as "The Farm Security Act of 2001." The bill would replace the 1996 farm bill, which expires in 2002. The bill calls for $73.5 billion in additional spending for a 10-year farm bill valued at about $170 billion.

"Producers told Congress they needed economic stability, and the House agreed with the passage of H.R. 2646," Wood said. "This bill will help farmers who have struggled through the past few years of historically low commodity prices regain their financial footing.

"Farmers would still much rather derive their income from the marketplace," Wood added. "But until Congress delivers on its promises for tax reform, regulatory reform and improved trade opportunities, this legislation represents the best compromise for giving a cross-section of agriculture a much-needed economic shot in the arm."

MFB had lobbied aggressively for the bill's passage, citing many components that would benefit the state's diverse agricultural industry. Key features are:

• Continuation of fixed decoupled payments
• Continuation of a non-recourse loan program
• Continuation of the sugar and dairy price support program
• Increased funding and enhancement of conservation programs

Several amendments that MFB opposed were defeated prior to the bill's final vote, including an amendment that would have transferred $2 billion from commodity price support to conservation programs. Farm Bureau argued that the bill already provided an 80 percent increase in conservation programs, and unlike the amendment, kept farmland enrolled in the conservation programs in production.

Members of the Michigan congressional delegation supporting MFB's position to vote no on the Boehlert-Kind-Gilchrest-Dingell amendment were Reps. James Barcia, Dave Camp, Joe Knollenberg, Sander Levin, Mike Rogers and Nick Smith.

Also in last week's debate of the 52 amendments offered, Congress followed Farm Bureau's position to defeat an amendment that would have reduced sugar price supports by reducing the sugar loan rate. Lawmakers also voted down an amendment by Michigan Congressman Nick Smith to limit loan deficiency payments in any one crop year to $150,000.

Despite this progress in the House, more work is ahead, according to Sarah Black, MFB associate national legislative counsel. The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry recently released objectives but has yet to come out with any legislative language.

"Our work will continue now in the Senate, where we hope Senate leaders quickly approve a farm bill that is as balanced as the House version and also provides much needed economic stability for agriculture," Black said.

Another challenge, she said, will be gaining the support of President Bush.

Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman on Aug. 3 announced the Bush administration did not support H.R. 2646 and wanted the House to defer action on the bill and re-craft policy.

"The recent action by the House is encouraging for agriculture," Black said. "This vote sends a clear message that Congress needs to act to reverse the severe, widespread depression within the economic sectors of agriculture. A healthy agricultural and rural economy is essential to maintaining the security of our nation's food supply."

Also on behalf of the state's largest general farm organization, Wood, joined by Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) Executive Director James R. Goodheart, sent a letter to Gov. John Engler criticizing the "lack of agency coordination" in the NRC decision. The letter calls for "a prompt evaluation of the effectiveness in deer herd reduction as a result of using deer bait in DMU 452."

On Sept. 19, the NRC issued an order allowing hunters in DMU 452 to use up to a gallon of corn or grain as deer bait daily during the early archery and regular firearm seasons from Oct. 1 to Nov. 30. MFB, backed by the scientific community, has long argued that baiting and feeding of deer helps spread the contagious respiratory disease from deer to domestic livestock through nose-to-nose or saliva contact.

DMU 452 encompasses portions of Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency and Oscoda counties where more than 340 deer have tested positive for TB. To date, 18 beef and dairy herds in this high-risk TB area have also tested positive for the disease. Nearly all of those herds have since been destroyed.

"We applaud your recognition that deer numbers must be lowered further to help eradicate TB in DMU 452," Wood testified. "We could not agree more, in fact, we would hope this commission would recognize that deer numbers statewide are extremely high and work toward solutions ... However, baiting is not necessary to lower deer numbers in any given area."

Referencing MFB policy that supports a statewide ban on feeding and baiting of free-ranging deer, Wood said, "Our members have listened to the science on this issue and are convinced that the practice of baiting carries too great a risk for disease transmission. In fact, the risks far outweigh the potential benefit of additional deer harvested."

In light of DMUs being redrawn this past summer, Wood also questioned the NRC as to how it would determine the success or failure of its self-described "experimental" order.

"In the haste to approve this limited baiting proposal, were the measurement, enforcement and risks versus rewards of this experiment all given adequate time for discussion?" he asked.

He also challenged the commission as to whether a hunter would kill every deer approaching a bait pile. "If not, then isn't this a perfect opportunity to spread disease?" he asked, adding, "How will enforcement be increased or improved during this experiment?"

Wood, in his testimony and letter to the governor, also raised concerns about the manner in which the NRC reached its decision, saying the rushed decision-making provided insufficient time for state wildlife biologists to be adequately consulted and robbed the public of its opportunity to comment as normally allowed.

"No such notice (for comment) was given on this subject," Wood testified. "And given the weight of this issue, public comment should have been provided for according to normal NRC procedures."

In the joint letter to Engler, MFB and MUCC stress that inter-agency cooperation and a "united and strategically coordinated effort" are critical to Michigan's efforts to eradicate bovine TB.

"Clearly the coordination and cooperation between state agencies necessary to eradicate bovine TB took a major step backwards with this decision," Wood said during his testimony.

Also testifying against the NRC order Thursday were Farm Bureau members Ken Nobis on behalf of the Michigan Milk Producers Association and Tim Ruggles on behalf of the Michigan Cattlemen's Association.

That's the message from the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) as it continues efforts to test every beef herd in the state for TB as part of a self-imposed deadline to test all cattle, goats and bison for the deadly lung disease by Dec. 31, 2003.

MDA Animal Health Liaison Kevin Kirk said placards already have been posted in auction barns around the state reminding producers that per Michigan's Animal Industry Act, proof of TB testing and official animal identification will be required to ship cattle, bison or goats within the state beginning Jan. 1, 2002.

For now, producers who have not conducted whole-herd TB tests can sell their animals, said Kirk. But new this fall, those producers are being asked to fill out forms so MDA staff can contact them later about scheduling whole-herd tests.

Starting Jan. 1, every sale yard will have an MDA or U.S. Department of Agriculture inspector present. From that time forward, cattle not tested for TB will be sent home, unless being sold for slaughter, Kirk said.

"We don't want anyone to be caught off guard when the new year rolls around, which is why we're going to great lengths now to remind producers about meeting the requirements in the law," he said. "It's our hope that we'll convince producers to meet the intrastate shipping requirements now in order to avoid facing penalties or lost sales opportunities later for non-compliance."

Michigan Farm Bureau Livestock and Dairy Specialist Ernie Birchmeier agreed, adding, "It's not going to do any good for a producer to put off TB testing until Jan. 1, 2002 because there's a time lag between a veterinarian initiating the test, reading it, and re-testing should there be a problem."

According to Kirk and Birchmeier, the drive to push TB testing at sale yards and auction barns is twofold.

One, unlike dairy cattle, beef cattle are not registered with the state, which makes locating and contacting individual producers about TB testing difficult.

Secondly, testing all cattle is critical to Michigan's effort to upgrade its federal TB status, which is currently classified by the USDA as Modified Accredited. MDA hopes to obtain split-state status sometime next year, Kirk said. Split-state status would allow Michigan to upgrade its status to Modified Accredited Advanced in parts of the state where TB infection is not present in domestic livestock.

"If we ever hope to obtain split-state status, it's imperative that we have our cattle herds tested and we demonstrate we're selling cattle from herds that have tested negative for bovine tuberculosis," Birchmeier said.

"And to become a TB-free state once again, we need to eradicate TB. But to achieve that, we must, as an industry, work cooperatively together at both ends of the spectrum, from the barnyard to the sale yard."

Producers taking TB-tested animals to fall sales or auctions should bring the front sheet of their whole-herd test form along with individual TB-testing forms, according to Kirk. Producers with questions should call the following contacts at MDA regional offices:

• Dr. John Haberlien, Traverse City, (231) 922-5210, ext. 112
• Dr. Mike VanderKlok, Grand Rapids, (616) 356-0600
• Dr. Heather Rodabaugh, Saginaw, (989) 758-1778
• Dr. Dan Graham, Atlanta, (989) 785-5616

The Livestock System Phase I educational sessions are part of the three-phase MAEAP program. Initiated by a coalition of agricultural and environmental groups and agencies, MAEAP is a proactive pollution prevention program that ensures participating farmers voluntarily use effective land stewardship practices that comply with state and federal environmental regulations.

Workshop attendees will receive help evaluating their current farm practices and learn the impacts certain practices have on the environment. Attendees also will learn MAEAP's interaction with the Right-to-Farm Generally Accepted Agricultural and Management Practices and the steps necessary for MAEAP involvement, which centers on the development of a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan.

More than 700 producers attended last year's MAEAP educational workshops, according to Michigan Farm Bureau's Scott Piggott, co-chair of the MAEAP Steering Committee.

"MAEAP is the best way for producers to position their farm for protecting the environment, regardless of future requirements in the state," Piggott said.

While there is no fee for the seminars, reservations should be made by calling the phone numbers below. Producers needing additional information should contact their local Farm Bureau or MSU Extension office, or call the MAEAP office at (517) 353-1758.

MAEAP workshop schedule

• Nov. 5, 2 p.m. (CST), Menominee County Annex, Stephenson, (906) 753-4616
• Nov. 6, 9:30 a.m. Delta County Extension Office, Escanaba, (906) 446-3508
• Nov. 13, 6:30 p.m. Huron County Farm Bureau Office, Bad Axe, (989) 269-9911
• Nov. 14, 9 a.m., Sanilac County Farm Bureau Office, Sandusky, (810) 648-2800
• Nov. 19, 9 a.m., Lowell Township Hall, Lowell, (616) 784-1092
• Nov. 19, 1:30 p.m., Alpine Township Hall, Comstock Park, (616) 784-1092
• Nov. 20, 9 a.m., Moss Ridge Golf Course, Ravenna, (616) 895-4381
• Nov. 20, 1 p.m., Zeeland Twp. Hall, Byron Road, Zeeland, (616) 895-4381
• Dec. 4, 8:30 a.m. RESD Building, Ithaca, (989) 875-4626
• Dec. 5, 1 p.m., Bennington Twp. Hall, Owosso, (517) 725-5174
• Dec. 6, 9 a.m., Jackson County Farm Bureau Office, Jackson, (517) 784-9166
• Dec. 6, 1:30 p.m. MSU Extension Office, Hillsdale, (517) 437-2458
• Dec. 11, 1 p.m., Alpena/Montmorency/Alcona Edu. Service, Alpena, (989) 358-0050 Dec. 12, 9 a.m., Marion Bank, Marion (tentative), (231) 825-2864
• Dec. 17, 9 a.m., County Courthouse, Coldwater, (517) 279-8091
• Dec. 17, 1:30 p.m., MSU Extension Office, Charlotte,(517) 543-5565
• Jan. 9, 1 p.m., Matthews Conference Center, SW MI College, Dowagiac (616) 445-3849

That's according to agricultural leaders like Barb Wishowski, who spearheaded a Bay County Farm Bureau effort that made lessons for safe driving around farm equipment a part of driver's education for about 100 Bay County high school students this past summer.

Wishowski said she normally sees traffic on rural roads pick up in the fall, which is why she is concerned about tourism reports that suggest the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the nation might influence more travelers to stick to roadways this fall.

"In the fall we have our tree colors, and we have a lot of people coming from out of town because they think it's neat to go to an apple orchard," said Wishowski of rural communities. "But these drivers aren't used to the rural roads. They get looking at the scenery with the pretty colors or the animals. Then all of a sudden they are up behind a piece of farm equipment, and there isn't enough time for them to brake."

Year 2000 data on traffic accidents involving farm equipment is not available from the Michigan State Police. But statistics from the State Police show that in 1999, a total of 261 accidents involving farm equipment occurred in Michigan, up from 217 farm equipment crashes in 1998. Of the 1999 total, four fatalities and 81 injuries were documented.

Wishowski said such statistics are proof that even the most experienced drivers can gain from Farm Bureau's driver's training lessons, which centered on the speed, size and weight of various implements and hauling trucks.

"People don't realize what the SMV sign is. It means Slow Moving Vehicle - a vehicle that may not exceed 25 miles per hour," Wishowski said. "People don't realize that and come up from behind too fast. That's where we run into problems with people slamming on their brakes or trying to swerve around us - factors that have the potential to cause serious accidents for both the motorist and farm equipment operator as well as other drivers in the vicinity."

Howard Doss, a Michigan State University farm safety specialist, agrees.

According to Doss, a motorist driving 55 mph at a distance of 400 feet behind a piece of farm machinery traveling 15 to 25 mph has only about seven to 10 seconds to brake before hitting the machinery ahead.

"If the motorist is going over 55 mph, he or she has even less time," Doss said. "And with human reaction time one second or so, plus the ability of your vehicle to brake adequately, you're running out of time.

"So the message to drivers is if knowledge is power, recognize that farm equipment goes slow and when you see farm equipment on a public road, your immediate reaction should be to start braking and to slow down."

Motorists should also remember that it takes heavy farm equipment - even hauling trucks loaded with harvested crops - longer to brake, so drivers should maintain a safe distance when approaching the equipment at stop signs and traffic lights, Wishowski said.

Wishowski and Doss also warn against drivers trying to quickly pass farm equipment, cautioning that motorists could be caught in a passing lane just as the equipment turns left into a hidden field entrance, for instance, or edges over the centerline to avoid hitting a mailbox on the right. And like any vehicle, farm equipment is not without blind spots, they said.

For the farmer's part, Doss said it's critical that producers properly display clean and bright SMV emblems on their equipment. Producers also need to outfit equipment with outboard red reflective tape or reflectors on rear, outer edges, he said, and ensure that lighting is appropriate.

The pair was among a five-member MFB delegation lobbying in Washington, D.C. when the Pentagon was attacked Sept. 11 and the group's work was cut short.

Black and Kokx this week met with U.S. trade representatives to describe how asparagus imported duty-free from Peru and other Andean countries unfairly competes with domestically grown and processed asparagus.

Adopted in 1991, ATPA is scheduled to expire this year. MFB advocates that the act not be renewed, and if it is, that asparagus be excluded from the duty-free provisions allowed Andean farmers.

Legislation recently introduced in the House Ways and Means Committee would revamp some of the act's provisions, but the legislation does not address concerns over asparagus import surges that hurt the Michigan and U.S. asparagus markets, Black said.

Contact: Sarah Black, (800) 292-2680, ext. 2025

The consent decree binds EPA to a schedule to make regulatory determinations on certain pesticide products and for a cumulative, group risk assessment of organophosphate pesticides. These new deadlines are in addition to already existing statutory deadlines under FQPA and other pesticide laws. With approval of the decree, the deadlines are now enforceable by the court.

NRDC brought its case against the agency, alleging that pesticide officials were not moving fast enough in assessing risk for the riskiest pesticides. The Clinton administration entered the decree with NRDC as one of its last actions Jan. 19. The court approved the decree, agreed to by EPA and the NRDC in January, over the objections of Farm Bureau and the pesticide industry.

Farm Bureau objected to the decree because the agency did not consult with other parties to the suit before negotiating the settlement. Farm Bureau also raised objections to setting arbitrary risk assessment deadlines that may force poor decisions on pesticide products before more scientifically valid assessments can be completed.

Contact: Ken Nye, (800) 292-2680, ext. 2020

House Majority Leader Richard Armey (R-Texas) said the full House could vote on the measure as early as next week.

Last week, Thomas announced that he along with Jefferson, Tanner and Rep. Calvin Dooley (D-Calif.) had reached agreement on labor and environmental issues that had previously stalled TPA legislation. Under the compromise, the bill adds a trade "negotiating objective" on labor and environment to ensure that a party to an agreement does not fail to enforce its labor and environmental laws. It also includes a negotiating objective on enforcement and establishes a bipartisan and permanent congressional oversight group to oversee trade negotiations and consult with the administration.

If passed by Congress, TPA gives the president authority to negotiate trade agreements that Congress can approve or reject but cannot amend.

Contact: Sarah Black, (800) 292-2680, ext. 2025

"Next week, we're going to start some mark-ups, I hope," Harkin said. "I would like to get a bill through this year. I will not be bum-rushed (to accept a poor farm bill)."

The Senate debate is sure to include consideration of conservation spending. Harkin has stated he is in favor of increased conservation spending, shifting away from the commodity programs that have been the primary focus of past farm bills.

According to Harkin's web site, during the Senate farm bill debate "he will be working to include improved farm income protection and ways to increase renewable energy and rural economic development in the bill. (He also) will be working to include in the farm bill his Conservation Security Act - a bill to promote farm conservation and improve farm income by rewarding farmers for sound conservation practices."

Harkin is expected to decide later this week if he will present the farm bill in its entirety to the Senate Agriculture Committee for discussion or to offer it in sections.

Contact: Sarah Black, (800) 292-2680, ext. 2025

Each person exhales about 2.5 pounds of carbon dioxide a day, but the effect on the atmosphere is minimal. Earth's human population contributes only around 3/1000 of a percent of the total amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Thus, there's no need to worry that our growing population is contributing to the greenhouse effect - at least not in terms of exhalation.

Pumpkin flowers are edible and are used as feed for animals, while the seeds can be roasted as a snack.

Pumpkins contain potassium and vitamin A and are 90 percent water.

According to "Harvest on the Horizon: Future Uses of Biotechnology," a recent report by the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology details how foods such as bananas are being genetically modified to produce vaccines for illnesses ranging from Hepatitis B to traveler's diarrhea to tooth decay. Using foods is advantageous because it permits the vaccine to be consumed directly by humans or animals as food or feed and eliminates the need for purification of the vaccine strain, refrigeration and the hazards associated with injections.