News from the North Dakota Department of Agriculture

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JUNE 5,2002

HEADLINES

• PESTICIDE MAKER AND EPA CHANGE LABEL FOR LOW-VOLUME SPRAYERS
• JUNE SCHEDULE SET FOR MOBILE AG IN THE CLASSROOM
• FOREIGN ANIMAL DISEASE SEMINAR SET FOR LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS
• EPA OKAYS WILD OATS CONTROL FOR REDUCED-TILL SAFFLOWERS
• SOUTHWEST N.D. FEEDLOT TOUR SLATED JUNE 12
• DAIRY HEIFER PRODUCTION TOUR SET IN SOUTH DAKOTA
• MEETINGS AND OTHER EVENTS

ATTENTION: NEWS DIRECTORS

Commissioner Johnson's comments in the following press release can be found as a wav file at:
http://www.agdepartment.com/2002%20Press/Sound/ags020605.wav

If you have any questions or need the file in another format, please call Ted Quanrud at (701) 328-2233.

PESTICIDE MAKER AND EPA CHANGE LABEL FOR LOW-VOLUME SPRAYERS

BISMARCK - Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson announced today that North Dakota producers can now use low-volume sprayer technology with a very popular pesticide. Johnson commended both Bayer Crop Sciences and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for acting quickly and making this possible.

“The Environmental Protection Agency has informed me that Bayer Crop Sciences has added information to its label for Puma®, providing instructions for using the chemical in low-volume applications,” Johnson said. “I am impressed by Bayer’s and EPA’s willingness to work with the North Dakota Department of Agriculture in resolving this issue, and I hope the other pesticide manufacturers we contacted will soon follow suit.”

Johnson wrote to Bayer (formerly Aventis) and six other manufacturers in May, asking them to develop use labels with information regarding low-volume application. Earlier, he had written the EPA, asking the agency to re-assess its 20-year-old policy on such applications in light of new technology.

Johnson also recently met with regional and Washington-based EPA officials in Denver, CO, and encouraged them to make this common sense change to their policy.

“There has been considerable improvement in reduced-volume application spraying equipment in 20 years, and many producers are now using this new technology,” Johnson said. “I think it is important that we move ahead with these developments because they offer benefits both for producers and the environment.”
Last March, Johnson warned North Dakota producers that they may be in violation of the law, if they followed the instructions provided by the sprayer manufacturers, rather than instructions on registered pesticides. Some of the sprayer manufacturers claimed users could save money on pesticide costs when using the low-volume sprayers by using a higher concentration of a pesticide in the spray mix, and consequently applying less water to the crop.
“The new low-volume technology certainly offers advantages to producers,” Johnson said. “Unfortunately, growers who followed the equipment instructions not only risked violating federal and state pesticide laws but also risked voiding the pesticide warranty.”

In addition to Bayer, Johnson also asked other manufacturers, including Dow Agrosciences, Syngenta, DuPont, BASF, FMC Corp. and Valent to add instructions for low-volume applications to a variety of other, selected products.

Popular with North Dakota producers, Puma® is a herbicide for control of grassy weeds, such as foxtail and wild oats, in wheat and barley fields.

MEDIA: For more information, please call Jeff Olson at (701) 328-4756.

JUNE SCHEDULE SET FOR MOBILE AG IN THE CLASSROOM

BISMARCK - AGcitement is hitting the road in June with a new coordinator and a full schedule of summer activities.

“AGcitement will be filled with exhibits and activities designed to help people, especially young people, better understand the importance of agriculture in their daily lives,” said Doug Vannurden, Bismarck, chairman of the North Dakota Agriculture in the Classroom Council. “Visitors can learn more about food production, processing, farm safety and other important topics.”

A 30x8-foot camper trailer that has been converted into a mobile education facility, AGcitement will be operated this summer by Rhonda Mahlum, who will also coordinate all Agcitement activities and scheduling. A native of Sherwood, Mahlum grew up on a dairy and grain farm. A biology major at Dickinson State University, she plans to become a veterinarian.

June stops for AGcitement include:

• June 14-16 - Bottineau County Fair, Bottineau.
• June 17 - Grimsrud Elementary School, Bismarck.
• June 18 - Prairie Rose Elementary School, Bismarck.
• June 21-23 - Divide County Fair, Crosby.
• June 26-29 - Upper Missouri Valley Fair, Williston.

Vannurden said that organizations or events that would like to schedule a visit by AGcitement should contact Mahlum at (701) 328-4752.

The Agriculture in the Classroom Council was created by the State Legislature to foster the development of educational activities and materials designed to integrate information about agriculture into the daily curriculum of students in kindergarten through Grade 12.

Statutory council members include Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson and Superintendent of Public Instruction Wayne Sanstead. Appointed members include Joel Dick, Fargo; Eric Clausen, Minot; Tom Decker, Bismarck; Virginia Deitz, Fargo; Jeff Hagel, Granville; LeAnn Harner, Mandan; Becky Koch, Fargo; Margie Martin, Bismarck; Alison Schumann, Jamestown; Anne Osborne, Wimbledon; Gail Scherweit, Fargo; Jill Vigesaa, Fargo; Gwen Hejl, Amenia; Gary White, Dickinson; Kay Fortier, Wildrose; and Vannurden.

MEDIA: For more information, please call Ken Junkert at (701) 328-4764. For an additional copy of or a different version of the above photograph, please call Ted Quanrud at (701) 328-2233.

FOREIGN ANIMAL DISEASE SEMINAR SET FOR LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS

BISMARCK - A nationally-known expert on foreign animal diseases and agricultural terrorism will be the featured speaker at a seminar to help livestock producers better understand and take action to prevent infection of their herds.

The free seminar, sponsored by the State Board of Animal Health, will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., July 23, in the Norsk Room of the State Fair Center in Minot.

Dr. Corrie Brown, a veterinary pathologist at the University of Georgia, is a member of the Advisory Committee on Foreign Animal and Poultry Diseases for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“It is very important for livestock producers to be aware of the potential foreign animal diseases that could reach the U.S.,” said Dr. Larry Schuler, state veterinarian. “Dr. Brown will present the latest information on both preventing the introduction of foreign animal diseases and what to do if an outbreak is suspected.”

MEDIA: For more information, please call Dr. Larry Schuler at (701) 328-2655.

EPA OKAYS WILD OATS CONTROL FOR REDUCED-TILL SAFFLOWERS

BISMARCK - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has granted a specific exemption for Poast®, enabling North Dakota safflower producers to use the herbicide to control wild oats in no-till or reduced tillage fields.

“The above normal rainfall of the past few years has contributed to wild oats becoming a major weed problem in some areas of the state,” said Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson, who requested the EPA action. “Although several herbicides are already registered for use in safflowers, none are effective in minimal tillage production systems.”

The exemption allows ground or aerial application of a maximum of 1.5 pints of product per acre on a maximum of 35,000 acres,

Applicators must follow all instructions, precautions and warnings on the product label and have a copy of the exemption use directions in their possession during application.

The exemption takes effect June 15, and expires July 31, 2002.

BASF Corp. manufactures Poast®.

An oilseed, mainly used to make cooking oil, safflowers are principally grown in western North Dakota.

MEDIA: For more information, please call Jim Gray at (701) 328-1505.

SOUTHWEST N.D. FEEDLOT TOUR SLATED JUNE 12

BISMARCK - A tour to demonstrate the advantages of finish feeding and backgrounding cattle in North Dakota will be conducted June 12.

The event is co-sponsored by the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association Feeder/Backgrounder Council, North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) and the North Dakota State University Extension Service.

The tour bus leaves Jamestown at 8 a.m., and picks up participants in Bismarck and Richardton. Tour stops include feedlots at Scranton and Hettinger.

Cost for participants is $10 and includes lunch.

Interested persons should contact Bobbi Talmadge at (701) 328-4159 or (800) 242-7535 or btalmadg@nd.gov <mailto:btalmadg@nd.gov> by June 7.

MEDIA: For more information, please call Bobbi Talmadge at (701) 328-4159.

DAIRY HEIFER PRODUCTION TOUR SET IN SOUTH DAKOTA

BISMARCK - North Dakota livestock producers who are interested in dairy heifer and calf production are invited to participate in a North Central Dairy Calf and Heifer Tour, June 19, at Brookings, S.D.

The event, sponsored by South Dakota State University Extension Service, includes visits to three farms and the Midwest Dairy Institute. Speakers include representatives from Pharmacia Animal Health.

The cost is $25 for persons registering before June 12; $30 for later registrants.

The North Dakota Department of Agriculture will provide transportation and registration for North Dakota producers attending the event. Interested persons should contact Bobbi Talmadge at (701) 328-4159 or (800) 242-7535 or btalmadg@nd.gov <mailto:btalmadg@nd.gov> by June 7.

MEDIA: For more information, please call Bobbi Talmadge at (701) 328-4159.

MEETINGS AND OTHER EVENTS

June 6 - North Dakota Credit Review Board, 10 a.m., North Dakota Farmers Union headquarters, 1415 12th Ave. SE, Jamestown.

June 10 - North Dakota Pesticide Control Board, 10 a.m., conference call. For more information, please call Jeff Olson at (701) 328-4756.

June 11 - Pesticide Harmonization Board, 10 a.m., Sakakawea Room, State Capitol, Bismarck.

June 13-14 - North Dakota Private Grazing Lands Coalition summer tour, Bismarck.

June 19 - Nontraditional Livestock Advisory Council, 9 a.m., Roosevelt Park Room, State Capitol, Bismarck.

June 26 - State Board of Animal Health, 9 a.m., Roosevelt Park Room, State Capitol, Bismarck.

July 23 - Foreign Animal Disease Seminar, 4-6 p.m., Norsk Room, All Seasons Arena, North Dakota State Fairgrounds, Minot.

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