| TWIN FALLS, Idaho -- Sugar beet growers are facing myriad concerns as
harvest gears up this year. Some follow the normal course of getting a
crop out of the ground and into the market, but others are in response to
specific challenges targeting this year's tubers.
For one, rumors persist among some growers that the herbicide Oust has
made its way to the food chain, even though the Idaho Department of
Agriculture confirmed early on in the investigation that the chemical does
not affect the food.
Oust was the herbicide used by Bureau of Land Management last fall on
burned ground after an August wildfire. It was sprayed to control weeds
from growing back into the burned area, but wind blew the chemical into
neighboring fields. As much as 38,000 acres of crops were damaged.
"Several commodities have been tested and no residues of Oust were
found," says Bob Spencer, program manager of the Idaho Department of
Agriculture pesticide enforcement program.
In addition to sugar beets, commodities tested were barley, wheat and
potatoes.
Unsubstantiated rumors
Terry Miller, owner of Miller Research in Minidoka, Idaho, says any
rumors of Oust getting into the food chain are unsubstantiated.
"This is a product that doesn't go into the plant and leaves no
detectable residues," Miller says.
Miller's private company has sent in many samples, which all were
negative for residue, he says.
In addition other private research companies, including Agriserve, Inc.
and some malting companies, all have received negative results for residue
on samples they submitted to laboratories, Miller says.
As the ISDA winds up an investigation on the extent of the damage and
beet and potato harvests begin, Spencer says there are no restrictions
placed on harvesting crops.
"The FDA has determined no food safety issue," says John
Schorr, ag manager for Amalgamated Sugar Co.'s Paul, Idaho, factory.
Seeking appropriations
While it has been established that there is no food safety issue,
compensation for losses still is being determined.
Idaho's congressional delegation is working to get an appropriations
bill through the Legislature that would compensate farmers for losses
attributed to Oust, Spencer says.
Compensation based on a three-year average has been proposed, Schorr
says, but he says that until that has been established, the issue of how
compensation will be made is speculation.
However there are several other issues facing beet growers, Schorr
says. Quality this year is not looking good, he says.
"At first glance, there appears to be a reduction in yield,"
he says. "But it is kind of hard to say right now."
As growers get further into harvest, more will be known, Schorr says.
"Some are coming in with numbers not good at all," he says.
Other environmental factors such as weather played a part in yields,
Schorr says.
"There is a wide range of goods and not-so-goods coming in,"
he says. "Some are normal and good-sized, others are not."
Yields and size look good on beets coming in from American Falls,
Idaho. "It is just a matter of time before we know how it will
look," he says.
Compared with last year, which Schorr calls exceptional, this year is
more average.
"It is still a good crop," he says.
Growers also are wondering about prices and disruption of markets after
the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.
Schorr does not think the recent terrorist attacks will affect the
price.
"Sugar is anybody's guess," he says. "I can't visualize
it (the attacks) being a problem" for price.
The recent attacks could in fact help the price of domestic sugar and
other commodities, says Mark Duffin, executive director of Idaho Sugarbeet
Growers.
"It should make Americans more aware of self sufficiency in your
food supply," Duffin says. "Dependency on foreign food can be a
scary prospect."
Idaho Sugarbeet Growers always has seen the farm program as being as
much of a security issue as anything discussed by Congress, he says.
"This re-emphasizes that point," Duffin says. "It is
essential for the welfare and security of our nation." |