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California Association of Wheat Growers (CAWG)

August 31, 2005

CALIFORNIA WHEAT ATTENDS HOUSE SPECIALTY CROP HEARING. Bonnie Fernandez, Executive Director of the California Wheat Commission, and Janice Cooper, Executive Director of the California Association of Wheat Growers, attended last week’s hearing on specialty crops organized by the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock and Horticulture. The hearing was chaired by Rep. Robin Hayes of North Carolina and attended by five local Members of Congress. California Secretary of Agriculture AG Kawamura testified on California’s specialty crop industry and noted the importance of continued funding for pest exclusion, research and trade promotion. Secretary Kawamura was followed by a panel of growers representing the CA Farm Bureau, table grapes, tree fruit, wine grapes, garlic, citrus, and other fruits and vegetables. Although the hearing was not on the farm bill specifically, many speakers mentioned that specialty crops wanted more equitable access to farm programs and funding. We attended to utilize the opportunity to say hello to Congressional members and staff, and to identify areas of common interest between program and specialty crops like improved crop insurance, better response to non-tariff barriers, and adequate funding for research.

DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR DISASTER PROGRAM SIGNUPS. The sign-up deadline for growers to apply for the Crop Disaster Program (CDP) with the USDA is September 9, 2005 for losses incurred in 2003 and 2004 due to weather and related conditions. This program covers losses related to the 2003 stripe rust disaster and other weather-related crop disasters.  

Growers can receive benefits for crop losses for only one of the 2003, 2004 or 2005 crop years.  For 2005, crop losses are limited to those caused by the hurricane season in counties that had a Presidential disaster declaration.

 In more recent disaster news, Butte and Lake counties were declared primary disaster counties for later spring rains and hail. All contiguous counties were also designated. Farmers in these counties may qualify for low interest loans if their crops were affect. For details, see the website below or visit your local FSA office.

 USDA’s disaster web site is: http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov/

RMA OFFERS GRIP PLAN FOR WHEAT. The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation’s Board of Directors approved Group Risk Income Protection (GRIP) plans for wheat for the 2006 crop year.

GRIP plans, which make an indemnity payment when the average county revenue for the insured crop falls below the revenue chosen by the farmer, have been used in the past by sorghum, corn and soybean producers, but until now were not available for wheat growers.

The plan will be available for wheat in states and counties previously approved for GRP for the 2006 crop year.  For more information about availability, price and other provisions of GRIP please visit http://www.rma.usda.gov/FTP/Policies/2006/grip/pdf/06gripwheat.pdf. According to the website, California is included in the covered states.

USDA ANNOUNCES CHANGE TO LDP PROCESS. Jim Little, Farm Service Administrator at the USDA, has announced a new process for producers to receive loan deficiency payments (LDP). The new procedure is intended to streamline the process for producers.  

Previously, producers had to complete and submit a CCC-633 LDP or a CCC-709 form prior to losing beneficial interest in the harvested commodity in order to receive LDP benefits. Producers will now fill out the new CCC-633 EZ form each year to receive LDP benefits for eligible crops on all their farms and submit page 2 of the new form when the producer requests LDPs.

 A producer must have beneficial interest in the commodity at the time the CCC-633 EZ form is submitted to the FSA office. Either at the time a producer first submits the new form or any time before the final loan availability date, the producer must request a payment for a specific quantity and provide acceptable production evidence. The LDP rate is based on the earlier of: the payment request date; or the date beneficial interest is lost.

 EPA COMPLETES RISK ASSESSMENT ON 2,4-D HERBICIDE. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its comprehensive assessment of the herbicide, 2,4-dichloro-phenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), under the Agency’s deregistration program.  According to an EPA press release, it concluded that 2,4-D does not present risks of concern to human health when users follow 2,4-D product instructions.

 “The EPA’s assessment of the human and environmental scientific data reinforces a growing number of regulatory decisions and expert reviews that conclude the use of 2,4‑D according to product instructions does not present an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment”, stated Don Page, of the  EPA’s Industry Task Force II on 2,4‑D Research Data.  “EPA’s comprehensive findings are consistent with decisions of other authorities such as the World Health Organization, Health Canada, European Commission and recent studies by the U.S. National Cancer Institute on 2,4-D”, added Page.

2,4-D is one of the most widely used herbicides in the U.S. and worldwide.  It is applied to crops such as wheat, corn, rice, soybeans, potatoes, sugar cane, pome fruits, stone fruits and nuts. It controls invasive species in aquatic areas and federally protected areas and broadleaf weeds in turf grass. An economic evaluation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (NAPIAP Report 1-PA-96) concluded that the loss of 2, 4-D would cost the U.S. economy $1.7 billion annually in higher food production and weed control expenses.

The EPA’s final decision document may be downloaded from:
http://docket.epa.gov/edkpub/do/EDKStaffItemDetailView?objectId=090007d480925518