03/20/08 Disaster signup; sugar beet pulp product

There are new guidelines for livestock producers to participate in ongoing Farm Service disaster programs. Due to the USDA disaster declaration in all Idaho counties for 2007 all livestock producers meeting eligibility requirements may receive payments based on the lesser of their non irrigated pasture loss plus increased feed costs or a preset dollar value per head for eligible livestock. For more details contract your local FSA office. Question; could sugar beet pulp help cut the costs of making biodegradable plastic? Agricultural Research Service studies in Illinois and Pennsylvania suggest its possible The pulp is a fiber rich byproduct of sugar beet processing and more of the 40 million tons generated each year are used as low cost livestock feed or pet food ingredients. Scientists have converted the pulp into a specialized filler material for polylactic acid based plastics, or PLA. PLA is a promising alternative to thermoplastics and its biodegradable. The main focus of research now is to modify the pulp to provide a stronger bond and look at ways to cut the cost of the complex process. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott