Investigation Continues On APHIS Finding & Pollinator Health

Investigation Continues On APHIS Finding & Pollinator Health

I’m Lacy Gray with Washington Ag Today.

With wheat harvest expected to begin in the next month or so officials with the Washington Wheat Growers Association, the National Association of Wheat Growers, and other state wheat organizations continue to have close communication with USDA officials regarding the investigation over the finding of Roundup Ready wheat on one farm field in Oregon. All agree the sooner investigators can supply answers that can help the industry mitigate any customer concerns the better. Ag Information Network’s Greg Martin has this up date.

MARTIN: Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack reports that his Department believes the finding was a “very isolated” event. Monsanto said late last week that scientists have tested 600 samples of the varieties planted in the field in question and found no further detections of the Roundup Ready trait. They’ve also tested 50 other varieties used in the Pacific Northwest, which accounted for more than 60 percent of all planted acreage in 2011, and found no further areas of concern.

Japan and South Korea are declining imports of U.S. soft white wheat as the investigation continues.

Out of concern for pollinator health the Thurston County Board of Commissioners petitioned WSDA in April to develop rules restricting homeowners from purchasing neonicotinoid insecticides for use on ornamental plants. Following a sixty day review period the WSDA has decided not to pursue such a rule making, citing that there is currently no documented evidence which supports that the use of neonicotinoid insecticides on ornamental plants is causing a significant adverse effect on honey bee colony health in Washington state.

I’m Lacy Gray and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Ag Information Network.