This email is from one of our (Michigan) organic fruit farmers, Jim Koan, owner of Almar Orchard in Flushing MI. He is going to DC to present at the USDA public
input session for the NOSB (National Organic Standards Board). The NOSB wants to do away with using antibiotics such as Streptomycin to control Fire Blight, a horrible disease on fruit trees, this is especially a problem in the North Central region. Please
note that while public comment time has past, you can send your info to Jim Koan ([log in to unmask]) so he may use it while discussing with NOSB in DC. But
you will need to do this now, as he is on his to way to DC today. It’s not like our weather is conducive to being out the field anyway!
The email trail is included for your background information.
Vicki
Vicki Morrone
C. S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems
Outreach Specialist for Organic Vegetable and Field Crops
303 Natural Resources
East Lansing, MI 48824
517-353-3542/517-282-3557 (cell)
517-353-3834 (Fax)
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of tom galazyn
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2011 9:37 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: RE: [organictreefruits] OTFAs response to the NOSB Recommendation for sunset of Streptomycin for Fire blight control
Boy i hate that brand of public input. Can you call them, tell them you are flying halfway across the country and ask for at least 5 min.? The local town restricts public input to 5 min. and it is a handy way to restrict public input.
To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
From: [log in to unmask]
Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2011 06:45:35 -0400
Subject: Re: [organictreefruits] OTFAs response to the NOSB Recommendation for sunset of Streptomycin for Fire blight control
Really cute!!!!!!!!!!!! First the NOSB cuts our time in half by not allowing us to take a proxy slot........and now they cut our allowed time from five minutes
down to three. What can we do in three minutes? I am beginning to give up hope that we can turn this steaming locomotive around or even slow it down. Does anyone have any ideas/suggestions?
I am going to spend four days of my precious spring away from my demanding orchard to speak to deaf people for three minutes. I am angry to say the least. I don't
think the system is working. I can't call this a public hearing.
While I am venting............Harry and Jackie, did you see in the Good Fruit Grower that they in Washington are promoting not allowing tetracycline to sunset
and never made any mention of strep.? Looks like this will make for a bigger problem for us. What do you think?
Jim
-----Original Message-----
From: Hoch Orchard <[log in to unmask]>
To: 'Organic Tree Fruit Association' <[log in to unmask]>; organictreefruits <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tue, Apr 5, 2011 5:43 am
Subject: [organictreefruits] OTFAs response to the NOSB Recommendation for sunset of Streptomycin for Fire blight control [1 Attachment]
[Attachment(s) from Hoch
Orchard included below]
Hello all,
I am writing to ask for support and action on the NOSB recommendation for sunsetting Streptomycin for fireblight control.
Here are the facts that I see:
-
The crops committee has already decided that all antibiotics should be dropped from fruit production.
-
While antibiotics were originally produced naturally, the products we use are approved synthetics. I am not a chemist but I assume there may be a way of making strep organically
like Entrust. I doubt there is enough demand that any company will develop a process for it. Synthetics should not be a part of organic production.
-
We are going to lose strep. There is no way that we will make it an approved product in the long term. I think the best we can hope for is a five year extended sunset and then
it will be gone.
OTFA will take a positive approach with the NOSB and agree with phasing out antibiotics. We suggest we reduce the use by limiting it to post infection application
and we promote the use of new products as protectants. We also promote and educate growers and nurseries about new resistant rootstocks.
Here are the steps we are taking to address this recommendation.
Submitting a written comment from the Organic Tree Fruit Association
Asking members and others to submit a written letter supporting this position
·
The OTFA requests an annotation to the current rule for streptomycin, limiting the use of antibiotics to post infection use only. We would like this limited use to be allowed
for five years while growers learn to use the new protectant products and begin planting the field immune rootstocks.
·
The Organic Tree Fruit Association (OTFA) agrees with the NOSB in phasing out the use of antibiotics in tree fruit production. We feel the integrity of organic food production
requires this synthetic substance be limited and eventually banned from organic fruit.
·
The choice of resistant varieties and rootstocks should be the first line of defense, but these varieties and rootstocks need to be commercially available. The delayed sunset
would allow for a response to an increased market demand.
·
Additional products are available for use against fireblight. Biologicals-Serenade Max, Bloomtime, Biological FD, BlightBan C9-1 Barriers- Surround. Most of these products are
new to tree fruit production or specifically to the prevention of fireblight. While studies have shown promise, the best practices will take a few years to develop. Fruit growers will need more information on how to use these products. OTFA intends to help
develop practices and disseminate the information as it is developed.
Verbal comments at the NOSB meeting, supporting our concerns and position.
Again, I strongly urge all of you to submit a public comment in support to the NOSB. Public comments are due by April 10th. You can submit the comments
at
http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=AMS-NOP-11-0014-0001
Thank you for your consideration- Jackie Hoch
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