Saint Louis, Missouri
April 20, 2004
http://www.soygrowers.com
(ASA), a membership-driven, grassroots policy organization
representing 25,000 United States soybean producers, continues
to urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal Plant
and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to take all appropriate
and science-based measures to prevent the accidental
introduction of Asian soybean rust disease into the U.S.
"U.S. soybean
farmers have an enormous stake in making sure Asian rust is not
introduced into the United States considering the potential of
the disease to cause great financial damage in lost yields and
high costs to apply fungicides to control it," said ASA
President Ron Heck, a soybean producer from Perry, Iowa. "At the
same time, as a global exporter, we must ensure that the
protocols we apply are based on sound science."
Reports indicate
that Asian rust has spread to almost all states in Brazil this
year, and that areas in Paraguay and parts of northern Argentina
are also infected. Brazil’s senior soybean rust specialist
indicates Brazil’s losses to Asian rust are greater in 2004 than
in 2003, and that total yield losses from Asian rust could
exceed 4 million metric tons (150 million bushels) with costs of
spraying fungicides to control Asian rust likely exceed $1
billion.
On March 12, 2004,
APHIS published a Federal Register Notice calling for public
comments on a draft document entitled "Status of Scientific
Evidence on Risks Associated with the Introduction into the
Continental United States of Phakopsora pachyrhizi with
Imported Soybean Grain, Seed and Meal." The comment period
closed on April 12, 2004.
Whole Soybean
Imports Remain Greatest Concern
Regarding the
risks posed from the importation of whole soybeans from
rust-affected countries, ASA is calling for the completion of
ongoing rust spore viability studies before risk assessments are
finalized. It is essential that APHIS complete its research
before any guidelines are issued on the importation of soybeans.
"We are
particularly concerned about soybeans from rust-infested soybean
farms being delivered directly to export facilities for prompt
loading on ships destined for the United States." Heck said.
"Because of this, we believe some soybeans, along with foreign
material containing live rust spores, could be easily loaded on
ships within weeks of being harvested.
One way of
guaranteeing that Asian rust is not introduced to the U.S. with
imported soybeans is to kill the spores by heat prior to
shipment. However, this likely would have a negative impact on
the quality of the oil, protein and amino acids in the soybeans,
and also would be quite costly.
However, science has shown that it would be
possible to kill all Asian rust spores in soybeans by storing
them for a sufficient period in the country of origin. The
required period of storage will depend on the results of
research APHIS currently has underway in Paraguay and in its
Beltsville, Maryland testing facility on the viability of Asian
rust spores. This research is not expected to be concluded until
the fall.
Low Risk for Properly Handled Meal Imports
APHIS’s scientific review
found there was little risk associated with soybean meal
imports, if properly handled. ASA agrees with APHIS that there
is very little potential of introducing Asian rust to the U.S.
with imported soybean meal provided that all of the soybean meal
be heated for sufficient duration and temperature during the
solvent extraction process to kill all spores, and if proper
measures are taken during loading and transport to prevent
re-contamination of the soybean meal.
If processors remove
soybean hulls and foreign material prior to the extraction
process, ASA believes this material also must be heated to kill
spores before being added back into the meal for shipment. ASA
believes it is essential that APHIS officials or other
independent entities verify that this procedure is being
followed for all of the soybean meal that may be shipped to the
U.S. from South America.
A drought-reduced 2003 U.S.
soybean crop, coupled with record exports and strong domestic
demand, has led to U.S. soybean ending stocks at the lowest
levels in nearly 30 years. Due to this tight supply situation,
USDA projects imports of 430,000 metric tons of soybean meal
will be needed to sustain and feed the U.S. livestock demand
base. Brazil is one of the likely sources of this feedstuff.
Fungicide Treatment of Planting Seed Would
Further Reduce Risk
APHIS’s scientific review
found there was negligible risk of transmitting Asian rust
through soybean planting seed, because such seed is highly
cleaned to remove plant material.
"APHIS should spot-check
soybean seed shipments to verify that they have been adequately
cleaned," Heck said. "We also strongly encourage APHIS to
consider fungicide treatment of planting seed."
It is common practice for
planting seed to be harvested in South America and then quickly
air-shipped to the United States for planting. Such a practice
increases the possibility that live rust spores could be present
even on clean seed. With little additional cost, seeds could be
treated with a fungicide, as is a common industry practice.
"With the potential of
Asian rust costing U.S. soybean farmers billions of dollars in
lost yields and added production costs, the government needs to
complete rust spore viability studies currently underway before
contemplating protocols for whole soybean imports," Heck said.
"The Federal Government should take all appropriate and
science-based measures to minimize or prevent the introduction
of this disease into the United States." |
