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From: ssmith@REDGOLD.com<BR>Sent: 4/26/2012 1:00:22 P.M. Pacific Daylight
Time<BR>Subj: Comments to APHIS by SOCC<BR></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Good
afternoon,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">I wanted to pass along
our press release about the SOCC officially submitting comments to APHIS
concerning the upcoming 2, 4 D regulatory approval for corn. For those of you
who have submitted, we offer big thanks. The deadline is midnight,
Friday the 27<SUP>th</SUP> if you would still like to participate. For a
full copy of the submission (and I might warn you, it is quite long) go to our
website <A title=http://www.saveourcrops.org/ href="http://www.saveourcrops.org/">www.saveourcrops.org</A> and click on the
link contained in the first article. We believe you will find it to be an
outstanding summary of the story we are attempting to tell. Thank you
for all your past support and we value your feedback and
suggestions.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Steve
Smith<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Chairman, Save Our Crops
Coalition<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center><I><FONT color=#999999 size=3 face=Palatino><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Palatino; COLOR: #999999; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><IMG SRC="cid:X.MA1.1335478980@aol.com" border=0 width=386 height=199 DATASIZE="7261" ID="MA1.1335478980" ><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></I></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto" class=MsoNormal align=center><I><FONT color=#999999 size=3 face=Palatino><SPAN style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Palatino; COLOR: #999999; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Don’t
Drift on Me</SPAN></FONT></I><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 24pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 14pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto" class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><B><FONT color=#333333 size=3 face=Palatino><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Palatino; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Washington</SPAN></FONT></B></st1:City><B><FONT color=#333333 face=Palatino><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Palatino; COLOR: #333333; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">, <st1:State w:st="on">DC</st1:State></SPAN></FONT></B></st1:place><B><FONT color=#333333 face=Palatino><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Palatino; COLOR: #333333; FONT-WEIGHT: bold"> – April 25,
2012 – </SPAN></FONT></B><FONT color=#333333 face=Palatino><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Palatino; COLOR: #333333">Today, the Save Our Crops
Coalition (SOCC) announced its opposition to Dow’s petition for non-regulated
status for its 2,4-D tolerant corn product until effective measures are in
place to protect against damage to neighboring crops. SOCC has submitted
a comment to USDA to ensure its concerns are heard regarding 2,4-D spray drift
and volatilization associated with this new herbicide tolerant crop.
SOCC is not opposed to plant technology advances, particularly genetic
modification; however, SOCC opposes introduction of 2,4-D tolerant corn, at
this time, because the increased 2,4-D use it will trigger poses a substantial
threat of injury to non-target plants and to the habitats necessary for their
pollinators.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 24pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 14pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto" class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#333333 size=3 face=Palatino><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Palatino; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
Dow’s 2,4-D tolerant corn is expected to herald a 1070% increase in the use of
2,4-D, a product notorious for damaging plants not targeted for
application. At even extremely low rates, 2,4-D is known to cause
extensive yield damage to broadleaf crops. This threat is made all the
more substantial because 2,4-D tolerant corn is expected to be grown in close
proximity to home gardens and broadleaf specialty crops like tomatoes, green
beans, peas, squash, pumpkins, melons, grapes and other fruits.
</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 24pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 14pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto" class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#333333 size=3 face=Palatino><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Palatino; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
“2,4-D drift and volatilization has caused substantial damage to my farm, and
this damage has now become an annual occurrence. Before, I was afraid
there would be no way to prove where this damage came from. Now, given
the projected increase in use, I know the damage will be caused by my
neighbors and friends,” said Dave Simmons, a family farmer based in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:State>.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 24pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 14pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto" class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#333333 size=3 face=Palatino><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Palatino; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
“My farm was decimated by exposure to 2,4-D. I’ve tried to regain the
confidence of my customer base, but it may never be the same. I support
the coalition because I do not want another grower to endure the same
devastation,” said Gary Phelps, a tree farmer based in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Kentucky</st1:place></st1:State>.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 24pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 14pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto" class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#333333 size=3 face=Palatino><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Palatino; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
Farmers’ concerns have stirred the support of the vegetable processors they
sell to, names like Seneca and Red
Gold.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 24pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 14pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto" class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#333333 size=3 face=Palatino><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Palatino; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
“It is the projection of a 1070% increase in the use of 2,4-D that threatens
the survival of the specialty crop production in the <st1:place w:st="on">Midwest</st1:place>. 2,4-D is a threat to growers and
processors like us,” said Steve Smith of Red Gold, an Indiana-based food
processor.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 24pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 14pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto" class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#333333 size=3 face=Palatino><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Palatino; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
The Save Our Crops Coalition was formed to present concerns to EPA and USDA in
an effort to prevent the non-target damage associated with these herbicide
tolerant crops.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 24pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 14pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto" class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#333333 size=3 face=Palatino><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Palatino; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
For more information and a copy of the comment, please visit <A title=http://www.saveourcrops.org/ href="http://www.saveourcrops.org/">http://www.saveourcrops.org</A>.<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 24pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 14pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto" class=MsoNormal><FONT color=#333333 size=3 face=Palatino><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Palatino; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">CONTACT: Robert
Swinford, (405)-209-2339<O:P></O:P></SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=2 face="Comic Sans MS"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
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