[Pollinator] Fwd: Comments to APHIS by SOCC

[Ladadams at aol.com]

____________________________________
 From: ssmith at REDGOLD.com
Sent: 4/26/2012 1:00:22 P.M. Pacific Daylight  Time
Subj: Comments to APHIS by SOCC



Good  afternoon, 
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 27th 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 _www.saveourcrops.org_ (http://www.saveourcrops.org/)  
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. 
Steve  Smith 
Chairman, Save Our Crops  Coalition 
 
Don’t  Drift on Me 
Washington, DC – April 25,  2012 – 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. 
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.   
“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 Indiana. 
“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 Kentucky. 
Farmers’ concerns have stirred the support of the vegetable processors they 
 sell to, names like Seneca and Red  Gold. 
“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 Midwest.  2,4-D is a 
threat to growers and  processors like us,” said Steve Smith of Red Gold, 
an Indiana-based food  processor. 
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. 
For more information and a copy of the comment, please visit 
_http://www.saveourcrops.org_ (http://www.saveourcrops.org/) . 
CONTACT: Robert  Swinford, (405)-209-2339 


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