Show rrrrrrrr ft j The Herald Journal Logan Utah PaqelS Sunday December24 1989 Effects of poisonous plants on fetuses studied By Dennis Senft USDA Agtteuliuml Research Service Sonograms that track the growth of human fetuses are giving the US Department of Agriculture scientists new insights on how poisonous plants harm unborn lambs and goats Physicians have used sonograms commonly referred to as ultrasound for many yean to monitor human fetal development and examine kidneys and other organs and tissues Now animal researchers have learned from sonograms that toxins in certain plants when eaten by a pregnant sheep or goat deform a fetus because they restrict its normal movement in the womb said Kip E Pan ter of USDA's Agriculture Research Service in Logan “It’s as if die fetus were being sedated" he said Laboratory scientists already knew that a goat or sheep fetus could develop a cleft palate and skeletal deformities when die mother ate range weeds such as lupine poison hemlock or wild forms of tobacco “But if we can more narrowly define die time when plant toxins are threatening ranchers will have more options for grazing and breeding schedules to protect the fetus' ' Panter said He and other animal scientists at die ARS Poisonous Plant Laboratory — the only one of its kind in the US — in conjunction with die Utah State University animal dairy and veterinary science department started using sonograms in 1987 The ultrasound equipment does not present any hazards to die animals he said The latest sonogram findings show that “chemicals in the plants reduce the ability of die fetus to move in die mother’s uterus” Panter said “If the fetus can’t move freely it won't develop and grow normally “We learned for die first time that a fetus prevented from moving fin three or four days at the critical time in gestation may develop cleft palate ft it’s restricted for about 10 to IS days the skeleton will be deformed" At present he noted the riskiest period is believed to be 40 to 70 days after conception in cattle 30 to 60 days in sheep and goats and 30 to 50 days in pigs But die critical time actually may be a range of only three to five days instead of 20 to 30 he said Ranchers can prevent poisonings by not grazing livestock on ranges containing toxic plants but Panter said this is not always feasible “What matters is to keep foe pregnant animal from eating too much of die wrong plants at die wrong time" he said Ranchers can do this by " tlimtlit -- - USDA research Kip Panter views grazing pregnant livestock only intermittently where a poisonous plant is growing Or ranchers can schedule grazing so that die time when a plant is least toxic coincides with die time when die fetus is least susceptible he said “Most of foe pints we’re concerned with become less toxic as the season progresses and foe toxins generally are foe sort that don’t build up in r' ' - a sonogram to detect effects of poison on a goat fetus rvsativifnMMMiirai animal ate locoweed fluid would accumulate in foe foe fetus" he noted Before 1987 researchers had to rely on autopsies fetus and placenta But foe sonograms revealed that to see how a pregnant animal’s consumption of locoweed also shandy reduced foe fetus' heart rate poisonous plants affected her fetus In dial year however die team’s first research using sonograms revealed a previosuly unrecognized effect of locoweed on sheep fetuses Scientists already knew foat? when a pregnant and the strength of heart contractions The research Panter said can be applied to other livestock such as cattle hones and swine and could also lend insights into skeletal deformities in Alternative agriculture overstated analysts say WASHINGTON (UPI) — The potential for alternative agriculture — techniques that reduce the reliance on chemicals — is being ‘At best we don't know enough to make overstated two analysts said Friday questioning whether foe system could compete with conventional methods judgment on the economic competitiveness of Interest In alternative farming methods blossomed after the release these of a National Research Council report that said fanners could their use reduce chemicals that call of profitably through techniques — Pierre Crosson for careful management and use of biological relationships that occur on farms “At best we don’t know enough to make a judgment on die said telling reporters foe council was “not backing away from it (die economic competitiveness of these systems” said Pierre Crosson of report) at alL” Resources for the Future a research organization Hie report said wider use of alternative techniques which include Crosson and a colleague Leonard Gianessi pointed to what they crop rotation tillage methods and intonated pest viewed as shortcomings in the Research Council report but concurred — “would mult in even greater economic benefits and management with some of its major recommendations They supported suggestions environmental gains for the nation” for more federal research into alternative agriculture and for removing The report included 11 case studies of farmers who reduced or biases in farm programs that encourage farmers to use chemicals to eliminated use of chemical pesticides Gianessi said most of the farms achieve the highest possible yields continued to use pesticides rather than eliminating their use He said Charles Benbrook who helped produce foe research council report the report left unclear in some cases how heavily pesticides were used contended the alternative practices can be just as profitable as or the “hidden cost” of not using them mainstream techniques A California grape farm for instance used nearly twice as much “There’s no reason for yields to go down and often they don’t” he water as its arid neighbors in order to grow a perennial grass between a systems' soil-savi- - - v'v U w ng v servation techniques close the international seminar series with Recipients in each state are chosen by a inwSoddlmpct of New Tedmolofy on BOISE Idaho (UPI) Gov Cecil Andrus broadbased committee representing cduca- - Basotho Fanners last week presented the National Endowment tion agriculture and state government for Sol and Water Conservation Award for Utah farmer national winner Idaho to Karl L Joslin who farms 10 Range seminars offered WASHINGTON (UPI) different farms southwest of Twin Falls Two fanners Eight winter quarter seminars are scheduled from Indiana and Kentucky and a Utah Joslin is the finalist in die statewide foe Utah State University International randier are the national winners of awards competition and is now eligible for national for Science Seminar Series according to that Range 120 acres awards He bought and fanned recognize outstanding conservation work assistant Greg Perrier teaching school and in farms now senior a officiate announced Thursday while high The seminars held Fridays at 4 pm are Hie winners — David and Beverly 1500 acres in the Magic Valley Salomon of Churubusco IndJ Rick and Stacy "Wise use and conservation rtf soil and open and free to the public Jan 5 Ben Norton USU range science Murdock of water resources makes sense both from sn Murrey Ky and Frank Bohman will discuss "Constraints to of department and environmental economic Morgan Utah — were Chosen from 50 standpoint” Pastoral Production on Jordanian Rangelands state winners The awards Andrus said program in its seventh year is run by foe National Endow"In die short run it creates greater and Avenues for Improvement” Jan 19 Richard Cincotta who is at USU ment for Soil and Water Conservation opportunity for production and profiL In die on a Man and foe Biosphere scholarship will foe and resource "Their innovation and long run it preserves address “Demography as a Structure for show that soil and water conservation can be for die future water use" quality protects Investigating the Dynamics of a Grazed achieved voluntarily ft is good stewardship governor said and good business” endowment chairman Andrus praised Joslin’s use of minimum Ecosystem" Jan 26 Jon R Moris USU professor of Emmett Barker said in a statement tillage installation of gravity flow irrigation The winners employ techniques such as and Ids enthusiasm in sharing his knowledge anthropology will speak on "European Initiatives in African Rangeland Develoand experience with others tillage methods ponds grassways and other practices to limit watercaused Minimum tillage is die practice of leaving pment" Feb 2 Charles W Gay research associate erosion crop rotations and wildlife habitat the crop residue on top of the soil retaining of range science will present a professor moisture in the ground longer and stabilizing improvements titled "Social and Political Conseminar "Conservation wu instilled in me by my is a flow the soil Gravity irrigation sprinkler straints to Adequate Rangeland Inventory and father" said Salomon "To without a that keep up with the operates pump irrigation system Monitoring" and conserves water increasing world demands fervour products Feb 9 Walter Schacht will discuss his we must not allow our soil to be destroyed" Information gathered from Joslin’s prolivestock research in Lesotho Murdock said his family is dedicated to soil range grams have been used to develop guidelines 23 Ellis of State James Feb Colorado US the water conservation "and teaching the and recommendations and Agriculturby al Stabilization and Conservation Service the University Ecology Center will discuss principles of stewardship to others’’ Approaches to Range "I believe that each of us has an obligation Idaho Soil Conservation Service and the Twin Falls and Snake River Soil Conserva- Ecosystem Management" Ellis worked with to treat our land with respect and to tty and the Turkana In Northern Kenya leave it a little better than vfe found it" tion districts USU Stanford 2 Cazier President March In now its said Bohman awards The nonprofit program The Murdocks run an 800-acseventh year honors farmers and ranchers will address the topic "Internationalizing the crop who do an outstanding job of Implementing Utah State University Curriculum" March 9 sociologist Pamela Riley will See AGRICULTURE REPORT on page 19 con sound innovative and Idaho conservation award - - soil-savi- "Non-equilibriu- ng m re cost-effecti- ve rows of grapes so it did not have to use weed killers In another case he said a manufacturer stopped making the chemical that was a key component in integrated pest management Crosson said studies of alternative practices showed environmental benefits but suggested they were not “economically competitive with conventional systems" for most farmers at foe moment because of lower yields the bias in federal farm programs and the need for skillful management which can deprive farmers from time to pursue other tasks Gianessi warned against letting enthusiasm over the potential for alternative agriculture lead to "rush judgments on pesticides'’ that could have unintended consequences He said die report "should be viewed as a first attempt to get a handle on die issue not the final word” In response Benbrook said the report pointed to methods that could ensure a bountiful food supply while protecting foe nation’s resources He said Crosson in questioning foe economic viability of alternative agriculture was relying an outdated studies "There’s been tremendous innovation on foe farm" of the he said "In die huds of sHiVd farm recession of the practionere Aese systems don't have yield problems or weed mid-198- 0s pressures" Conservation plan deadline DeC 31 ' Farmers with highly credible land are re- Don minded that Dec 3 1 is deadline for do-veloping a conservation plan Farmers who continue to farm highly credible land without an approved (dan after that date will not be in compliance with the USDA Food Security Act Such farmers will be denied the benefits of USDA programs hi 1990 and in future years Farmers with land that has been designated as highly erodable should contact the Sou Conservation Service immediately for assistance in developing this plan A variety of alternatives are available ranging residue from management systems to resource management systems including the Conserva- tion Reserve Program (CRP) Remember developing a conservation plan for highly credible land will help you remain eligible for other USDA r programs and will help to save our land resources for future Take care of tractor tires tractors will at less better cost if perform Huber a operators take care of the tires Keeping inflation at proper levels is perhaps the simplest but most overlooked step toward efficient operation said Darwin Jolley Utah State University Extension equipment specialist Underinflated tires are vulnerable to sidewall damage and can lead to damaged wheel rims Jolley said a more common problem is overinflated tires with overinflation only foe center of the tread contacts die soil properly which reduces traction compacts soil and wears tires fester in the center Farmers often overinflate redials because unlike bias-pltires ndials have a sidewall bulge when frilly Inflated This condition however spreads the weight over foe most possible soil surface improving traction and reducing compaction "Many fanners continue to fill tires by sight adding air until the sidewall bulge is gone" Jolley said y ve See HUBER on page 19 |