IPM Voice Newsletter                                                                                                                    December 2013

No Farm Bill This Year

Congress will not pass a new farm bill in 2013. Top negotiators including Senator Debbie Stabenow, Democrat of Michigan, and Representative Frank Lucas, Republican of Oklahoma, are optimistic that a new farm will be passed by the end of January.

 

The bill has been stalled repeatedly over the past two years. When congressional leaders could not come to a consensus on a new bill in 2012, the 2008 bill was extended through 2013. The past months have been filled with additional conflicts and setbacks, most notably disagreement over provisions for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Although the House moved to extend the 2008 bill through January 2014, the Senate did not follow suit and Congress will go to winter recess without passing a new farm bill or extending the current bill. As of January 1, we will revert to 1949 law, a unique situation. 

 

The outlook for IPM programs, funded in 2014 fiscal year appropriations, remain optimistic as previously reported on in our September newsletter. IPM appropriations are secured for 2014 pending Congress passing the federal budget. The Senate is expected to vote on and pass a budget deal this week, following a positive House vote last week. House and Senate conferees will negotiate differences when Congress returns to session in January. In the unlikely event budget negotiations are not  finalized by January 15, Congress may move to pass a stopgap measure. Another government shutdown is not expected.

Read more.

 

 

School IPM Covered by NPR

National Public Radio (NPR) featured IPM and Dr. Claudia Riegel, director of New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board, in a story about rodents in a New Orleans high school.  John McDonogh High School, now a charter school, was in poor shape after damage from Hurricane Katrina and vulnerable to the post-storm rat population increase.

 

Riegel commented that in 2007, her program received nearly 2900 rodent complaints - over seven per day. Simple fixes such as sealing holes, repairing broken windows and removing trash from school buildings at the end of each day have generated tremendous results. New Orleans has since seen a nearly 70% reduction in rodent complaints city-wide.

 

Positive popular press referencing IPM is rare.  More is needed to increase taxpayer and consumer awareness and appreciation for IPM. Read more or listen to the complete broadcast here

IPM Voice: 2013 Accomplishments

This year, we succeeded in including authorization for USDA Regional IPM Centers in the Senate version of the Farm Bill, and remain hopeful this provision will be in the final bill. We also completed facilitated strategic planning thanks to funding for facilitation provided by Dr. Pam Marrone, founder of Marrone Bio Innovations.

 

We continue to identify and communicate with staff for key decision makers in Congress, and develop concise IPM fact sheets on the importance of IPM for their constituents.  Our top priorities for 2014 include outreach to state and regional grower groups to identify IPM needs and opportunities for IPM Voice to be of service.

 

We could not do this work without your help. Please consider joining IPM Voice, or renewing your membership if you are already a member. Visit our membership page or email Martha Souder, msouder@ipminstitute.org for more information.

 

We thank you for your support and wish you happy holidays and a great new year! 

Upcoming IPM-Related Meetings and Conferences

February 18-19, 2014. 2014 Integrated Pest Management Academy (IPMA14). Okemos, Michigan.  

April 1-3,20132014 Women in Agriculture Educators National Conference. Indianapolis, Indiana.

Mark your calendars!  The 8th International IPM Symposium will be held March 23-26, 2015 in Salt Lake City, Utah 

IPM Voice is an independent, non-profit organization advocating for integrated pest management (IPM) that is genuinely progressive and seeks continuous improvement of environmental, social and economic conditions through application of accepted scientific principles.  IPM Voice was formed in 2010 by more than 35 professionals working to expand the benefits IPM has provided to agriculture and communities for more than 40 years.

IPM Voice, Inc. / 4510 Regent Street  Madison, Wisconsin 53705 / 608-232-1410 / www.ipmvoice.org