Support the Sierra Club...Protect Our Wild Places

I'm helping to raise money for the Sierra Club to help preserve and protect endangered wilderness places and the diversity of wildlife that inhabits them. I'm doing this because the future of our environment is important to me...and if you're reading this I'm guessing it's important to you too.

So I'd like to ask you to support the Sierra Club with a modest donation that will go toward their many environmental conservation and protection projects. By joining the Club's 1.3 million members you'll be taking a powerful stand against the destruction of our natural resources, native wildlife habitats, and endangered ecosystems. Please join me in supporting the Sierra Club today - you can do so with this easy online membership form.

(Oh, and did I mention you get a free backpack and subscription to Sierra Magazine when you join? :-)

Someone Grafted Your Groceries

These days, if we hear about two different plants being combined, the first thing we think of is modern biotechnology. But the low-technology process of grafting remains an extremely important form of genetic engineering in agriculture.

Grafting still holds an important place even in an age of high-tech agriculture. Many kinds of plants are grown not from seeds but from pieces cut from existing plants. Farmers cut branches or buds, young growths, from one plant and place them on a related kind of plant.

The branch or bud that is grafted is called a scion [pronounced SY-uhn]. The plant that accepts the graft is called the root stock.

Over time, the parts from the two plants grow together. The grafted plant begins to produce the leaves and fruit of the scion, not the root stock.

A graft can be cut in several ways. A cleft graft, for example, requires a scion with several buds on it. The bottom of the scion is cut in the shape of the letter V. A place is cut in the root stock to accept the scion.

The scion is then securely placed into the cut on the root stock. Material called a growth medium is put on the joint to keep it wet and help the growth.

Grafting can join scions with desirable qualities to root stock that is strong and resists disease and insects. Smaller trees can be grafted with older scions.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency says producing stronger plants by grafting can reduce the need to use pesticides.

Agriculture could not exist as we know it without grafting. Many fruits and nuts have been improved through this method. Some common fruit trees such as sweet cherries and McIntosh apples have to be grafted.

Bing cherries, for example, are one of the most popular kinds of cherries. But a Bing cherry tree is not grown from seed. Branches that produce Bing cherries must be grafted onto root stock. All sweet cherries on the market are grown this way.

And then there are seedless fruits like navel oranges and seedless watermelons. Have you ever wondered how farmers grow them? Through grafting.

The grapefruit tree is another plant that depends on grafting to reproduce. Grapes, apples, pears and also flowers can be improved through grafting.

In an age of high-technology agriculture, grafting still holds an important place.

Source:
VOA News Service

Invasive Insect Damages US Ash Trees

A beetle invasion in the United States has killed at least twenty million ash trees. The invasion of the emerald ash borer was first discovered near Detroit, Michigan, in 2002. Experts believe the small green insects arrived in the 1990s in shipments of goods from China.

The emerald ash borer has destroyed trees in the Midwest and as far east in the United States as Maryland. The insects have also spread as far north as Ontario, Canada. Emerald ash borers are attacking tree farms and can also spread when logs and firewood are transported.

Ash trees are popular. They grow well in heavy clay soils, and they can survive ice storms well. They produce many leaves, so they provide shade protection from the sun. And in the fall the leaves turn a beautiful gold and purple.

Ash trees can resist many diseases. But they cannot resist the emerald ash borer. It lays eggs on the bark. Then the young larvae drill into and feed on the inner bark. This harms the ability of the tree to transport water and nutrients.

The United States Department of Agriculture is working to save the ash tree. So are agriculture departments and university extensions in a number of states.

In some places, farmers are using "detection trees." These have an area where bark has been cut away. The area circles the tree and is called a girdle. The girdling process weakens the trees. It makes them easier targets for borers, and shows if the insects are nearby.

Efforts to stop the spread of the emerald ash borer include cutting down affected trees. A tree farmer in Maryland, for example, recently faced the loss of hundreds of trees.

There are worries that the ash tree might disappear unless the invasion is controlled. To prepare for such a possibility, a government laboratory is collecting seeds from ash trees.

David Burgdorf works in East Lansing, Michigan, for the Natural Resources Conservation Service; the service is part of the United States Department of Agriculture. He is asking people to send in ash seeds. The laboratory examines and x-rays the seeds to make sure there are no living borer embryos.

The best seeds are then sent for storage in a seed bank in Fort Collins, Colorado. There, they are dried and frozen at the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation. Should the seeds ever be needed, the hope is that scientists might someday develop an ash tree that could resist the little green attackers.

Source:
VOA News Service

United Nations Study Finds Improvements in the World's Forests

The Rome-based United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recently presented its biannual report on the State of the World's Forests, which found that most countries in Europe and North America have reversed centuries of deforestation.

In its March 2007 report, the FAO noted that economic prosperity and careful forest stewardship have had positive effects on the world's forests, with many forests showing a net increase in forest area.

But forests in poorer nations, and those embroiled in wars and internal conflicts, still face substantial threats. Around 13 million hectares of forest are still lost annually to other land uses. However, the net deforestation over the last five years has been reduced from nine to seven million hectares. This is mainly due to reforestation and preservation of existing forests.

Africa is one region that faces huge losses. The continent accounts for about 16 percent of the global forests. Between 1990 and 2005, Africa lost over nine percent of its trees.

On the positive side, forest area increased in Asia between 2000 and 2005. While severe deforestation continues in South-East Asia, especially Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, there were tremendous increases in forested areas in China, Vietnam and a number of smaller countries.

One of the principal causes of deforestation is the conversion of land for farming or livestock. Forests currently cover about 30 percent of the world's land area. According to the FAO the world lost three percent of its forests between 1995 and 2000.

Source:
VOA News

Americans Face Higher Food Prices as More Corn is Used for Ethanol Production

The United States Department of Agriculture says high demand for ethanol fuel made from corn will mean higher meat prices. In its monthly crop report on March ninth, 2007, the department said feed costs are rising for cows, pigs and poultry birds. Corn, or maize, is their main feed.

Corn has been selling at more than three dollars a bushel in early 2007. In 2006, the average was two dollars.

The government says ethanol is using twenty percent of the American corn crop from last year. With this year's harvests, the amount is expected to reach twenty-five percent.

The National Chicken Council has objected to Congress about the situation. The council is a trade organization that represents the industry. It says the feed cost of the chicken industry alone has risen by forty percent.

In January, Tyson Foods, the world's biggest meat processor, reported its first profitable three-month period in a year. But the head of the Arkansas company warned that sharply higher corn prices have become a "major issue" for the food industry. Richard Bond says people will have to pay more for food because companies will be forced to pass along rising costs.

But Deputy Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner says demand for corn will probably get farmers to plant more corn. A University of Missouri Extension official says ethanol could bring the biggest change in American agriculture since farmers began planting soybeans.

Some economists have suggested that land from the Conservation Reserve Program should be used for additional corn production. But the Agriculture Department says only a limited area of land will be released for use over the next four years. The program supports the planting of things like native grasses or trees to reduce the loss of soil from croplands.

The department has appointed a committee to study the needs of biofuel producers. These are fuels like ethanol that are made from renewable resources.

On March ninth, the United States and Brazil signed a cooperation agreement on biofuels technology. The signing took place in Sao Paulo during the first stop on a trip by President Bush to Latin America. Seventy percent of the world's ethanol supply comes from the United States and Brazil. But while most American ethanol is made from corn, most Brazilian ethanol comes from sugar cane.

Source:
VOA News

Benefits of Mulching

Mulch is important to farmers. Mulch is a protective cover of material that is spread on top of soil. It is usually made out of organic material, like crop waste. Farmers may keep the remains of maize or other crops on top of the soil. This creates mulch on the soil surface. The plant remains help protect the soil against wind and water damage. This is called conservation tillage.

Mulching is one of the best things people can do for their plants. Mulch not only protects the soil against wind and water damage. It also helps keep the soil from getting dry, and reduces the need for watering plants. It also limits temperature changes in the soil. And it stops unwanted plants, or weeds, from growing.

Organic mulch improves the condition of soil. As the mulch breaks down, it provides material which keeps the soil from getting hard. This improves the growth of roots and increases the movement of water through the soil. It also improves the ability of the soil to hold water. Organic mulch contains nutrients for plants. It also provides a good environment for earthworms and other helpful organisms in the soil.

The best time to add mulch depends on your goal. Mulch provides a thick barrier between the soil and the air. This helps to reduce temperature changes in the soil. As a result, mulched soil will be cooler than other soil in the summer. Mulched areas usually warm up more slowly in the spring and cool down slowly in autumn. In winter, the mulched soil may not freeze as deeply as other soil.

Mulch used to help moderate the effects of winter weather can be added late in autumn. The best time is after the ground has frozen, but before the coldest weather arrives. Spreading mulch before the ground has frozen may attract small animals searching for a warm place to spend the winter. Delaying the spreading should prevent this problem. The animals will probably find another place to live.

The United States Department of Agriculture says it is easy to find organic mulch materials. Cut-up leaves and small pieces of tree bark can be used. Grass cuttings are also a good mulch for plants. Mulch from newspapers works well in controlling weeds.

Source:
VOA News

Bilberry

This fact sheet provides basic information about bilberry--common names, uses, and potential side effects. Bilberry is a relative of the blueberry, and its fruit is commonly used to make pies and jams. Bilberry grows in North America, Europe, and northern Asia.

Common Names: European blueberry, whortleberry, huckleberry

Latin Names: Vaccinium myrtillus

What It Is Used For

Bilberry has been used for nearly 1,000 years in traditional European medicine.

Historically, bilberry fruit was used to treat diarrhea, scurvy, and other conditions.

Today, the fruit is used to treat diarrhea, menstrual cramps, eye problems, varicose veins, venous insufficiency (poor blood flow to the heart), and other circulatory problems.

Bilberry leaf is used for entirely different conditions, including diabetes.

How It Is Used

The fruit of the bilberry plant can be eaten or made into extracts. Similarly, the leaves of the bilberry plant can be made into extracts or used to make teas.

Scientific Research

Some claim that bilberry fruit improves night vision, but clinical studies have not shown this to be true.

There is not enough scientific evidence to support the use of bilberry fruit or leaf for any other health conditions.

Side Effects and Cautions

Bilberry fruit is considered safe. However, high doses of bilberry leaf or leaf extract are considered unsafe; animal studies have shown high doses to be toxic.

Tell your health care providers about any herb or dietary supplement you are using, including bilberry. This helps to ensure safe and coordinated care.

Source:
National Institutes of Health

St. John's Wort, or Hypericum

This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb St. John's wort--common names, uses, and potential side effects. St. John's wort is a plant with yellow flowers.

Common Names: St. John's wort, hypericum, Klamath weed, goat weed

Latin Name: Hypericum perforatum

What It Is Used For

St. John's wort has been used for centuries to treat mental disorders and nerve pain.

In ancient times, herbalists wrote about its use as a sedative and a treatment for malaria, as well as a balm for wounds, burns, and insect bites.

Today, St. John's wort is used by some for depression, anxiety, and/or sleep disorders.

How It Is Used

The flowering tops of St. John's wort are used to prepare teas and tablets containing concentrated extracts.

Scientific Research

There is some scientific evidence that St. John's wort is useful for treating mild to moderate depression. However, two large studies, one sponsored by NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine), showed that the herb was no more effective than placebo in treating major depression of moderate severity.

NCCAM is studying the use of St. John's wort in a wider spectrum of mood disorders, including minor depression.

Side Effects and Cautions

St. John's wort may cause increased sensitivity to sunlight. Other side effects can include anxiety, dry mouth, dizziness, gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue, headache, or sexual dysfunction.

Research shows that St. John's wort interacts with some drugs. The herb affects the way the body processes or breaks down many drugs; in some cases, it may speed or slow a drug's breakdown. Drugs that can be affected include:

o Indinavir and possibly other drugs used to control HIV infection
o Irinotecan and possibly other drugs used to treat cancer
o Cyclosporine, which prevents the body from rejecting transplanted organs
o Digoxin, which strengthens heart muscle contractions
o Warfarin and related anticoagulants
o Birth control pills
o Antidepressants

When combined with certain antidepressants, St. John's wort may increase side effects such as nausea, anxiety, headache, and confusion.

St. John's wort is not a proven therapy for depression. If depression is not adequately treated, it can become severe. Anyone who may have depression should see a health care provider. There are effective proven therapies available.

It is important to inform your health care providers about any herb or dietary supplement you are using, including St. John's wort. This helps to ensure safe and coordinated care.

Source:
National Institutes of Health

Aloe Vera

This fact sheet provides basic information about aloe vera--common names, uses, and potential side effects. Aloe vera's use can be traced back 6,000 years to early Egyptian civilization, where the plant was depicted on stone carvings. Known as the "plant of immortality," aloe was presented as a burial gift to deceased pharaohs.

Common Names: aloe vera, aloe, burn plant, lily of the desert, elephant's gall

Latin Names: Aloe vera, Aloe barbadensis

Uses of Aloe Vera

Traditionally, aloe was used topically to heal wounds and for various skin conditions, and orally as a laxative.

Today, in addition to traditional uses, people take aloe orally to treat a variety of conditions, including diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, and osteoarthritis. People use aloe topically for osteoarthritis, burns, and sunburns.

Aloe vera gel can be found in hundreds of skin products, including lotions and sunblocks.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved aloe vera as a natural food flavoring.

How It Is Used

Aloe leaves contain a clear gel that is often used as a topical ointment.

The green part of the leaf that surrounds the gel can be used to produce a juice or a dried substance (called latex) that is taken by mouth.

Scientific Research on Aloe Vera

Aloe latex contains strong laxative compounds. Products made with various components of aloe (aloin, aloe-emodin, and barbaloin) were at one time regulated by the FDA as oral over-the-counter (OTC) laxatives. In 2002, the FDA required that all OTC aloe laxative products be removed from the U.S. market or reformulated because the companies that manufactured them did not provide the necessary safety data.

Early studies show that topical aloe gel may help heal burns and abrasions. One study, however, showed that aloe gel inhibits healing of deep surgical wounds. Aloe gel does not prevent burns from radiation therapy.

There is not enough scientific evidence to support aloe vera for any of its other uses.

Side Effects and Cautions

Use of topical aloe vera is not associated with significant side effects.

Abdominal cramps and diarrhea have been reported with oral use of aloe vera.

Diarrhea, caused by the laxative effect of oral aloe vera, can decrease the absorption of many drugs.

People with diabetes who use glucose-lowering medication should be cautious if also taking aloe by mouth because preliminary studies suggest aloe may lower blood glucose levels.

Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.

Source:
National Institutes of Health

New Report Encourages Research on Native African Vegetables

A panel of scientists says African hunger, malnutrition, and rural poverty could be lessened if researchers could improve native vegetables well suited to difficult growing conditions. Africa is home to hundreds of crops tilled in villages, but neglected by scientists.

The U.S. National Research Council, an advisory body to the government, says powerful tools for tackling many of sub-Saharan Africa's basic problems could spring from the ground.

A panel of experts appointed by the council says the region is home to hundreds of indigenous vegetables that have fed Africans for tens of thousands of years. Most of these plants are resilient enough to thrive in poor soil and well suited to the small plots and limited resources of village families. But panel member Calestous Juma of Harvard University says most of these species receive little or no attention from researchers.

"A part of the focus on African agriculture has been on traditional staples like rice, wheat, and others that generally originate from outside the continent,” he said. “Not enough technical attention had been given to crops that originate from the continent itself. That's why we thought the best way to broaden Africa's food base is to focus on identifying crops that originate in Africa."

The National Research Council report entitled "The Lost Crops of Africa" says greater effort to explore the potential of such half-forgotten edibles could lead to enhanced agricultural productivity, more-stable food supplies, and higher incomes in rural areas across the continent.

Juma, a native of Kenya, says the better-known imported crops like rice or corn do not grow well in many areas of Africa, making plants acclimated to the region important.

"And secondly, you have people in many areas of Africa who can't afford to import rice or wheat,” he added. “Therefore, enhancing the productivity of traditional crops will give them the sufficiency in food production that they need."

The report examines the promise of 18 African vegetables, saying they can help feed the continent's growing, often malnourished population and spur development. They were selected from hundreds of ancestral plants to be the most promising. These native vegetables - including amaranth, cowpea, and egusi - are still cherished in many parts of Africa.

But the National Research Council study says that because these local plants are ignored by scientists and policy makers, information about them is often outdated and difficult to find. Despite this neglect, the report emphasizes that the vegetables have merit.

Amaranth, for example, is rich in protein and other nutrients, and grows so fast that the first harvest can sometimes be gathered only three weeks after planting. The bambara bean can grow in very hot, dry climates and produces seeds so nutritionally balanced that the report says some consumers claim they could live on them alone.

This is the second National Research Council report on native African crops. The first in 1996 examined grains. Calestous Juma says it brought significant attention to native African sorghum and millets, which science has improved and which are now exported.

"That report had a significant impact on raising the profile of African crops and demonstrating that the continent had a biological resource base that could be used to expand not just Africans' food base, but also contribute to the global food basket," he noted.

Juma says this is important not only to rural African nutrition and income, but also to the world's ability to endure potential global warming.

"One of the reasons why I think this is significant is because of the recognition of significant ecological change, some of it arising from climate change, that is going to demand that we diversify our food base to be able to provide global security,” he said. “This is where I think Africa could make some contributions."

A third report on native African crops will focus on fruits in a few months.

Source:
VOA News Service
Author: David McAlary
First published: November 1, 2006