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HOP PRODUCTION JUMPS 11 PERCENT THIS YEAR Page 4 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015 Drought takes a holiday Snow, rain welcome present for parched Western states VOLUME 88, NUMBER 52 WWW.CAPITALPRESS.COM $2.00 SWEET DEBATE Staff report With heavy rains fall- ing on much of the West Coast and snow piling up in the mountains, the Western drought seems to be taking a much-needed Christmas va- cation. In Washington, soaking from an abnormally wet De- cember, offi cials say they will let the state’s drought declara- tion expire next week. “If things change as we move through the winter, we can consider another drought declaration,” state Depart- ment of Ecology spokesman Dan Partridge said Dec. 22. “We’ll keep an eye on El Nino forecasts but hope for contin- ued improvement.” The state’s Executive Wa- ter Emergency Committee met and decided there is no reason to foresee summer wa- ter supplies will drop below 75 percent of normal any- where in the state. Snowpacks so far this sea- son are above normal through- out the state, including in the Cascades and Olympic Moun- tains. Meanwhile, rain is fi ll- ing the fi ve Yakima River Ba- sin reservoirs, also important for irrigation in the state’s most valuable farm region. The reservoirs held 127 per- cent of their average amount of water for Dec. 22. U.S. Drought Monitor re- ported Dec. 17. A week ear- lier, one-third of Washington was in extreme drought. In California, the big storms that have peppered the state in December have slowly fed depleted reservoirs while pushing snow levels in the northern and central Sierra Nevada above normal for this time of year. As of Dec. 22, the aver- age snow-water equivalent of 10.5 inches in the central Sier- ra was 121 percent of normal for the date, while the average snow-water equivalent of 9.8 inches in the north was 118 percent of normal, according to the state Department of Water Resources. That’s a big improvement over just a week earlier, when Central California had 83 percent of its normal snow- pack for the date and North- ern California had 81 percent, according to the DWR’s Cali- fornia Data Exchange Center. Turn to DROUGHT, Page 12 Sugar processors, confectioners react to consumers’ GMO demands By JOHN O’CONNELL Capital Press T “I think you have to characterize Hershey’s choice as an indicator of what consumer goods companies may be thinking. I think it would be wrong to characterize Hershey’s decision as well-reasoned.” he Hershey Co. makes no claims that its sweets are safer or more healthful now that it’s avoiding sugar made from genetically modi- fi ed beets. In fact, the Pennsylvania-based confectioner agrees with U.S. sugar beet growers that all fi nished sugar is the same, whether it’s processed from GMO sugar beets or conventional sugar cane. Perry Cerminara, director of commodities sourcing and procurement at Hershey, said the company started buying mostly non-GMO sugar — including 100 percent GMO-free cane sugar for its key U.S. brands — simply to give customers what they want, even if Hershey doesn’t necessarily share their concerns about biotechnology. “As a consumer-centric company, we listen to our consumers and work to respond to their interests and expectations,” Cerminara told Capital Press via email. “Non-GM ingredients is something our consumers are telling us is important to them.” Organic and GMO-free sugar still represent a tiny percentage of the overall U.S. sweetener market. But the sugar beet industry is starting to take notice of the contin- ued growth of both niche categories — and is growing increasingly concerned that more corporate buyers will reach the same conclusion as Hershey. The sugar industry estimates its annual impact on the American economy is more than $20 billion. Almost all of the sugar beets planted in the U.S. are genetically mod- ifi ed, containing a foreign gene to resist glyphosate her- bicide. For the time being, America’s sugar beet industry — which encompasses 1.2 million acres in 11 states and represents 56 percent of U.S. sugar production — has no plans to invest in separate infrastructure for processing GMO-free or organic sugar, or to ask any growers to re- turn to conventional beet production. “I think you have to characterize Hershey’s choice as an indicator of what consumer goods companies may be thinking,” said Duane Grant, Turn to SUGAR, Page 12 Duane Grant, Snake River Sugar Cooperative chairman John O’Connell/Capital Press U.S. sugar beet production (Millions of U.S. tons) 35.2 million 35.2 34.1 27.4 32.8 32 31.8 29.8 26.9 31.4 28.9 Up 12.3% from 2014; Up 28.4% from 2005 2005 ’07 ’09 Source: USDA NASS ’11 ’13 Duane Grant, chairman of Snake River Sugar Cooperative, stands by a snow-capped pile of sugar beets in Rupert, Idaho. Grant believes genetically modified sugar beets have saved his industry, and that they offer a far more environmentally friendly option than organic or conventional sugar. 2015 Alan Kenaga/Capital Press Farmers must disclose fi eld locations in GMO settlement Settlement covers alfalfa growers in Oregon County By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI Capital Press Farmers who don’t want to remove genetically engineered alfalfa crops in Oregon’s Jack- son County must submit their fi eld locations to attorneys rep- resenting biotech critics. They will also have to harvest the alfalfa before it reaches 10 percent bloom, to reduce the cross-pollination risks, and monitor nearby roadways for volunteers. Capital Press fi le Farmers who don’t want to remove genetically engineered alfalfa crops in Oregon’s Jackson County must submit their fi eld locations to attorneys representing biotech critics. These terms are part of a settlement deal resolving a lawsuit that challenged the county’s prohibition against genetically engineered crops, which voters passed last year. On Dec. 22, U.S. Magis- trate Judge Mark Clarke ap- proved the settlement, which allows biotech alfalfa growers to grow their crops for eight years despite the ban. In exchange, the alfalfa growers who fi led the law- suit, Schulz Family Farms and James and Marilyn Frink, agree not to appeal an earlier ruling that held the ordinance doesn’t violate Oregon’s “right to farm” law. That stat- ute disallows county govern- ments from restricting com- mon farming practices. Turn to GMO, Page 12 52-1/#5