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2 CapitalPress.com April 15, 2016 People & Places OSU researcher targets weeds Carol Mallory-Smith studies herbicides, but finds herself in middle of GMO arguments, too Western Innovator Capital Press Carol Mallory- Smith Occupation: Weed science professor at Oregon State University Education: Ph.D. in plant science from the University of Idaho in 1990, bachelor of science in plant protection from the University of Idaho in 1986 Mateusz Perkowski/Capital Press Carol Mallory-Smith, a weed science professor at Oregon State University, studies herbicides that can be used on specialty crops in the Northwest and in recent years has also been drawn into some of the controversies over genetic engineering. time, the genetic tolerance becomes more widespread and reduces the herbicide’s power. That process can occur faster than anticipated, as Mallory-Smith found out while studying for her doc- torate, when she identified one of the first weeds resis- tant to the sulfonylurea class of herbicides. The prickly lettuce was discovered in a field where the University of Idaho had conducted research for years. As it turned out, a high muta- tion rate allowed the weed to overcome the chemical’s en- zyme-inhibiting properties. “It was unexpected. The chemistry was really new,” she said. Herbicide resistance has become an even more prom- inent issue in agriculture due to its association with genetic engineering. Major commodity crops, including corn, soybeans and cotton, have often been genetically modified to with- stand herbicides such as gly- phosate. The technology makes killing weeds easier with- out hurting crops, but the increased reliance on herbi- cides has also caused more weeds to develop resistance. Mallory-Smith considers herself an “agnostic” when it comes to genetic engineer- ing, but thinks herbicide-re- sistant crops could have been managed more carefully. The agricultural industry embraced the technology, be- lieving it would “solve all our problems,” without relying enough on tactics that would slow the adaptation of weeds, she said. “Now we’re sort of back where we started.” The phenomenon of ge- netically engineered crops spurring herbicide resistance in weeds is primarily occur- ring in the Midwest, where commodity crops are grown. However, that fact has hardly insulated Mallo- ry-Smith from the controver- sies surrounding biotechnol- ogy. Her involvement in the 2013 discovery of biotech wheat growing unauthorized in an Eastern Oregon field was a notable episode that at- tracted global attention. When a farmer realized that some of his volunteer wheat wasn’t dying after be- ing sprayed with glyphosate, he brought samples to OSU for analysis. Mallory-Smith believed there was “no way” the her- bicide-resistant wheat was a genetically engineered by Monsanto, since research and development of that cultivar had been halted a decade ear- lier. “It made no sense that it would be,” she said. DNA testing of the wheat revealed that it was, in fact, the Monsanto variety, which had never been deregulated by USDA. Its source was never dis- covered, but the finding did temporarily disrupt Asian ex- port markets and resulted in a class action lawsuit by farm- ers that Monsanto eventually settled for $2.7 million. Mallory-Smith was also drawn into a long-running dispute over glyphosate-re- sistant sugar beets, which were the subject of several lawsuits by biotech critics before the USDA ultimately deregulated them in 2012. The plaintiffs bolstered their request for an injunction against the crop with a writ- ten declaration from Mallo- ry-Smith stating that viable roots of the transgenic variety had been found in compost mix. The incident was cited as an example of the difficulty containing the crop. Monsanto also relied on Mallory-Smith in its argu- ments against an injunction with a declaration in which she supported the company’s safeguards for growing the crop while USDA studied its environmental impacts. It’s painful to watch such conflicts erupt within agricul- ture, Mallory-Smith said. Her philosophy is to approach such disputes as forthrightly as possible. “Sometimes it’s going to be fine, sometimes people are going to be upset with you,” she said. Currently, Mallory-Smith is studying a subject that’s touchy among farmers and seed companies in Oregon’s Willamette Valley: canola production. When state lawmakers im- posed a moratorium on most canola production in the re- gion, they also directed OSU to conduct a three-year study on weed, disease and pest Age: 67 Hometown: Albany, Ore. Family: Husband, Robert, four grown children and 12 grandchildren risks posed by the crop. Specialty seed companies fear such problems will in- crease if it becomes preva- lent, but the possibility of ge- netically engineered canola cross-pollinating with related vegetable species has also cast a shadow over the crop. For now, Mallory-Smith remains tight-lipped about the results of her study, but the controversy is likely to flare up again when her re- port is released in late 2017. But not all of her work takes place in the spotlight. A key part of Mallo- ry-Smith’s job is evaluating herbicides for safety and ef- ficacy in specialty crops that are grown in the Northwest. Chemical companies con- duct such analysis for major commodity crops, but it’s not economically justifiable for them to examine crops grown on small acreage. Mallory-Smith and other scientists conduct supple- mentary studies so minor crops can be included on the federal label for the herbi- cides. Though she’s surprised by some of the controversies that have erupted during her career, Mallory-Smith said weed science has generally lived up to her expectations. “It’s been the perfect job. Most days,” she said. Ag Fest petting zoo expands to fill livestock pavilion By JAN JACKSON Oregon Ag Fest For the Capital Press TURNER, Ore. — An esti- mated 20,000 people will visit Nosey’s Neighborhood Petting Zoo during this year’s Oregon Ag Fest. At the petting zoo, visitors will see and learn more about the species and breeds of farm animals than ever before. The petting zoo, popular with children and adults, has expanded this year thanks to Cascade High School FFA se- niors Austin and Collin Brill, Cascade FFA adviser Becky Bates and Ag Fest board mem- ber and petting zoo chairman Craig Anderson. The annual event takes place April 23-24 at the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem. “I’ve been teaching at Cas- cade High School for 10 years and our FFA has taken the lead on the petting zoo every year since I’ve been here,” Bates said. “Austin and Collin Brill led their fellow FFA chapter Calendar When: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 23, and 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday, April 24 Where: Oregon State Fair- grounds Online: www.oragfest.com Admission: Children 12 and under are free; $9 for ages 13 and up Parking: Free Jan Jackson/For the Capital Press Going over every detail of Ag Fest’s biggest petting zoo to date are, from left, Austin Brill, Cascade High School FFA Adviser Becky Bates, Collin Brill and Ag Fest Petting Zoo Chair Craig Anderson. members and a host of other members from neighboring schools in putting it together and we’ve exceeded our expec- tations. It is definitely going to be the best petting zoo yet.” The twin brothers have worked their way up to being principals in the planning pro- cess.They also breed and raise market and show pigs, which they will bring to the event. Sponsored by: To submit an event go to the Community Events calendar on the home page of our website at www. capitalpress.com and click on “Sub- mit an Event.” Calendar items can also be mailed to Capital Press, 1400 Broadway St. NE, Salem, OR 97301. Saturday, April 16 Oregon Women for Agriculture Auction & Dinner, 5-9 p.m. The or- ganization’s 29th annual fundraiser, themed “Oregon Agriculture A to Z,” Established 1928 Board of directors Mike Forrester ..........................President Steve Forrester Kathryn Brown Sid Freeman .................. Outside director Mike Omeg .................... Outside director Corporate officer John Perry Chief operating officer By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI CORVALLIS, Ore. — In the world of weed control, Carol Mallory-Smith be- lieves what’s old is becoming new again. During her lifetime, the Oregon State University weed science professor has seen agriculture’s approach to battling weeds come full circle. Farmers such as Mallo- ry-Smith’s father didn’t have access to the multitude of herbicides available today, which meant they had to till weeds or suppress them with cover crops. The popularity of those methods receded with the rise of chemical solutions, but with increased weed re- sistance to herbicides, Mallo- ry-Smith expects farmers will again be employing them. Herbicides will remain an important part of modern farming, but growers will likely use them more strate- gically in conjunction with non-chemical controls to en- sure they stay effective, she said. “It will be looking at the old techniques with a brand new eye,” Mallory-Smith said. The advent of herbicides has been revolutionary, al- lowing growers to kill weeds more quickly and thus cul- tivate a greater number of acres, making crop produc- tion more efficient, she said. Yields and crop quality improved, particularly with the availability of selective herbicides that were able to target broadleaf or grass weeds while minimizing the harm to desirable plants. “It changed agricul- ture dramatically,” Mallo- ry-Smith said. Unfortunately, weeds have demonstrated the ability to fight back. When weed populations are repeatedly sprayed with a chemical, some hardy in- dividuals will withstand the substance and then pass that trait to their progeny. Over Capital Press will take place at the Linn County Fair & Expo Center, 3700 Knox Butte Road E in Albany, Ore. Cost: $40 per person. http://owaonline. org/owa-auction-2016/ Goat healthcare and nutrition and packgoat seminar, 9:30 a.m.- 3 p.m. Edelweiss Acres, Olympia, Wash. $25 per person; $7.50 for 4-H members. Go to the website, http://edelweissacresobers.com/, or call 360-742-8310. “We focused on expanding the variety of animals this year and we are pleased with our suc- cess,” Collin said. Growers will bring bottle lambs, kid goats, rabbits, cow- calf pairs, “and we have meat, milk and fiber animals to show and explain their differences,” he said. Visitors will also see Here- ford, milking short horns, Sim- mental, Jersey, brown Swiss and Holstein cattle as well Duroc, Yorkshire and Hampshire/York- shire-cross pigs. The sheep breeds will in- clude Montadale, Hampshire, Suffolk, Southdown and black- face crosses rather than the less common ones raised just for fiber. “In addition to all the people it takes to set up and take down pens, lay down and refresh straw and keep it all policed through- out the two days, we will have FFA students in official dress at every pen ready to help with the petting process, tell people what they are seeing and answer questions,” he said. The advanced agriculture students have written all the information that goes on the pen signs, and other classes have made displays that will be placed around the pavilion, he said. In addition to the petting zoo, about 25 hands-on activities will be available, plus pony rides, toy tractor races, farm equipment displays, a craft and garden dis- play and family entertainment. A ranch breakfast will be served 8:30–10:30 a.m. Satur- day only, The cost is $6 each; children under 3 years old are free. Proceeds benefit 4-H youth programs. Asked if they had any ad- vice for attending Ag Fest, Aus- tin Brill said, “Wear comfort- able shoes, wash your hands at the washing stations before and after you pet the animals and come early because once you get here you will want to stay all day.” GASES / WELDING / SAFETY / FIRE 20 Northwest Locations Holistic Land Planning, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Create the ideal land plan for your ranch. What is the ideal lay- out of your fences? Where should infrastructure be located to facilitate animal handling and movement? Kittitas Valley Event Center, 901 E. Seventh Ave., Ellensburg, Wash. Cost: $227 until April 2. www.root- sofresilience.org International Fair of Agricultural Technologies Conference and Ex- hibition, FEXPO Agricola Central, Talca, Chile Hood River Hard-Pressed Cider Fest, noon-7 p.m., 3315 Stadelman Drive, Hood River, Ore. http://ho- odriver.org/cider-fest/ Sunday, April 17 Holistic Land Planning, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. This is the continuation of a workshop that began Saturday. Create the ideal land plan for your ranch. Kittitas Valley Event Center, 901 E. Seventh Ave., Ellensburg, Wash. Cost: $227 until April 2. www. rootsofresilience.org Tuesday, April 19 Idaho Range Livestock Sympo- sium. 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. American Le- gion Hall, Marsing, 208-896-4104. A one-day traveling program and networking event packed with infor- mation on industry relevant topics, for producers and rangeland managers. 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