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October 14, 2016 CapitalPress.com 3 Scotts helps growers identify escaped GE creeping bentgrass By SEAN ELLIS Capital Press Sam Sweeney, a farmer near Dayton, Ore., doesn’t oppose solar technology but worries about losing prime farmland in Or- egon’s Willamette Valley to solar projects. Others in the state’s agricultural industry share his concerns. Solar panels on high-value farmland raise concerns Oregon Board of Ag calls for rule review By MATEUSZ PERKOWSKI Capital Press Solar power technology draws no objections from farmer Sam Sweeney. In fact, he’s got 600 square feet of solar panels on his property near Dayton, Ore. “It’s time to explore other options for energy,” Swee- ney said. However, the potential for solar development on prime farmland in Oregon’s Willamette Valley does make Sweeney anxious. Three solar companies have sent letters offering to lease his property at rates several times higher than other growers would typi- cally pay. While Sweeney has ig- nored the offers, he realizes other growers will be tempt- ed by such deals. “When I saw that, I thought, ‘Gosh, these are probably going out all over the valley,’” he said. “A lot of people are going to think this is really an opportunity. Before we know it, we could have a lot of these scattered about on really high quality soil.” Those concerns are shared by the Oregon Board of Agriculture and the Ore- gon Department of Agricul- ture, which plan to formally ask the state’s Land Con- servation and Development Commission to re-examine regulations for solar devel- opment on high-value farm- land. Currently, the rules allow solar facilities to be con- structed on up to 12 acres of high-value farmland as long as the local county govern- ment issues a conditional use permit. Larger projects must un- dergo an analysis of alterna- tive sites, but there’s a con- cern that developers might circumvent that requirement with several smaller proj- ects. “Cumulatively, they may have the same impact as a large one,” said Jim Johnson, ODA’s land use specialist. “They’re doing large-scale operations by breaking them up and having components.” Originally, the 12-acre threshold was established so farmers could supplement their income, but now that solar companies are looking to develop several proper- ties, it’s time to re-evaluate the rule, he said. One possibility would be to reduce the threshold to 5 acres, and subject larger projects to an alternative site analysis, Johnson said. Solar development is more intensive than simply installing some panels — developers generally move soil, add gravel and build fences, said Larry Ojua, ex- ecutive director of the Yam- hill Soil and Water Conser- vation District, which has raised concerns over two recent solar projects in Yam- hill County, southwest of Portland. Once a lease for a solar project expires, the changes raise doubts about returning the farmland to its previous condition, he said. “What if the company goes out of business?” Unlike wind energy, which is largely compatible with agriculture, solar de- velopment entails a greater risk of permanent land con- version, said Barbara Boyer, chair of the Oregon Soil and Water Conservation Com- mission and vice chair of the Oregon Board of Agricul- ture. “You can’t farm under- neath them, like you can with the wind turbines,” she said. Solar companies develop projects in Western Oregon even though the region’s “solar resource” is about 30- 40 percent less than in Cen- tral or Eastern Oregon, said Rob Del Mar, policy analyst for the Oregon Department of Energy. “The solar resource is not stellar, not ideal, but it’s ade- quate,” he said. Nonetheless, building so- lar facilities on the westside is eficient because that’s where most of the popula- tion — and energy consump- tion — are, Del Mar said. Grass Expertise. Sean Ellis/Capital Press Bob Harriman, vice president of biotechnology for Scotts Miracle-Gro Co., holds a genetically engineered creeping bentgrass plant Oct. 10 during an outreach meeting in Ontario, Ore. Harriman showed farmers and others how to identify the plant. managers in the area worry that because the bentgrass is resistant to glyphosate and is hard to kill, it could clog irrigation ditches and affect shipments of crops to other nations that don’t accept trac- es of genetically modiied or- ganisms. They have also voiced concerns that a recent 10-year agreement Scotts reached with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Ser- vice will allow the company in a few years to essentially walk away from any responsi- bility for controlling the plant. Since the plant escaped ield trials, Scotts has been responsible for surveying for it and eradicating it when pos- sible. Harriman said Scotts won’t walk away from its commit- ment to helping growers in the area eradicate and control the plant. “We have a history of do- ing the right thing and we are going to continue to do the right thing,” he told the Cap- ital Press. Bill Buhrig, an Oregon State University Extension cropping systems agent in Malheur County, said some of the criticism aimed at Scotts over its response to the es- caped grass could have been prevented with better out- reach and education efforts in the past. “Yesterday’s meeting was a great start toward helping concerned folks learn about the plant and how to identify it,” he said. Sean Ellis/Capital Press A genetically engineered creeping bentgrass plant grows in an onion ield just south of Ontario, Ore., on June 14. The grass, which was genetically modiied by Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. to resist the Roundup weed killer, escaped from ield trials in 2003 and has taken root in Malheur and Jefferson counties in Oregon and part of Canyon County in Idaho. A GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT ~ ONLY $25 A True Ranching Story by Don Nonella A remarkable biography of his adventure filled life. 42-7/#17 ONTARIO, Ore. — Scotts Miracle-Gro experts showed farmers and others how to identify a genetically engi- neered creeping bentgrass Oct. 10 during an outreach meeting. The bentgrass, which was being developed by Scotts and Monsanto Corp. for use mainly on golf courses, es- caped ield trials in 2003 and has taken root in Malheur and Jefferson counties in Oregon. Some of the plants have also been found in Canyon County in Idaho. Bob Harriman, vice pres- ident of biotechnology for Scotts, said the company has a good idea where the plant is in Malheur County. However, he added, farm- ers and others can be the com- pany’s “extra eyes out there so we know where it is and we can hop on it” when it’s found. The grass has ine, shal- low roots and will most likely be found at the water’s edge, especially around irrigation ditches, he said. “It’s so dry here that if it’s not by a water source ... it’s not going to grow,” he said. The grass has short leaves and can be identiied by its long stolons, which grow or creep horizontally along the ground. “Visually, the stolons are your easiest identiier,” Harri- man said. The plant was genetically engineered to resist applica- tions of the glyphosate herbi- cide. There are conventional creeping bentgrass varieties in the area and if growers want further conirmation that the plant is genetically engi- neered, they can spray it with glyphosate. Scotts can also send people strip tests that will show con- clusively whether the plant is a genetically engineered vari- ety. To contact Scotts, call (877) 375-5139 or send an email to questions@scotts. com. People can also visit the company’s website at http:// scottsmiraclegro.com/gtcban- swers/ “If you suspect a plant, let us know and we’ll inves- tigate,” Harriman said. “If we ind it, we’ll ... take care of it.” Some farmers and water Mateusz Perkowski/Capital Press Hurry! Only a Limited Number Available! Pay by phone • (208) 412-2045 Over 40 Years Experience LET’S TALK! DON’T PLANT ANY OTHER RANGE GRASS WITH RUSSIAN WILDRYE. Caldwell, Idaho • Alan Greenway, Seedsman Cell: 208-250-0159 • MSG: 208-454-8342 Alan Greenway, Seedsman 42-1/#7 GREENWAY SEEDS 42-7/#17 ASK ME WHY. ROP-41-2-1/#8
