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FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2017
VOLUME 90, NUMBER 32
WWW.CAPITALPRESS.COM
$2.00
High-stakes
showdown
With millions of dollars at risk, farmer John Duarte mounts
a legal defense and political off ensive in wetlands battle
By TIM HEARDEN
Area in
detail
Capital Press
R
299
Calif.
273
Sa
r
i ve
mento R
5
Approximate
site of Duarte
property
ENTO
36
36
VA L
Photos courtesy of Pacifi c Legal Foundation
Nursery owner John Duarte, center, and Pacifi c Legal Foundation attorney Tony Fran-
cois, right, are interviewed outside the federal courthouse in Sacramento in June.
TOP PHOTO: John and Jeff Duarte walk in a fi eld south of Red Bluff, Calif., that they
were ordered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to stop farming in 2013.
Red Bluff
LEY
Turn to DUARTE, Page 10
Redding
SACRAM
ED BLUFF, Calif. — John Duarte is on the
eve of the trial he hoped would never take
place.
He is the California farmer who gained
national attention after the federal government sued
him for plowing his fi eld and will defend himself in
court beginning Aug. 15.
In 2013, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers noti-
fi ed Duarte that he had illegally “fi lled” wetlands in his
Tehama County fi eld by plowing it and ordered him
to stop work. He argues the Corps violated his consti-
tutional right to due process because the agency never
gave him an opportunity to defend himself against the
accusations before levying the fi ne.
If he loses, Duarte faces $2.8 million in government
fi nes and the possibility of being forced to buy tens of
millions of dollars in required mitigation credits.
A7
99
N
5 miles
5
Alan Kenaga/Capital Press
If John Duarte loses, he faces $2.8 million in government fi nes and the possibility
of being forced to buy tens of millions of dollars in required mitigation credits
Perdue defends science nominee over background, statements
By TIM HEARDEN
“I find it amazing how the media goes back years and
finds every type of allegation. It’s what the opposition
does. They did it with me.”
Capital Press
U.S. Agriculture Secre-
tary Sonny Perdue vigorously
defended an under secretary
candidate who critics say
lacks the credentials for the
job.
Former Iowa college pro-
fessor Sam Clovis, who was
picked as under secretary for
Research, Education and Eco-
nomics, is “a very smart indi-
vidual who’s very committed
to the success of agriculture,”
Perdue said Aug. 7 in a con-
ference call.
Critics have said Clovis,
— U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue
a former campaign co-chair-
man for President Donald
Trump, lacks the credentials
to serve as the USDA’s top
scientist.
The position provides
oversight for agencies includ-
ing the Agricultural Research
Service, the National Institute
of Food and Agriculture, the
Economic Research Service
and the National Agricultural
Statistics Service.
Sen. Debbie Stabenow of
Michigan, the top Democrat
on the Senate Agriculture
Committee, last month ques-
tioned Clovis’ qualifi cations
for the post as required by the
Farm Bill. The statute calls
for a scientist with a specialty
or experience in agricultural
research, education and eco-
nomics.
“I also have many ques-
tions about his troubling
views on climate change and
providing public investment
in crop insurance and edu-
cation,” Stabenow said in a
statement.
The senator’s offi ce did
not immediately respond to
inquiries about how or wheth-
er the qualifi cations can be
enforced.
Perdue said that as an ac-
ademician, Clovis is familiar
with the realm of research
as well as with economics,
which “is certainly part of ag-
ricultural success as well,” he
said.
“I don’t buy the notion that
you have to be (a researcher)
to manage that service,” the
secretary said. “He’s not go-
ing to be doing basic or ap-
plied research. He manages
grant proposals.”
Clovis earned a doctor-
ate in public administration
from the University of Ala-
bama and served 25 years in
the Air Force, retiring as the
inspector general of the North
American Aerospace Defense
Command and the U.S. Space
Command.
He was an economics pro-
fessor at Morningside College
in Sioux City, Iowa, before
joining the presidential cam-
paigns of former Texas Gov.
Rick Perry and later Trump.
He served as the New York
developer’s chief policy ad-
viser and national co-chair-
man.
Turn to PERDUE, Page 10
Sugar companies to launch $4 million GMO education campaign
By SEAN ELLIS
Capital Press
SUN VALLEY, Idaho — Genet-
ically modifi ed crops such as sugar
beets and corn have been a godsend to
the farmers who grow them, an Idaho
farmer and biotechnology expert re-
cently told members of the Western
Association of State Departments of
Agriculture.
But, he added, the majority of con-
sumers don’t understand the science
behind genetically engineered crops
1426 Front St.
Fort Benton, MT 59442
406-622-3803
www.fbrealty.com
“We are losing the online debate. We can’t just sit back
and let this evolve independently. We have to engage.”
and farmers who use the technolo-
gy are losing the online debate about
“GMOs,” as the crops are commonly
called.
To try to change consumers’ un-
derstanding and perception of GMO
crops, the nation’s sugar beet industry
is preparing a $4 million online cam-
gamated Sugar Co. and Western Sugar
Co. and will target three large urban
areas.
If successful — it will be evalu-
Duane Grant, Idaho sugar beet farmer ated after nine months — it will be
expanded into a $30 million national
campaign, said Grant, chairman of
paign that will launch this fall.
“We are losing the online debate,” the Snake River Sugar Cooperative’s
Idaho sugar beet farmer Duane Grant board of directors.
Roundup Ready sugar beets, which
told WASDA members. “We can’t
just sit back and let this evolve inde- are genetically engineered to with-
stand applications of the glyphosate
pendently. We have to engage.”
The campaign, “A Fresh Look,”
is primarily being fi nanced by Amal-
Turn to GMO, Page 10
MONTANA FARM 9,200 ACRES: located in
central MT, N of Lewistown. Includes 7,150
acres of dry cropland, two homes & two sets
of farm buildings with feedlot set-up. Local
cropping practices include Winter & Spring
Wheat, Barley and Pulse Crops. Irrigation
rights & development are possible. There’s
Elk, Deer, Antelope & bird Hunting & fishing
in this area. Farm is priced at $1,825 per
acre. Call Mark Pyrak, Broker 406-788-9280
or go to www.fbrealty.com
MONTANA FARM 7,200 ACRES:
located in northcentral MT, SW of
Havre. Includes 7,100 acres of dry
cropland, two homes & two sets
of farm buildings. Local cropping
practices include Winter & Spring
Wheat, Barley and Pulse Crops.
There’s Deer, Antelope & bird
Hunting & fishing in this area.
Farm is priced at $1,450 per acre.
Call Mark Pyrak, Broker 406-788-
9280 or go to www.fbrealty.com
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