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August 3, 2001
Karnal Bunt: What's next?
By Tom Nicolette
TFB Radio & Television Services Director
With planting decision time soon upon them, farmers in at least six Texas counties must determine what action to take regarding their next wheat crop. The Karnal bunt fungal disease is standing in their way from exporting the commodity to 80 countries worldwide which do not accept Karnal bunt-infected wheat.
"My best advice is if you are in a hot field, one that had been tested positive for the 2001 crop, would be to make plans to plant a different crop. The only way we're really going to get a handle on this thing (Karnal bunt) over the long run is to reduce infection. One sure way to reduce infection is not planting wheat," said Dr. Travis Miller, Texas Cooperative Extension agronomist.
Miller was just one of a slate of speakers addressing the impact of Karnal bunt at a meeting in Olney July 12. Producers from several Rolling Plains counties turned out for the Olney regional meeting on production options for the 2001-2002 growing season. The Young County Extension Livestock and Crops Committee sponsored the program. Similar meetings were held in Melvin and San Saba.
Currently, farmers in Archer, Baylor, Throckmorton and Young counties in the Rolling Plains and McCulloch and San Saba counties in West Central Texas are under quarantine from moving Karnal bunt-infested wheat out of their respective counties. Other counties could still be impacted.
The value of the wheat crop in the four-county Rolling Plains area is valued at about $15 million.
"That doesn't include the value of stocker cattle being run on those pastures. That doesn't include the impact on grain elevators or the industry as a whole. When you start looking at a statewide impact, you're probably talking about $45 to $50 million," TAES Economist Stan Bevers said.
What to do with Karnal bunt-infected wheat is definitely on the minds of farmers.
"Well, I think the compensation is why everybody is here today. When it's going to happen, if it's going to happen and how much," said Baylor County Farm Bureau President Larry Burnett.
According to American Farm Bureau sources, USDA's Farm Service Agency has determined that Karnal bunt wheat will be eligible for loan deficiency payments. Information is being sent to local FSA offices.
Texas Farm Bureau's Board of Directors has approved recommendations which encourage USDA to quicken seed testing and handling of quarantined wheat, and to speed up the process for needed compensation for producers and elevators.
USDA's Animal Plant Health Inspection Service continues to test wheat samples from potentially infected fields. APHIS reports a majority of fields are not contaminated.
"We recognize this is an issue on the minds of everyone here and in Washington, D.C. This is a top priority. We're meeting with congressmen, industry and other representatives on a daily basis to figure out how to best meet the needs of this area, and how to respond," said Hallie Pickhardt with USDA's APHIS public affairs office.
U.S Rep. Charles Stenholm, as a member of the House Agriculture Committee, has been working extremely hard on a compensation package, according to his Abilene District Representative Jason Skaggs.
"Congressman Stenholm is deeply concerned about the Karnal bunt situation in Texas, as is the rest of the House Ag Committee," Skaggs said. "They are not only concerned from a producer and elevator, grain handling standpoint, but also they're concerned about the overall economic impact on the communities," he said.
The Texas Department of Agriculture is also offering support. TDA has set up a voluntary program for wheat producers and storage facility managers to have their wheat seed tested for Karnal bunt.
