ASSOCIATION NEWS
Annual conference goes virtual
We hope you will join the Family Farm Alliance (virtually, that is) during the week of Feb. 15 to learn how Western agricultural water users are working with their communi- ties, federal and state govern- ments, investors, and nongov- ernmental organizations to shore up their water reliability. The 2021 Family Farm Alliance annual conference originally scheduled in Reno, Nevada, will now be a virtual event.
“This decision by the Alliance board of directors was made after careful consideration of all options,” said Alliance Presi- dent Patrick O’Toole. “With the global COVID pandemic, and the associated uncertainty that surrounds us during this diffi- cult time, the board decided it was not in the best interest of our attendees to move forward with an on-location event.”
More information — including final dates, registration and sponsorship opportunities, and a program agenda — can be downloaded on the Family Farm Alliance website: www.
familyfarmalliance.org.
New study on contaminated wells
The National Ground Water Association released a study on the financial and health benefits of testing and disin- fecting private waters wells. The white paper, Well Owner Disinfection Decisions Affected by Pathogenic Contamination, reports that the cost of protec- tive well testing and disinfec- tion in wells is substantially less than medical treatment and lost wages stemming from illness due to pathogenic contamination.
Microbial contamination of wells can result from human and animal fecal contamination carried to a well from sources including floodwater, waste lagoon seepage, septage and sewerage leaks, and pasturage runoff.
Health effects can result from pathogens causing water- borne illness and cost approx- imately $11,910 to $12,690 for treatment, hospitalization and lost wages. Well safety can range from $570 to $1,395 for well testing and disinfection.
Go to
www.NGWA.org to view the white paper.
Videos take Congress to soy fields
While farmers could not visit the Hill due to COVID-19, the American Soybean Associa- tion continued to find ways to advocate for U.S. soy growers. Throughout October, the ASA #SeeSoyHarvest video cam- paign took Congress through growers’ fields virtually in soybean-producing states across the country. The six harvest videos highlight the importance of U.S. soy for trade, infrastructure, biodiesel and biotechnology while illus- trating the opportunities and challenges for agriculture.
The videos were launched biweekly beginning Oct. 6 and were sent to key Hill staff work- ing on agriculture and soy- related issues. By communicat- ing priority issues with legis- lators, soy growers were able to remind their state and local officials that they remain a resource as critical agricultural policy decisions are made and offer a passenger seat inside their combines to see what soy harvest is like on the farm. The videos are on the ASA YouTube channel, accessible through
www.soygrowers.com.
USDA responds to potato industry
While COVID-related food industry shutdowns created significant challenges in 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture responded to potato industry requests by providing both the largest surplus commodity purchase program and the largest direct payment disaster relief program in our industry’s history.
Unfortunately, COVID is continuing to impact our 2021 planning. After serious deliberation, the Potato LEAF Board of Directors decided to not conduct a Potato Industry Leadership Institute class for 2021. Additionally, the Na-
32 Irrigation TODAY | Winter 2021
Webinars discuss trust protocol
U.S. cotton producers are encouraged to participate in National Cotton Council- coordinated webinars to help them learn more about the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol and to enroll in this voluntary pro- gram that aims to give brands/ retailers the critical assurances needed to source U.S. cotton. A list of webinars is at
https://trustuscotton.org/ enrollment-webinar-live -sessions/.
The virtual 2021 Beltwide Cotton Conferences, Jan. 5-7, offered livestreamed presenta- tions from the Cotton Consul- tants Conference and technical sessions that can be tailored to improve individual farming operations. Registration (at
www.cotton.org/beltwide) will remain open after the conference for on-demand access of all recorded content.
The NCC’s 2021 Annual Meet- ing also will be held virtually with committee meetings the weeks of Jan. 25 and Feb. 1, and NCC Board/General Session meetings are slated for Feb. 11-12. Direct questions to
info@cotton.org.
tional Potato Council announced that the 2021 Potato D.C. Fly-In will be a virtual event. The event will now occur the week of Feb. 22-26 as originally scheduled and will also include the NPC Annual Meeting, all in a virtual format.
The decision to make these changes, as well as holding a virtual Potato Expo 2021, was painful economically for NPC and organizationally for the industry. Regardless, this industry is resilient and will come out on the other side of this crisis even stronger than before. For more information, go to
www.nationalpotatocouncil.org.
irrigationtoday.org
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