AG NEWS
USDA Issues $752 Million In Drought Relief,
Added Assistance Debated In Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Livestock producers in parts of 37 states received welcomed news in late September, when U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman announced a $752-million drought-relief package. As part of the package,ranchers in counties designated as primary disaster areas due to drought could began applying for aid payments in October. Cash assistance is available statewide in Arizona, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Carolina and Utah, as well as in drought-affected counties in 30 other states.

Applications can be made at Farm Service Agency county offices and U. S. Department of Agriculture service centers. Payments are based on standard feed consumption data and on the number of animals held by the rancher on June 1, 2002. Ranchers must have owned the animal for at least 90 days before or after June 1.

Veneman said aid was directed to livestock producers because they are not protected by risk management tools, such as crop insurance, available to crop producers. "At this point we are not looking at assistance in other areas because again, this was the area that has been one of the most affected by drought and one of those that does not have the access to crop insurance tools," Veneman said. "Even many of the specialty crops have access to crop insurance tools as risk management tools."

Rep. John Thune, R-S.D., who helped engineer the package, added, "There is no higher or greater need in my judgment than to help those, particularly livestock producers, who have been hit hard this year by drought."

FURTHER AID? While Veneman announced the relief package for livestock producers, talk centered around a broader $6-billion aid package proposed in the Senate as part of an Interior Appropriations bill. On Sept. 10, 79 senators voted to approve the amendment, which would provide emergency assistance to drought plagued farmers.

Although the Senate passed the amendment, the bill to which it is attached is still being debated. Further, a matching bill has not been proposed in the House and many have speculated that even if Congress enacted the legislation, President George Bush would veto it.

"It is now imperative that the leadership in the House move to address and support this legislation as quickly as possible," said Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D. "It is crucial that the White House abandon its unconscionable opposition to addressing the plight of rural America."

All the debate makes it clear that any significant additional aid may be a long way off. "We've talked a lot about what if Congress acts or doesn't act," Veneman said. "But the fact of the matter is that even if Congress were to act tomorrow, it would be very difficult to get assistance out to farmers quickly."

Some legislators supporting a relief package remain optimistic, however. "I think there will be a bill on drought assistance. It may not be $6 billion. It may be something less," said Sen. Craig Thomas, R-Wyo.

Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., said, "Those of us who come from drought stricken states with farmers who are struggling every day, who question whether or not they can make it to the next year, I think there are those of us in Congress who believe that additional steps related to the crop side of agriculture can be taken."

WEATHER RELIEF

While Congress ponders a potential relief package, Mother Nature provided some drought relief of her own with rain falling in many parts of the country in mid- and late-September.

Though meteorologists cautioned that no single rain will make much difference in the areas hardest hit by drought, rains produced by Hurricane Isidore did significantly improve conditions in eastern Kansas, Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, the Carolinas and Florida.

A week of cool and wet weather in the West and Plains also helped relieve conditions slightly, although extreme drought conditions persist in much of western half of the nation.

According to the U.S. Climate Prediction Center's Seasonal Drought Outlook, fall's cooler and wetter weather will continue to improve drought conditions in many parts of the country, but not in all areas.

The Northwest and Northeast, in particular, are likely to receive below normal precipitation. In fact, in the northern Rockies and GreatBasin, there's a good chance the drought conditions affecting the area will expand.

WATER & WEATHER NEWS
Colorado Researchers Create Drought Lab

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Scientists from Colorado State University and the University of Colorado will partner to form DroughtLab to analyze and study drought and provide insight on how to manag6 drought events.

"Severe Colorado droughts, such as the one we are currently experiencing, have occurred in the past and willhappen again in the future," said atmospheric science professor Roger Pielke Sr., codirector of DroughtLab. "With increased population along the Front Range, our vulnerability to severe drought has greatly increased."

The collaboration will bring together more than 100 researchers, who will focus on drought analysis, impacts and response strategies.

TURF NEWS
Golf Spending Steady

JUPITER, Fla. - Though golf course construction and renovation projects- - the kind of projects that translate into dollars for irrigation designers and installers -- havedeclined since 2000, consumer spending on the game has held firm.

In September the National Golf Foundation (NG F) released The Spending Report: Sizing the Golf Consumer Marketplace, which documents a 2.9 percent increase in spending on golf the last two years. According to NGF,consumers spent more than $23 billion on golf the last two years and another $26 billion in golf travel, an increase of 0.4 percent.

"The participation report we released earlier in the year held some good news for the industry: golfers and rounds were holding steady in the middle of a bad economic cycle," said Jim Kass, director of research at NGF. "The spending report adds some sparkle to that initial report."

Irrigation Calculator Offered In Texas

AUSTIN, Texas -The Texas WaterWise Council introduced a landscape irrigation calculator that uses actual plant material, soil type, evapotranspiration information and effective rainfall to calculate how much water the irrigation system is applying and how much the landscape needs.

The tool also provides a way to determine plant water requirement, irrigation water requirement, irrigation water volume and water cost. The calculator is available from the WaterWise Council in single copies or in bulk for $3.95.

For more information visit www.waterwisetexas.org or by phone at 512 / 280-5182.

REGULATORY REPORT
Denver Prohibits Lawn Watering

A complete ban of all turf and lawn watering has rendered irrigation systems silent in Denver since Oct. 1. Denver Water, Colorado's largest municipal water supplier, banned all watering of turf and lawns for an indefinite period, "until the board determines that the prospects for water supply next irrigation season will permit such watering," read a department statement.

Colorado is experiencing its worst drought on record and the ban is just the latest in a series of restrictions on water use in the area. In May, Denver Water called for voluntary reductions in watering and in August and September adopted drought surcharges and watering restrictions.

Florida County Offers Free Rain Sensors

Broward County, Florida's second-largest county, began a rain shut-off device incentive program in September, in partnership with 15 cities and the South Florida Water Management District. One thousand rain shut-off devices, valued at $20 each, will be given to qualified residents and business, including free installation by a licensed and insured contractor.

Washington State Pushing Water Measuring Device Funds

In late August, the state of Washington announced it received just 20 funding applications from water-right holders who need to install water-measuring devices to comply with orders issued by the state's Department of Ecology.

Some $3.4 million in cost-share funds were set aside by the state to help major water users in 16 "fish-critical" basins pay for devices to measure how much water they are using. Eligible candidates can receive as much as $50,000 to purchase, install and calibrate such devices.

"We have already issued about half the compliance orders but have received only around $30,000 in application requests," said Ken Schuster, who oversees the program.

More than 500 compliance orders have been sent to farms, irrigation districts and other top water users, as the result of a 2001 court order issued by the Thurston County Superior Court.

PEOPLE

K-Rain selected Todd Fellows as regional sales manager for the Pacific Northwest.

TWC Distributors Inc. appointed Kevin Colesworthy as sales and marketing manager, turf irrigation and water well division. Chuck Bridges assumes irrigation and pump sales in Naples, Fla.,and Jason Withers will develop sales for the agricultural division in South Florida.

Tom Spofford, the IA's 2001 Person of the Year, was promoted to national water management engineer, United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Chris Roth is now executive vice president of Reinke Manufacturing Co.

Netafim USA recently promoted Mike Stoll as landscape and turf market segment leader and Garey Porter as the new landscape and turf district sales manager.

Rick Kelly was appointed national sales manager, consumer products division, Little Giant Pump Company, an Oklahoma City, Okla.basedmanufacturerofpumps Cucchiara, Huston and Meadows. for residential, commercial and industrial applications.

John Deere named David Truttmann as the new national golf sales manager for irrigation, landscape and nursery products at the company. John Deere Landscapes, a Deere & Co. subsidiary, appointed Frank Bates as senior vice president of operations; Jeff Lanahan to senior vice president of supply management and information technologies; and Mark Nattinger to senior vice president of sales.

Hunter Industries announced three sales staff appointments and promotions. Charles Huston is executive vice president of sales; Michael Cucchiara is vice president of sales for the Americas; and Brandon Meadows is international vice president of sales for Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia and Asia. Dean Armstrong was also named as the new sales manager for eastern Canada.

Carson Industries LLC appointed Matt Moxley to territory manager, water management products.

Moxley's area of responsibility is Southern California calling on all irrigation and water works distributors.

COMPANY Notes...

HORIZON TOUTS GROWTH PLAN

PHOENIX, Ariz. -The management team at Horizon said it plans to grow by more than 20 percent in the next two years, by opening eight new stores in both new and existing markets. "Horizon is strategically, financially and operationally set for expansion," explained Jim Ross, president and CEO, Horizon.

Four of the new locations will be in Arizona, Nevada and Northern California, markets the company already serves, and the other four stores will be in Southern California, a new market.

ROBERTS WINS "E" AWARD

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - In August, U.S. Commerce Secretary Don Evans presented Roberts Irrigation Products with the Presidential "E" Award for excellence in exporting. The award recognizes U.S. businesses and organizations that are clients of the U.S. Department of Commerce's U.S. Commercial Service and have used their services to achieve innovation in exports. Roberts manufacturers a variety of drip and microirrigation products.

SVP ACQUIRES CONTROLLER LINE

FRESNO, Calif. - SVP acquired the Imperial electro-mechanical controller line, currently known as the IVT Series. The company also acquired the Storm controller line and made it part of the Imperial line, calling it the IVE Series

The IVE is available in remote-ready indoor and outdoor residential models. SVP plans to release acommercial version of the controller in early 2003.

The IVE and IVT Series are available for distribution worldwide, the company announced.

CALENDAR

Nov. 18: IA CIC and CID exam, Redding, Calif. Contact: 703/536-7080

Nov. 20-23: California Landscape Contractors Association Annual Convention, Honolulu, Hi. Contact: 916/830-2780.

Nov. 23: IACIC and CID exam, Gainesville, Fla. Contact: 703/536-7080

Dec. 9-12: Ohio Turfgrass Foundation Show, Columbus, Ohio. Contact: 740/ 452-4541.

Dec. 10: IA Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor exam, San Luis Obispo, Calif. Contact: 703/536-7080.

Dec. 10-12: New Jersey Turfgrass Expo 2002, Atlantic City, N.J. Contact: 732/ 932-9400.

Dec. 11-13: Georgia Turfgrass Association Grow & Mow Expo, Duluth, Ga. Contact: 706/335-6817.

Dec. 11: IA CIC and CID exam, Plainview, N.Y. Contact: 703/536-7080

Dec. 12: IA CIC and CID exam, East Lansing, Mich. Contact: 703/536-7080

Dec. 13: IA CIC and CID exam, San Luis Obispo, Calif. Contact: 703/536-7080

Dec. 14: IA CIC and CID exam, Columbus, Ohio. Contact: 703/536-7080

Correction:

The following two filter manufacturers were unintentionally left out of a list of manufacturers in 10 Things To Know Before Buying A Filter, lBT, August 2002, page 24:

Agricultural Products Inc.
PO Box 3760
Ontario, CA 91761
800/828-9919
www.agproducts.com

Miller-Leaman, Inc.
800 Orange Ave.
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
800/881-0320
www.millerleaman.com

Editor's Note

Send your irrigation event's name, date, location and contact information to Steve Smith, 4012 Bridge Ave., Cleveland, OH 44113, E-mail: ssmith@gie.net, fax: 216/961-0364.

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