[RWG] Plateau (fwd)

[Plant Conservation]

FYI

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 10:35:16 -0800
From: jtasoff <jtasoff at cox.net>
To: CaliforniaWeedTalk at topica.com,
     'Plant Conservation' <plant at plantconservation.org>,
     'California Native Plants' <CA-NATIVES at CALYPTEANNA.COM>
Subject: FW: The Native Grass Manager Online, February 13, 2004

My apologies for the cross posting, but I believe the following is of
extreme importance. Plateau herbicide is fairly specific for Bromus
tectorum (cheatgrass) and spurge. It has not yet been approved for use in
California, but has been used in the prairie states in very successful
restorations of warm weather prairie grasses and forbs. It has been touted
by some sources as the first and only method to control Bromus tectorum,
which in my lay opinion, is the greatest destroyer of our native plant
ecosystem. As to ranchers, it is a means to control cheatgrass, a poor
feed for livestock due to the short period of time that the cattle find it
edible. A byproduct of ranchers eliminating cheatgrass is a widespread
restoration of native grasses and forbs. Additionally, cheatgrass has a
fire regimen of approximately 6 to 8 years and its elimination would help
avoid unwanted fires.

Jack Tasoff
San Pedro, California
jtasoff at cox.net



-----Original Message-----
From: PrairieSource.com [mailto:jef at prairiesource.com]
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2004 9:44 AM
To: jtasoff at cox.net
Subject: The Native Grass Manager Online, February 13, 2004

Dear Jack ,
We need your help from  ,. Following is an update on the Plateau
situation. It appears there may be an opportunity to make some changes. If
you are interested in trying to help get Plateau back in the private
sector, please forward this newsletter to any associate who would be
likely to help by writing a letter or sending an email. Our only hope seems
to be through an organized effort. YOU can be a part of that.

Best regards,
Jef Hodges

BASF Lunacy Continues

Just two weeks after dumbfounding the conservation community with the
announcement that Plateau herbicide would no longer be available to the
private sector, BASF changes the rules it established at that time, adding
to the insanity.

In action last week, BASF further restricted the distribution of Plateau.
In the latest installment, distribution is now limited to State
Department's of Transportation or Federal Agencies, such as the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service or U.S. Forest Service. These agencies will still be
able to purchase the 15-gallon minimum. Any other agency or entities will
first have to be approved by BASF, then will have to purchase a minimum of
100 gallons.

Three weeks ago they announced that sales would be made to government
agencies or entities in minimum quantities of 20 gallons. The 20-gallon
minimum was changed to 15 gallons a few days later to align with those
wanting 15-gallon drums. All these changes have lead me to believe there
has not been any plan at all regarding Plateau and decisions are being made
as a knee jerk reaction.

Since it appears that decisions are being made in a reactionary mode the
opportunity may exist to influence the future of Plateau. I recommend you,
your agency, organization and every partner or associate you have,
interested in seeing Plateau returned to the private market, write a
letter or send an email expressing your view. It is evident it is strictly
a numbers issue with BASF so it would be important for you to in some way
relate a estimate of the volume of product that would be used by you, your
agency, etc. Direct your letters to:

Bill Wisdom, Vice President
BASF Agriculture Products Division
26 Davis Drive
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

Or send an email, though I think a letter would be more effective,
http://216.198.225.112/about/contactme.asp

BASF's recent actions have severely hurt their credibility with the
conservation community, which is curious in it's self. It would seem the
company would be concerned about their status with environmental
organizations that could have an impact on the acceptance and use of their
products.

I don't expect this is the last of it. I'll forward more as it develops.
JH


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