Agricultural biotechnology is an advanced technology that allows plant breeders to make precise genetic changes to impart beneficial traits to the crop plants we rely on for food and fiber. For centuries farmers and plant breeders have labored to improve crop plants. Traditional breeding methods include selecting and sowing the seeds from the strongest, most desirable plants to produce the next generation of crops.

Yes. The U.S. regulatory system, which enjoys a high degree of public confidence, employs rigorous scientific reviews within a transparent decision-making framework open to public participation. This regulatory approach provides full access to documents on which decisions are based and is carried out completely in the public eye as required by law. The science-based U.S. regulatory system has helped ensure that biotechnology products are safe for producers, consumers, and the environment.

The first effort at marketing a crop food modified through biotechnology occurred in the 1989, when Calgene Corporation sought approval for its Flavr Savr tomato, engineered to provide extended shelf life. Since then, there have been a number of crops developed offering a wide variety of enhanced traits. Crops designed to resist insect and viral pest or tolerate broad-spectrum herbicides account for most of the biotechnology crops available commercially.

All new crop varieties that meet the criteria of the federal Plant Variety Protection Act-whether produced by conventional means or biotechnology-are eligible for intellectual property rights protection. To receive protection, the new variety must be distinct from other varieties and genetically uniform and stable through successive generations. The length of protection is 20 years for most crop plants.

There are some concerns that new genetically modified crops can be harmful to the environment. For example, lab experiments have tried to evaluate the effect of Bt corn pollen on Monarch butterflies and the impact on rats if fed experimental biotech potatoes. Although conclusions are mixed, the general consensus is that animals and insects would have to consume extremely large quantities of biotech crops before any adverse impact could be detected.

Both biotechnology and conventional plant breeding share the same goal of increasing the desirable characteristics of that plant, such as increasing the nutritional value of rice. However, biotechnology is much more precise in that it carefully selects a specific gene or trait in one plant (or another source) and transfers only that gene to another plant.

Biotechnology is the application of scientific information and methods to biological problems such as in agriculture and medicine. It includes moving traits or characteristics from one organism to another, to improve or create new industrial, medical and agricultural products.

More information on Biotechnology and U.S. trade is available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/itp/biotech/index.html.

Please visit http://www.grants.gov for grant information. Grants.gov is the single access point for over 1000 grant programs offered by all Federal grant-making agencies. For agricultural specific grants, you can also use the CSREES website 'Funding Opportunities' at http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/funding.cfm

One of the cornerstones of livestock genetic conservation is to use the animals in an environment consistent with the one in which they were created in the first place. With Randall cattle, that environment is low input farming systems, especially dairy, which allow their strengths as functional, subsistence farm type animals to be fully utilized.

Obtain an application form from the appraisal district office or download online under Forms tab in Webb County Appraisal District website. Fill the application form out completely and return it to Webb County Appraisal District’s office If your property is valued by more than one appraisal district, which occurs whenever a taxing unit crosses county lines, you must file an application with each appraisal district office.

The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) works to improve foreign market access for U.S. products. FAS operates programs designed to build new markets and improve the competitive position of U.S. agriculture in the global marketplace. FAS bears the primary responsibility for USDA's overseas activities -- market development, international trade agreements and negotiations, and the collection and analysis of statistics and market information.

I don't believe any one thing is a 'cure'. A multi-faceted approach tuned to the needs of the patient is needed. We aren't machines you know. We are very complex organic/spiritual/mental human systems.