Spring “The challenge goes on. There are other lands and rivers, other wilderness areas, to save and to share with all. March 2019 I challenge you to step forward to protect and care for the wild places you love best.” - Dr. Neil Compton Introducing Emily Roberts by David Peterson, Ozark Society President Please join me in welcoming Emily Foundation/Pioneer Forest in Salem, Roberts to the Ozark Society team! Mo. She has experience most Emily will be working on book, map, recently as a fire a biological science and other material sales for us and technician in the botany program at you can contact her at the Mt. Hood National Forest in [email protected]. Here is Dufur, Oregon; as a field technician some information about Emily. She for the Romance Christmas Tree has a Bachelor of Science degree in Farm in Romance, Arkansas; and as environmental science, with a an AmeriCorps member at the biology concentration, and is a Salmon-Challis Forest Training graduate of the Norbert O. Schedler Center in Challis, Idaho. her Honors College at UCA. Roberts was background. a crew member for the L-A-D Buffalo River Handbook 2nd Edition by Ken Smith by Janet Parsch, Ozark Society Foundation Chair Ken Smith has done it again. The description of the new 28-mile 150 miles of hiking trails. The second edition of his wonderfully segment of the Buffalo River Trail / Handbook is a comprehensive successful first edition of Buffalo River Ozark Highlands Trail from U.S. reference book for the history and Handbook is available for purchase. Highway 65 (Grinder’s Ferry) to culture of the area as well as a trail Arkansas Highway 14 (Dillard’s Ferry) and float guide. Ken Smith’s Buffalo along the Buffalo National River near River Handbook, 2nd edition, is the Marshall, Arkansas. With a vibrant definitive encyclopedic jewel that new cover, in this new edition Ken comprehensively describes the jewel Smith has also tweaked the original that is the undammed, free-flowing text throughout; updated contacts, Buffalo National River in north campsite information and amenities; Arkansas. reported on the status of historic Published by the Ozark Society structures, etc. The Handbook is a Foundation, the Buffalo River three-part guide to the river and Handbook, 2d Ed., 2018, Kenneth L. includes insights through maps, Smith, is available for purchase diagrams, photographs, and text on through the Ozark Society Store the geology, wildlife, plants, Native webpage at Americans, pioneers, and the history https://www.ozarksociety.net/store/ First published in 2004, the first of the development of the Buffalo or directly through the University of edition of the Handbook saw three River as the first National river. The Arkansas Press website at printings, with over 12,000 copies second section describes the entire https://www.uapress.com/product/b sold. The second edition, published in length (146 miles) of the river, and uffalo-river-handbook/ December 2018, includes a the third section covers more than 1 Dicamba by Alice Andrews, Ozark Society Conservation Chair Dicamba has been around for has closed his business and left the regardless of solid comments like, about 50 years, first registered in state because of the loss of bees. “use of Dicamba is chemical 1967. Originally made by Monsanto, The environmental danger is the trespass” and “we are not (now owned by Bayer), with several threat to our pollinators - bees, addressing cumulative effects”. An formulations: dianat, metambane, humming-birds, other insects that Arkansas farmer was shot and killed banfel, banvel, banvel cst, banfel d, birds consume and non-gmo in a dispute over Dicamba drift in banfel xg, mediben, oracle, vanquish, soybeans. Spraying such herbicides 2017. A local farmer said that diablo. It is intended to control along highways kill many of the Dicamba is dividing the farming broadleaf weeds, particularly wildflowers planted along medians community. He is surprised that pigweed. and roadsides. there has not been more violence. An aside…Pigweed, known as Interestingly, before approval by “Farmers say they are facing a Amaranthus, is an ancient grain. EPA, Monsanto began offering a difficult choice: 1. Either buy the Three species are globally cultivated crop-resistant Dicamba herbicide new genetically modified seeds or 2. as an important food. It is used as a that was less likely to affect Run the risk that their non-gmo grain; the seeds are a good source of neighboring fields. The lower soybeans would be damaged more protein; a leafy vegetable and an volatility formulation was approved by a neighbor’s spraying of weed ornamental plant (Prince’s feather). by EPA November 2016 and killers than by the weeds There are about 60 species of available in 2017, however, the themselves. Growing crops that are Amaranthus. product has not been evaluated by not modified is becoming Dicamba use is restricted – one experts outside of Monsanto! impossible”, stated one farmer. must have a license. Farmers, road- Arkansas status: EPA sets National Dicamba in the Environment: crews, (both commercial and non- rules. Arkansas Agriculture State In water, microbes and ultraviolet commercial), must be educated in its Plant Board regulates application of light can break down Dicamba. It “safe” use. It is designed to kill herbicides to grains, pastures, cotton breaks down in soil so that half of broad-leaf plants. 2-4-d, Round-up, and soybeans. the original amount is gone in 30-60 Ortho, Bayer are also used on In 2017 Arkansas and Missouri days. Following application, broadleaf plants. Dicamba is more banned sale and use of Dicamba. Dicamba can volatilize and become economic, more effective and takes Monsanto sued Arkansas to stop the airborne, depending on wind (drift) less of the product. Some plants are ban. Lawsuit was dismissed in and damage or kill nearby plants. resistant and some not. It is heavily February 2018. Currently, there are It has been found in well water, used for GMO soybeans. restrictions during growing season – typically at low levels and in house Dicamba became a concern due to there was a temporary decision to dust in farmers’ homes, also at low its tendency to vaporize from an April 16 to October 31st cut-off for levels. There is evidence that treated fields. As spring/summer spraying Dicamba, supported by the Dicamba and Dicamba mixed with temperatures rise, it vaporizes and environmental community and a Glyphosate, is being transported to spreads via “drift” (winds) to large number of farmers harmed by ground-water via run-off from neighboring crops not meant to be use of Dicamba. treated fields. Given that our treated. It can and has killed February 20th, the Arkansas Plant aquifers in the delta have been neighbor’s crops. Dicamba incidents Board provided a hearing for public seriously drawn down, this becomes on neighboring fields led to comment. There were more another threat to groundwater. complaints from farmers and fines in speakers against extending the cut- Human Health, Current consensus: some states. Some neighbors’ off date than farmers who stated Pure Dicamba is low in toxicity if trees, peach and pecan orchards and that they needed an extension of breathed. Inhaled – may cause wildflowers were killed. One of the time to spray. After about 9 hours of dizziness and irritation of the nose largest honey producers in Arkansas debate, the plant board voted to and coughing; skin irritations; extend the cut-off date to May 24th, Continued on page 3 2 Dicamba by Alice Andrews …. continued Dicamba is moderately toxic if walking through a treated area, toxicity. Long term effects are ingested – symptoms reported are may have shortness of breath, unknown. vomiting, loss of appetite and muscle spasms and may produce Standby – The Arkansas muscle spasms; if large amount is abundant saliva. The usual Legislature must approve Arkansas ingested, diarrhea and abdominal recovery is about two days. Birds Plant Board regulatory decisions. A pain reported. Long term and exposed to Dicamba by consuming question has been raised about a cumulative effects are unknown. Dicamba granules may display possible Administrative error by Dicamba is not carcinogenic, “wing drop”, loss of controlled the Arkansas Plant Board on the according to the EPA. movements and weakness. If February 20th decision to extend Dicamba is not absorbed through eaten, salt forms of Dicamba are the Dicamba spraying cut-off date the skin very well but when not likely to hurt birds. Acid forms to May 24th. The Arkansas Plant swallowed, it is quickly absorbed. are slightly or moderately toxic to Board will meet with a Legislative The chemical is rapidly eliminated birds. Cumulative impacts are Subcommittee Monday, February in the urine, mostly unchanged. unknown. 25, and will be challenged. Pets exposed to Dicamba, via Fish are not likely to be harmed by contact by eating treated plants or Dicamba because of its low Orphea’s Fence by Ken Smith via Luke Parsch, Ozark Society Vice President In 1959 when driving along the Orphey and Fred were married on end of the nineteenth, and lived upper Buffalo River at Boxley, I horseback; a photograph shows through all of the twentieth and spied an unusual fence—horizontal her in a nice riding habit. Her dress even a couple of years of the boards, but also, between its posts, for social occasions was always twenty-first. cross-boards making distinctive tasteful, at times elegant. And “Xs”. And with artistic flair, the anyone visiting her home for a fence turned a right angle past a meal, or even for coffee, found her big, spreading tree. From roadside, table already set with china, I made a photograph. crystal, and silver. Years later, I met the person who Orphea Duty had enjoyed must have designed that fence-- opportunities for a wider view of Orphea Duty, the landowner.