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S S S.S. EQUIPMENT. E Q U PM QU I P M E N T S.S. EQ . HORT HORT PMENT SPECIALS SEE OUR See us for BIG SAVINGS on Rental Tractor & Bin Trailer Returns 509-547-1795 509-547-1795 PASCO PASCO FULL LINE Special Year-End Deals on SPRAYERS S.S. EQUIPMENT .S S. E QUIPMENT S.S. EQ U I PM QU P M E N T 509-787-3595 509-787-3595 QUINCY QUINCY 509-4888-9606 509-4888-9606 OTHELLO WALLA WALLA MOSES LAKE HERMISTON LA GRANDE 509-522-9800 WALLA WALLA MOSES LAKE HERMISTON LA GRANDE 509-522-9800 509-764-8447 541-567-3001 541-963-8144 509-764-8447 541-567-3001 541-963-8144 T OTHELLO PMENT New Holland T4040V with Low Prof ile Saf-T Cab QUICK BITES Go to www.goodfruit.com for the latest industry news. USDA funds organic research receive a federal grant of more than $475,000 to develop nonantibiotic treatments for the control of fireblight in apples and pears. This is one of 23 new grants totaling $19 million from O the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture for organic research and extension programs. The Organic Agriculture Research and Exten- sion Initiative will receive $15 million and the Organic Transitions Program $4 million. Three other grants are of interest to fruit growers: Michigan State University will receive a $45,695 planning grant relating to organic pest management for the brown marmorated stinkbug; Cornell University will receive $2,356,999 to research organic wheat and specialty crops; and Washington State University will receive $45,239 to support the International Organic Fruit Symposium in June 2012. IFTA creates foundation he International Fruit Tree Association is setting up a nonprofit foundation to fund tree fruit research projects. In the past, it has funded research through its research committee, but the amount has been limited to what was generated on an annual basis. For example, in 2010, it provided funding totaling $33,700 for seven research projects. IFTA President Mo Tougas of Northborough, Massa- chusetts, said that the board saw a need for a longer-term funding mechanism, such as an endowment fund that would be managed by a foundation. Several entities have indicated over the years that they would make significant donations to such a fund. The board recommended that $10,000 be transferred from retained earnings to the foundation to cover start-up costs. Although it can take up to a year for the U.S. Internal Revenue Service to approve a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, the foundation can begin accepting donations as soon as the paperwork is filed, Tougas said. Initially, the foundation will not be able to provide large amounts of money, but the board hopes that it will serve as a catalyst and provide seed money for researchers who can receive grants from other sources also. The IFTA will continue to manage the Research Com- mittee's Request for Proposals and review and fund proj- ects in 2012, since it is unlikely that the foundation will have enough funding until 2013. The board will soon appoint five trustees to direct the foundation until official terms are outlined in written bylaws. Members who are interested in serving as trustees should contact Tougas at appleman.maurice @gmail.com or Rick Dungey at the IFTA office, dungey @ifruittree.org. regon State Univer- sity, Corvallis, will 68 DECEMBER 2011 GOOD FRUIT GROWER www.goodfruit.com