[Stock & Land 06 Sept 2011 by Matthew Cawood] -- Professor Emeritus of Purdue University, Don Huber had his name splashed across the internet earlier this year when he told the US Secretary of Agriculture in a leaked letter that glyphosate could be associated with animal infertility problems. Dr Huber wrote a letter to Secretary Thomas Vilsack saying that he had been told by "senior plant and animal scientists" that they had discovered a new virus-sized organism associated with livestock that had experienced infertility and spontaneous abortion. The organism was also found in high concentrations in soybean meal derived from Roundup Ready crops, and in corn and soy affected with Goss's Wilt and Sudden Death Syndrome - two diseases Dr Huber links to over-use of glyphosate.
"The pathogen may explain the escalating frequency of infertility and spontaneous abortions over the past few years in US cattle, dairy, swine, and horse operations," Dr Huber wrote.
"These include recent reports of infertility rates in dairy heifers of over 20 per cent, and spontaneous abortions in cattle as high as 45 per cent."
Predictably, internet commentary on the letter fell sharply within two camps: those who saw Dr Huber's statements as proof of problems with chemical use and GM crops, and those who saw him as a loose cannon with no evidence to back his claims.
Dr Huber sought to clarify his intentions with another letter to Secretary Vilsack that outlined his claims in more detail. This time, he authorised the letter to go directly up on the internet.
The USDA has since responded, Dr Huber told Rural Press, and he has had a chance to present his concerns in a face-to-face meeting.
He said the meeting was "very positive", and culminated in a request for some grant proposals that would allow further research into the organism.
"We'll have one of those to submit in a couple of weeks," Dr Huber said.
"I hope that the USDA will be willing to provide some research or provide personnel."