Ug99, which has the designation of TTKS, is a race of black stem rust (Puccinia graminis tritici). It is virulent to the great majority of wheat varieties. Unlike other rusts, which only partially affect crop yields, UG99 can bring 100% crop loss. Up to 80% yield losses were recently recorded in Kenya. The blight was first noted in Uganda in 1999 and has spread throughout the highlands of East Africa. In January 2007, spores blew across to Yemen, and north into Sudan. In March 2007, FAO announced its concern regarding the spread through Iran based on Iranian authorities report. The fungal ancestors of stem rust have infected grasses for millions of years and wheat crops for as long as they have been grown. Stem rust destroyed more than 20% of U.S. wheat crops several times between 1917 and 1935, and losses reached 9% twice in the 1950s," with the last U.S. outbreak in 1962 destroying 5.2% of the crop. The United States produced wheat stem rust and rye stem rust as part of its biological weapons program, which was active from 1943-1969. Wheat and rye stem rust was produced from 1951-1957 at Fort Detrick then shipped to Edgewood Arsenal where it was classified, dried and stored. Again, from 1962-1969 wheat stem rust spores were produced and shipped to Rocky Mountain Arsenal where they too were classified, dried and stored. These anti-agriculture biological agents were tested at least 31 times by the U.S. military.
The above is a breakdown from Wiki. Ug99 has actually interested me indirectly because of blight to my potatoes and tomatoes (generally because of typically horrible NW England weather and my search for a green solution (which appears to be sheltering the plants from the rain). I take it the CIA is not targeting my garden. I doubt we are doing such scurrilous stuff about the world, but it is interesting that we have a lot of hyped-up talk of world food problems without much concern for possible terrorist actions against our crops. The cape and fizzing bomb could soon be replaced by dire, biologically equipped terrorists. More people died of famine in Bengal in WW2 than the UK-EMPIRE and USA lost in their combined armies. Have we got the focus on terrorism all wrong? Have they got their methods all wrong? Are we more exposed than we think? --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/minds-eye?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
