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Karnal Bunt

Laura Carlson reports from member station KJZZ in Phoenix on "karnal bunt," a rare fungus that has infected some wheat crops in Arizona. The karnal bunt fungus is not harmful to humans, but the United States Department of Agriculture is concerned that the presence of karnal bunt in Arizona wheat will have a negative effect on the otherwise strong reputation of American wheat throughout the world. In attempting to control the spread of karnal bunt, the USDA is testing wheat samples from the more than four-thousand wheat fields in Arizona and is requiring Arizona farmers to sanitize their wheat harvesting equipment.

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