Silly Hippie....

Organic Pesticides

No, you didn't read that wrong. Organic pesticides is not an oxymoron.

Though, most people might think so. According to a poll done in the UK back in 2005, 95% of organic consumers bought the produce to avoid pesticides.

But organic food is produced with pesticides too.

Supposedly, these special pesticides are derived from "natural" sources and are allowed for organic production. Obviously, anything "natural" must be ok; right? (Event though all "natural" and "synthetic" products actually originate in the periodic table...but that's details...)

Not quite. Synthetic pesticides are heavily regulated and we know exactly when, how, where, and why to use them. Only licensed operators are allowed to purchase the products. Not to mention that over the last several decades, they've actually become a whole heck of a lot safer.

Meanwhile, organic pesticides are still the same old things being used from back in the 60s and 70s. They haven't improved. They haven't gotten any better. And, quite frankly, they aren't altogether that great.

Take Spinosad for example. It "comes from the soil bacterium Saccharopolyspora spinosa. It can fatally scramble the nervous systems of insects. It's also poisonous to mollusks." (NPR) People have a problem with sticking Bt proteins into sweet corn genes because it makes a bug's stomach "explode" (er...something like that), but apparently fatally scrambling the nervous system of an insect is perfectly acceptable if there is an organic label on the produce.

But, certainly, spraying an organic pesticide is better than spraying a conventional pesticide; right?!

Are naturally derived pesticides less toxic than synthetic ones? The answer depends a lot on the dosage, says Gillman. "To control fire blight on the same acre of land," he explains, "I could use a tiny amount of a potent synthetic that has proved safe over the last 50 years, or a much larger amount of an organic pesticide." (NPR)

Again, synthetic pesticides get tested, regulated, and tested some more. There is innovation and progress and science (calm down...I know that word scares a few folks). If something wasn't safe, like if it causing health problems or tormenting the environment, we're either going to pull it or adjust how we use it.

Here's the kicker though -- while a conventional farmer is strictly regulated on how much of any given pesticide can be applied to a particular field at a particular time (say, not right before harvest), organic farmers aren't regulated at all when it comes to how often or when. There is no government entity overseeing the dosages or timing of organic pesticides.

According to the National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy, the top two organic fungicides, copper and sulfur, were used at a rate of 4 and 34 pounds per acre in 1971. In contrast, the synthetic fungicides only required a rate of 1.6 lbs per acre, less than half the amount of the organic alternatives. (Scientific American)

Oops. Not only are organic farmers applying more of the pesticides they use onto the fields, they're also toxic. I mean, after all, we're trying to kill plants and insects with them. That's the goal.

Not only are organic pesticides not safe, they might actually be worse than the ones used by the conventional agriculture industry. Canadian scientists pitted ‘reduced-risk’ organic and synthetic pesticides against each other in controlling a problematic pest, the soybean aphid. They found that not only were the synthetic pesticides more effective means of control, the organic pesticides were more ecologically damaging, including causing higher mortality in other, non-target species like the aphid’s predators. (Scientific American)

Need another example? Take the Rotenone:

Rotenone was widely used in the US as an organic pesticide for decades. Because it is natural in origin, occurring in the roots and stems of a small number of subtropical plants, it was considered “safe” as well as “organic“. However, research has shown that rotenone is highly dangerous because it kills by attacking mitochondria, the energy powerhouses of all living cells. Research found that exposure to rotenone caused Parkinson’s Disease-like symptoms in rats, and had the potential to kill many species, including humans. (Scientific American)

Despite being pulled in the US in 2005 due to health concerns, it was re-approved in 2010 for use in organic production. Go ahead organic farmers, spray away!

No doubt synthetic pesticides are serious business. Our guys are trained to use them, and rightfully so. We also have strict regulations on their use. The difference is that we're constantly improving, moving forward, and finding better ways to use them. Our land is our living and we eat the same food as everyone else. We want to make an abundant supply of safe, healthy food, while at the same time protecting our soil, air, and water.

Land is legacy.

But the point is that people shouldn't be tricked or fooled into crafty organic marketing. Organic food isn't pesticide free. You're more likely to find pesticide residue on organic food than you are conventional produce. These "natural" pesticides aren't progressing and aren't getting better. They're outdated and, quite frankly, worse than currently used synthetic pesticides.

If you care about the environment, care about people, and want to eat nutritious healthy food, why are you still purchasing organic?

Will We Have a Farm Bill This Week?

On Monday, June 10, the Senate passed their version of the (now) 2013 Farm Bill. If you want to read the bill and its amendments in their entirety, you can do so at the US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry. 

No, I haven't read the entire bill. Nor will I, even for TFD readers. 

Among some of the changes in the new Farm Bill, however, included are an end to direct payments, a consolidation of several programs, and support for biotech and bio-energy. There is also an increased focus on crop insurance, and an expansion to that program. Evidently "specialty crops"(which the USDA defines as “fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture)") have a new favored status in the farm bill.

Keep in mind, however, that less than 20% of the farm bill has anything to do with farming. Over 80% is focused solely on welfare programs. 

As reported in Farm Press, “In 2000, 17 million individuals received food stamps, but by 2008 that number ballooned to nearly 31 million. Now, nearly 48 million individuals are on the program. Spending on food stamps has doubled since 2008, with taxpayers spending nearly $40 billion on the program in 2008 to an unprecedented $80 billion in 2012."

Now the bill heads to the House, which might be a little dicier. Speaker Boehner has come out in favor of passing the bill, even though he knows it isn't perfect. Chief among the concerns are the food stamp programs, which have obviously expanded greatly. 

The House Agriculture Committee Chairman Lucas shared this photo, encouraging House members to support the bill: 

Congressman Lucas believes the bill will come to a floor vote this week, probably after a couple days of debates. We're also probably going to see several hundred amendments to it.

For now, the current Farm Bill, which was expanded at the last minute in December, will be in effect until September. 

Farming Fridays!

Fighting Weeds & Feeding Plants

 Check out that growing corn:

Perhaps not that much difference, but it'll change soon...

Oh, did you notice the weeds, too? That's why dad is still applying Round-Up and other herbicides to kill them off. As I explained before, if we left them, they would compete with the corn for other nutrients in the soil. Not good. This is what the field looks like prior to him covering it. 

This is the sprayer that we put the nozzles on a couple weeks ago (the "wings" are tucked in):

It looks a bit goofy, but obviously it's a lot easier to make it through the rows without running over corn with that type of design. Notice the narrow tires? 

(Yes, I realize there is a big brown spot in the photo. That actually isn't planted for personal use by one of the land owners.)

My brother is following in the fields applying 28% Nitrogen fertilizer on the corn. It is the main staple for corn to grow tall, green, and produce a good yield. Nitrogen is critical. The applicator has knives that cut into the ground and apply it into the soil right by the roots.

For every pound of fertilizer being applied, it is 28% actual nitrogen. The rest is water. Hence the name. It comes from the manufacturer as 32%, but it has to be watered down or it won't mix well into the soil. Usually the dealers will water it down before it gets to the farmer.

Other options for fertilizer is anhydrous ammonia, which has to be knifed into the ground. It isn't available in our area, but it's also a bit dangerous. Since it's a gas, it can easily escape into the air and be noxious for humans. No need to put our farmers in that kind of danger needlessly. 

Urea is another option. It comes in pellets that look like the beans in a bean bag chair. It's usually put on before planting and then tilled into the soil. We used to use it, but prefer 28% now. 

Notice on the tractor that the tires are fairly narrow as well. We use that same tractor for planting. The less we run over the corn and compact the soil, the better.

The nitrogen will make the corn really take off from here. Stay tuned!!

Today's Pork

I don't like the word "sustainable," but these statistics are awesome!!

Gas Prices Are Out of Control. Can We Talk About Ethanol Now?

Gas here is well over $4 a gallon right now. I know Congress still can't get a farm bill passed. I know there are scandals going on. But, seriously, we need to talk about the price of fuel.

Because, let's be honest, it affects our economy pretty seriously

I snapped that picture on Sunday afternoon. E-85, which as you can see is made of at least 70% ethanol, is currently just under $1 less per gallon than Regular.

We obviously need to have the talk with people. But to have that conversation, we need to be armed with the facts.

I'm sure you know the mantra, but do you know how to respond?

Here are some excerpts pulled from a brochure produced by Growth Energy:

EPA Gives Farmer's Personal Information to Green Extremists - Oops!

We already know these people can be completely irrational, but now they know exactly where you live and other personal information!

For more information and the original article, click here.