So increased pesticide use could mean:
A) Herbicide
B) Insecticide
C) Fungicide
D) Rodenticide
Which is it? I'm sure you will say all of the above.
So when I said habitat is a factor, you agree? Also the bold you have, they say where are they going to come from? You have to understand, something can not become from nothing, so if there are no pheasants due to habitat loss, you build habitat, it's not a bad idea to put some stock in there to build a population.
This is way off course of the original intent of the post.
A pesticide is any substance used to kill, repel, or control certain forms of plant or animal life that are considered to be pests. Pesticides include herbicides for destroying weeds and other unwanted vegetation, insecticides for controlling a wide variety of insects, fungicides used to prevent the growth of molds and mildew, disinfectants for preventing the spread of bacteria, and compounds used to control mice and rats
How come weeds don't grow in a prairie?
And it isn't the GMO beans that get us....it is the glyphosate sprayed on the GMO beans that gets us...
This right here has really bothered me, and if I missed a link that you posted on this, please excuse my ignorance, and lead me to it.
I'm not that great at explaining things, so I'm just going to do it in the only fashion I know how. Once the glyphosate is sprayed on the plant (many months before any harvest is done), it is metabolized within the plant, and no lasting residual left anywhere, that is even traceable once harvest comes around.
That's false all-around Brian...not trying to be disrespectful. Just do a simple search online. It is everywhere.
Search for glyphosate research on male reproduction....although I found some that had to do with mammals and the uterine lining. Of course, not all were meta-analysis, but you can easily search and see tons of links.
When I searched to see if glyphosate was metabolized by the bean plant, I didn't find much. And the research out there was from Monsanto
Admittingly, I'm glad you said something because there are many research articles on the non-toxicity of it as well - which was refreshing to read...although none had anything to do with being 100% metabolized by the plant.
Lots of info on both sides....no doubt.
No disrespect at all. Same with me, but when I work with this on a daily basis, and understand how glyphosate works within a plant, it is not completely false. You have to understand that there is a growing number of people wanting to take down Monsanto, because for one, they do not understand anything about crops. Someone labeled a GMO crop "dangerous, poisonous, ect", but when countless research has come up with nothing harmful, they attack the most used product, which is also largely produced by Monsanto.
You think I'm wrong about that? Then why do you never hear anything about bayer crop science, syngenta, Dow, du-pont, gowen, FMC, get my point? They are all MAJOR PLAYERS in the crop world, is just that Monsanto is the biggest.
1. But your talking about glyphosate, the most environmentally, safest chemical today. Yet many believe that there are lasting effect? I know your energetic and passionate about this, so please do me one favor. Do research on Callisto, dual(metolachlor) and acetochlor (which is widely used in Monsanto products, but they buy it, not produce it). Those are the most widely used corn chemicals today, which we know have a very long residual, active ingredient affect. Then see how much research has been done on them vs glyphosate. Monsanto makes glyphosate, yet does not make any of the other products I mentioned.
2. But, this will be the last I post on this subject, too many keyboard researchers know what's best for the agriculture industry, trying to ban certain ways of conventional farming, yet offering not one single alternative to growing more bushels per acre. All I ever hear is ban this, ban that, it's not good for you, Monsanto is evil, when in reality, Monsanto is spending billions trying to come up with better, more efficient, more environmentally friendly ways to farm conventionally, while no one does anything else. I do work in the ag industry, and nothing about glyphosate or a GMO crop scare me. I know how they work, how they are built and what they were designed to do, and today we are using the safest, most environmentally friendly methods and products that are available to us, which is hand over fist better than we were 25 years ago.
It's just like the grass fed/vaccinated cattle, GMO vs Organic, I try to have a discussion on it with many people, and 3.when I show just a few facts on why we use it, what we are doing to prevent certain things, I always get a blank stare, or silence. Many people that I have had the GMO conversation with get a lot of their info from a website that is 100% against gmo's. That's kind of like going to a PETA website to research how farm animals are treated isn't it?
I had a big long post written up about organic vs. conventional, guns vs. bows and arrows, putting garbage in your body, the wussification of America, and how walking instead of driving would solve a lot more diseases and problems than are ever caused by GMO's.
1. That is not entirely true. While glyphosate may not actually kill or maim certain organisms outright, by destroying a main food source or habitat isn't the outcome the same? Yes, but many of the chemicals we would use to replace them are more harmful with longer lasting affects.
2. Don't give up. If you really believe what you're saying to be true, quitting would be a huge disservice to those who think like you do. It can be tiring dealing with people who don't seem to understand the issues or only want to repeat what they've heard from biased sources (believe me I know, I try educate a lot of Republicans ). I too hope to convert you to the conservative side someday......
The answers offered up are often difficult to achieve and therefore unpopular. Yet there are answers.
Why do we need to produce more bushels per acre? Is there a reason we cannot create plants (yes, GMOs) to grow in regions where it has been historically difficult to grow crops? Yes, and we have, which is almost like were are our worst enemy. Before, we had to have suitable ground to grow crops on, now with the diversity in our genetics, and the traits we produce, we are able to farm area's that were not deemed farmable 20 years ago. As an environmentalist stand point, that ground is where our pheasants raised, our deer raised, and many different plants, animals, and insects were so called quarantined. Now we are farming that ground, because of our better genetics. But our demand, even farming the ground that once wasn't suitable, is higher than ever, and we still need to produce more bushels. Iowa is the nations leading corn growing state, yet production will have to be doubled by the year 2025.
Iowa would no longer need to feed the world so to speak. We could reduce the amount of chemicals we put into the environment and try to bring things back into balance.
I worked at Monsanto for a few years in the early 2000s. At that time they were working on creating corn plants that would require less water to grow in order to grow them in Chile(?) and other countries where irrigation was a challenge. This year is the first year the drought guard trait has been released. There are several acres planted for that. Monsanto's main reason for the release of this trait is because in area's that can irrigate, they are running their water table to dangerously low levels. With the drought guard, you are able to obtain optimum yield, with half the water. Without irrigation in the area's that need it, the crop would fail, yet causing an even higher demand for grain. So the need was there for a corn hybrid that could produce the same amount of grain, on 1/2 the amount of water. Next year, we get to look at the N Guard corn, which will allow us to reduce our nitrogen levels, and still grow the same amount of bushels. They are also able to grow a nice corn crop in area's in Kansas and Nebraska, where yield has been an extreme challenge for them, due to excessive heat and drought.
3. It doesn't look to me like your getting blank stares or silence here. In fact, we are having a rather informative sharing of differing view points. I'll say it again...Don't give up.
I wanna read it.
I posted a few links earlier in the post that are good reads on organic vs conventional. Both have benefits, both have down falls.
I am also very passionately worried about the birds and the bees. As a career conservationist... It's hard not to be.
Loss of habitat, super clean at fields, chemicals are all responsible in some way shape or form and there are certainly arguments both ways. Nanny has certainly opened my eyes on some things so thank you for taking the time buddy.
Here's a thought tho. Why is demand so high for corn/beans?? Let's face it, we aren't "feeding the world" anymore. Ethanol is using up a good bit of that crop that's been planted on marginal acres where it could never grow before and is making it worthwhile to continue to do so while big ag continues to produce seed that can yield. Unfortunately demand is high because we export a large portion of our grain, then when we run short, we import grain from Brazil (makes a lot of since doesn't it). I agree and disagree with Ethanol. With ethanol, we are producing our own fuel source. But it is not very efficient to make, and it also drives the demand for corn higher, to compete for feed (which is good for farmers, retailers, basically any retailer, but bad for habitat and livestock producers). But, you also get a by product from ethanol to feed livestock. So at this point, I haven't make up my mind rather the benefits out weigh the down falls. There is, however, technology in the pipeline to look at other non-grain crops as ethanol. These crops will allow the marginal producing land to go into another crop, which will be more environmentally friendly.
I think we solve a lot of problems: habitat loss, low wildlife/insect populations, WATER QUALITY, need for lots of chemical, etc., by farming sustainably, voluntarily. No-till, cover crops where feasible, buffer every stream, wetlands at tile outlets. Farm the best, save the rest and quit using our food for fuels and gross by-products when there is better technology out there. Keep demand high by taking land back out of production and let Monsanto keep creating higher yielding products, then let people decide for themselves if that product is safe to eat. Everything you listed is definitely benefical, problem is, when farmer A pays 500 an acre for cash rent, or 10K an acre for land, he is going to utilize every acre he can, once again, we are our own worst enemy.
As for me, I sure don't have a problem eating GMO corn raised venison but will likely be hobby farming my own pork, beef, chicken in the future - because it's kind of fun and teaches my kids responsibility as well as my waistline on the slim side. I support locally grown, organic produce (aka my garden or farmers market) when I can, otherwise I buy stuff off the shelves just like most people. I believe it teaches your kids so much more. It makes them realize where their food actually comes from and they do have work for it.
We need cheap food just as much as we need wildlife, insects, organic foods, topsoil and clean water and I am confident there is a happy medium out there. Working in an NRCS office for 2 years, I saw the good and the bad both, and the good works just as well with no harm to the bottom line in most cases.
My #1 position is environmentalist. I have to ensure each product is used in a manner that it will least affect the environment.
Here is my take on the whole situation. People have become extremely accustomed to cheap food, which is sugar and by products, why? Because they are cheap. But everyone wants to point at GMO's, and conventional farming practices, for everything that goes wrong. If more people would pay attention to what they are eating, eat more raw vegetables, more lean meats, drink more water, and quit hittin McDonalds everyday, you would see a large change. But, budgets are tight, sugars are cheap, and sugars taste good. Going to be hard to compete with all of that.