food safety

A collection of 99 posts

"Invasion Biology"

Wyoming Game and Fish Prepares for CWD at Elk Feedgrounds

The well-intentioned state and federal government practice of feeding elk on public lands has led to overpopulation and over-concentration of these animals. The combination of too many elk in too little space has put elk at great danger for contracting Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Since CWD appeared 40-years ago in

"Invasion Biology"

Will Mushrooms Be Magic for Threatened Bees?

Seventy years ago, Dr. William Albrecht, the “Father of Soil Fertility,” wrote, “It’s not the overpowering invader we must fear but the weakened condition of the victim.” Outbreaks of parasite-spread diseases must be treated if possible, but treating symptoms can’t be confused with treating causes.  While symptoms, both

cancer diagnoses

Can Eating Organic Food Lower Your Cancer Risk?

Quoting the authors below,” …the most frequent consumers of organic food had 76 percent fewer lymphomas, with 86 percent fewer non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, and a 34 percent reduction in breast cancers that develop after menopause.” And, all these agricultural chemicals are bad for wildlife and habitat for the very same

Bio-Diversity

Giving Malaria a Deadline

Here is a beneficial form of genetic tinkering which stands in contrast to the horrible GMOs which in reality are drivers of agro-chemical poison sales. We wiped out screwworm without poisons, and, we can do the same with malaria. NOTE: this article was originally published to NYTimes.com on September

Bio-Diversity

Report Finds Traces of a Controversial Herbicide in Cheerios and Quaker Oats

“Of course glyphosate is in Cheerios: It’s in everything. Because grape growers use Roundup® (glyphosate) to suppress weeds between vines, most wine has glyphosate residue – as does beer. Cotton growers use it to defoliate plants before harvest. Farmers’ GMO seeds like soybeans and corn are modified to survive repeated

"Invasion Biology"

Like Your Steak Aged 36 Months? Try 17 Years

As anyone who has had a grass fed steak in Argentina will tell you, mature beef raised on pasture is unsurpassed in flavor and texture. NOTE: this article initially appeared on WSJ.com on July 10, 2018. It was written by Oliver Griffin. Restaurateur lets his steers wander mountain meadows

Animal Growth

Antibiotics in Meat Could Be Damaging Our Guts

Over 70% of all antibiotics used in the US are fed to confined livestock – cattle, pigs and chickens – and about 75% of those antibiotics are passed through to humans. This article discusses the serious health issues this practice creates. NOTE: this article below is from NYTimes.com. It was written

food safety

He's Dying of Cancer. Now, He's The First Patient To Go To Trial To Argue Roundup Made Him Sick

“Like the tobacco companies before them, the agro giants have been able to forestall their liability for the harm their products have done to human health. Their reckoning is coming, but great damage will have been done in the meantime. NOTE: this article was originally published to CNN.com on

"Invasion Biology"

Hunting's Remarkable Resilience

Hunters defend their tradition because it helps control population, generates conservation revenues and Fair Chase expresses good sportsmanship. But predation is also physiologically better for wildlife and habitats. Hunters are often as unaware of this natural principle as non-hunters. Just like wolves, cougars, bears and other apex predators, humans have

climate change

In a Warming West, the Rio Grande Is Drying Up

Agency, university and other water ‘experts’ blame climate change for declining river flows. They ignore the primary influences on land and rivers: Irresponsible agricultural practices. It is a misuse of precious Southwestern desert water to irrigate low value crops – let alone subsidize this. And next, Industrial Agriculture’s farming methods

"Invasion Biology"

A Million Tons of Feces And An Unbearable Stench: Life Near Industrial Pig Farms

The way we raise our grocery store pork is so repulsive that it is unfit for discussion in polite company. Almost everyone averts their eyes from the filth and cruelty of these pig factories, and the damage they do to rural communities, environments, watersheds and public health. Public indifference gives

"Invasion Biology"

Can American Soil be Brought Back to Life?

Many factors have contributed to the destruction of soil fertility, starting with biodiversity loss which is the root cause of the decline of wildlife, habitat and croplands. Farming, ranching and wildlife practices are best judged according to the extent to which they restore soil fertility. Most everything we do fails

"Invasion Biology"

EU Member States Support Near-Total Neonicotinoids Ban

Once again, the Europeans lead the US with policies and practices that ensure public and environmental health. As reported in the article below, neonicotinoid-based insecticides are used on most of our seeds to prevent their being eaten by insects. These are very harmful for the very reason that they are

"Invasion Biology"

Monsanto’s New Weed Killer, Dicamba, Divides Farmers

The ever growing use of stronger and stronger poisons defines Industrial Agriculture. This article tells how farmers who try to avoid using the GMO seeds that are bred to withstand these poisons have their crops ruined. This is one small example of the vast damage Industrial Agriculture is doing to

food safety

Roundup’s Toxic Chemical Glyphosate, Found in 100% of California Wines Tested

You can run but you can’t hide…. Grape growers use Roundup® (glyphosate) to suppress weeds between vines. Cotton growers use it to defoliate plants before harvest. Farmers’ GMO seeds like soybeans and corn are modified to survive repeated spraying of this non-selective “weed” poison. Because it remains long after

Animal Development

The Case for a Carbon Tax on Beef

This article does a good job of summarizing the many environmental problems caused by Big Meat’s method of raising beef. However, the author mistakenly assumes that there is no other way to raise beef than in these artificial, energy-intensive, environmentally-destructive, cruel and unhealthy mega-feedlots. And the author seems to

"Invasion Biology"

A New Study Suggests That Even The Toughest Pesticide Regulations Aren’t Nearly Tough Enough

“There were 1.6 million new cases of cancer last year, with 580,000 dying of the disease. Farm and industrial chemicals certainly play a major role in this epidemic. Yet little is done, with the poison-makers smugly repeating the myths of safe pesticides and obfuscating the true dangers of

"Invasion Biology"

States Confront the Spread of a Deadly Disease in Deer

The creation of  CWD – a  new wildlife disease – in a Colorado experimental station, and its subsequent spread, proves the adage that “Industrial agronomic principles applied to ecological systems will almost always cause harm.” NOTE: this article is from the NYTimes.com, and was published on January 8th, 2018. The author

Bio-Diversity

The Great Nutrient Collapse

Food nutrition is changing. This article blames atmospheric carbon, ignoring genetic modification of plants combined with the effect of the agricultural poisons our food plants have been engineered to survive. For example, a bushel of corn weighs significantly less than before corn was reengineered to withstand Roundup, which blocks cells’

"Invasion Biology"

The Agriculture Of Hope: Climate Farmers Of North America

We can debate whether human impact contributes to climate change, but we cannot deny that human agricultural practices harm range and farm lands. These practices can be changed in ways that will restore the land, its profitability and conceivably, help the climate as well. NOTE: This post initially appeared on

food safety

This Tiny Country Feeds the World

Humane, low chemical, sustainable intensive agriculture, Dutch style. NOTE: this article initially appeared on NationalGeographic.com . It appeared in the September 2017 edition of the magazine. The Netherlands has become an agricultural giant by showing what the future of farming could look like. The great indoors provides optimal growing conditions

Bio-Diversity

Agriculture: Sowing the Seeds of Global Trade Competition

“We’ve never had free trade, especially agricultural trade. Bi-lateral (country-to-country) trade agreements are potentially better for regenerative farmers and ranchers—and therefore wildlife—than the managed trade between the great power blocks which are dominated by the agro-giants and their government allies. NOTE: This article was initially published to

Animal Development

Microbes Are the Key to Improving Rangeland Soil Fertility

David C. Johnson, Ph.D, of New Mexico State University discusses how his compost research shows tremendous promise for soil carbon sequestration, and the potential benefits that may have on climate change, our food system, rangelands and the wildlife they support. Microbes – ignored in most research – are the key. Transcript:

"Invasion Biology"

Iowa State Fair Cow and Boy Taking Nap Wins the Internet After Photo Goes Viral

This touching photo evokes the ancient connection between humans and livestock. Sadly, modern industrial agriculture – including much dairy and meat production – breaks this connection and increasingly disregards humane animal husbandry. NOTE: This post originally appeared on FOXNews.com on August 14, 2017 This here is a little story about a

Bio-Diversity

Dying Vines: How Herbicides are Damaging, and Destroying, High Plains Vineyards That Supply Much of the Hill Country Grapes

The agrochemical giants effectively control our agencies, legislatures, universities and conservation organizations. Their latest poison – which EPE rubber-stamped for general use –  is 2,4-D, a primary component of Agent Orange, the infamous Vietnam poison. Agent Orange caused about 2-million birth defects in Cambodia and Vietnam. Over 60,000 American vets