food-supply

A collection of 178 posts

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

Bio-Diversity

Why Are Florida’s Orange Trees Dying?

“It is not the overpowering invader we must fear, but the weakened condition of the victim.”             …William A. Albrecht (1888-1974), Ph.D., Chairman of the Department of Soils at the University of Missouri Other Albrecht quotes: * “Plants that have access to soil that contains the nutrients needed to develop its

"Invasion Biology"

Ranches for Free: Birdwell Creek - Planned Grazing

Here is a Texas example of high density planned grazing, which means the owners greatly increased cattle numbers and animal density, improving habitat and forage production. The increase in productivity per acre is like getting a ranch (or two) for free. These results directly contradict the agency-university biases against cattle

Bio-Diversity

Scant Oversight, Corporate Secrecy Preceded U.S. Weed Killer Crisis

Collusion between regulators and the companies they are supposed to regulate is as pervasive in food production as in every industry where power and control is concentrated in a few hands.  NOTE: This article was originally published to Reuters.com on August 9, 2017 NEW YORK (Reuters) – As the U.

"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

"Invasion Biology"

Texas Approves Feral Hog Hunting by Hot Air Balloon

Soon we will have tried every goofy way to control wild pig populations while ignoring the common sense solution: Gather and sell free range pigs into the commercial food chain, like back in the day. NOTE: This post initially appeared on SAExpressNews.com on May 25, 2017. Texas lawmakers have

Bio-Diversity

The Dirty Little Secrets Behind Earthworms

Earthworms are disappearing from our farm and range lands.  Two articles on this topic appear below. #1: New York Times attributes this to plowing, but #2: Science shows glyphosate (Roundup) use associated with GMO’s and brush control is worse.   NOTE: This post initially appeared on WSJ.com on June

Conservation

A Reduction in US Drought Over the Period 1901-2014

Does global warming mean global drought? “It would appear that instead of making droughts worse, the global warming/climate change experienced over the past century appears to have ameliorated them.” NOTE: This paper was published on CO2Science.org on May 25, 2017 Paper Reviewed by McCabe, G.J., Wolock, D.

Animal Development

Foodies Can Order Meats From a Single Animal

Consumer demand for wholesome food is the driving force behind sustainable food production. NOTE: This post initially appeared on WSJ.com on October 5, 2016 Throwback to getting your sirloin ground at the butcher shop emerges with ‘single origin’ cuts In grocery store cases stuffed with exotic grass-fed and organic

"Invasion Biology"

Reds on Shrimp, Gulls on Reds

On May 21, 2011 we were fly fishing for redfish in the lower Laguna Madre.  Here’s a wonderful photograph of a redfish pod feeding on shrimp, and gulls trailing the redfish to pick up their leavings.   You might wonder why this picture has been entered on a blog dedicated

"Invasion Biology"

Millions of Bees Dead After South Carolina Sprays for Zika Mosquitoes

No pesticide – any chemical used to kill plant or animal ‘pests’ –  is selective. This story should give pause to those who think the ‘feral hog apocalypse’ and routine use of range poison is a good idea. NOTE: This post initially appeared on WashingtonPost.com on September 1, 2016   On Sunday

"Invasion Biology"

Cancer Worries Over a Common Weedkiller

California has recently acknowledged what the medical community has known for years: Glyphosate (Roundup) causes cancer. It is implicated in other diseases like alzheimers, gluten intolerance, diabetes, infertility and more. Glyphosate residuals are found in most everything we drink, eat and wear. Efforts to move away from glyphosate dependance in

Bio-Diversity

Pesticide Maker Tries to Kill Risk Study

Like the tobacco companies before them, for decades now the agrochemical companies have worked the system to avoid consequences from the health hazards of their products. According to the left, Big Government stands between the public and Big Businesses including the agrochemical giants. According to the President, a smaller EPA

"Invasion Biology"

On The Iberico Trail

In Spain, free-ranging pigs which forage for themselves and fatten on seasonal acorns produce hams that can bring $2,000 apiece.  In Texas, free-ranging pigs which forage for themselves and fatten on seasonal acorns are considered unfit to eat. Why the difference? Anticompetetive regulations which favor Big Pork, and bureaucratic

Conservation

This Farm Is Trying To Change The Future Of Organic Pork

It is possible to create a humane, self-sustaining, and profitable hog farming system and to make organic pork more widely available. NOTE: post initially appeared on RodalesOrganicLife.com on December 12, 2016 The Rodale Institute’s hog facility has one goal: Show farmers everywhere how to create a humane, self-sustaining,

Conservation

Land-Rich Farmers Still Struggle to Survive

Heavy subsidies of agriculture have not made farming and ranching profitable. Nor can they. NOTE: This post initially appeared on WSJ.com on December 21, 2016 The farmer is the only businessperson who buys his inputs at retail and sells at wholesale, all the while hoping (and praying) for good

"Invasion Biology"

Kaput Maker Pulls Feral Hog Poison Out of Texas

Those who oppose the idea of drenching Texas ranges with the rat poison Warfarin, are either “lawyers, misinformed or radical environmentalists”. Kaput has been withdrawn by its manufacturer, who in doing so reiterated all these false health claims about free range pigs. There has been no epiphany within Big Wildlife,

"Invasion Biology"

Texas House Orders Study Before Using Poison on Feral Hogs

The ‘feral pig apocalypse’ is a costly bureaucratic poisoning boondoggle that will harm wildlife in incalculable ways. There is an obvious alternative: Let the market solve the problem the bureaucrats created, and let Texas’ leaders lead towards a solution that benefits wildlife, habitat and the economics of land ownership. Feral

Bio-Diversity

Euros Cave to Big Ag

The full force of the United States has been thrown behind the effort to force our destructive agricultural model on the world, in the name of “free trade”. The European Chemicals Agency on Wednesday said glyphosate, the key chemical in Monsanto Co.’s flagship herbicide, doesn’t cause cancer, but

Bio-Diversity

Unsealed Documents Raise Questions on Monsanto Weed Killer

Big Tobacco and its cronies manipulated public opinion for decades after they knew that smoking causes cancer.  Monsanto is doing the same with respect to glyphosate (Roundup). NOTE: article initially appeared on NYTimes.com on March 14, 2017 A lawsuit contends that the main ingredient in Roundup, the world’s

"Invasion Biology"

Wild Boar Trappers Fear Hog Poison’s Effect on EU Wild Meat Market

The feral pig ‘problem’ is a regulatory issue.  The one bright spot is that the Europeans – whose food safety standards far exceed our own –  love our free range pork.  The brilliant idea to use Warfarin to control pigs will destroy that market, and produce unknown and unintended consequences to other

Bio-Diversity

Antibiotic Use on Farms Helps Fuel Antibiotic-Resistant Diseases

Feral pigs, according to our wildlife and food quality experts, are unfit to eat because they carry diseases. But do they? Over the last 30 years, the two largest processors of wild pigs in Texas have slaughtered and tested tens of thousands of animals. They have never found a diseased

Bio-Diversity

If Monsanto Loses Its Name, What Will Opponents Oppose?

The Wall Street Journal remains in the hip pocket of the agrochemical giants. In the story below, the supposedly conservative news organization makes fun of those who worry about the poisons being poured on our farmland, because thanks to genetic modification, many of our crops are immune to the poisons

Conservation

Curbs Are Sought for Livestock Antibiotics

More on the damage being done to public health by the confinement livestock industry. NOTE: This post initially appeared on WSJ.com on October 4, 2016 U.S. food regulators need to take further steps to curb antibiotics use in livestock to maintain the drugs’ ability to defend human health,